Hi Guys,

I'm looking at a new kite, but don't really like the bar that goes with it.
I get the distinct impression that most bars will work with most kites so I'm intending to buy my bar separately.

The Core bar looks nice - I like the idea of the mini loop & I like the idea of the through the bar safety etc - but I don't like the price!

Are there other bars that are as good or better for less than $500?

Thoughts & experience of you guys would be appreciated.
Thanks General Dude

Hi General_dude,

I think that you'll find almost every kite manufacturers bars are around $500 with some being even more! depending on if they are 4 or 5 lines. North 5th Element bar is $620 I think.

Cheers,

I love the ozone bar ....not

Why would you bother with such a useless item with bells and whistles.

Takoon Furia1 bar,the best bar, less then $500,
contact Alex from "Stonker" Torquay,VIC on (03) 52616077.
Good luck

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Lovely said...

I love the ozone bar ....not

Why would you bother with such a useless item with bells and whistles.

Care to elaborate?

Hi Guys,

I wasn't really trying to see what deals were out there - more just get some ideas of what you guys all thought was good or bad about certain bars.

A lot of reviews say "nice clean bar" - that is a pretty useless statement to me.
What does it mean? Did someone just wash it? Does it smell like a baby's bottom?
Or does it mean there is nothing on the bar - does this mean elegant design or agricultural design?

I find it amazing how little info most kite manufacturers give you on the bar when it accounts for as much as a third of the purchase price.

I also don't see why bars & kites are bought and sold as a unit - but maybe I've gone mad.
Are there companies out there that just make bars?

- I'm just keen to see some other views.
Thanks

For me the nicest bar is the JN bar with a few home made mods.... The simple cleat depower system works really well. I take off the QR system on the chicken loop because I found it bulky (CBS BAR - New SWITCHCRAFT BAR not so).

Work a look.

Plus one bar does all kite sizes.

I ride the Bandit Dos now but I had North Rhinos before that and really liked the bar and line setup. Power/depower is on a single line through a steel cleat and the 'iron heart' chicken loop surpasses all other plastic/velcro junk out there. The Dos bar is nice too but unfortunately possesses said plastic chicken loop. You can have my North bar and lines for $75, the kite got stolen last year...

Depends on what you're after I guess, but I've made my own in the past:

Chopped down bar, 4 lines, set of slingy mickey mouse ears so no crossed lines, active stopper, and enough depower rope to dump about 80% of the power if you run your leash off the depower line, otherwise ride suicide. Clean and simple.

I like the below the bar depower and simplicity of the Airush bar (Vapor etc), similar to the North but a little more comfy I think, I have the core bar on my Psycho 4 15m Flysurfer and that is really nice too...

But bar throw on the Vapor bar has my vote for now...

Hey Guys,

Look at bar's that you can have multiple widths eg: North, I think Core and Eclipse morph bar.

I think the Eclipse bar is quite reasonable, 20m lines plus 4m extensions and good grip if anything like the 08 model. Mini 5th and below the bar depower.

I did find the company that actually designed the bar and they do sell it separately.
I think the site is www.kiteattitude.com

I would maybe do away with the CL because the rubber band weakens with age and maybe put on an Airush one or similar.

My 2 cents

Cheers
Rich

I like the ozone of last year
Easy simple replace stuff without a drama.
Its noice works with my kites and simple yet functional with a hint of style.

Great topic! Bars are where it's at now most kites have got great canopies.

I've owned these:
North 5th with cleat depower. Hasn't changed since '07 (I think). Simple. Good stopper system.Wear is induced by number of lines through bar. Spectra,depower and stopper line all crammed through. top chicken release.

Cabrinah IDS: Plastic tubing depower instead of specta is awesome for comfort and smooth travel. However hated the bauble set up above the bar. Good 4 line safety. top chicken release

Slingshot Rev bar : Simple four line safety. once again, got a lot of line coming through the bar. I have snapped one safety bungey while stuffing up a boat launch. The chicken loop release is susceptable to accidental release at first, but i have't done that for a while.

which is best .... who knows really. All I know is that each system bugged me in some way. My current Rev bar does concern my from a dependable safety perspective (ie. if bungy fails under critical load or if I eject the loop on a wave ..nasty!) Overall, Cabrinah on quality, but lose the christmas decorations for depower hanging from underpants elastic! I love plastice depowers for comfort when holding midles of the bar!

Check this bar out.

www.buydomains.com/lander/newkiteboarding.com?domain=newkiteboarding.com&utm_source=newkiteboarding.com&utm_medium=click&utm_campaign=TDFS-OO-BDLander_Invisible&traffic_id=TDFS-OO-BDLander_Invisible&traffic_type=tdfs&redirect=ono-redirect

-All lengths are customizable,
-The first soft bar ends on the market.
-Almost no bits and pieces to wear out.
-Full time flagging safety. Flagging safety action will work with 22 twists.
-The design has been proven in stronger winds than most are willing to ride in.

With a small amount of kite flying skills, the safety will help with relaunch too

The bar has been in production since 2006 and the design is still current for next year.

Here's a duplication of the concept used by the new Eclipse Morph bar. Multiple bar widths by disconnecting larks head, pulling bobbin out and threading through new hole and reconnecting larks head to the backline knot.

I used 2 aluminium kitchen draw handle, bent them a little more and drilled new holes. Used stainless self tapers through the bar part at and angle so less chance of pulling out. Used 6mm stainless wood screw through top of bar end.

Cost: around $20+



Cheers
Rich

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richswing said...

Hi Rich,
The little leader rope with the red ball....^^^
That will chaff on the edge of the hole (that's been drilled thru the steel bracket).
Beware of wear.

Hi Waveslave,

Yea, I know. I was thinking of either drilling the hole bigger and sleeving it with some pneumatic tubing or just putting some heatshrink/dacron tape on the rope just above the bobbin and hand stitching it there.

I was just playing around with some ideas.

Cheers
Rich

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richswing said...

Here's a duplication of the concept used by the new Eclipse Morph bar. Multiple bar widths by disconnecting larks head, pulling bobbin out and threading through new hole and reconnecting larks head to the backline knot.

I used 2 aluminium kitchen draw handle, bent them a little more and drilled new holes. Used stainless self tapers through the bar part at and angle so less chance of pulling out. Used 6mm stainless wood screw through top of bar end.

Cost: around $20+



Cheers
Rich

Looks good!

Taking what Slave said about the wear, did you bevel the edges of the holes? What also might help is if you got some heat shrink tubing from the hardware store and shrunk it over the little leader rope to give it a bit of protection.

Cheers,
Gorilla

PS: see you just beat me to the heat shrink suggestion

And I did bevel the holes of course.

Cheers
Rich

Sooooo.......... who's watching the children?

Great idea Rich.
Wouldnt fancy getting my finger caught between the bar and the handle thing tho.

Noice work Rich!

Always love a bit of using totally unrelated gear for kiting purposes. Does wifey miss the handles on the drawers? Stops the kids getting in them though.

Its got to be the Liquid Force bar, simple, nothing in the way and comfy as any on the market


The 5th line bar as the 5th line above the depower rope and not coming through the bar so therefore no spare lines in the way, real nice safety on the depower rope as well






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