When I first started this great sport, I had a co-worker(plumber background) bend me 2 sets of handles, made from 3/8"(edit:I used 3/4", not 3/8") sch 40 PVC. They were fashioned after HQ's standard handles in length and bend. They have worked fine for me, and still do, but when I got my 12M NPW9 from kitemaker4, I picked up a set of PKD's handles with the brake line cleat, to make adjustment on the fly possible. These work quite well, so I went to West Marine, and picked up 2 small v-cleats with fairlead, made by Ronstan, for less than $7.00 each. I bolted them to a set of my homemade PVC handles in place of the brake line pigtails, and now have another set of adjustable handles.

Thats pretty cool! I would think half inch pipe would be a better size for gripping. Any kind of tape or padding on the handles? Show us some pics.

Cool. I've been planning on making some handles but was planning to use PVC conduit instead.

Good for you. I've seen and heard of homemade handles before but yours sounds like the best execution with the addition of the brake line cleats. Good job.

pics pics pics :dunno:

I have wrapped the handles with the grip tape they sell for tennis racquets, red for the left handle and blue for the right. My good camera crapped out, and I had to replace it with a cheap one, so I will take pics, but I can't say how the quality will be.
Sean, I think the PVC conduit should work O.K.

So I just took out the handles to take a few pics, turns out I mis-remembered the size. It turns out I used 3/4", not 3/8" pvc. anyway, here are a few pics.

So there are the pics, not such good quality, but I guess it shows the mod. The first two show the left handle, the hemo clip that I used to a.) pull out the brake loop, and b.) hold the nut in place to attach the cleat. I suppose this could be done with a long nose pliers, too. I also added the little card the cleat came attached to, hoping the part number would show up, but it didn't. The Ronstan part # is RF5101, V-cleat, Small, Fairlead. For under $14.00 for the v-cleats, I think the mod was well worth the cost. Also, I put end caps on the handles, to prevent being "cored" if I fell on them, but didn't glue them in case they need to be removed for any reason.

i have been cutting my flexi fb bars in half...they work better as handles than it ever did as a bar

what kind of cord did you use for the pigtails?

Just some heavy poly cord from the "boating supply" department at Wal-Mart. Woven exterior, non woven core, maybe 1/8" dia, don't remember.