Anyone tried putting a new grip on their bar?

Today I did mine using heavy duty permanent double sided tape and handle bar tape wrapped on tight and the middle finished with stikaflex marine sealant.

My 2013 North bar grip was slowly coming off and as the rest of the bar was in pretty good nick, so I thought I would give it a shot. The only place it wasn't falling off was where I had re-glued it with shoe glue.

What have others used? Would like to know so I have another option if this doesn't work.

Cheers,

B

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crakas said..
Anyone tried putting a new grip on their bar?

Today I did mine using heavy duty permanent double sided tape and handle bar tape wrapped on tight and the middle finished with stikaflex marine sealant.

My 2013 North bar grip was slowly coming off and as the rest of the bar was in pretty good nick, so I thought I would give it a shot. The only place it wasn't falling off was where I had re-glued it with shoe glue.

What have others used? Would like to know so I have another option if this doesn't work.

Cheers,

B`

crakas said..
Anyone tried putting a new grip on their bar?

Today I did mine using heavy duty permanent double sided tape and handle bar tape wrapped on tight and the middle finished with stikaflex marine sealant.

My 2013 North bar grip was slowly coming off and as the rest of the bar was in pretty good nick, so I thought I would give it a shot. The only place it wasn't falling off was where I had re-glued it with shoe glue.

What have others used? Would like to know so I have another option if this doesn't work.

Cheers,

B

Let me know how this goes. I have the exact same 2013 North bar and it is delaminating fast. Looks like you did a good job, looks better than before.

I have used tennis racket grip before, it worked ok for about a year.

But you should get more than a couple of years use out of your North bar???

You didn't try for warranty???

Nice job !! but ^^^ I agree - North Bars are pretty crappy - I have a mate who flies North and the cover on his bars just peels off - nice kites shame about the bars !!!

Never considered tennis racket grip....but might try that if this doesn't work.

I didn't claim warranty as the bar is over 18 months old and considering what it is asked to do and the conditions it does it in.

I do agree that a premium product should last a bit longer. I think they used the wrong glue in assembly as the glue was very brittle and lacked any flexibility which one would assume is needed when glueing foam to alloy. Plus I think that have put to many pieces of foam on the bar, so everywhere there is a join is a potential failure point.

Briskites have 2014 bars at a good price at the moment but I am not to fussed on the colouring as it is easy to confuse which end is which when in trouble, so I decided to try and re-grip this one. I already have a 2014 bar and it definitely "feels" better than the 2013, but I just keep that as a spare.

Everything else on the bar works great and is of awesome quality....and the kite itself is lasting beyond expectations.

Cheers,

B

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crakas said...
Never considered tennis racket grip....but might try that if this doesn't work.

I didn't claim warranty as the bar is over 18 months old and considering what it is asked to do and the conditions it does it in.

I do agree that a premium product should last a bit longer. I think they used the wrong glue in assembly as the glue was very brittle and lacked any flexibility which one would assume is needed when glueing foam to alloy. Plus I think that have put to many pieces of foam on the bar, so everywhere there is a join is a potential failure point.

Briskites have 2014 bars at a good price at the moment but I am not to fussed on the colouring as it is easy to confuse which end is which when in trouble, so I decided to try and re-grip this one. I already have a 2014 bar and it definitely "feels" better than the 2013, but I just keep that as a spare.

Everything else on the bar works great and is of awesome quality....and the kite itself is lasting beyond expectations.

Cheers,

B

The problem lies in the r&d, how can you tell how long a bar will last when you change that bar year after year, north arnt the only brand, ozone are constantly under pressure to update their bars, maybe this is why they stick to a tried and tested design

Totally agree.....

B

my 2013 north bar had the same problem. Fell apart after 9 months. It did get used a fair amount in that 9 months. Always washed though. The QLD shop which I bought the kite and bar from said they would only give me a new bar and nothing else. This would mean I would have to reconnect all the original lines to the new bar. Couldn't be bothered. I just tore all the grip off and used it without grip. The depower rope slowly started to fall apart and have the red cord come through so I got rid of it in the end. I agree good kites, crap bars and crap after sales.

North has a big issue with grip coming off windsurf booms too. Hmm

Crakas, If replacing, also google for windsurf boom re-grip. why use other sports stuff if the same thing is available ?

Just wrap it in ice hockey tape. It's cheap, can be bought online and when it wears out you just put some more on. I actually prefer it over the Eva grip that most bars have.

Boom grip work's a treat. Any sailboard shop has it, and kwik grip.

Boom grip... Never thought of that..sounds ideal.

I have been using this bar a bit now and overall I am happy with the result, but it is not perfect. The grip makes it a little thicker than the standard bar and it is not as "grippy" . It is very soft though and considering it cost about $20, probably not a bad result.

The marine sealant that I used to finish off the end of the grip has come away a little, so I am going to put some heat shrink tape over it..

Would I do it again...yes..

B

I used to play hockey for a few years and there is a shimmy grip designed to provide more grip when wet. I reckon they'd go alright. Other hockey stick grips be good too