Daiwa Luvias

[chris_lemess]

Holy cow is there a sexier reel around at this level? Had a play with one of these and it makes you NOTICE a slight whir in the Shimano Sustain! This thing is as mechanically faultless as a Stella! Magnesium (treated for saltwater) body that's almost fully sealed... and my favourite bit - the 2500 has a 7kg drag! Even the 1500 model has a 4kg drag. My HLZ Jerking Special is now yearning for one of these babies! :D

Info here: http://www.daiwaseiko.co.jp/fishing/bass/bass_spinreel/tournament/tour05.html

[kang]

Now that is sexy. is it available in Australia? How much would one of these cost?:D

[chris_lemess]

Available in Oz soon I think. Cost is likely to be comparable to a Sustain as it is Daiwa's new competitor...

[bubba]

400+ from memory

[kang]

thanks guys... 400+ a bit off the bargain. i'm looking for a new reel. bussed the bailarm of the old one yesterday.

[kang]

any recommendations on a good reel that goes a bit easier on the pocket?

[jimi]

Wow, those things are light too. Only 220 grams for the 2000 sized model, vs around 290-300 for the sustain. Thanks must go to that magnesium body. Amazing what one less proton per atom will do for you (sorry, I'm a nerd :D ).

Don't know how well "treated" it is for saltwater though. "Treatments" often have a habit of coming off over time which may result in a $400 door stop.

Cheers
James

[jimi]

Hey Kang, what is your budget? There's heaps of good reels around these days for under $200. The Diawa Laguna is a goody at $169 for the 2000 size.

Also any thing from the Okuma range is pretty good. The epix efs-20 is the current top model for around $125 (note that they are a little on the heavy side - I still have 2 of them though), also the avengers are not bad for $70.

Shimano has the Symetre for $190 ish, and if you budget can stretch, you can get a Stradic for $230 which is a very nice reel.

Cheers
James.

[kang]

Thanks Jimi.:D was actually looking out for diawa laguna. think it might just be the right one. cheers:D

[jimi]

No worries kang. The current very favourable exchange rate of the Aussie dollar vs the USD may mean the reels become even cheaper soon. I guess it depends on where they are made.

The Aussie vs the Yen hasn't changed much so won't help direct importing from Japan (if that's what you had in mind), from the US however.........;)

[wandtheswan]

you could prolly do Sambo jigging with the 2500 model lol
very nice reels

[breamMisfit]

I have a Daiwa Luvias 2000, and let me tell you these things rock... It also has digi gearing (like the Saltiga range)
I got mine here in Oz at compleat angler melbourne , paid $629.00. Worth every cent.....................:D

[Richo]

Geezuz Chris,

as if us tackle junkies havn`t got enough problems hiding our current purchases, then you go post this reel up, looks the goods as well, god damn Im a victim, I wonder how long can I fight the urge for.

cheers

[jimi]

Fight? You mean we're supposed to fight it? Oh $hit, no wonder my bank account is always empty.

Maybe I should just get my work to put my pay directly into Breammasters account and just bypass the middle man (ie. my credit card) altogether. :D ;) :rolleyes: :mad:

[breamMisfit]

Don't fight it guys..... just go with the flow(lol)
There's nothing that compares with it..actually thereis it's the Daiwa Tournament Airity (top of the line) but this is basically a down market(cheaper) version the Airity costs like $1200.
I have both now and apart from being broke for months I'll never go back to anything else...............
So at $600 odd bucks it's the best thing going around at the moment...:D

[chris_lemess]

Jimi - I was jubious about the "treated" Mg in the frame... I don't think it's coated - maybe it's some sort of alloy instead? They certainly market it as a saltwater-capable reel...

[Bassifier]

Nice.. but not at the price.
These reels are only worth about $300 Aus ex JP. Daiwa Aus retail them at $580- $600.
They are dynamite in weight and overall size comparison against the TDZ and TDS range.
I agree they are comparable to a sustain, but as to how much better?? I dont know.
I played with one a couple of months ago and as impressed as I was, i felt the Sustain was better value.

