Hi Earl, hopefully we hear back from one of the guys who picked up one of these prior to their long range trips this season. They've been a short supply piece with high demand, that low first gear being quite an attraction. On the kite the combination of a high gear and very low low seems darn close to brilliant.
Avet bearing problems are much talked about. Did Avet take the opportunity of a new product to tuck a thrust bearing, or even two, into either of the 3-speed reels?
Avet reels do have problems with the bearings, but, from my experience, only the small Avets (HX and below) and only when they are fished beyond specs or contaminated with saltwater. The EX and Raptor reels, from my experience have no more bearing problems than any other reels.
Good to know. There isn't much room on the small Avets to re-machine a sideplate to take a thrust bearing, but the larger ones might accommodate it. And Internet chatter about all things Avet is dominate by the smaller reels.
