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

I love the ozone bar ....not

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

Lovely said...

I love the ozone bar ....not

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

Care to elaborate?

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.

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.

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

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!

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

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

And I did bevel the holes of course.

Cheers
Rich

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

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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