Yes the Addiction is still around,hard to keep a good kite down...I think...anyway I thought I would post "some" of the modding info that I received, in case some of you are interested.
There is really way to much information to try and post here at one time so here is some of it.
Topic author: JCByrne
Subject: Addiction mod
Posted on: April 25 2006 8:19:43 PM
Message:
Was asked to put this here so more people could see it so here goes.
This is a real easy mod but it changes the Addiction alot like night and day. It flies so much better you won't believe it until you do one.here goes first you need either p90 or p100 skyshark wrapped rods.cut these to 24 inches each so now you have 4 rods 24 inches long.Need a couple of 3 to 4inch internal ferrels and 2 end caps for these and also new arrow nocks.will also need new spreader connectors APA are best. the thing to remember on these is you are still using the original spreaders so don't get them to large. the hardest part of this whole modification is stretching the connectors so they will slide onto the rods.and just put everything you took off like the bridle and the leading edge tensioner go back on the same way they came off.the thing is if you try and cut the tubes other tha 24 inces each you will have to modify the leading edge tensioner and posibly the bridle.than just glue the c-clips in the stock locations and your done.On mine i used a bridle off a New Tech New Jam a little tweaking later it flies great.Real easy to do tricks with and flies straight no quirks to speak of..The stock bridle works just fine but I figured I went this far why not go a little farther and try a new style bridle too. The up side to all this was that I had a kite the was very easy to do tricks with they just kinda fall into place.all my other kite are a little bit harder to do the same tricks with.It is just an out standing trick kite now i couldn't believe the diference just replacing the tubes did for the kite.It flies in light winds to 3mph upto 20+ mph without folding up.Tips might shake at the higher end but it still works fine. also would be a good idea to hang a set of stoppers on it so the lines will stay put on the roll-ups.Personally anyone who tries this won't be disappointed at all.twos spent and you have a reall good trick kite that you can count on to do what you want.and it does man I can keep going but I won't bore you folks any further. as always smooth winds be good LATER JOHN
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Reply author: herbalizer
Replied on: April 25 2006 8:53:57 PM
Message:
so what did you use? p90 or p100's?
i'll try the mod.
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Reply author: JCByrne
Replied on: April 25 2006 9:42:04 PM
Message:
P90's I believe
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Reply author: Atlanta2
Replied on: April 26 2006 03:17:17 AM
Message:
Addiction was my 1st kite and it was well flown. Fittings were loose and last November Jon T helped me put together a reframe kit with P90's and a bigger spine, nocks etc. Recently I put it all together everything was there and wow what an amazing difference. Kite still clearly the Addiction only better. Don't remember all the spec's I have since lost my notes I made on scrap paper. But it's clear I'm not the only one who has installed this mod on an Addiction. I would rate as a must try for any Addiction fan.
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Addiction Reframe
Printed from: GWTW Online Forums
Topic URL:
http://www.gwtw-kites.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=10317Printed on: August 20 2006
Topic:
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Topic author: rbjensen
Subject: Addiction Reframe
Posted on: September 18 2003 8:48:11 PM
Message:
I got my Addiction reframed and flew it tonight. Winds were lightly gusting about 1 to 4mph. The kite was a bit flippy in this light wind, but I could fly it OK. The kite needs a little more wind than before due to the heavier frame, so I would shift the low end of Andrew's wind range to 3 or 4 mph.
It is probably obvious, but doing the reframe is well worth it. This makes the kite more comparable to something like the Frenezy, and it feels much more solid. The sail is nylon, but certainly good enough quality. Andrew points out in his review the downsides of the flexy frame it comes with. Another great advantage of reframing is that you can use a two piece lower spreader and two piece leading edge. The leading edge is 48" and the lower spreaders are 24". When disassembled you have a great travel kite that folds up to a little over 2 ft, feels decent, and does all the tricks.
I used .196 pultruded framing. You can reuse the connectors -- they are a little tight, but seem durable enough. This is what you need:
3 x 48" .196 Avia (LEs and LSs)
1 x 30.5" .196 Avia (spine)
1 x 29.5 .157 or .180 (US)
Center Tee for .196
2 x Avia safety nocks for .196
4 x end caps for .196 (1 for each LE and two for spine)
2 x aluminum ferrules for .196 (for two piece LEs)
6 x 5mm c-clips (1 for each LE connector and 2 for center Tee)
This should cost about $25 and GWTW has it all.
You can optionally get the TAPA LE connectors, but I reused all the LE and standoff connectors that came with the kite with no problem.
