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effisk said..
After a few sessions with my hex-core ride engine harness, I'm not fully convinced. I feel this is the perfect harness for perfect conditions, but it's not so comfortable in gusty wind or when overpowered. The arch at the back is to deep and makes it uncomfortable when you have to bend forward in the gusts. The pressure is applied on a small part of your spine instead of being spread on the full surface of the harness. I would like to try something in-between my old Mystic Star harness and the ride engine harness in terms of stiffness.

yep had one and after half a season went straight back to mystic big thumbs down from me for ride engine australia

I am on the market for a new harness and was quite keen to go for a ride engine.

It seems there are mixed reviews on the product so it makes me wonder whether it is worth paying top $ for what appears to be a not so refined product.

I will definitely go for a rope slider system but not sure if I should just go for a Manera + Dynabar or the Ride Engine.

It made sense to have the back plate custom molded to your back (previous Ride Engine) but now that they made their product standard, I am wondering how can they claim that they averaged out hundreds of patterns to make the "one" perfect fit . The local shop won't stock them and would only take order so I can't even try before buying...

If anyone has experience with both Dynabar and Ride Engine, I'd like to hear what they think.

Cheers.

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Livit said..
I am on the market for a new harness and was quite keen to go for a ride engine.

It seems there are mixed reviews on the product so it makes me wonder whether it is worth paying top $ for what appears to be a not so refined product.

I will definitely go for a rope slider system but not sure if I should just go for a Manera + Dynabar or the Ride Engine.

It made sense to have the back plate custom molded to your back (previous Ride Engine) but now that they made their product standard, I am wondering how can they claim that they averaged out hundreds of patterns to make the "one" perfect fit . The local shop won't stock them and would only take order so I can't even try before buying...

If anyone has experience with both Dynabar and Ride Engine, I'd like to hear what they think.

Cheers.

ride engine australia keep saying the new ones are stronger but i had one of the new ones and it fell apart

Just to add to the discussion and it seems to fall in line with a few others.

I tried the Ride Hex Core harness and the mould of the back shell certainly didn't agree with the shape of my spine!
It felt like there was massive V that put pressure on the spine.
The construction and finished looked pretty good.

Sounds like your wearing a size too big.

I went a size down with mine.

It seems to fit perfectly into the lower area of my back and doesn't really move around.

Can actually kite all day now .

I bought a Hex core RE this September. Used it 10 sessions. It's a significant comfort improvement over my Mystic warrior. The durability is still unknown. My previous harnesses lasted 300 sessions and 5 years. Only time will tell.
Kites I use most last test long too, but they cost 4 to 5 times more.....

has anyone compared the metal to carbon fibre slider?

Hey Kozzie,

I have sent you a PM. We haven't had a warranty case logged for this?

Would love to get some more details so we can get this case to our R&D guys.

Cheers
Josh
Ride Engine Aust

Yep, ride in waves all the time. I have the ride custom with slider it's awesome for waves. Hardly know it's there and toeside tacking is so easy.

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Aftrshox said..
has anyone compared the metal to carbon fibre slider?

The carbon looks slick & obviously lighter but also has less range of movement (doesn't slide as far side to side), compared to the Dynabar.

I was talking to one retailer who had the carbon slider and said it was awesome but some of his buddies had the metal slider and were finding that the edges were a little sharp and had either started to wear the straps or at least had potential to, has anyone found anything similar?Cheeers

Carbon.Have no probs with range of movement with surfing.Simple ,light,awesome.

RE supports me so there's some definite bias here but just for frame of reference I've worn Mystic for years and I switched to RE after having a sore back and using a demo one by chance. Lower back strain is gone. The rope slider is incredible for wave riding and I love the bar setup when riding freestyle. The most supportive yet free feeling harness I've ever used. I feel that people who don't like them either are wearing the wrong size or haven't set them up right. My medium is spot on and it's ridiculously comfortable. I've worn a size too big and it didn't work. I don't ride s**t that I don't like period and I like this.

The knot at one of the ends of the rope attached to the slider bar untied while I was kiting. I saw it happen to a guy in offshore conditions too. Not a pleasant experience. I have now stitched the knots to secure them.

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effisk said..
The knot at one of the ends of the rope attached to the slider bar untied while I was kiting. I saw it happen to a guy in offshore conditions too. Not a pleasant experience. I have now stitched the knots to secure them.

Yeah, the original knots and the way the dyneema was tied was dodgy. I saw that and glued the knots. Still on the original rope 5 months later, probaly will get at least 2 seasons out of it. Super comfy harness, does not ride up, hooked in kitesurfing on a surfboard.

Figure 8 them always

I would have done that would the rope be long enough.

The velcro strap is starting to fray.

At $600 you'd expect better finishing.

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effisk said..
I would have done that would the rope be long enough.

The velcro strap is starting to fray.

At $600 you'd expect better finishing.

dont feel to bad i also got suckerd into this piece of **** cash grab of a product. mystics holding strong for my personal gear and dakines doing fine for the schools

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Kozzie said...

effisk said..
I would have done that would the rope be long enough.

The velcro strap is starting to fray.

At $600 you'd expect better finishing.

dont feel to bad i also got suckerd into this piece of **** cash grab of a product. mystics holding strong for my personal gear and dakines doing fine for the schools

Hey Kozzie we have yet to see any case logged with our retailers or us directly to show where your harness has been damaged.

