Rider: Weight 100kg, Level Intermediate
Style: Freeriding, Small Surf
Weather: 10 to 20 knots on the day
Build Quality: 9/10
Satisfaction: 9/10
Disclosure: None

My Comments:

Tried out my new ride engine harness yesterday. I got the XL as I am 40 inches around the belly button. If your more than 40 or so inches here, I try before you buy as the XL is snug on me (although this is probably because it is like sliding into a horseshoe rather than wrapping a blanket around your middle). At first it felt too small, and took a bit of adjustment to get right. I did this at home.

Going for my first ride and it was like wearing nothing... super super light and it didn't dig in anywhere. It worked loose in the first 15 minutes but that was just bedding in I think... things stretching into place. After that it never moved, but it was a very gentle session.

Getting in and out is really easy. Just loop the chord over the spreader bar and pull one side tight.

My usual harness is a Mystic Majestic with a Jaybar which is like a squishy comfy soft and cuddly armchair. It is really comfortable but does ride up sometimes. I am usually aware of this harness as it is quite big and I find it a little restrictive when twisting around. Compared to it, the Ride engine felt skinny and hard when putting it on, but then it just disappeared.

The slider rope that holds the chicken loop is shorter than the one on the Jaybar, so it doesn't slide side to side as much, but I didn't notice this when riding.

Noticeable issues were..

1/ My Ozone short safety leash was too short as there is nowhere on the carbon bar to attach it and I don't like attaching it to the chord in case that breaks and you loose the kite completely. I bought myself a Cabrina short leash and attached it to the ring at side of the harness and it works fine.

2/ I cant figure out where to put a safety knife.

3/ It will also be more difficult for traveling as you cant lay it flat in a kite bag or suitcase.

4/ It may make you look a little like you have more money than sense, or maybe that's just my paranoia.

4/ Because I'm a larger guy, and it is a narrower harness, it does allow some of my softer bits to show more at the front.. a bit like tying a string around the middle of a water balloon! The Mystic is a wide harness and covers a multitude of sins in this department. So I am not sure I look as fabulous in the ride engine, which is of course a big thing to consider.

Was it worth the money (You can get 2 Dakines for the price of a Ride Engine).. not sure yet as only had one session, but it feels great so far. I notice Dakine have a hard shell harness for quite a bit less money which I probably should have investigated more before I bought the ride engine.

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TheBigA said..


Was it worth the money (You can get 2 Dakines for the price of a Ride Engine).. not sure yet as only had one session, but it feels great so far. I notice Dakine have a hard shell harness for quite a bit less money which I probably should have investigated more before I bought the ride engine.

I too was curious about the Dakine C-1 harness - checked one out in the shop..

My findings were that the hard shell is Not hard at all... just firmish material that would bend under kite loading like other harnesses.

Looks comfy as - but Dakine lost it on the shell = Fail

Dakine... dont skimp, harden the shell casing for the C-2 and youll have a Winner!

I have had my hex core for for the whole season, but could only wear for the second half as I was too fat. My belly was at 39 inches and now down to just below 34. I nearly swapped it for a larger one but glad I didn't and did the hard yards to lose the 15 kilos.
I am stoked too with the harness. Was on a Mystic Warrior with a J bar, loved it but it did ride up. The Engine feels like nothing at all, and the build issues that some have faced have not surfaced with me. Still looks and feels brand new. I added a second rope as a back up and also a ring as I didn't like any wear on the chicken loop itself. One thing about the dyneema ropes is they do wear out. Having the second rope saves a session and you can put a new one on at night ready for the next day.
As far as mine goes, there is a slot for the hook knife on the spreader pad. At least mine had one. However I added a sheath and have my knife on the side.
I do love the hard shell support. For me it fits like a glove, but not every harness is for everybody as we all are different shapes. Seeing that the Engine is now a production model it came in at around 250 bucks which is a lot cheaper than the customs that some were having serious issues with.

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SaveTheWhales said...

TheBigA said..


Was it worth the money (You can get 2 Dakines for the price of a Ride Engine).. not sure yet as only had one session, but it feels great so far. I notice Dakine have a hard shell harness for quite a bit less money which I probably should have investigated more before I bought the ride engine.

I too was curious about the Dakine C-1 harness - checked one out in the shop..

My findings were that the hard shell is Not hard at all... just firmish material that would bend under kite loading like other harnesses.

Looks comfy as - but Dakine lost it on the shell = Fail

Dakine... dont skimp, harden the shell casing for the C-2 and youll have a Winner!

