Howdy.

I been using just handles for couple years now. Just ordered a bar.. Is there anything else I will need????

I think they said the were sending me a 65cm..i thinks

I have sami 3m and blade IV 4.9m .. Tabu harness with basic spreader bar.. Used with the Strop for the handles up till now..

There are no other kiters here so I never seen a bar all hooked up before, so Thanks for the help.

You'll probably have to do a few adjustments when the bar arrives to the brake setup, but for the most part you should be all set. What kind of bar?

The other thing is that I think you'll notice that the kite won't turn nearly as quick as when you use handles on it. I find it nice for KGB as you tend to not send the kite some where easily without knowing..on the otherside, you'll have to react to turning the kite before it runs out of the wind window..so there is a little pre-planning. Overall, I think you'll figure it out since you've been flying awhile.

~Joe

Hey Joe

Thank Ya much..
I was just talking with you about kitesurfing.. Called the class today and they said i should get good with a bar as it will speed up the lessons..Told me to get use to just walking around One Handed.

I think he said the bar was a flexi bar 65cm.. But he had to order one and so what ever..
I told him I had a Sami 3m and the blade IV 4.9 and I wanted to use the bar on both if it was possible.. I'll know better next Thurs.

I was worried about how the bar and harness would connect.. Didnt want it to get here and not be able to hook up.
Thanks again Brother..

Depending on the bar setup, you'll want a pulley on the brake/safety line for sure. I've done this on kites as small as 3m and they fly great. You'll need 1m extensions on the power lines, then you put a 1/2m extension on the brake/safety with a pulley on the end of it, then a 1m peice of line through the pulley with the brake attachments on the ends. I can try and dig up a pic if needed. This will allow the brake lines to move side to side when turning the kite and avoid pulling the left brake when turning right.

For the larger sizes, you want to go with a full pulley bar, My 9m Buster turns faster on a bar than it ever did on handles, Probably because for every 1" of power line you pull in, 2" of brake line comes in on the same side.

If done properly you'd be suprised how well a kite will take to a bar.

Big,
I kinda figured that was why you were getting into the bar. In all honesty I think handles are more difficult to figure out then a bar. Pull back on the bar and the kite lifts..pull right to go right and left to go left. Downside is the breaking..you've gotta let go of the bar with one hand to pull the brakes, unless you get the flexibar that has a similar loop to a chicken loop, that goes through the bar and can also connect to your spreader bar..in which case you let the bar out to apply brake. Connecting the bar to your harness should be fine too..most 4 line bars come with a strop of sorts.

You'll find that the lei will more likely have a different setup for a bar, nevertheless, you still control them pretty much the same..with the exception of having the depower option as a possibility as well.

I believe the flexi bar has a pulley already where the brake / safety lines go..not 100% positive, but pretty sure. Pablo is right though..if it doesn't it definitely helps.

I wouldn't worry too much..it sounds like you're pumped about getting into the water..which is great. The basics of kite control tend to be the hardest part for people, along with actually getting on the board and going..as you're trying to control the kite while attaching a board to your feet just so. Since you already fly and have been for awhile, and also understand how to control your kite to produce pull since you KGB..you should definitely be able to pick it up pretty easily.

No problem with answering the questions..I was in your same position last spring..so I know how your head is racing about all the fun you're about to have..haha.
~Joe

I'll have to get a pic of the bar with the kite in the air so you can see how everything runs, with the pulley bar setup I use on the larger kites, it automatically applies the brakes for you when you turn hard to one side using the bar. No further input is needed from the pilot, just crank the bar and do proper brake turns.

Pablo...do you have a strap attached to your pulleys that you adjust? I ask because on the bar I have it's adjustable for how much brake input you want to deliver to the kite.
~Joe

.Hey Siler,

I tried a bar (65 cm Airush from ebay) on my old 4m, 6.6, 8.5 and 10.5 Blade IIIs. They flew well if they were in the upper wind range of the kite. In low winds, I really needed handles to get the most out of the kite.

A lot of guys remove the brake bridles on Blades and just fly on two lines.

I tried this on my 10.5 with a big ol' 34" NSI Longhorn bar. Flew pretty well, but no safety at all and you had to bring the kite all the way to the edge of the window to land it. I think Flexifoil’s crossover kit would have make the turning faster.

Try it out and let us know how it goes

Quote:

Originally posted by code Pablo...do you have a strap attached to your pulleys that you adjust? I ask because on the bar I have it's adjustable for how much brake input you want to deliver to the kite. ~Joe

The setup i'm using on the bar doesn't look like it'll work with adjustable brake pressure. If you find a way to make it happen be sure to take a pic and post it up, I'd love to know how it works. I've managed to do this with 3 line kites no problem, but with the 4line, if there's no slack at all in the brakes you'll end up applying them in the corners, the right comes on when you turn left though, even with a pulley, the brake line lengths vary when the kite's at full turn compared to when it's running straight. With the full 3 pulley system I use though, you do have a center cross strap that you can grab if you need to slow the kite down.

Weather permitting, I'll get some pics of the system up and running with the kite in the air so you can see how it's all supposed to run when under tension. Usually I leave about 2" of slack in the brakes, so you can do small bar inputs without using brake turns, when you want to turn hard though, the brakes will come on pretty much as hard as you would apply them on a full brake turn using handles. I find the kite will at least match flying on handles with a bar if not turn faster on a bar.