The sail tensioners and leech line are also fine as is and go on easily.
I look forward to flying this in heavier wind. I was able to get nice backspins and jacobs ladders tonight. Not enough wind to assess precision qualities. If you like the Addiction, I am sure it is worth doing the reframe making this a serious small 6 footer, more on par with slightly larger kites like the Fanatic or Frenezy. I will see as I get more air time.
Brent
Santa Cruz, CA
My Kite Page
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Reply author: Mauler
Replied on: September 19 2003 12:42:01 AM
Message:
Keep us updated on the flight qualities. Looks like a worthwhile thing to do.
I'm curious about the "heavier frame." According to the Avia specs, the 4mm solid carbon rods are almost identical in weight to the .196 pultruded stock. Why do you say the frame is heavier?
Andrew
Buffalo, NY
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Reply author: rbjensen
Replied on: September 19 2003 11:31:22 AM
Message:
Good point. I didn't weigh the kite so I don't know for sure. It just seemed a little heavier, but perhaps due to the wind conditions. I hope to get some better flying in over the weekend.
Brent
Santa Cruz, CA
My Kite Page
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Reply author: Mauler
Replied on: September 19 2003 11:46:04 AM
Message:
The other question I have is: why replace the lower spreaders? The single-piece lower spreader that comes with the kite should just be able to be cut in half and used as is, right? Sure, it's not very expensive just to buy some more, but the existing one should work just fine cut in half. Another thing is the upper spreader -- it seems fine just as a 4mm solid carbon rod. I guess I don't see why it would have to be changed to a .157 or .180 pultruded spar. That might actually change the overall balance, which I happen to think is pretty near perfect as it is.
I'm thinking that it might have seemed heavier because of the faster response in the frame. It might just be reacting faster so it appears "flippier." Who knows.
All I know is, keep me updated with your experiments. I really like the kite just the way it is, but if it can be improved without affecting the balance and flight behavior, I'm all ears.
BTW, have you tried shortening the spreader at all? It seems like it would be a cheap thing to test out and it might behave well.
Andrew
Buffalo, NY
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Reply author: randyg
Replied on: September 19 2003 11:58:15 AM
Message:
Maybe Jon will read this and introduce an Addiction Pro??!!
Randy
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Reply author: RonG
Replied on: September 19 2003 12:02:25 PM
Message:
quote:
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Originally posted by randyg
Maybe Jon will read this and introduce an Addiction Pro??!!
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I flew Jon's prototype Addiction (pre-production) last year at Nationals. Very, very nice. Not entirely sure how it was framed, but it could do every trick I could and then some.
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Reply author: Mauler
Replied on: September 19 2003 12:07:02 PM
Message:
If Ron says it's "very, very nice," then you know I ain't lyin'
Think of it this way, Ron: it could only have gotten better since you flew the pre-production prototype! And you're absolutely right on target about the trick capability. I really dig this kite a lot.
Andrew
Buffalo, NY
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Reply author: Mauler
Replied on: September 19 2003 12:08:17 PM
Message:
quote:
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Originally posted by randyg
Maybe Jon will read this and introduce an Addiction Pro??!!
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Yes, I think it's called the "ADX"
Depending on Brent's reviews of the reframe test, I'll do it myself and check it out.
Andrew
Buffalo, NY
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Reply author: sbixby
Replied on: September 19 2003 12:10:39 PM
Message:
I just ordered an Addiction to have around at the office, so I can go fly at the tiny park just down the street on days when I cycle to work, without my kite bag of course. I'll pick it up at Baylands on Saturday, where I can beg Brent to let me try his and feel the diff's.
Steven Bixby - El Sobrante, CA
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Reply author: icenum
Replied on: September 19 2003 4:08:28 PM
Message:
First few times I flew the kite I knew I'd like it. I did my first roll ups with it after flying it about an hour or so. Very impressive trickster, its fast but at times I like a fast smaller kite. I still have it in my bag. After more feedback on the re-frame, I may do mine also. Really nice kite for the $$, possible after installing frame it might need bridle changes or mods?
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Reply author: rbjensen
Replied on: September 20 2003 01:02:50 AM
Message:
In the reframe, I was going for stiffness. I was not sure about the quality of the rods the kite came with and assumed they would not be as good as Avia. With other kites in this price range I have found the rods to be quite flexible and lower quality. So I just wanted to replace it all with Avia. The LSs that the Addiction comes with do seem to be pretty good, though. I also wanted as little flex as possible for the US.
