hiya... I'm interested in getting myself a pair of these handles, I like the way they seem to allow easy small shifts of hand position due to the U-shaped bit at the top which keeps the power leaders from going between one's fingers... I often get blisters between my fingers when flying big foils in light winds.

but:

1) any issues with strength? does the U-shaped bit hold up over time?

2) do they feel weird because the pivot point is no longer right inside the hand? The hand is just back of the pivot point on these rigs and I can't quite visualize how the difference would feel...

3) do they work alright with a strop?

4) how long are they?

thanks.....

1) any issues with strength? does the U-shaped bit hold up over time? I have not heard of one failing due to breakage of the handle

2) do they feel weird because the pivot point is no longer right inside the hand? The hand is just back of the pivot point on these rigs and I can't quite visualize how the difference would feel... the main feeling difference is the line not between your fingers any more. They work well, but it does feel just a bit strange. Like I said the reason for that is because that line is missing.

3) do they work alright with a strop? yes. They use to offer a set with out kite killers and a set with kite killers. The set that came with the kite killers had a real small line for the strop. what would happen is the line was so small that the knot holding the strop line in the handles would come loose. You then would have to put the line back through the handle and tie the knot bigger to make it stay. the set with out the killers has a nice big strope line connection and there are no issues. I don't think they offer the set with the kite killers anymore.

4) how long are they? .. 14 inches

Nice idea, pretty good product, poor execution.

No real strength issues that I have heard of or experienced with the handles.

Starting from the top:

Power leaders are a loose weave cord. Chances of snagging on velcro or the like is high. No knots on the leader, the ends are backspliced. Due to the way they are attached to the top of the handles (knot sits recessed the the attachment hole at the end of the top hook), replacement is more of a hassle then it should be. Not impossible, but a bit of a ding as far as "field"/user serviceability.

Strop leaders are made of the same material as the power leaders. I don't use them, but they appear to be meant to be larksheaded to an actual strop. There has been several mentions of them pulling out of the handles. Replacing them or at least tying a larger knot where they attach on the handle should sort it, but that kind of negates the fact that they are normally flush with the foam at the front of the handle.

Brake leaders appear to be a tight weave polyester with a dyneema core. It's pretty nice, but the sleeving makes it fairly stiff and as the sleeving is a bit on the frictionless side, the attatchment knots for the brake lines and the kite killers want to work themselves loose. Stitch or CAing them is almost mandatory.... or regular pre-flight checks at the least.

Brake loops are nowhere to be found. Staking the kite killers seems to be the alternative.

They are very comfy. I think at least one or two people on the forum have done aftermarket modding of these handles to address some of the issues and have been very happy with them.

I have been using the standard and Pro-Link Flexi Handles, so don't use the Ultras as much. However, the surplus of Amsteel might make it a project that needs revisiting.

CWS lists the length at 13" and that sounds about right.... I haven't ever had a reason to measure them. This picture might give you some idea as it is one of the few I have seen where there are shown in use to give some scale reference.


Hope that helps.

ATB,
Sam

OK... thanks! :bigok:

The main question was the breakage up top, glad to hear nobody reports any problems there so far. anybody?

I normally replace brake and power leaders on most of my handles anyways, as long as it's not too hard that's fine (btw I have a set of the older HQ handles with my crossfire, nearly impossible to replace the leaders on those as I have to drill out a steel pin b4 getting at the inside of the handle.... :flaming: haven't done it yet...) I'd hate to have a bump in the handles right under my fingers tho but a small knot in the thinnest amseteel I'd feel comfortable using would probably be alright. And I rarely use KS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s these days anyways, they usually only come out when I fly 2-4 m kites in nuking winds.

I wish they were longer... I like handles in the 16 to 18 inch range for my bigger kites... but it sounds like they might work.

If the only thing weird abut the feel is having no line between my fingers well that's just fine!

having no brake loop is fine, I usually just put my brake leaders around the stake anyways as I find the loops fiddly to get on and off the stake.

sweet handles.........................I flew these back in the day..............................IMHO on a brake bias FB you cant get any better...........................

TD: wanna sell yours?

Furb,

If I still had them Id give em to you............................last FB kite I owned was 3 months ago and Beamerbob grabbed that one............................made by HQ try their sites.........

just looking for a deal, mate... :bigok:

I find it hard to believe I'll be giving up fixed bridles if I follow the progression you've rocketed up (and many others have gone that way...) :o

don't you miss your blade?

furbowski, you dont have to worry about breaking of the u-turn holding the frontlines.
its unbelievable massive plastic. yet, it is still quite lightweight.
the moment i flew these handles first time i liked them - they are sooo compfy.
the thing about the Power leaders is true: velcro etc weakens them. you probably should replace them if you have better materials at hand.
otherwise, i like the idea with the break leaders. they can move through the handles, such that in case of an accident (and you having kite killers on the breaks) you have more difference between the front and backlines such that the kite can much better flag out, even larger fb kites.

also , the foam sticks perfectly to the handles. i had older handles, where the foam was gliding down the aluminium they were sitting on under pressure. that was annoying.. also, no more line between the fingers is heaven sent.

furbowski, I believe HQ has fixed the loose braid on the power leads. I had a set with loose braid power leader, and replaced it with 3/8" grey amsteel. Drilled out the holes straight thru the u-turn, and brought the amsteel thru the back of the handle 2.5 inches with stop knots in front and in back of the handle to prevent line movement.

Handles are very comfy.

Sorry to say I sold them about a year ago.

There are several earlier threads on these handles - one started by me over the summer. My bum knuckles like the elliptical contour of softer foam for better grip. The other features mentioned above (power line hookups and sliding brakes) are innovative too. I haven't tried a strop on it yet, and wished they made longer ones.

yeah i wasn't on the forum much this summer... i'll do a search if i'm still thinking about these in a couple of days, thanks for the heads up!