Replace or refurbish old bars

[RomeUtah]

I have 3 older 2015 circa best bars. One has grip coming off (simple glue job may work), as well as the outside line leader plastic covering is cracked and all three have uneven lines. Is it worth fixing them, getting new lines on the RP bars, at least on the ones that are fine? Canabalizing them, or not waste my time and trash them?

[knotwindy]

Depends, do you have more free time or more money?
Do you like tinkering or does that make you crazy after a short time?

[Peter_Frank]

Do you also kitefoil?

Then refurbish, no doubt.

Rear lines can be adjusted easily at the bar, frontlines you might need to make som knots go shorten them to equal length - the loss in strength is absolutely no problem for kitefoiling.

Even better, if you use foil kites, make one bar for each kite, for faster and easier setup every time you go out

Contact cement for the grip, no problems at all and easy to do

Peter

[sarc]

I regripped all my bars with 'rain-type' bicycle handlebar tape. it's thick silicon that feels even better than EVA foam, glue not needed just wind it tight around the bar and fix the ends with self amalgamating tape.

[Peter_Frank]

Good to know one can re-grip this easy

Eventhough I have never had a bar where the grip has been "lost" in areas, or worn down.

It comes loose on an area on some bars after many years, and has to be re-glued with standard waterproof contact cement, takes 10 minutes and ready

Peter

[rnelias]

Kite brands should offer grip replacement for their bars... an EVA cover with some adhesive that could be replaced from time to time like tennis racket grips but I suppose they don't want us to keep ours bars for more than a couple of seasons

[JakeFarley]

I have a three old bars (2007 Best and 2010 Cabrinha). For the slightly uneven line lengths (due to shrinkage) I used pigtails to correct. On all three the chicken loop plastic has cracked, but the bar and lines are in good shape except for the plastic peeling off the leaders a bit. On the Best bar I was able to replace the plastic with some heavy tubing which has performed well for the past year. On the Cabrinha IDS bars, I could not find a replacement chicken loop nor could I replace the plastic so I have taped and retaped. I was thinking about ditching the chicken loop and replacing it with a shackle that would fit into the mushroom type quick release. If that is not feasible, I will probably rework the bars with new chicken loop, depower and trim mechanisms.

[edt]

Depends, do you have more free time or more money?

Nailed it!

[Peter_Frank]

Kite brands should offer grip replacement for their bars... an EVA cover with some adhesive that could be replaced from time to time like tennis racket grips but I suppose they don't want us to keep ours bars for more than a couple of seasons

Still confused about this?

I have 5-10 year old bars (or more), and not one of them have had the grip destroyed nor gotten slippery.

Yes I have many bars, but also ride a lot, and the grip never dissapears.

Only issue is the grip can start peeling at the junctions - which is supereasy to fix

The rest is worse of course, depowerline and chicken loop and lines and adjuster and everything else - and has to be replaced/refurbished now and then.

Peter

[edt]

Grip on my bars lasts about a year sometimes less doesn't matter the model. I have a technique for regripping that uses two kinds of tape but it doesn't matter I wear the grip out pretty soon there too. For me it's like the rubber on your car tires it's going to wear out but it might wear out slower if you ride differently. I made a video about how I regrip.



I might also have a video about how to make your own replacement chicken loop I can't remember.