I've had the C1 and its awesome. It isn't as rock hard as the engine, but if you want to unhook or prefer to wear you harness a little looser then the C1 will be better. It supposedly molds to your back a bit more than the Engine. Its not meant to be the same as the Engine. The engine is more likely to hurt some people as it has no flex at all.

Id say is you like the Jaybar then go the Engine. If you prefer a bit more movement in your harness then to the C1.

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dafish said..

As far as mine goes, there is a slot for the hook knife on the spreader pad. At least mine had one. However I added a sheath and have my knife on the side.

Would you be able to post a pic of how you fixed the knife.. much appreciated

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TheBigA said..

dafish said..

As far as mine goes, there is a slot for the hook knife on the spreader pad. At least mine had one. However I added a sheath and have my knife on the side.

Would you be able to post a pic of how you fixed the knife.. much appreciated

here you go

The ring is a good idea.. cant really see where the knife holder is fixed though

There is a loop on the back of the sheath, and I have fed the lower part of the strap through it. That's it. I also have the knife secured by some line that is tucked into the sheath, (hence wanting the sheath) so if by chance something happened and you were rolled under water and had to cut you could lose the knife and still retrieve it. I think Cauncy said he used shock cord, and that is a good idea too.

And that plastic tube over the rope... is that just from a hardware store?

Ya, I had a similar setup on my Jbar, gave the rope a much more extended life. Being clear it's easy enough to see if there is any wear, but I never had to replace it after I put the tube on. Does not effect the slide of the ring at all. The extra rope is for the "just in case" having been caught out once with a few years ago and having the dynema break on me.

Anyone ridden all three engine harness types that can tell me the pro's and cons of each?

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Plummet said..
Anyone ridden all three engine harness types that can tell me the pro's and cons of each?

Looks like just construction.


Elite carbon carbon

Team carbon glass

Hex glass

All sold out on the aust web site. Some people are shelling out $600+ for a harness that they dont get until december.

The arrival time is not December, contact them, is around 3 weeks.

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

Hey Dafish,mate I am wanting a second or spare cord also.Just wondering did you drill another hole on each side of original existing holes? Bit hesitant to drill more holes as not to weaken the Carbon spreader bar plate.

No, I didn't want to weaken the bar by drilling another hole, so I just tied the rope around the the lower bar and glued the knots. This is only a back up that would get me out of trouble and back should the main ever break. Pretty simple bit of insurance. I made the rope slightly longer than the other so the wear is all on the main rope. It might be slightly over kill, but I never have to ever worry about the rope breaking and being stuck out on a long run out.
However, I just noticed you say you have the carbon bar, mine is SS. It might be different and not have the same option to tie the rope around.

Thanks for your reply.Yes I like the option for the security of the second line but with the carbon spreader bar there is bugger all spots to attach.Have attached a Antal low friction ring to main line that slides without wearing main line.
With larger Antal Ring the chicken loop can be placed through ring including the rope slider.
Will take a few shots.

Anyone been super powered and spudded monster airs on this harness for hours?
I'm really considering one of these to less rib squeese on super powered boosting sessions.

Leigh can you post a picture, I've ordered the carbon spreader bar too and would like to see how and what type of ring you have used.Bugger sorry I didn't see that note at the bottom of your post.

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Plummet said..
Anyone been super powered and spudded monster airs on this harness for hours?
I'm really considering one of these to less rib squeese on super powered boosting sessions.

This is me the other day, 10 Reo, Engine harness, strapped surfboard. Been jumping with this harness with no pain, no ride up, and a very light weight feel on the body. I am sold on this harness and sliding ring setup. Every body is different, this harness does fit me well but I'm sure it's not for every body.

In terms of construction, there is bugger all difference, and only a few hundred grams weight difference from the carbon to the fibreglass hex core "entry" level harness.
Have only use my carbon spreader version with a rope and a ring to attach my C-Loop, I had one of the first in Oz, still going strong, original rope, and I kite almost every day its windy. I don't jump much on my surfboards but when I do I have no issues with the harness at all I was using a dynabar for years prior so I'm very used to hooked in jumping with a sliding spreader arrangement.
I'm a size 33/34 waist and this is the size L carbon elite thing.
A guy on the beach asked me about it yesterday he was super interested, wanted to know if I though it was worth it? I just said the answer is relative to a persons circumstance, but just in terms of function, comfort and durability, worth every cent for me.

Here are some pics to show how it is wearing

Mr McTool where did you pick up the ring from? Did you just untie the rope behind the spreader then Re tie? Sorry if you've coverd this before. I'm going to do the same to mine when it arrives.

