was thinking of getting a new bar this season for two reasons -currently using switch controller 2
happy with most of it

I was looking at the Zian bar for this season
they claim it is the lightest on the market - which appeals to me as the switch is quiet heavy
also quick release/ chicken loop component is shorter then alot of the the bars out there
which means bar is closer to body - good for people who don't have long arms
also cheap - this appeals to me also

does anyone have one of these bars and know what the weight is? length of top of quick release and end of chicken loop?

sent zian email 3 weeks ago and still dont have a reply - customer service forwarded my email to engineering or something ?
cant understand why they couldn't just grab a bar weigh and measure it ?
not that hard really????

thanks

thanks!
looks pretty good do you use this bar yourself?

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samudra11 said...
thanks!
looks pretty good do you use this bar yourself?

No I don't, I ride for best. But that blade bar is mint and definitely worth a look, I have friends that ride it.

Just keep in mind that the zian bar has a high Y and I don't like that.

I also really like naish bar aswell, it's kind of triangle shape and fits in the shape of your fingers amazingly. But they are quite expensive

Don't get to caught up in the weight of a bar, you won't really tell the difference.
My bar is solid aluminium and you can't tell any different when your flying the kite.

I second strydz - at first Sammi I thought you were talking about kite bar pressure but now I understand your angle !
The actual weight of the bar is driven by the composition - aluminium / carbon and whether its hollow or solid ??

Once riding I cant see how the bar weight makes a whole lot of difference ? - within reasonable bar weights!!

Ive had a carbon bar that failed (wasn't a pretty situation!) but now with the aluminium bars that's just not going to happen!!

I prefer the small extra weight of the aluminium bar for the security it provides

I 3rd Strydz

Actual weight of bar won't be noticed while riding. You pull it down mostly rather than lift it. Stiffness, grip, length and diameter would be more noticeable.

Weight might matter for travel, trying to keep your luggage light.

The Industry has a plan to price-up bar & lines at about the same cost as a kite.

Lets say $1000 cause I like dealing in round numbers.

The surfing industry did it years ago when they wanted a wetsuit to be about the same price as a board.

And they succeeded, didn't they ?

Have you ever felt a swich bar, it's about 3 times a weight of everyone else's bar!
Not that it would make a difference but still, it's bloody heavy!

thanks for everyone's input - lots to consider

I am using switch controller 2 - yes its heavy (going go down to the garage and weight)- bit uncomfortable with the grip but I like the simplicity - easy to replace pieces - cheap to replace all bits that may break - its aluminum

good point with carbon fibre - weight versus strength- prefer to have the strength versus weight

good point about price - lets face it a bar is a stick with big whole in center 1 small hole on each end - strings /rope - done!!!

the rest is clever marketing

anyone else who can recommend the blade uni bar?
thanks

$500 for a bit of tin with ropes attached!
i am with waveslave here WTF

Samudra dude

You may be able to just buy a new smaller accessory chicken loop and fit it to your bar setup..
something like this
http://m.ebay.com.au/itm/172306930910

I have Naish and Switch bars - the Naish is lighter and feels nicer to kite with But... have broken 2 and will only trust it in light to medium winds.
I bought a long and short switch (bar only) for my high wind storm riding - as they are very strong, yes slightly heavier but when your throwing down megaloops in 30-40+ knots... it scares me to be hanging onto light bars and lines etc
Just cut that crappy blister grip off and glue 2 or 3mm Windsurfing boom grip, hang onto it all day

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Rails said..
$500 for a bit of tin with ropes attached!
i am with waveslave here WTF

Short below bar push away release with swivel check
PU and non PU center lines options with the 1 bar
PU and NON pu safety line option in the 1 bar
Short or long adjustable throw setting on the 1 bar
20m lines with 4m line extension on the 1 bar
Light weight strong carbon fiber bar build 3 years tested
Soft bar ends to protect face and boards
No above bar swivel, because the mostly don't work, and can catch and jam in the lines
Short V so you can attach go pro, easier self-landing
Top quality french brand name lines
No pins used for release
Under $400
clean and simple

Done, should be online in 1 week

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KiteDesigner said..

Rails said..
$500 for a bit of tin with ropes attached!
i am with waveslave here WTF

Short below bar push away release with swivel check
PU and non PU center lines options with the 1 bar
PU and NON pu safety line option in the 1 bar
Short or long adjustable throw setting on the 1 bar
20m lines with 4m line extension on the 1 bar
Light weight strong carbon fiber bar build 3 years tested
Soft bar ends to protect face and boards
No above bar swivel, because the mostly don't work, and can catch and jam in the lines
Short V so you can attach go pro, easier self-landing
Top quality french brand name lines
No pins used for release
Under $400
clean and simple

Done, should be online in 1 week

What are you going to call it ? ^^^

"The Designer Bar" perhaps ?

You need to call it something.

Awesome but I need a fifth line with high Y aka north.

ok, fine there may be a optional 5th line mod, I hate 5th lines line tangles, 5th line mod may be some weeks away as i have been testing this bar for 2 years, including 120kg riders in 30 knots, and one does not simply make and release something with out good testing, send me the measurements of your 5th line.

