For 2016 Cabrinah is brining a new control bar with a cleat trim system. What is the general opinion about this versus the spring recoil bar?

Here is the link www.cabrinha.com/collections/bars

I chose to stick with the recoil... Was tempted by the new trimlite... But in the end I've never had a problem with the recoil system. I have had issues with clam cleats on my old slingshot kites. So that probably influenced my decision.

From what I have read and or been told ... The trimlite is lighter and looks less cluttered ( recoil is pretty neat anyway IMO) but the adjustment is a further from the bar than the recoil.

Sticking with my 2015 bar for now too, I've never had an issue with the recoil either, usually I set a small amount of trim and leave it. New bars look great but I'm trying to not get caught up in all the marketing hype again and again. At the end of the day my 2015 bar is working great for me.

cleat bar has less depower length. It's also further away From the rider. Would be lighter.

Tempting moreso as I prefer the fixed bar length. Variable length is gimmicky IMO.... Never use it.

I am currently useing a fixed bar wth a cleat system. I like the fact that I can tell how much is my kite trimmed by looking at trim line length. How do you tel on a Cabrinah spring recoil bar?

You can tell by looking at the black trim strap as to how much you have pulled in on the spring system bars. Adjustable length bar I agree is a gimmick

Fixed length 2015 work fine for me, I like one bar per kite so adjustable bar seemed pointless. 2015 bar is great and so simple to reset.

I too thought the adjustable bar was a gimmick ( even posted about it at the time)
However I have completely changed my mind
Wider setting for surfing ( when you want a quick reaction ) and kite loops ( for faster turning )
Narrower setting for unhooked ( slower turning )

I now think it's brilliant

Looks like you cannot get recoil without having to get the adjustable overdrive system.

I would have thought any benefit from adjustable bar width could best be achieved if it allows you to adjust your hand width as well. Seemingly this system allows an increase in line spacing, without a corresponding increase in hand spread (UNLESS you are gripping beyond the corner of the bar). Doesn't this somewhat defeat the purpose? Because there is no increase in fulcrum if that is the correct term.

^^^ but there is an increase in fulcrum and hand/ grip width becomes irrelevant. As long as the bar becomes wider the distance travelled at the end of the bar is greater hence more steering line pulled for the same input and therefore faster turning.
I.e you can still hold the bar with one hand in the middle and roll your wrist to turn the kite our grip width has nothing to do with the how much steering line is pulled... But the length of the bar does.

I have a 2016 1X overdrive bar with the recoil depower and think it's great, especially coming from the older 2012/2013 IDS bars (still good, just hard to reset QR).

I have found overdrive pretty useful when the wind drops a little bit and I can't be bothered to adjust which knot the steering line pigtail attaches to on the kite to get a but more power out of it.

No problems with the recoil depower yet, but on one of my older bars the strap used to get jammed in the buckle... Hopefully this issue is non recurrent.

One thing I have noticed though is that the adjustable ends seem to have sand built up in them from having the bar on the beach after landing the kite. I think I didn't have the overdrive tabs (things you pull on to release the locking mechanism) pushed into their recess on the bar after adjustment while riding.

Does anyone else experience this issue and if so do you know how to get the sand out again?

I've got the 2014 1X and find it difficult (nearly impossible) to adjust the recoil trim strap system when hammering on my 6m kite. No probe with the recoil on the IDS 2013 with my 8m however .
I like the simplicity and fine tuning ability of the cleat system I had with my RRD and F-One kites. Looking to move back to cleat if I can find a used one at a good price And trying to find out if it will retrofit my 2013 & 2014 Switchblades.

I sold my recoil and switched to a trimline, so much better. I thought recoil was bulky, often took several yanks before it would release enough to sheet out (same experience as Odeliska) and felt over built. The new trimline version is quite a nice bar and is relatively simple. So far the bungy line works well. Really comes down to personal preference...

Having used only the recoil for about 4 years, just switched to the trimlite and the immediate difference I noticed was not having the weight of the spring and paraphernalia bouncing up and down on the lines and feeling that transferred to the bar.
Never realised until it wasn't there, now it feels like the new bar is weightless in comparison.

I just wash out the sand with water from a tap and soak bar in tube of water for 30mns. Never had a problem with sand.