Hey all, just picked up a small 4 line with handles instead of a bar (a little Bullet thanks to DaVinch). After flying it a few times, I am curious why people prefer one over the other. For me, I'm still playing with it but I think that I'm a bar man. I like the ability to go one handed once in a while.

Jason

I like the bar for that too, but you loose the finesse you get with handles. Try some brake turns by pullling in a regular sharp turn and tapping the brake on that side. It'll snap around like you can't do on a bar. Especially handy in light winds.

To free a hand with the handles, I put on a strop and hook to a harness. Best of both worlds.

First off, Welcome! Yep, handles and a strop for fixed bridle. You keep the flying edge and dont tucker out as quickly. I had a flexi bar at one time, used it once, and packed it away. The only bar flying for me is depower. Look forward to your review on the Bullet. You cant beat a sail coming from DaVinch, ACampbell, Powerzone, Pablo, Ripsessionkites, and Zloty--a few of the forum retailers! Good luck!

I like my bars !

Using a cross-over brake system gives a fare degree of brake control. With it you get a 2:1 action on the brakes. If you want the kite to turn on a wing tip crank the bar completely. If you don't want brake a small motion on the bar will allow you a slow powered turn. I've tried a bar without the 2:1 braking system. That way isn't a good choice IMHO.

The biggest problem I'm finding is that with smaller kites the little bit of extra weight from the pulleys Puckers the back end and creates some stalling when not properly powered up. Somehow I feel I have something more stable to hold on to when riding and being lifted. That's just me though. The majority of MORE EXPERIENCED riders go for handles.

Im curious also, Is there a setup for fixed bridle kites to use handles, & still have control of the power & brakes with just 1 hand & NOT be hooked into a harness??? Like say some sort of chicken loop strap that hooks to your belt/waistline???

What Im wondering is, how does 1 go about setting up a pair of handles, to be able & let go of 1 handle or place them together in 1 free hand while resting the other hand & still have say latteral movement (side2side)... with or with out brakes but preferablly with brakes... & not have the kite constantly slide sideways or turn, to either side as usually happens, when I try to hold both handles in 1 hand... or are my lines that far off in "length" difference...???

No, not safely. You need to be able to un-hook. You could add a good safety quick- release, but by the time you're done spending money and your own time to get it right, you would have... a harness.

[edit, add]
It's not you; most open cell fixed bridle kites are too twitchy to do what you ask with one hand. I've never been able to hold both handles in one hand more than a moment.

Even with a harness and strop, your one hand remaining on a handle will have to actively work to keep the kite in place.

The only way to go truly hands off is with some de-power kites on a bar and harness. With my Peter Lynn Scorpion inflatable, I can let go of the bar altogether, drink a bottle of water, eat a sandwich, whatever, and never even look up at the kite.

Yup, acampbell is right the fixed bridle foils are kinda twitchy. However, with experience you can fly with one hand or if your lines are set up well and the kite is well balanced you can hold both handles for a minute.

The biggest downfal to riding with handles is you don't get to learn handle pass type tricks. Oh, well. My shoulders are messed up anyway so I don't care to even try handle passes.

However, you can do just about any other trick with handles easily. Just takes practice.

Here's a pic of me doing a no handed something with handles.
Scott

Here's one doing a sliding backwards carving turn with one hand flying the kite using handles.

I see pictures of Bars with their harness loops & chicken loops & pulleys & brake lines & power lines all hooked up or set up & somehting still doesnt click.. As to push/pull or whatever to apply the brakes by moving the bar In or out ??? Anyone have a "Really" good but simple explination or Video???

My minds been blank lately just waiting on the New, Pro Foil...

:puzzled:

A depower bar is very different from a "regular" 4- line control bar. With a control bar, the front lines go to the end of the bar and the brake lines go to the center, usually through a pulley. Pulling on one end of the bar causes tension to be applied to the brake line on that side. It is a "fixed bridle" kite becaus the bridle does not move- only the traiing edge is bent by the brake lines.

De-power bars have the rear lines go to the ends of the bar. The front lines go to a strap at the center, which runs through a hole in the bar to the chicken loop, which hooks to the harness. Moving the bar in pulls on both rear lines and rocks the entire kite back, moving on pulleys on the front of the bridle, increasing angle of attack (and power). Letting the bar out rotates the entire kite forward, reducing AoA and power. That is why it is not a "fixed bridle" kite.

Here is a schematic...
http://www.coastalwindsports.com/images/DepowerSideView.jpg

One other consideration when decieding between bar or handles is where you'll be kitesurfing. Many of the new depower kites require you to be hooked into your kite at all times via snap link or quick link type mechanism.

Flat water type riding it is ok.
For surf riding I don't think it's ok. You need to get away from a downed kite and it's lines quickly in the surf. Plus you don't want to get dragged by a wave hitting the kite in the surf.

Scott

NP there I only fly static... so I dont worry about the water...

If your on land then go with handles. When you can fly well switch over to a bar and see how you like it. Bars are typically easier to learn to fly with but don't give you the finesse of handles.
Scott

Speleo - what size board is that in your no-hander pic? Something like that may be fun to cruise around the lake here with my Blades.

It's a 6'6" if I remember correctly. It's a copy of a Fox/Quadrifoil board from 1999. It's a good board but it's on Saipan and I'm in Florida:o I didn't have enough money to ship it back.

You can get a used surfboard and ride it on a lake no problem. How about a wakeboard but instead of boots just use foot straps.

Scott