Re a name, dont know, its a very adjustable to your needs bar. Im sure SB would have some good and bad ideas for a name

I find it funny that after all these years people only just now are starting to change brands minds about putting a silly Y split on the front lines and the reason behind it is because their Go-Pro doesn't attach well... never mind any of the adverse effects it has on your kite, we need that low Y for selfies!!!

^fark me......all pros, semi-pros and wannabee pros are only intent on kitesurfing while either taking photos of themselves or having photos taken of them.........there always has to be a photo.

Its the biggest PITA when these guys rock up to a spot. Nothing else matters besides getting a photo taken. Real vibe kill.........

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KiteDesigner said..
ok, fine there may be a optional 5th line mod, I hate 5th lines line tangles, 5th line mod may be some weeks away as i have been testing this bar for 2 years, including 120kg riders in 30 knots, and one does not simply make and release something with out good testing, send me the measurements of your 5th line.

Re a name, dont know, its a very adjustable to your needs bar. Im sure SB would have some good and bad ideas for a name

No worries will do, with some pics. I don't get five line tangles...rebels fifth is loaded so its another anchor point on the LE, not just for safety. Nothing beats a five line for safety in conditions where it counts...kills the kite completely and really easy relaunch in my experience. Anyhow it's a must for my kite not a want.

Call it 'Kitedesigner'. or you could go down the 'FIREBALL' marketing path...bahahahahaa

Easy...

Honestly bars are the most over priced bit of kite equipment, I built myn for about $350 and is basically a comp stick/ ozone wake style bar. Might not be as pretty but far stronger than any production bar on the market and easily rebuild able so will last forever. I reckon mass produced production bars would cost kite companies less than $100 to make.

Under $50 actually...

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KiteDesigner said...

Done, should be online in 1 week

Dont forget a single line Barstopper...

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strydz said..
Don't get to caught up in the weight of a bar, you won't really tell the difference.
My bar is solid aluminium and you can't tell any different when your flying the kite.

Clearly, you've never used an adjustable Cabrinha bar it's where the weight is that the problem...

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Rads said..
^fark me......all pros, semi-pros and wannabee pros are only intent on kitesurfing while either taking photos of themselves or having photos taken of them.........there always has to be a photo.

Its the biggest PITA when these guys rock up to a spot. Nothing else matters besides getting a photo taken. Real vibe kill.........

Tell me about it... make sure you've got those worthless likes on social media or you're not worth sponsoring. Funny world we live in.

I think short V is the way to go, much cleaner, less big thick lines, easier relaunch, and you can bore people to death with 3 hours of going across the water.

I never noticed bar weight until I got the switch bar, it's heavy enough that it sinks even with the floaties on the lines. I tossed it in the water the other day to rinse it off after a session and had to dive in after it.

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dyyylan said...
I never noticed bar weight until I got the switch bar, it's heavy enough that it sinks even with the floaties on the lines. I tossed it in the water the other day to rinse it off after a session and had to dive in after it.

Hahahahah classic switch bar!

Waveslade - I get you angle but am even more pissed off when we try to replace bits of our bar sets with the companies 'original' items

Recently I had a look at the cost of buying a bar-n-line in all of it bits and pieces from a reputably kite company - the total bar setup was just nuts - close to the figure you mentioned !!!

And so when you want to replace maybe the line set - what a rip off ?? It seems the brands have the 'once sold now gouge' philosophy ??

Sorry this is a bit off topic regarding bar weight !!

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Lambie said..
Waveslade - I get you angle but am even more pissed off when we try to replace bits of our bar sets with the companies 'original' items

Recently I had a look at the cost of buying a bar-n-line in all of it bits and pieces from a reputably kite company - the total bar setup was just nuts - close to the figure you mentioned !!!

And so when you want to replace maybe the line set - what a rip off ?? It seems the brands have the 'once sold now gouge' philosophy ??

Sorry this is a bit off topic regarding bar weight !!

How about a bar you can easily replace all bits from a local Marine shop, and use generic kite lines,

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KiteDesigner said..
I think short V is the way to go, much cleaner, less big thick lines, easier relaunch, and you can bore people to death with 3 hours of going across the water.

Short V is actually -

harder to relaunch,
harder to self land,
harder to un-tangle lines without landing after an inside out scenario (basically impossible),
and you also have less feedback from the kite at the bar.

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sir ROWDY said..

KiteDesigner said..
I think short V is the way to go, much cleaner, less big thick lines, easier relaunch, and you can bore people to death with 3 hours of going across the water.

Short V is actually -

harder to relaunch,
harder to self land,
harder to un-tangle lines without landing after an inside out scenario (basically impossible),
and you also have less feedback from the kite at the bar.

Wow we agree on something ....

Ok by shortV i meant V split 1m or less close to bar.

I think a V close to the bar is the way to go, like the below image, much cleaner, less than 1m leader lines, less big thick lines, easier relaunch + self land, cleaner simpler and the way most bars are headed.

Like the below bar, but add pu and non pu center line option, long and short bar throw option, 20m + 4m thick strong kite lines, optiona stopper ball, optional 5th line mod, nonflappy depower strap, and under $400 AUS