Hoyt Eclipse riser vs KAP Winstar II riser vs Sebastien Flute SF Forged riser

[sonicbrew_270]

Hi all,

Now I know there are similar threads to this one on the forum between the Eclipse and Winstar2 and opinions differ depending on peoples preference, which I seem to be learning there is no correct answer its all down to personal preference.

I'm looking to purchase a riser in the next month or so and I have narrowed it down to three that I like with ILF in my price range the Eclipse,Winstar2 and the SF forged riser. I was wondering what are peoples experiences with these 3 risers as I have read some stories about some people having problems with the SF riser.

I found on altsports a deal for a SF riser with GSF limbs for £229.82 which is cheaper than any one else that I have seen, as I am a newbie what are GSF limbs and do I need them? I can get the SF riser for £125 and buy cheaper limbs like KAP Winstorm limbs for £64 (people have generally advised to buy the cheapest limbs) saving me about £41 to spend on other archery goodies or is it worth paying the extra amount for the GSF's?

Can some one also please tell me what is the ettiquete of trying out risers in a shop? the nearest shop to me is quicks in Hampton, but I have found there equipment very pricey compared to others but there is no where else I can get to. I dont want to go there try a selected few risers with out the intention of buying from them and wasting there time, can some one help me on this one please?

Sorry lots of questions in this hooked enthusiastic archery head of mine

cheers

[Rhys]

CBA do the SF riser and limbs for less than that.

Shops probably won't be too happy if you go and try out their risers and then buy from another shop and in all honestly it would be slightly rude.

I like both the eclipse and SF risers, though my preference is obviously for the SF as i now own one. It looks awesome, but the alignment system is my least favourite.

[Hidden Hippo]

In the grand scheme of things Quicks aren't that much more pricey, but I think it is worth the extra to have the chance to try out the stuff you'll be buying - far cheaper than getting it wrong.

[jet186]

Originally Posted by sonicbrew_270

Hi all,

Now I know there are similar threads to this one on the forum between the Eclipse and Winstar2 and opinions differ depending on peoples preference, which I seem to be learning there is no correct answer its all down to personal preference.

I'm looking to purchase a riser in the next month or so and I have narrowed it down to three that I like with ILF in my price range the Eclipse,Winstar2 and the SF forged riser. I was wondering what are peoples experiences with these 3 risers as I have read some stories about some people having problems with the SF riser.

I found on altsports a deal for a SF riser with GSF limbs for £229.82 which is cheaper than any one else that I have seen, as I am a newbie what are GSF limbs and do I need them? I can get the SF riser for £125 and buy cheaper limbs like KAP Winstorm limbs for £64 (people have generally advised to buy the cheapest limbs) saving me about £41 to spend on other archery goodies or is it worth paying the extra amount for the GSF's?

Can some one also please tell me what is the ettiquete of trying out risers in a shop? the nearest shop to me is quicks in Hampton, but I have found there equipment very pricey compared to others but there is no where else I can get to. I dont want to go there try a selected few risers with out the intention of buying from them and wasting there time, can some one help me on this one please?

Sorry lots of questions in this hooked enthusiastic archery head of mine

cheers

Hi there, I thought long and hard before replying to your post, as a newcomer to archery, I would resist the temptation to save a couple of £'s by buying online , as when you go to an archery retailer, once you have made your choice, they will set up the bow correctly for you, offer guidance and advice, measure you for arrows, i assume you'll need them, all this is absent when buying from an e store,they assume that you know what you need/want. once you have gained a level of experience then thats a whole different ball game. I cannot imagine any Archery specialist store leaping for joy at the prospect of someone walking through the door and asking them to set up gear purchased from elsewhere.

[Hodgelett]

AltSports are also starting to get a worrying reputation for risers. One of the Hampton Quicks guys mentioned a guy whose bow broke and AltSports blamed the archer and wouldn't replace it. My ex's AltSports riser also broke within a couple of months.
So you'll also be getting a warranty with Quicks.

[false-logic]

I picked up my riser and limbs from Quicks near Hampton Court, and it was a pretty good experience. Yeah, I paid more than if I had ordered it from elsewhere, but I spent 2 1/2 hours trying different bows...and I would almost certainly have made the wrong choice had I not. Staff there are fairly helpful, and didn't pressure me at all, so it was definitely worth it.

[Barrythebow]

Yeah, advice from the others is good.
I was going to buy a Hoyt Ultra-tec off an Archers rest user. Dont know about compounds, could easily have come unstuck. Chris at Merlin sorted me out, ok, the Hoyt was a higher spec than the TM5 Chris sold me, albeit a second hand Hoyt, but Chris set the TM5 up & everything & taught me the basics of shooting it.
Had i bought the Hoyt, i suspect i would have ended up 'cap in hand' at Merlin & paying them to sort it out.

[Jay.g]

Definitely try it if you can but if you really can't here's my thoughts on your inquiry.

I would definitely go with the eclipse over all else as it is light, good for beginners, Very reliable limb alignment system and it is a very well built riser. Shame hoyt has stopped producing it though. I'd say for you buying an eclipse would be the same as having an Helix in terms of performance for beginner. It is an awesome riser to progress on with. You get the Ergo grip to go with as well which IMO is probably the most comfortable factory grip out.

Winstar2, probably the most popular of intermediate level risers, as it has a good price and performance to match. I don't see anything wrong with going with the Winstar2 either but if you want something you can go on progressing to higher level with then its probably not very ideal as I don't like the quality of the Stab bushings or the attached-on limb pockets.

SF riser, never shot one, but knows a beginner who has it. Had troubles with getting limbs to aligned though it probably was more to do with the limbs than anything else. Looks very well made and solid, also quite good I think but you'd have to try it to see. GSF are IMO best beginners limbs you can buy for the price. It was glass and foam core limbs. Very smooth for beginners limbs and got a good grunt for power. I've shot one as a training pair at 40lb. Very good limbs to buy for starting out and moving on to higher ground.

[EVC]

Originally Posted by Jay.g

...SF riser, never shot one, but knows a beginner who has it. Had troubles with getting limbs to aligned though it probably was more to do with the limbs than anything else. Looks very well made and solid, also quite good I think but you'd have to try it to see. GSF are IMO best beginners limbs you can buy for the price. It was glass and foam core limbs. Very smooth for beginners limbs and got a good grunt for power. I've shot one as a training pair at 40lb. Very good limbs to buy for starting out and moving on to higher ground.

The SF has the same limb alignment system as Winstar II and Winact (though I do not know if material quality differs between them.

One of my GSFs have a badly cut ILF grove so that it is misaligned and hard to align. So I would not recomend it.

IMO the OP should go with the Winstorms as they will probably be temporary as he progress towards higher poundage.



Elder.

[Random_guy]

I'd say the best of the three is the SF (but then I'm biased ). I've shot the eclipse and wasn't impressed with the reaction i got from it. Haven't shot the winstar II, but then again i don't know anyone who has bought it and stuck with it.

The SF is based on the old Yamaha, which was a very successful bow, its very reactive, well built, and has a better finish than the eclipse (which was often described at the club as 'fisher price colours'! Also I know an MB who shoots the SF, so you can guarantee it won't hold you back even at the top of your game.

There is a proviso with the SF is the grip. The stock grip is weird, so i'd adivse changing it pretty quickly for either a Jaeger grip or getting hold of a matrix grip and spending a couple of hours with a vice and a file altering it to fit! (i chose this option).

If you're looking for a riser that you won't need to replace, I'd definitely go with the SF.