I was wondering a few things about control systems.

1. say if you had a top notch brand name bar and line set what percentage of kites would be flyable with this bar?

2. Is say a PL Charger a totally different animal say compared to an ozone Frenzy from a control system standpoint?

3. and the reason I ask is if I bit the bullet and purchased a really sweet bar and line set could I get away with kite only deals just trying to stretch the funds so I can make it possible to kite in more wind conditions.

Thank You

Often, bars are made specifically for a certain kite. Depending on the circumstances, the bar could only work with a very limited range of kites regardless of how expensive it is. When using a bar for a different kind of kite than it was intended for, some modification will almost always be required. Do you have a bar/kite plan in mind?

not any kite is compatible with the depower system...the kite has to be manufactured for that purpose... the bridal is different and there is a pulley system.. more complicated system than a fixed bridal kite. You can fly any kite on a bar,just not a depower bar. Big difference. thats why depowers are considerably more expensive. More complex machine. Most are sold as a full set up. Peter lynns are sold a lot kite only. the bars can be expensive. I am just talking about depowers in general. Peter lynns prob work best with peter Lynn bars others can be used with some adjustment. hope that helps

ahh Seanny beat me to it lol :bigok:

WHAPOW! :singing:

I think the challenge is making money stretch even though I have learned this lesson over and over its hard not to try and stretch it. Probably best to choose a kite and go with the different sizes with the same kite? I think it is called impatience and the problem is I have none LOL

Yep! Pick a kite model you really like and get two. Just make sure the size difference isn't huge, because then the bar won't be the right size for both of them.

I'm not sure whether you're planning on putting a fixed bridle on a depower bar, or a depower kite...... anyhoo, here's what happens when you put a fixed bridle kite on a depower bar....



So, a Turbo Bar will work much better on a fixed bridle kite, BUT, the FB kite has to like being turned mainly on the brake lines. My Beamers, Imps, Methods fly fine on the turbo bar. The Hornet goes close to stalling in turns but is still ok. My Century 2 and the Reactor II I flew on the bar were a disaster - turn the kite, stall and spin. It all depends on the design of the kite. With a few pulleys a bit of cord and a strong piece of dowel, you could always make your own turbo bar.....
Did I mention the word 'Agricultural' !

Home made Turbo Bar video

In theory ... so long as the important things line up, you should be sweet. With most kites these days, with the bar pulled in all the leaders should line up. Ok with most of the kites I've looked at So if it's a depower kite, it should work on almost any depower bar. There are going to be differences in depower throw and trim and all that adds up to a big uncertainty about the suitability of that bar for this kite ...

IMHO if you really want a one bar for all kites setup, get something like the Naish Universal System bar, which is below the bar trim and has a tunable amount of throw ... that'd result in a lot of fiddling though and I'd rather be riding on the right bar for the kite

I do know that depower and fixed bridal are two different animals I just meant depower kites

I do have an x over bar for my fixed bridles also

In that case, one good Ozone bar would happily do all my Ozone stuff, and my HQ stuff and replace the horrid bar on the Gin Inuit - so in those cases, no problems. IF you can buy those kites as 'kite only'. Never flown Flysurfers or Arcs so can't help there.

I think you'll have to understand a lot about the kite your bar was designed for and the differences between it and the kite you want to fly. I think John's right that if you stick within a brand you'll have better luck, but I even then it can get dicey.

The problem is kites have varying safety mechanisms and travel requirements. Does the kite flag on the front line? Back line? 5th line?. Does the kite need a crossover or does a standard bar work?

The only bars I had ever used were Peter Lynns on Arcs when I got to fly an HQ Montana. It really enjoyed the kite, but when it came time to land the kite I had no clue what to do. The Montana has a dousing mechanism unlike anything an Arc can do and the control is in the bar. There's one example of a potentially bad mix.

On the flip side, you'll learn about kites and bars in the process. :-)

Philip