Rokkaku kites - a great choice

My 1,592nd kite video. I made this video over two months ago, but just got around to uploading it. The rokkaku is a type of kite often overlooked, but while not as simple as a delta or diamond, for example, it's well worth considering for your next kite. There are many designs to choose from, since the shape and angle of flying make it ideal for artistic expression.

[@DanielDeRudder]

I also love Rokkaku's because of their purety of design and flight characteristics.

[@JimNicholls]

Yes, they're a real classic design.

[@redkitecrewJonny]

Great to see these Jim, I have the HQ Gecko and Soluna tucked away. It’s high time I got them out for a fly. Thanks for taking the time to show this wonderful selection.

[@JimNicholls]

The HQ roks were very well made, but in my experience not the greatest fliers, Jonny. They are a little too small to fly really well, I think, although the LL Roks are also small but do fly very well, albeit in light wind only.

[@danokitemanotoo1791]

The only thing I like better than a Rokkaku is a Rokkaku Battle! I have participated in plenty of them over the years!

[@JimNicholls]

I've watched them, but never felt the urge to take part. I guess I'm not the competitive type.

[@0KiteEatingTree0]

Just in the process of selling a 3D illusion I remember the altitude races at festivals Always fun

[@kiteflyingdownunder....car6272]

Shall we have a fight over which one to fly. Maybe not. Great variety.

[@JimNicholls]

We may get a chance to fly some next weekend, Carl, if you bring the right wind with you.

[@deweygravesjr.122]

That was a all around great video Jim. I don't have a Rokkako. Now I see I need one. I like the Pirate and the last one. Nice work Jim. Thank you.

[@JimNicholls]

They are good kites to have in your collection, Dewey.

[@MarkAGroh]

What a great collection, my favorite is the one I can't afford, @ $400. I am looking to add one more rok to my collection this year~

[@JimNicholls]

Roks are nice kites to have, Mark.

[@alexwessi4013]

Hi Jim. Thank you for sharing!!!! Now I know a lot more about rokkaku kites. Very intersting!!!! I most of the time only fly 2 lines kites. But my wife and I are working on a 15m neon green Octopus now. Its very much work and a big challange for us. It is only kite no. 4 we buit so far.... Looking forward to your video 1600+ !!!!! WE LOVE IT!!!!

[@JimNicholls]

I hope your latest kite-building goes well. An octopus is certainly a challenging item, and I'll be interested to know how it turns out.

[@alexwessi4013]

@@JimNicholls from Monday on we will have a "mini" lock down in Germany. Hopefully this will give us time to finish the Octopus.

[@TheRevFlyer]

Great video Jim, Roks are by far my favourite stick kites but that could be because they were the first single line kites I had when I started to dip my toe into the world of single liners

[@JimNicholls]

They are definitely under-appreciated, and when just flying a single kite rather than putting on a display, they are among my favourites for sure.

[@halaasen3416]

An admirable collection Jim! I believe I only have three, including the “Eagle of Paradox” but they are great flying kites. Carry on sir, we all continue to enjoy your adventures with the winds.

[@JimNicholls]

Thanks, Hal. The EOP has considerable pull, so I guess you're careful in those Montana winds!

[@ttullis1]

Love my Rok's. and have two. One from Gomberg, now retired so glad I got it when I did, with his eagle logo and one no name from circa 1990 that uses wooden dowels as cross spars but is much smaller than the one from Dave. Both excellent flyers and and one every kiter should have a Rok in his bag. There is also a huge King Tut that one of our members has but does not fly it as often as he should...might have to set up a Rok Fly next spring.

[@JimNicholls]

A whole group of them flying together would look great, Tim.

[@EvanReinheimer]

Nice video. Roks are some of my favorite kites to fly!

[@JimNicholls]

It's surprising that they're not more popular.

[@EvanReinheimer]

@@JimNicholls agreed!

[@fotonmom]

Wonderful collection Jim. It would be hard to say which I like best.. But the stack of three in the pale colors was different.. And of course King Tut is always a winner. Your choice at the end is just stunning!

[@JimNicholls]

That stack of three is very special, Priscilla, but unfortunately the lady who used to sew them passed away and the kites are no longer available. The big one at the end is definitely my favourite, but I wouldn't fly it in high wind.

[@fotonmom]

Jim Nicholls Thanks for taking the time to show us that swell collection. !!!🪁🪁🪁🪁🪁🪁🪁🪁🪁🪁🪁🪁🪁🪁🪁

[@davejentsch824]

Well done Jim - great musical accompaniment too! While I'm partial to my recently purchased Pirate, it is the Eagle of Paradox that is on the Christmas wish list! As always, thank you -

[@JimNicholls]

It's a kite worth having, Dave. Take care in strong winds, as it has quite a pull.