So actually, all you really need to replace is the LEs, so for the minimum reframe, just get two 48" .196, the two ferrules, 4 c-clips, two end caps, and two nocks. That should get it down to $15 or so.
I have been using a shorter US to straighten the upper LE (also why I wanted it stiffer). I noticed today, that this is causing the leading edge of the sail to billow out and backwind, so it may be too short. Turns aren't as tight and in some conditions, axels seemed to stall part way through. I am going try a longer US again and compare.
I was flying again today in those same 1 to 4 conditions, and perhaps the low wind range has not been affected afterall. You may be right there Andrew. The kite did better in the low winds than my Level Two Sunrise, which I also flew. The winds were still too erratic to draw definite conclusions, but the kite was sure fun to fly. Balance still seems fine, though I may not be quite as sensitive to the subtleties as some. Fades locked in great, lazy susans were flat, Jacobs and backspins just flowed right along. So at least the balance is still in the ballpark.
Brent
Santa Cruz, CA
My Kite Page
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Reply author: Jim B.
Replied on: September 20 2003 10:34:22 PM
Message:
If I decide to do anything, it will be to replace the le's with 4mm (.1570)
tube. They would compare favorably with skinnies in terms of weight and would be stiff enough for a kite of that size; certainly stiffer than the current le's.
NYC
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Reply author: Mauler
Replied on: September 21 2003 06:49:18 AM
Message:
Jim, by all means, give it a shot. But it occurs to me that the light-wind performance of the kite is excellent right now. To lower the weight even further by changing the spars to .157 tubes would really reduce the mass that's needed for tricking. Right now, I'd call the current weight distribution "perfect."
As a side note, I got an email from Jon Trennepohl saying that if he were to reframe the kite, he would use .180 pultruded as a minimum. I personally think .157 is a little too small, but obviously you can do what you want. Please let us know what you find out.
Andrew
Buffalo, NY
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Reply author: Jim B.
Replied on: September 21 2003 12:43:33 PM
Message:
I was wondering if the Addiction might be just a bit too big for the 4mm. I am not too concerned with losing weight: more with adding some stiffness. It works really well in the Jordana, as you know, but there is a fairly significant difference in size. Hmm. It's cheap to do, so it's worth a shot. Time to get out the tape measure.
NYC
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Reply author: Jim B.
Replied on: September 21 2003 6:04:45 PM
Message:
I pulled the Addiction out of the trunk and flew it this Evening, moved the bridle attachment point above the upper spreader connectors too. Other than that, I think I will leave it alone for now. It really is quite a bit larger than the Jordana. 4mm might be wishful thinking. P series might be nice though.
NYC
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Reply author: rbjensen
Replied on: September 22 2003 1:24:11 PM
Message:
Flies great with the .196 frame. Still good low wind performance and the flexing is no longer an issue. I flew it in heavier gusty winds on Sat, and the kite did fine. It is still small and light, so it gets thrown around a bit in the gusts and certainly is not as solid as a larger kite, but it was fun to fly, and I was still able to pull off the tricks. And they look good too. Last night I had a steady 4 to 5mph breeze and that kite was in heaven. I see no reason for a lighter frame, unless your are trying to fly in the 1-2-3 mph wind range.
This kite is so nice for backspins. I can actually do them consistently and there is control. I can slow them down a little, speed them up, try to get them flatter, make them rise or fall, etc.
The first kite I have really been able to do this with.
Of course stuff like axels, flatspins, multi-lazies, flic-flacs, and jacobs ladders are relatively easy and look good too.
Precision stuff, though -- not really. The Frenezy (and even the big brother ADX) is much better in that department. This kite inspires freestyle tricking, not precision figures.
Brent
Santa Cruz, CA
My Kite Page
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Reply author: icenum
Replied on: September 22 2003 7:21:23 PM
Message:
Jim explain what you did in detail if possible on bridle
I've decided to leave the upper & lower spreader as they are, and try either a 1800 pultruded, on the leading edges and the spine or the newer P90's Sky Shark rods if they prove not to be too stiff.
Seeing how the kite needs the weight at the LE (4mm solid rods)in the LE for proper momemtum hopefully the 1800 or P-90 might would compensate nicely If I get the kite to stiff I will have excessive oversteer,and it won't be able to pull camber into leading edges.
Now 1800 pultruded, or the P90's?
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Reply author: Jim B.
Replied on: September 22 2003 9:36:57 PM
Message:
just move the loops at the upper bridle attachment point on the leading edge above the upper spreader connectors from their stock position below the upper spreader connectors Dan. That's it.
NYC
