Hi, I have designed 2:1 and 1:1 setups. From my experience:

2:1 halves the amount of bar travel, but doubles or more the amount of bar pressure. Many 2:1 bar setups have very heavy bar pressure.

If you take a 2:1 designed kite, and put a 1:1 bar on it ( without modding the kite ) you will have to double or more the amount of bar travel to get the same depower, and the bar pressure will be 2x or more lighter.

So if a 2:1 bar set up had a range of half a meter from power to depower, if you put a 1:1 bar onto it, you will have to move the bar 1 meter or more to get the same amount of depower.

Using a 2:1 designed kite with 1:1 bar can make the kite feel unresponsive and in gusts have less depower. Some kites you can mod the bridle to perform better with a 1:1 bar.

Hope this helps...

BurkeyBoy said...

Most kites that have 2:1 set up can be riden 1:1. 1:1 often has less grunt but is more responsive with heavier bar pressure, in my limited experience of flying 2:1 that is.

Thanks !

I actually had a 2:1 kite back in 2008 and I used it in that setting for the whole year. I then converted the same kite to 1:1 and I used it for a couple more years in 1:1.
The result was exactly as GriffinKites described it. The bar was a lot heavier in 2:1 setting but it required less movement to depower it (and also to turn).

Is it better 2:1 or 1:1?
I think it's a matter personal preference. I personally never went back to the old 2:1 setting - I much preferred 1:1 for the ease of bar movement and more precise steering.
However in some situations 2:1 can be better - eg. your hand doesn't need to be 2m long to depower the kite. I often ride in squally, wintery weather whenever I can and in the last few months I was again thinking of trying 2:1 setting - just for that reason alone.

I changed mine to the 1:1 and was the best thing i ever did . The bar pressure was reduced so much it was like i put it into power steering over armstrong steering . Made it a better allround . Only downfore was the depower it you need some long ass arms some times .
Just do it you will love it , well it worked on my kite 2007 cab revolver hd yep old school but what a good kite , nearly worn the cab sticker off it , soon no one will know what it is .