Richard.

[Richo]

Yeah - I agree Bassifier

It seems they have gone the opposite way to when the Daiwa Heartland Zs came out during the year, they were cheaper than what the costs in Yen were quoted at, and now its the other way around for the reels, whats the deal. Cant they just convert to Aus $$ and sell the bloody things for their true value. Or is it they know its good and therefore mark them up because people will buy them.

Nothing ceases to amaze me, but it dosn`t stop me buying.

Gday breammisfit...
I think I spoke to you on my trip to Melbourne a while back...like July!?
Im the young guy from perth who went into Complete a few times...
Hows things over there?
Oh yeah...quality reel!


Dave

[chris_lemess]

Richo - most likely because the HL-Zs were never a part of the Aus line, whereas the reels are going to be (as far as I'm aware). The rods were brought in as excess/old stock and the first time they came in were even cheaper at about $180 apiece. So yeah the Luvias is going to be available all the time and therefore they charge whatever the hell they want. And yes there's a large markup on the cost price.

[breamMisfit]

G'day Kingpin,
Yeh, things are o.k. except for the cold , rain and wind.
Got a week off work coming up so at least there's a fishing trip at the end of the rainbow...
So how are you? Are you due back in Melb any time soon?
Might have to arrange a fish.....;)

for the WA guys
they are available from Bluewater Myaree
Not sure about the price $400 - $500
They also have the Fream which is exactly the same as the Capricorn wth 1 bearing less for $249 I think

http://www.plat.co.jp/english/bass/daiwa/freams.htm
incidently this site sells them from $125
and their luvias from $300 for the standard spool ones
and from $320 for the shallow spool

gday breammisfit.
im due back early december for an extended stay. I'll be there for 3 weeks or so!
Definately catch up. Bradly said he'll get me out to...MAD:D
I've been ok, bit busy and DohDohDohDoh, but yeah...all is well
Catchya mate

Dave

[BenS]

I'll have to concur with the misfit on this one......

I've had one on a heartland for a coupla months and I dont know any reel (apart from something that costs over $1200) that can "winch" big blacks out of heavy structure like this.

I was given a demo on the 1.5 - 2 kg trevs under Willy Peir, while I spent the whole day getting smacked around on the pylons and looking like an amatuer (which I probably am anyway, Hehe!).

I thought the price tag was over the top but I reckon this little reel will last longer than the abu cardinal 757 I retired a few years back, LoL!

Anyway, if you have the chance I'd definitely take one out for a spin.....this is certainly the next level. I'll just have to learn to tie knots faster caoz I wont be fishing with two rods until I can get hold of another Luvias.

Cheers

BenS

ps....the magnesium coating doesnt come off when you rub the reel on your body when you get home

[chris_lemess]

Good work Ben sounds like the extra drag pays off.

What's the heaviest braid you've fished off yours and in your honest opinion do you think if you put 7kg of drag through that reel the bail etc woudl stand up to the pressure?
Have you tested the drag at all? Is it really 7kg?

cheers

[SimonT]

A quick question about the Luvias. If you had the choice between the Sustain and the Luvias, and they were the same price, which one would be the better choice? I have a sister who lives in Japan and they are the pretty well the same price (the Sustain is the Japanese equivalent called the Twin Power) at the tackle shop near her - sub $300 Australian. I am unable to have a head to head, so I was wondering if anyone else has and can help me out.

Thanks,
SimonT

[madsurfe]

lots of nice little reels out there... just look at Kev gleed using a Shimano Sedona. Mim has one and it spins up real nice but the std drag was a worry 'til Ian Sewell tweaked it and now it's capable. my little Pflueger Trion 4725 is nice and smooth with 6 drag washers and a roller bearing under the spool. The drag works a treat and there around $125. If your on a budget check them out.

[chris_lemess]

Simon - I'd go the Luvias for sure. It's lighter and has more than twice the drag capacity. If I were you I'd go for the 2500 model as you're spending that much on a reel it might as well be versatile.