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Looking at Control Bars

Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 9:32 pm
by yojimbo
And I noticed that the prices this year have really shot through the roof. I saw a Cabrinha Bar for $650.00. Most bars are in the $400 to $550 range. What ?

On the low end Zian has a bar/lines for $250 but you have to buy a kite as well. Switch has a bar at $275, but they are sold out.

The other thing I noticed is that some brands now offer more than one price point/level of control bar. Naish has a "Base" model @ $399 as well as a "Universal" model @ $479. Trying to figure out the difference is gonna take some massive research.

In case you have huge amounts of money to blow, some brands don't offer the option to adjust the width of the rear lines on the bar, so you get to have the awesome experience of having to purchase more than one bar. Cabrinha Quicklink bar comes in 4 sizes, each one costing $636.00 before tax and shipping, that works out to like a gazillion dollars if you need all four bars.

Can anyone shine a light on the difference between a Switch bar @ $275 vs. a Cabrinha Quicklink at $650.

Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 10:30 pm
by tgautier
I like the cabrinha bar but the durability is shit. Every one of my bars - 3 of them in two years - the foam on the bar breaks off in half a season or so. I think the reason for the price increase this year is the change in lines. I like everything about the cab bars except reset. No way you are gonna do that on the water. Once you pull the QR you are done. This years model has a change that is supposed to make it better but I think realistically even with the change you are still not gonna be putting that thing back together except on dry land.

At the end of the day couldn't agree with you more - $600+ is BS.

Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 10:32 pm
by tgautier
Did you look at the North Bar? It looks pretty solid to me.

Re: Looking at Control Bars

Posted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 12:23 am
by Frappes
2013 North bar is pretty good. One remaining issue is that when you pull the depower strap, the velcro to stick the extra line to to avoid it flailing around doesn't work at all. Mostly just annoying though and doesn't affect performance.

Re: Looking at Control Bars

Posted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 6:20 am
by kitenaked
http://www.wainmanhawaii.com/carrot-bar/features

Of course I am a bit partial to the Wainman's but these have evolved nicely. Very simple and safe however are suitable for kites that have a shorter throw of the bar. They can be modified for addition of 5th line and C kites as well.

More info....

http://www.kitenaked.com/product_p/whbar.htm


North bar has one of the nicest quick releases. New Blade bar is also pretty sweet and worth a look.

Re: Looking at Control Bars

Posted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 7:06 am
by windstoked
Research lines also. Naish line breakage in less than a season has been my experience, with RRD and Slingshot lines never a problem. The RRD central line swivel gets wound up with the control line doing kiteloops and can be a real nuisance.

Re: Looking at Control Bars

Posted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 7:25 am
by steve
tgautier:
curious, where did you get those prices? my price list shows the control bar are $569-$589 and about $10 more for the Siren bar.

Just FYI: if you accidentally release your QR in deep water, you don't have to try and put it back together in thee water. Grap your bar, make sure your lines are not fauled and relaunch as you normally would, and fly the kite back to the beach to reset where it is easy. you won't be able to pull the bar all the way in...and you might have to depower the kite a bit with the depower strap as the kite will have more power...like when you unhook. Got questions, contact me.

Would also be interested as to why the bar ends are ripping on the 2012/2013 bars...haven't seen this except with an accident with a boat
steve

Posted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 9:44 am
by jwest21

Re: Looking at Control Bars

Posted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 10:35 am
by mikelu
Check out the airush smart Bar

Re: Looking at Control Bars

Posted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 10:40 am
by drroc
You can change the bar width on this bar and the price is not as terrible as some of the other vendors.
http://www.epickites.com/epicstore/cata ... 72kn616ih2