Profession: Chiropractor Rider: Weight 95kgs, Level -advanced Style: Freestyle and Surf Build Quality: 9/10 Satisfaction: 10/10 Disclosure: Given to test as a Chiropractor

My Comments: The ride engine is a unique design. I bought a Naish Cartel due to the seeming lower back support in the past but this was nothing alike. The ride engine is light, contours to the lumbar spine nicely and with the slider bar makes downwinders fantastic. I found cutting upwind much easier riding toeside, and it took zero time at all to be totally at home with the harness and the slider bar. Back pain and chaffing are a thing of the past. Comfort is here and there's no looking back. I've not changed to fixed hook yet but I look forward to doing so. The lower back support would give far greater safety against rib fractures than any other waist harness I've seen or used. I'm sure I'll be seeing many more of them out on the water in the near future!

Weight 92kgs / Level - Advanced / Style: Surf & Freeride Boosting / Build Quality: 9/10 Satisfaction: 9.5/10

My Comments: - Purchased a Carbon Model with Carbon Rope Slider & Fixed Hook Attachment from Bonny at KSS. Medium Size Harness Fits Like a Glove - The Velcro Securing Strap is Very Solid - Has Frayed but I think only due to it being too grippy. So far have used for metro downwinders , lanno to Wedge & Margs Main Break. In winds from 25 to 35 knots. First time using a slider & I love it, especially downwinders, I find it ok for riding toeside, however I can ride toeside better with my ION Vertex (I ride this harness very loose & like how I can gets heaps of torsional movement with it.) I also find the ION is well built & Secure, good when boosting 10m + on TT. The Ride harness is so light & it does not move up at all, its just so comfortable, I double loop the straps back through the fasteners & they don't back off at all even in the highest winds. Have boosted quite high also with the carbon slider & no issues. Haven't found any wear on the chickenloop / I connect it straight on to the rope & doubt I will before I upgrade for next season. Have not had any issues with stitching yet. I met another rider up north who was using one with slider rope for TT Freeride Boosting in High Winds & he loved it. I have the Fixed hook also which I haven't used yet, as I have used my ION Harness for TT sessions due to being a little uneasy with the rides fastening system for using in high winds/jumping high.
I thinks the fastening system could be tweaked - Use four fastening points instead of 2 & make them a little more heavy duty - also some thicker straps.
Overall I'm very happy with this product - yes its expensive but worth it for me so far, the lightest & most comfortable harness I've used so far for sure. Other harness's I've used before don't last much longer than a season or 2 (apart from my ION Vertex which is still going strong into its 3rd season). I can kite all afternoon with this harness & I have no soreness whatsoever.
Like drury I wont use s%&t products & like him I think getting the right fit is essential / & I think some body types just wont be suited to them.
Overall I would highly recommend one to others - I'm very happy with mine.

I just got one and put some initial thoughts here:

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/Review/Ride-engine-harness/

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surfnkiteall said..

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Carbon.Have no probs with range of movement with surfing.Simple ,light,awesome.

Thats a great mode with the pad n velcro...it will definately save your ribs

I have decided to sell mine if anyone is looking for an XL

www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Kitesurfing-Accessories/~vawsd/2016-Xl-Ride-Engine-Pro-Series-10-Carbon-B.aspx?search=!eLityey4HizLJwy$zxBJDBTaAwktedY

I just wanted to chime in and say that after only a few sessions with the RE harness, I'm stoked!! (small with 10" hook bar. waist size 32inch). Took me a couple of goes at adjusting to make it tight enough (yep, the tighter the better, though it doesn't feel uncomfortable) and stay that way, but once dialled in, it's just magnificent!!

Has anyone worked out how to stop the closure buckle letting some of the strap back through it after a few decent stacks?. Once the strap starts feeding back through the slack allows the spreader bar to start working its way up into my rib cage...something I didn't expect to get on a harness at this price. I loop the strap back through the buckle as has been mentioned in previous posts, this however doesn't work on a big crash and only makes re-tightening the strap a pain in the arse.

Back again after winter here in N hemisphere. I was one of the early buyers of the production Hex model back in the fall, imported it from Real watersports.
after 10-12 sessions, I noticed the shell starting to crack at the place where the webbing holes are cut on one left side. Didnt notice any functional difference, started using it again this spring for 5-6 sessions but appeared to be getting worse. So I took some photos and sent them to RE, wondering if it was a problem. They responded immediately and said some early production models had this problem and they had fixed it and would send me a new one. They contacted Real and i had a new one in 8 days from that email. Remember that i am on other side of planet and both RE and retailer were fast to respond. So i was happy with the Customer Service. ( i was nice about- they were nice about it)

The new one has a thicker shell at the ends, and the stretchy part covering the webbing adjusters re-designed making it easier to work the adjuster.

Used it 4 times. i do about 60 sessions a year so i am not a heavy user, but find the harness really comfy and good on my ol back, even after using seat harness for 13 years kiting.

When i put it one it feels pretty tight, but on the water it doesnt feel tight. Sometimes it rides up a bit when i have to fly the kite high, but its easy to layback in the water before water starting after a fall and it glide back down and stays there more or less. One key thing for me is that i have a short torso and most waist harnesses are simply too big vertically to fit between my hips and my ribs- causing constant discomfort.

One thing i notices is the velcro belt is chafing my wetsuit lycra....have to see if i can cover it.

Just a head's up so people can see the finish on the current & newer models.

I'm pretty darn keen to try one of these harnesses.

But dammit i don't want to punt $500+ nzd on something I can't demo first.....

GRRRRR.

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Plummet said..
I'm pretty darn keen to try one of these harnesses.

But dammit i don't want to punt $500+ nzd on something I can't demo first.....

GRRRRR.

Just a molded plate in the back--bet you you could make one.