Turns out almost 4 years with hard use. My Zero7 bar has given me notice that it is quiting.

It's been shared between 2 kites for 4 years. Used in 10 to 30 plus knots, from +30C to -30C. Rain or shine, even in sleet and snowfall. In fresh water, in salt water, on all types of snow and ice and on the ground. Many, many hours baking in the sun waiting for wind too.

Minimal maintenance. Sand gets washed off of it, I rinse it when used in salt water too. Lines get equalized once or twice a year. I have replaced the depower line at least once a year. I replaced the chicken loop with a shackle after the loop failed in year 2.

I always inspect the bar, and rigging, and lines before use. But it has failed me 4 times since April. 3 times in Hatteras. Twice the loop on the trimstrap webbing twisted and the twist got sucked into the buckle thus locking the buckle. :shocked2: No way to depower. I have never seen that happen in 12 years kiting. I'm guessing that the webbing is too soft and pliable now. The 3rd time, the left side of the front pigtail broke shortly after the buckle jammed when I got lofted in 40 knot gusts on the water. :wee: Now, I just broke a front line by just carving hard on a wave.

The bar has seen better days, time to retire it. Tomorrow, I am ordering the 2012 Zeeko Ultimate Bar.

just had a trim strap break on a 2010. grip is gone as well every item has been replaced except the loop/safety.

that was good run Zero G on the zero 7.

Oooh, make sure to tell us all about the Zeeko bar. I like the idea of that thing ...

Amazing you never had a problem with the strap binding in the buckle in 12 yrs. I freakin hated that strap for exactly that reason. Everyone here hates the strap, that's why we like the cleats.

Maybe it has something to do with snow gloves. Maybe we aren't able to give it a clean pull without twisting it and the result is a bind up.


Sounds like you're right tho, time to move on.

Excited to hear a review of the zeeko bar from a pkf member

Quote:

Originally posted by Feyd Amazing you never had a problem with the strap binding in the buckle in 12 yrs. I freakin hated that strap for exactly that reason. Everyone here hates the strap, that's why we like the cleats. Maybe it has something to do with snow gloves. Maybe we aren't able to give it a clean pull without twisting it and the result is a bind up. Sounds like you're right tho, time to move on.

Yup, never seen that happen before any time of the year. Only failure to a strap before this was way back in '01. I had a buckle break on me.

I burned through a few cleats in the winter time though. I think the frozen line chewed them up so I stopped using them.

The Zero7 has too many failures in in a short period though, it's time to quarantine that bar. No salvagable parts there.

Looking forward to this Zeeko bar now. I have heard it is as cool as it looks. Ordered it today, should see it in a couple days. Not sure what mods to the safety it will need (hope not too significant).