Bar/lines for North - Reach

ivtechbrad · Since 08 Apr 2014 10 Posts White Lake WI New Member

I just bought a 2023 North Reach 15 m kite. It didn't come with a bar/lines. I have multiple older liquid force bars. Can I use that on a North Kite? I have never owned anything other than liquid force.

Wind Slither · Since 04 Mar 2005 2624 Posts The 503 METAL

Don't know about the compatibility between LF and North but I have an older North bar and lines that I'd sell you for $30 plus shipping from Portland.

jasonq · Since 12 Jan 2009 249 Posts hood river Stoked

I think every kite in the last 15-ish years is designed for equal length lines. I have used the same bar on LF envys, slinghshot ghosts, north reaches, switch heliums, and switch elements. kites designed for 4 vs 5 lines and low vs high V still drive bar differences. today, 4 line low V is by far the most common.

The last kite i knew that used unequal lengths lines was a Best kite from like 15+ years ago (red bar or red shift bar maybe???)

your bar should be fine.

but it is a good idea to check your bar routinely for line stretch. attach all lines to a post via a carabiner and a loop, or whatever works best for your pigtails. then at full power on the trim/depower, with the bar all the way against the chicken loop and square to the lines, all lines should be taught with the same tension. if not, adjust pigtails, leader lines/knots as necessary. its not a big deal if the outside lines are a little different in length, the bar can deal with that. but inside lines that are different will make kites fly strangely. Inside and outside being different lengths least to being under powered in one direction, and over sheeting in the other.

knotwindy · Since 25 Sep 2011 619 Posts Addicted

The only ‘issue’ I’ve seen in many years with bar/kite compatibility is simply the loop/knot connections. Some are ‘backwards’ and need to be switched or pigtails added, very simple and easy fix. High Y or low V is as much a matter of preference as anything. Some like the feel of one more than the other on different kites. Yes, I know the designers had a feel in mind when the made the kite but that may not be what you prefer. In short, you can make almost any bar work with almost any kite safely except Core. They have a different release/line setup so the kites are usable on other bars but the bar/lines might not be except for the newest one.