Naish Torch 2017 Problems (No Power)

[Do-it]

The Torch hasn't really changed much since 2015; in fact only for 2017 they've made minor changes. This year besides for the new canopy material they've slightly reduced the length of the central struts and slightly lengthened the smallest side struts to be better suited for the new low V bar setup.

I do really think it's the best Torch ever to date and I've been riding Torches since the beginning but just don't expect it to be a puller like a Switchblade or something. It loves to be ridden overpower yet remaining very manageable which is a very hard to find characteristic even w/ modern C

Maybe the new materials load and stretch differently?

[LorenzoS]

Perhaps.. It does make a little more responsive but I think the big plus w/ the new material is in regards to durability and overall resistance. I crashed it in the waves this season in Cape Town and never had to fixed it as oppose to my older Torch that blew the central panel

[lovethepirk]

I rode with a guy, 40lbs lighter than me, on a new 11m Torch last month in 20-24mph winds and I was on a 12m SB. I was plenty happy with the power and boosts, but he said he needed another 5mph of wind. We looked at his kite on the beach next to mine and I could swear the Torch was 5 degrees more erect than my SB or any other kite.

I have a feeling that apart from it being a C Kite it has a much less attack angle designed into it which would require longer center lines to get close to other kites...or else just understand the design intent and fly the bigger kite and go huge.

[Kehler]

We have tried to add 4cm to the centerline after Talking to Naish. It helps, but still not the same power and lowend as 2016.
Has anyone tried something else with Torch to get more power into it, or have anyone tried the new Torch from 2018? Is it the same as 2017?

[LorenzoS]

I've also tried adding 4-5 cm to the centerline and I came to the same conclusion as you. I'm also curious about the new Torch 2018. Anyone out there has tried it?

[swichkite]

i am flying the new 2017 9m torch on the 2015 bar and it was awesome then i had to change to the 2017 bar as i broke a line and its so different, kinda the same when i fly the 2015 8m on the 2017 bar the 5th line pulls to tight and turns it into a flatter c lose 20% of the power at the top end , on the 2015 8M i have to lengthen the 5th line and shorten the back lines to get it near to the grunt im used to, and the same a bit on the 2017, all in all i prefer to fly both kites on the 2015 bar

[Artem]

Can anyone check this settings of the bar on new Torches:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2398163&p=1050318#p1050318
Maybe it will help to fix flight characteristics?

[Artem]

i am flying the new 2017 9m torch on the 2015 bar and it was awesome then i had to change to the 2017 bar as i broke a line and its so different, kinda the same when i fly the 2015 8m on the 2017 bar the 5th line pulls to tight and turns it into a flatter c lose 20% of the power at the top end , on the 2015 8M i have to lengthen the 5th line and shorten the back lines to get it near to the grunt im used to, and the same a bit on the 2017, all in all i prefer to fly both kites on the 2015 bar

This may be explained that old bars has neutral position of angle of attack in the middle of the bar track. So if you pull the old bar towards you (closer to c-loop) you can increase angle of attack from its neutral position what can improve low end power of the kite.
If new torque bars have neutral position of angle of attack close to c-loop you can't increase angle of attack, you can only decrease it by pushing the bar away from you.
That's why new Torches work great in high end (because of low angle of attack) and don't work in low end (because of lack of angle of attack).
In this case adding cms to 5 line maybe may help partly but this is not the correct way to eliminate the problem.
You have to retie knots on back lines to remove neutral position of the bar in the middle of its track between trimmer and c-loop.
That's my theory.
Could You tie all lines of new 5 line torque bar to one point and check neutral position of the bar when it is just out of the box (without manipulations with 5 line)?
I think 2017 and 2018 Torches are ok. The problem is in new bars.

[Artem]

This is neutral position of the bar for Torches when all lines are attached to one point and fully in tension. The bar is in the middle of its range.