Why not get a compact carabina? then you wouldn't have to pull the safety to hook in? It would also make it easier for teather launch and land?

Just from Whitworths marine, you can get them online. Wichard are the best brand, they are forged in one piece not welded like the cheapies, but this one is a ronstan and its welded but Ronstan is a quality brand and everything is load rated from them. Yes I untied the knots, which were total crap and just granny knots, put the ring on, tightened the rope, and then glued the knots with superglue, worked the glue well into the knots for peace of mind.

@ plummet
The ring was something I already had from my bag of kite buggy and early kiteboarding days, spare parts. If I had a decent load rated carabiner I would have used that, but I didn't. I actually like to use my safety system every time I kite, because kiting in waves as I do all the time now, there has been and always will be times when I need to release in the water, and I always use the main release to self land too. Put the kite at 9 o'clock, flagging line on top, pop the safety, yank on the leashed line/safety line, and the kite drops nose into the wind, in any wind, 1st time every time. If something did do wrong i'm only attached by the leash and flagging line anyway and can easily release the leash as its right in front of me. I've never had to do this though, beaches up here are wide and clean, never too many people around, so if (and it has happened a couple of times, long ago when I was learning the technique) the kite does not land perfectly and rolls over, it only scuds across the window on one line and lands almost directly downwind, LE into the wind.

Hi Horey,took a few shots of the Antal Low friction rings.Have two sizes smaller used for connecting a Maui Cloud kite rope which fits around ring.The larger stainless steel and larger
Antal ring to fit the thickness of the rope slider and chicken loop.Same as Steve's but with the larger Antal ring which is soon to be used.Slides with no wear to the rope slider.Its a common sailing fitting.Ordered online.
Still trying to attach a second rope slider.Only 2 times 3-4mm slots on each end so may double up 3-4mm cord.Only really as a safety to get you back to shore.
I have attached my safety leash on the rings provided on the sides of the engine harness but I do like the short Rope attachment point Steve uses on his one.If you prefer your safety leash at the front.Saves having to reach to one side when pressed for time.Will also attach a knife pouch.

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LeighMajor said..
Hi Horey,took a few shots of the Antal Low friction rings.Have two sizes smaller used for connecting a Maui Cloud kite rope which fits around ring.The larger stainless steel and larger
Antal ring to fit the thickness of the rope slider and chicken loop.Same as Steve's but with the larger Antal ring which is soon to be used.Slides with no wear to the rope slider.Its a common sailing fitting.Ordered online.
Still trying to attach a second rope slider.Only 2 times 3-4mm slots on each end so may double up 3-4mm cord.Only really as a safety to get you back to shore.
I have attached my safety leash on the rings provided on the sides of the engine harness but I do like the short Rope attachment point Steve uses on his one.If you prefer your safety leash at the front.Saves having to reach to one side when pressed for time.Will also attach a knife pouch.

You have those 4 slots. Why don't you attach a secondary rope to those slots somehow? After all its only there as a secondary safety if the main rope breaks. All you need to do is get back to the beach isn't it?

Hey Plum,yes will do.There is two say 25mm long say 3-4mm wide slots each end of the carbon bar.Will drill a 5-6mm hole in a slot each end to fit secondary slider rope.Its only a mm of each edge of one of the slots.Should be fine.
Anyways they are light comfy waist harnesses that don't ride up.

Doesn't look like there's much meat from slot to edge. My call is don't take any extra material from the outer part of the slot.

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Maybe attach a couple of thinner ropes like what Terry Mctool as done here . Then landyard the spare strop to that?

Does it even need to attach to both sides? You could attach a short line from where Terries red line is to the ring.

What are the benefits to the carbon bar? Is is just the lightness, because this harness is already super light. Or is it the flex it gives you under load? Just curious. And yes, I too would put a secondary rope on the lanyard and NOT drill any holes in the carbon. As a back up this will do just fine. I really like those rings!!!

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dafish said..
What are the benefits to the carbon bar? Is is just the lightness, because this harness is already super light. Or is it the flex it gives you under load? Just curious. And yes, I too would put a secondary rope on the lanyard and NOT drill any holes in the carbon. As a back up this will do just fine. I really like those rings!!!

Biggest advantage for me is corrosion resistance. Carbon/resin doesn't give a **** about salt water. But all my stainless spreader bars have corrosion on them. They will corrode and fail in time.

PS It will also be stiffer and lighter. I see that as secondary for me.

That's it.As Terry or Steve has done.
Really only need the thinner cord with a loop below the end knot.It would do as a spare loop to fit chicken loop through and the knot to attach your short safety leash.