i have been noticing there are many differnt bar shapes. the one i am most interested in right now is the ocean rodeo long horn bar because it looks like its curve allows better turning but i dont know

what do the differnt bar shapes affect when flying whether they are tapered, curved, etc.?

I don't think bar shape effects anything about how the kite performs. The kite doesn't know what shape the bar is since its at the end of straight flying lines. That being said, I've never seen the bar in question though I would think any change to the straight bar is more for erogonomics, unhooked riding and rider comfort then it is about making the kite turn better.

Now pulleys and line configurations will help / hurt kite performance, but bar shape should not.

I could make a bar shaped like this ^ or this \/ and the kite would have no idea since the lines are straight either way.

According to Ocean Rodeo tech support, the curvature is for ergonomics. It follows the way that your arms and body line up when you are holding the bar.

As far as tapered bars, thats just borrowing bike tech. When you hold firmly onto a bar, the circumference of the tunnel formed by your hand is larger at the thumb than at the pinky. If you don't taper the bar, more pressure is being exerted against the palm muscles closer to the pinky. Eventually this will lead to hand cramps. Tapering the bar distributes that pressure along the entire palm area.

ATB,
Sam

was anyone used the Ocean Rodeo bar

I have one I use on my OR kites and ARCs. For the ARC I put the safety on the front line. Nice comfortable bar with a push away quick release. Long throw with below the bar trim. The shape of the bar really does not affect turning. The width of the bar does. Longer bar is more of a lever but sometimes you don't want too much of a lever when flying a smaller faster kite in higher winds.

The diameter of the bar, it's padding and whether it's knurled or not affect comfort more than curvature I bet... gimmick. But a nice one