[@stefaanpyckavet]

Nice collection Jim...i have 3 myself...great flyers! Keep on flying! ;-)

[@JimNicholls]

They are certainly great flyers, Stefaan, and of course most of them are very attractive, too.

[@AbsoluteFidelity]

Roks pull real strong for their given size. Its deadly when its over 5 meters and get caught in high winds. Although I have only one that is 4 meters custom made, ive seen the pull of a 5.5 meter one. Crazy. The difference between mine and the 5.5 meter one is huge. I love em! Gonna get a 7 - 8 meter one made soon that has a ying yang design.

[@JimNicholls]

You will have to take great care with that giant rok, or we might see you on the news as you get carried up, up, and away!

[@darrentylor5473]

I had to have one so I bought one that was a display in a shop window for a steal at $40cad. It is still one of my favorite kites to fly in lower winds... Mainly bc it pulls hard in heavy wind. The Illusion is my favorite from your collection with tge spider being my 2nd fav... Only complaint about them is the very first time I set mine up it took 1.5hrs to redo all the lines...

[@JimNicholls]

The bridle lines can be a problem, but once you have them sorted out it's usually fine from there on.

[@seewind]

ROKs are great kites for KAP. Piotr (BlueKiteTeam BKT, from Poland) and SUMAC (from Italy) have sewed a few large ROKs that I use for KAP. The largest is 12 feet high and the smallest is about 8 feet with vent holes in the lower half. See ROK discussion here on the KAP forum: kapforum.org/discussion/discussion/6180/new-rokkaku-kap-kites-from-smac Keep the videos coming!

[@JimNicholls]

Yes, I've seen your roks, and some of the marvelous photography you've done with them.

[@claytonhiland9518]

Hi Jim I ordered my first ROK its the green spider rok. I'm still waiting for it to come. I'm in the US and its coming from China been a mouth. I would like to know hows the quality of the kite and if you could do a video on it. Thanks Clay

[@JimNicholls]

Everything seems to take forever to arrive these days, with the virus having disrupted the postal system as well as everything else. I made at least two videos about the Spider rok a few years ago, and have shown it occasionally since. See kzbin.info/www/bejne/pofWeJmFftp9btE and kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHenqp6bq5WCj6c . I don't know if the kite still comes with a tail, and there was some dispute over that when I bought mine. The quality is not great, but adequate. Mine has flown quite a few times and I've had no problems except the one mentioned in the video where the sliding adjustments on the bowlines weren't right - I can't remember now what the problem was, but I sorted it out easily.

[@claytonhiland9518]

Thanks Jim

[@claytonhiland9518]

Hi Jim I did get my spider roc. After a bridle adjustment that kite flew great. Its a great addition to anyone's inventory. I see more in the future.

[@zainalhakim2538]

Saya suka sekali melihat video Bapak, my favorite KZbin channel

[@JimNicholls]

Thank you, I'm happy that you enjoy the videos.

[@kbunited]

The only one you are missing is the 7ft. dragon rok from Skydog kites. I've got that one as there were only two options, the dragon or the pirate you showed.

[@JimNicholls]

The Dragon looks good, but I think I will resist looking for one.

[@LuisCortes-uu1gm]

Nice video Jim, Rokkaku kites are some of my favorite, Where do you bought kites in China?

[@JimNicholls]

The ones from China come from various sellers on AliExpress. The quality is not always great, but the kites are attractive and fly well.

[@BhutJolokias]

I've already got a Bora 7 in the mail. The wife may get a bit peeved, but I might add a rokkaku too.

[@JimNicholls]

You might have to buy her something, too!

[@BhutJolokias]

@@JimNicholls Lol! After 34 years of marriage, I know how the game is played. She'll get something shiny.

[@radomil1]

Nice video Jim. How big is the LL Rok ?

[@JimNicholls]

The LL stands for "Little Light" and so it's small - just one metre (39") tall, and extremely light.

[@ТимофейБоярский-и3м]

Ну что я могу сказать: Ахуительно!!!

[@ishanierandika4396]

Put a video how to make a kite

[@JimNicholls]

I don't make kites. You'll have to look for videos elsewhere.

[@djproductions2483]

There are no videos

[@peterhartt4518]

@@djproductions2483 If you enter the words "make a kite" in the search box above KZbin will show you many videos about how to make a kite

[@djproductions2483]

Peter Hartt there are no nylon kites

[@LuisCortes-uu1gm]

Search in youtube or google Andrew Newton, He has videos how make Rokkaku kites, with hims videos, I maked Rokkaku kite, it is very easy.