Rider: Weight 95kg,
Style: Freeride, Big air, Wave, Snowkite
Build Quality: 9/10
Satisfaction: 9/10
Disclosure: Ride Engine Sponsored / Ikon kiteboarding designer
Thanks to the Ride Engine distributor Josh, I got the Ride Engine Elite Series last summer. I took me a while to write this review but I needed to test the harness in different conditions to provide a decent review on the beast.
Before I start writing this review, I would recommend interested rider to contact their local retailer and try the harness . no marketing talk or review should overcome your own testing! It has always been my approach : Give it a crack!
You might have heard about all the advantages of the carbon plate low profile on other reviews or videos so I will pass on this. Here are the important points to enjoy fully your new harness.
#1 - Take the time to adjust it properly or you will be disappointed
Like a kid with a new toy, I just went to my first session, put the harness on and went out. I was good but I felt some discomfort when the harness was moving slightly. I came back home that night and googled "how to set up the Ride Engine harness" . I might have spent 20 minutes adjusting webbings, buckles and straps but the result was perfect. The harness was locked in and easy to put on and off. It never moved again.
Check this video out to setup your harness
ThNks for the tips
i absolutely love my ride engine harness, I could not go back to a normal harness now
anyone got any ideas on where to place a hook knife on one of these ?
Select to expand quoteYoungbreezy said..
ThNks for the tips
i absolutely love my ride engine harness, I could not go back to a normal harness now
anyone got any ideas on where to place a hook knife on one of these ?
Got mine on the black loop which attaches to the spreader bar (the side you don't take off) knife at the top, leash at the bottom.
Thinking of getting one too, should I go for carbon bar or a steel one with sliding rope? riding tt and strapless, Tried one on last week and loved how it wraps around and the general feel of it.
I'm 75kg and use an M, so I reckon at 95 you might squeeze into an L but an XL is more likely to be the best fit.
Select to expand quotesampolish said..
Thinking of getting one too, should I go for carbon bar or a steel one with sliding rope? riding tt and strapless, Tried one on last week and loved how it wraps around and the general feel of it.
Carbon spreader has no functional advantage I've had both, still use the carbon one as it was easier to fit to my harness and was al that was available from my shop at the time.
Uweh
If it helps at 98 Kgs XL but could have had the Large
either it's stretched or I lost a Kg or two.Bet each way.
Nice review Ben.
I was was a reluctant buyer for the shop (inserting disclaimer here - Yes, I am a shop owner that sells these harnesses, but am also a guy with a very bad back so take it for whatever you like)
I was confused by the seemingly equal number of bad reviews to good ones so was hesitant to take on such an expensive harness when we already had a great range of harnesses instore.
Josh spent a bit of time convincing me of the benefits and as a guy with a chronically bad back, it did pique my interest. He left me with one to try and showed me how to size and fit it properly. I'm currently 6'3" and 97kg and I use a large harness and large carbon spreader with rope slider.
My back got damaged before Christmas which kept me at the physics and out of the water until end of April. I could t SUP or kite without major debilitating pain and I was. Poked to go to Mauritius for a wave Kiting holiday in mid June.
I anguished over which harness to take the night before the flight , either my trusty super comfy ION Team wave or take a chance on an untested Ride engine. As I was super worried that the first session could have ended in more pain, I threw. Auction to the wind and packed the Ride Engine and crossed my fingers.
Unbelievably, after a week of hard Kiting and surfing at Mauritius, I had absolutely no pain and my back felt amazing. As it was, I finished off the 2 weeks on the holiday and have returned with no pain and a strong desire to hit this weekends storm winds with a boosting kite and twinny.
i must admit, I'm thoroughly stoked with It. It's not as comfy as my ION, but my back doesn't hurt after prolonged sessions now.
Of course ION are releasing a composite harness this season which looks amazing and could have the Ride Engines number, it only a demo will tell. It until then, the carbon Ride Engine is the shiznit for this bad back sufferer.
DM
Select to expand quoteLeighMajor said..
Uweh
If it helps at 98 Kgs XL but could have had the Large
either it's stretched or I lost a Kg or two.Bet each way.
thanks !
Hi Everybody,
I would like to show you an another option for mount very easily and quickly your harness : QUICK CLIP
www.facebook.com/pg/charlysworkshop44/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1173722699399737
www.facebook.com/charlysworkshop44/videos/1173747632730577/
Select to expand quoteHarinCharles said..
Hi Everybody,
I would like to show you an another option for mount very easily and quickly your harness : QUICK CLIP
www.facebook.com/pg/charlysworkshop44/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1173722699399737
www.facebook.com/charlysworkshop44/videos/1173747632730577/
Thanks Charlie,
Another handy set up for fine tuning the Ridengine.
cheers
Thanks HarinCharles, thats such a great idea, fitted one to my old RE harness yesterday and it will definitely be staying on there, great idea.
have tested it too...back pressure is really nice but a little bit to much pressure on both sides of my hip... i dont know why...
Uweh, you probably used the wrong size. There shouldn't be any squeezing of the hips. The ergonomic shell is supposed to wrap around and protect your back and finish softly on your hips.
I've heard the 2018 models have a new even softer memory foam around the entire harness.
Select to expand quoteuweh said..
any news about the 2018 modells....
thanks in advance
Its meant to be 1st October
Three tips for those of you using the rope spreader bar:
1) make sure you fit a second rope. The leading rope WILL wear and tear, and when it does the back up will come in handy. Of course good maintenance = prevention but it's good to have a Plan B.
2) I fitted one of these round sailing rope thingymajiggie (see pic). The chicken loop fits around it snug and the transitions are super super super smooth. Less wear on both rope and chicken loop.
3) cut you donkey dick off and throw that sh-t in the bin. Just gets in the way.
Awesome piece of kit, btw. I too have a messed up back (motorcycle accident) and was used to popping painkiller for 2 days after every session. No more of that! Even after 12 days consecutive kiting, I sleep well. Like others have said, take 15min to set it up properly.
Side view. 21mm, for anyone thinking of getting one. Don't go smaller as the chicken loop fits perfectly like this. It's light weight aluminium.
Note there's a tiny pocket underneath the spreader that holds the smallest of line cutters. I've got one in there - see the tampon-thin line hanging out the bottom.
Select to expand quoteDutchRooster said..
Side view. 21mm, for anyone thinking of getting one. Don't go smaller as the chicken loop fits perfectly like this. It's light weight aluminium.
Note there's a tiny pocket underneath the spreader that holds the smallest of line cutters. I've got one in there - see the tampon-thin line hanging out the bottom.
Is that a sign not to approach you? being your time of month
Timing is everything - fancy one of these superb harnesses.. -- Are you in Qld or northern NSW??
When you enter and sign-on at HQ for our State Freestyle Titles you are in the lucky draw.
One of the four prizes is a Ride Engine Harness...
(I have forgotten about sore back and bruised ribs every outing I love mine!!)
Another G8 reason to commit
On the QLD Forum - Please review the Qld Freestyle State Titles Explained post
Cheers
AP
