“ALL AROUND HIGH PERFORMANCE KITE WITH CONTROL ON DEMAND” TKB REVIEWS THE B9
TKB Reviews The 2016 Bandit 9th edition, and we are excited with what we hear! “Fast and steady with control on demand. Like a bandit outta hell, this thing’s got speed.” Read the full comprehensive review from TKB testers here!
F-One Says:
For the 9th edition of the Bandit, we have worked essentially on the two following axes: profile refinement and the swing of the kite to improve the depower. Thanks to all these improvements the kite holds firmly its position on the edge of the flight window while riding with no forth and back movements. The continuous traction it provides is impressive, whatever the wind strength. This is especially efficient for upwind riding where the Bandit will let you ride with a better angle effortlessly with good speed control.
TKB Testers Say:
“Fast and steady with control on demand. Like a bandit outta hell, this thing’s got speed,” Davey Beard.
“Very direct steering for a 12 meter in light wind,” Jon Dixon.
“Awesome all around kite that reacts instantly and maintains low end grunt,” Tom Fristoe.
TKB Says:
The Bandit is back for 2016 in it’s 9th iteration with it’s classic medium aspect 3-strut Delta shape that is marketed as an all around high performance kite that meets the needs of freestyle, freeride and waves. The Bandit comes with a narrow diameter 9mm inflation and 11m dump valve, two wingtip steering settings that allow you to select between shorter depower/direct steering and long depower stroke/light steering impulse and a single setting front bridle that uses one pulley. Instead of using screened ink, the bandit’s graphics are sewn into the canopy to save weight. Testers commented on the Bandit’s good range and smooth power delivery while being stable in the air. The Bandit delivers a tight pivot style turning radius with crisp steering response, which is always surprising given the smaller width of the F-one bar. The relaunch is quick and easy from deep in the window and the Bandit delivers solid lift for big boosty airs and decent hangtime. Testers recommend the Bandit for all around freeriding, hooked in freestyle, while also a top option in the waves.
The Bandit comes with the Monolith control bar which is a fixed length bar (45 and 52cm) that is machined out of a single piece of aluminum block. It has a plastic coated sheeting/throw line, no sliding stopper, double center-line depower, high V, above bar depower clamcleat, without an attachment option to keep the depower control toggle from tangling. The safety system utilizes a push away quick release with a quick release travel guard, but no hand swivel. The center and outside lines all have looped pigtails and while the length of sheeting/throw is not adjustable, the Bandit design delivers all the depower you will need within reach of most people. This year, F-One took away the centerline tuning above the depower cleat and changed bar colors from red and white to red and blue. The padded floats attach to the hard bar ends with the and the outside leader lines can allow riders to adjust the length of the outside lines for stretch or tuning. Testers praised the rubber grip with slight texture and overall simplicity and functional features.
