Hi Aussie kitesurfers,

My name's Yann and I will be in Brisbane for 1 year and a half, studying. I already had some good kitesurfing sessions at Wello point and Sandgate. Unfortunately I recently had trouble inflating my F-One Bandit 5 (2012), 8 meters. I pulled out the leading edge and it revealed that there's a 10cm hole in it. It's not straight and has a weird shape so i think I'd better change the entire leading edge instead of trying to fix it.
Do you know where to order a leading edge (including valves and stuffs made for my Bandit5, 8meters as i don't want to bother making everything by myself) in Australia or from any other "close" country from where shipping costs wouldn't be too expensive ?
I can get one from France around 100-150$ but I'd rather avoid shipping costs and who knows, it might cheaper in Australia ?

Cheers mates

Yann

Hehe I have no clue about the prices here, that's why I'm asking. If you'd at least have a website or something so i can compare, let me know

dont replace it.contact-MOTI LEVY KITE REPAIR.he will give you 3 year warranty on your repair, which is probably longer then you will have your kite.it will be as good as new. An entire new bladder is expensive and needs a professional or experience to install anyway. check out the website, he does good fair prices too. got my GF's kite repaired there, with a blown bladder and LE and was a bargain to repair.

You don't have to buy a new bladder, even if it's got a 1 metre rip!

All bladders can be fixed. It depends on what you have to fix it with and types of glues, etc.

But it's not rocket science. I've experimented with glues and patches and found the KiteFIX kits are well worth the initial investment (www.kitepower.com.au/collections/kitesurfing/Parts-&-Repair). They repair just about everything that you cannot do without a sewing machine.

However, in your case a 10cm cut is not bad.

If you really want to replace it, just find any bladder for a similar 8mt kite (or even a 9mt) as long as it's close to the length of your own bladder's length and max width in the middle. It does not have to be the exact same bladder, contrary to what many shops and people say. The ends are folded back anyway! There is a guy on ebay that sells bladders for $50 tops. Or buy a 2nd hand kite that's been damaged and keep it for spares. Buying new bladders when all it takes is a couple of proper patches, is wasting your money. Unless it's a valve repair. They are mostly not worth repairing and you can buy replacement valves cheap.

Google bladder repairs, buy a kit and do it yourself.

Most kite repairs can be done by yourself.