Rider: 100kg,Level intermediate
Style: Freeriding, Surf,
Weather:15 + knots
Build Quality: ?/10
Satisfaction: ?/10


I have a 2008 Cab switch blade 12M and contra 14M the pulley system or 2 to 1 system was supposed to lighten the bar pressure I thought. I have been struggling with these kites pulling left all the time, yes I have triple checked lines are the same length could the kite bridals be an issue?, and the bar pressure is huge over 20kgs, really give me a work out, just tried my mates ozone 12M straight after the cabs and thought I was in heaven on account of there was no bar pressure. What is wrong with this set up if anything??

Could either be that you have one arm a lot longer than the other, or the simple fact that you kites are 6 years old and fckd

I know someone who has made some modifications on a 20007 Contra, including a pulley less bar and single line flag out. Pictures and explanation (in Dutch) you will find here: www.kitehigh.nl/forum/?topic=37331.0. Bar pressure has been reduced en kite is still in use (mainly for snow kiting).

Measure all your bridle lines and make sure both sides are equal. An old 06 switchblade I had pulled to one side and one bridle line had stretched , there was a 6cm differences.

and get rid of the 2:1 steering simple if you have all the parts as it nearly doubles the bar pressure and makes for a lot more fun kite
you have to change the bar and the 1 part on the bridel

Cabrinha mod. for the Contra and Crossbow.

http://www.ksmaui.com/resources/pdfs/08_XB3_Bridle_Mod.pdf

The original cabrinha pulley bars actually doubled the bar pressure due to their configuration and didnt reduce bar pressure as many think, they are set up in reverse.

They where designed to work with the kite bridle system., removing the 2:1 pulley bar without changing how the bridle is set up will impact on how the kite works.

Awesome cheers for all the info and links guys,

I will remove the 2:1 and measure the bridal for differences, on weds when I get home.

14M is still crispy and heaps fun to launch and fly on, big kites with soft landings fun fun.
12m is good one to lend to friends trying it out, be nice to make it a bit easier on them.

Actually from memory I don't believe the switchblades ever had the 2:1 bar, maybe that's half the problem.

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Smithy said..

Actually from memory I don't believe the switchblades ever had the 2:1 bar, maybe that's half the problem.

Your right Smithy I bought it second hand from SB and it came with a normal 1:1 bar that got stolen in sanuar in bali, little bugger tired to sell it back to me for $100 au I pinned him down and got mobbed buy his crew yelling and screaming, I let him go and never saw it again so I use the 14m Contra bar for both now.

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Jared888 said..

Smithy said..

Actually from memory I don't believe the switchblades ever had the 2:1 bar, maybe that's half the problem.

Your right Smithy I bought it second hand from SB and it came with a normal 1:1 bar that got stolen in sanuar in bali, little bugger tired to sell it back to me for $100 au I pinned him down and got mobbed buy his crew yelling and screaming, I let him go and never saw it again so I use the 14m Contra bar for both now.

You should be able to disconnect the pulley lines at the top of the trim strap and reconnect them onto the rear lines to turn the bar into a 1:1 for the Switchblade.

The first gen Cabrinha Switchblade (2006) was a pulley bar 2:1 setup. 2007 onwards went to 1:1. The 2:1 made for exceptionally easy water relaunching.

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terminal said..

Jared888 said..

Smithy said..

Actually from memory I don't believe the switchblades ever had the 2:1 bar, maybe that's half the problem.

Your right Smithy I bought it second hand from SB and it came with a normal 1:1 bar that got stolen in sanuar in bali, little bugger tired to sell it back to me for $100 au I pinned him down and got mobbed buy his crew yelling and screaming, I let him go and never saw it again so I use the 14m Contra bar for both now.

You should be able to disconnect the pulley lines at the top of the trim strap and reconnect them onto the rear lines to turn the bar into a 1:1 for the Switchblade.

Thats what I did today, going for a test run tomorrow down augusta, friend lent me his bar from a 2006 cross bow that was set up as 2:1 so I will compare them across my 2008 switch blade and contra forecast looks sweet

the lines are all the same length when at full power ( de power strap black pulled all the way so front lines are as long as they can be, when bar is about 1 inch from chicken loop )

I connected the center lines to the metal loop with intention to cut off the pully pig tail set up I dont need the centre line flag out


I'll feedback what happens tommoz

should be ok with my set up you put front lines onto the ring I will dig my 07 revolver set up out and take a photo the flaging line was a pain as it was set up . One line to pigtail near little ring . the other front line was feed through the little ring and had a ring on it and this is where you connected your flagging line . It was a PAIN in the ass as it was flapping around you all the time and it got all twisted up with looping kite ect .