Description
Presentation of the F-One Bandit-S4 kite
The BANDIT S4 follows your every move in total control. The kite never surges in power if you throw it in the window; it simply allows you to kite smoothly in the right position and ride by feel. It provides a more subtle ride as well as a constant connection with your board. You are not being pulled away, nor are your trajectories being disturbed.
For this version, the R&D team worked intensively on making the entire profile amazingly sleek and implemented original staggered seams on the trailing edge. The seam’s tension line is thus broken, which means the entire profile of the canopy is leveled when the kite is fully powered. We kept the fabric’s orientation towards tension as well.
On the back of the profile, we have reduced the overtensions thanks to the staggered seams. The two vertical TECHNOFORCE 52 panels have been changed to one, and on sizes 8m² and smaller we developed a new TECHNOFORCE 66 panel. It is stronger and more resistant on elongation to offer a better control of the profile on smaller sizes for higher winds.
On sizes of 9m² and above, we have kept the TECHNOFORCE 52 to guarantee lightness, as well as the two layers of TECHNOFORCE 52 canopy with staggered seams on the trailing edge.
This all leads to more efficiency. Overall, this perfectly even canopy profile brings a greater sense of stability without feeling disturbances or the bar moving and leads to incredible performances in the high end.
The struts’ reinforcements are now super sleek as well thanks to the Kevlar strip on the top. This improves the kite’s steering and maneuverability, reduces the aerodynamic disturbances, and decreases the overall weight of the kite once wet.
Our 4 points connections bridle and two pulleys guarantees maneuverability and control in all conditions.
The new, CNC-shaped, anodized aluminum low friction “pulleys” are super lightweight and increase the kite’s reactivity. They also raise the bridle’s resistance to abrasion and its overall durability.
This kite brings an amazing handling and a super crisp steering response that delivers immediate reaction from inputs on the bar. It’s easy to keep the BANDIT S4 ahead of every move and ready for the next input. Power delivery is clean, and although quick, very intuitive in feel to adapt to.
Thanks to its legendary Delta C-Shape, the only still-patented kite design, this kite offers incomparable bar feeling, the best relaunching ability and exceptional stability.
Enjoy the unique flowing nature of the BANDIT S4 which will allow you to draw lines and get some airs in total control.
Program
Sizes
| SIZE (m²) | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WIND RANGE (knts) | 30+ | 25+ | 23+ | 20+ | 16 > 28 | 14 > 25 | 12 > 22 | 10 > 20 |
| WEIGHT (kg) * | 1.71 | 1.89 | 2.09 | 2.25 | 2.40 | 2.61 | 2.81 | 3.02 |
| BAR Size (cm) | 45 / 38 | 45 / 38 | 45 / 38 | 45 / 38 | 45 / 38 | 45 / 38 | 45 / 38 | 52 / 45 |
Technology
| DELTA C-SHAPE DELTA C-SHAPE technology design offers unmatched stability and steering response when fully de-powered, with the possibility of connecting the front lines higher on the leading edge of the kite. This shape was the result of a design research towards maximum optimization of the aerodynamic performances of the kite and of its depower. It gives the possibility to fit more canopy area in the middle sections to create more projected area while the C Shape makes sure the kite remains responsive and fluid. |  DELTA C-SHAPE is a patented design used by F-ONE on all kites for the past 15 years. |
| REACTOR VALVE Our fast inflation & deflation valve. |   |
| AUTO RELAUNCH Once the kite is sitting with the leading edge flat on the water, its C-Shape associated with the Delta Pivot allows the kite to automatically roll over onto one wing tip. |  |
| The kite will then glide towards the edge of the window, ready for quick and easy water re-launch. |  |
| STAGGERED SEAMS This brand-new F-ONE’s design innovation offers an amazingly sleeked profile for more efficiency and sharper performances. Original staggered seams have been implemented on critical parts of the kites. The seam’s tension line is broken offering a perfectly leveled canopy profile when the kite is fully powered.  | The fabric is orientated towards tension. The perfectly even canopy profile brings a sensational stability without feeling disturbances in the bar.  |
| TECHNOFORCE TEIJIN’s TECHNOFORCE™ is the most reliable high density polyester fabric. Its tear-stopping structure using thin and high tension yarn makes the fabric ultra-durable. It has a great proven track record of lightness and durability. |  |
Details
| BACK LINE TUNING How to adjust the settings? | SHEETED IN The back line is released and the forces go through the front connector. The bar pressure increases and the maneuvrability is less direct. It offers a very progressive bar with a feeling of a sheeted out back connector while we sheet in, therefore the pressure increases progressively. | SHEETED OUT The kite tilts and the back line stiffens. The tensions move to the trailing edge which has several effects: - less flapping - better start - maneuverability with less pressure. |
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| HIGH TENSION TUNING When the kite is sheeted out with the upper knot tuning (1): -kite’s maneuvrability increases -bar pressure reduces | LOW TENSION TUNING When the kite is sheeted out with the lower knot tuning (2): - kite’s maneuvrability reduces - bar pressure increases |
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| FLAT SEWING Stronger assembly of the panels: they are now glued and sewn together to make the canopy more rip resistant. |  | |
| STREAMLINED LEADING EDGE END TIPS The leading edge tips benefit from a reduced diameter, they are streamlined to lower the drag and equipped with a strap to avoid bridle tangling |  | |
| VERTICAL STRUT CUT The kite's struts are designed with a vertical cut in order to optimize the strength / diameter ratio. |  | |
| F-ONE PULLEY Pulley structure is extremely resistant. |  | Bridle is integrated in the lower part of the pulley, working in its axis and not sideways. Pulleys can be removed independently from the bridle, you can change the bridle and keep the pulley or vice versa. |
| KEVLAR® REINFORCEMENT ON LEADING EDGE Most seams on the leading edge are protected with an abrasion-resistant Kevlar® fabric to prevent the seams from deteriorating when the kite's profile is subjected to aggressive ground friction |  | |
| ONE PUMP COLLAR VALVE Easier to remove and put back.Convenient for bladder replacement. |  | |
| TEIJIN 130G DACRON RIPSTOP F-One have built their kites for 20 years in the most state-of-the-art cloth from Teijin’s factory in Japan. They have developed the best technologies and quality material for the kites over the years. Teijin has worked on a few major developments with the double Ripstop on the canopy cloth and durability treatments. | The kite industry was lacking choice of cloth density. Kites could be build with a 52 gr per square meter for the canopy and about 160 gr for the leading edge, strut and reinforcements. Having only two choices was not easy because on some parts the 52 gr was too light and the 160 gr too heavy. After developments and tests with Teijin F-One can now use a new Dacron 130 gr double Ripstop on the 2020 kites. | By using that new 130 gr cloth, F-One have saved weight while keeping an excellent strength. The new BANDIT 2021 is more reactive and of course feels lighter, which is particularly important for the bigger sizes, in the light wind or for the turning speed during kite-loops. |
