Hi all,

When I'm on my Blade 4.9 with handles I dont really have much response from my break lines when turning. This leads me to believe that either I need to tighten them or Im not pulling them hard enough? I was just wondering how slack your break lines should be? My break lines loop down slightly when my power lines are tight.

The kite is set up as standard and I have just attached the break lines to the end of the bridles where there is already a knot. Should I tie a new know slightly further up and try it there?

Thanks in advance.

I'm still figuring out my newest kite, a blade iv 6.5, but tightening up the brakes might not help too much.

I come from flying a Pansh Ace 5m, which is very sensitive on the brakes, much more so than the blade.

My brake lines loop (or sag) back at least a meter, if not more, from the powers. My Ace brakes loop back nearly two meters.

Here's something to try: slack off the brakes until you've got just enough brake to land with, then try. But this time try combination turns, use a bit of brake while pulling hard on power.

It will be slower in lighter winds!

But I just realized you're on a blade III rather than a IV.

you could also try searching for mods on the B III bridles, and see what you could learn from that. Also a good read through the Blade III reviews, about 20 of them on racekites.com.

hope that helps...

furbo

I try to fly alittle tight So I don't have to much slack in the brakes while at the zenith I would try another knot to shorten them a little. Are you using flexi handles? Do you fly with your hands at mid handel or top?

it's all about trial and error.

and here you have suggestions telling you to try both ways!

for what it's worth, the fellow I bought mine off of says he keeps the brakes a knot or two tighter than what I've felt comfy with.

again, it's a BIII not a BIV and they do handle differently. There are mods to do to "tame" the BIII, and make it more like a BIV, but that's all I can remember, don't know if that had anything to do with the turning speed.

if you are holding your handles with your fingers below the power leaders, you may be accidentally putting tension on both brakes, which will definitely mess up your turns.

always worth doing a full bridle check before launch and watching your kite carefully as it turns to make sure the brakes are working as intended.

furbo

Furb,

one knot back on the powers, two or three knots back on the brakes.............. brakes to turn at the edges, send thru power, and youre off. Spent alot of time on the KGB with the 6.5, and needed that control. If youre luffing/collapsing the 6.5 (read in an earlier post) you need more brake or there was not alot of wind..........................just my two cents!

The problem is that everyone has a different flying style, therefore there really isn't ONE setting that works for everyone. Some people hold the handles nearly perpendicular to the ground and others (like myself) hold the handles so the bottoms are almost always pointing at the kite. Because there is nearly 4 inches of travel between the two positions you will almost always need to re-adjust your brake lines when switching from one pilot to another.

The best thing to do is just try a bunch of different settings until you find one that works best for your flying style. This is really easy to do and only takes a couple of minutes.

First, if you do not already have knots on your leader lines (the lines running from your handles where you attach your flying lines to) then tie a series of knots about 1.5 to 2 inches apart starting with the closest to the handles and moving outward to the ends. If by some chance your leader lines are very short and you can't get 5 or 6 knots in them then add on 4 leaders appx. 12 inches long (one to each leader off the handles) and add the knots to the new leaders. To make the leaders, get a length of line appx. 12-14 inches long, tie a loop in one end and larks head that loop to your short leaders on your handles. Basically your just extending the leaders out longer for more adjustments.

Now, the actual distance between the knots is not that important as long as the knots are EXACTLY EQUAL from the right handle to the left handle. If one knot is closer on one handle than the same knot on the other handle your kite won't fly straight.

Once you get your knots in your leaders, start by attaching your top lines to the furthest knot from the handles. Attach your brake lines on the closest knot to the handles. Fly the kite. This setting will usually make the kite very "heavy" (a term used when the kite just won't climb up to zenith and just stalls out). Basically when you pull on the top lines to launch, the kite heaves itself off the ground, stalls and drops back down....just wont fly. - Move the bottom lines (brake lines) out to the next knot from the handles and try launching again. Keep moving the brake lines out until you find a setting that allows the kite to launch and fly with the best speed while still being able to safely stall the kite and brake it for landing. If you set your brake lines to far out (too loose) then you will not be able to stall the kite and land it, your steering will also suffer. If you adjust your brake lines all the way out and you are still stalling the kite to much, start adjusting your top lines in towards the handles and continue.

By placing the knots on the handle end it allows you to make simple adjustments to the kite without having to go to the kite each time. Changing your settings is super simple and only takes a couple seconds to do. The nice thing too is that in the event your lines stretch out you can make a very simple adjustment instead of having to re-adjust all your lines. This also helps for setting your kite up for different wind conditions. In stronger winds you may want to drop the brakes out a little so the kite races to the edge of the window faster. For lighter winds or gusty/turbulent winds you can bring the brakes in and stall the kite a little more so it doesn't overfly in the gusts.

Hope this helps. If you need any more info on this just let us know.

WOC,

great tip on the lines and leaders----------Ill try that for sure. Flying styles being different but the bigger blades like a bit of brake for control and redirecting. If found they are not push pull kites, but pulling and braking in unison make for a sweet flying sail. Furb, 3 knots back on powers, 2nd knots on brakes, middle knot on brake bridles, middle or medium AOA knot..................

One of the biggest mistakes I see people making is using line that is way to heavy and thick. When you double the crosssection of a round thing your quadruple the drag of that object.
I would get lighter weight/thinner brake lines and tighten them up some. You can always make some short pigtails to lengthen the brake lines to fine tune length and tension.

For example I fly all my kites with 300 pound main lines and 50-100 pound line on the brakes of anything larger than a 4.9 meter. If your putting 100 pounds of pressure on a brake line then something is wrong and you probably want the line to snap before something else lets go. Same goes with the main lines. If there is a 300 pound plus force on the mains then something is going to let go.

Before I get flamed I've been kitesurfing with some of the same lines sets I've had since 1999 (300 pound mains).

Scott

Speaking of different flying styles, Tridude has lent or sold me several kites. While I have much respect for his flying abilities and knowledge of kites, I always found myself loosening the brakes one knot to get the kite to suit my tastes. We all like our kites a little different. Don't be afraid to experiment and find what you like.

hiya...

@ reckless: time for you to post here again! or your thread will get hijacked (like already, mate...)

@ tridude: bottom line, it's a fantastic kite and I sure don't regret the purchase. I'm afraid the problem recently has been "new kite syndrome", i.e. no more of the good winds to fly it in. I've been watching the weather like a hawk, but have mostly gotten really marginal wind -- gusty and wiggly and just not very much, then lots of thundery showers as well (been rained out the last three times). I've tried the high-lift setting, but I have a feeling it needs more wind at that setting (odd, that... I thought it was the other way around). I did have good winds the day I got it, nothing good since. So that's made it really difficult to dial it in! Also, I'm flying static, so I likely don't use the brakes as carefully as someone on a board. Anyways, I'll post with some good Q's after the next time I fly in good winds, as with these nasty light wiggly gusty winds it's harder to figure out if it is wind, settings, or me messing up the kite...

@awindofchange: thanks for your info on setting up brakes, very clear!

@ speleopower: thanks for your input, I must admit I am bemused by having brake lines strong enough to take my weight when 25-30 lbs seems to be the most tension I put on my brakes... I've got lighter lines and will likely try swapping out the brakes for lighter stuff the next time around...

@BB: For sure I like my brakes a little loose, tho with just enough tension to land the kite with -- I think a lot of this preference comes from finding my Ace flies better with loose brakes, also from flying static. Also just have lots of wonky winds, nothing strong and clean since that first day!!!

It's been a good thread to learn from, be good to hear how reckless is getting on!

cheers,

furbo

Quote:

Originally posted by Sthrasher38 I try to fly alittle tight So I don't have to much slack in the brakes while at the zenith I would try another knot to shorten them a little. Are you using flexi handles? Do you fly with your hands at mid handel or top?

I am flying with Flexi handles with my hands at the top.

Thanks for all the advice guys, much appreciated

Brakes are def at the individuals discretion/discipline. Keep an eye out for power lines stretching. This will affect brake and overall performance but is an easy fix.

You mention having your hands at the top of the handles. Clarify your hand position.
You should be flying with your index finger above the main powerlines i.e. the powerlines should be between your index finger and middle finger.

Also, try light brake lines. It makes a huge difference in the performance of your kite.

Scott