UFO with 17" Bar?

[Nak]

Are we talking bar lengths for hydrofoiling or waveboards?

Excellent question! I should have included that information. Purely Hydrofoiling for me, and I tend to go with the smallest kite I can make work getting up.

[Nak]

Much thanks to Purdyd, IWantToFly and grigorib for your impressions flying the smaller UFOs and Clouds with the shorter bar! It sounds like it's worth it to build a new bar to try out the 17". I guess if I don't like it as well as the 20", at least I'll have a spare bar to throw in my car. Hopefully the parts I just ordered will be here in time for my Baja trip next week. If they are, I'll post my impressions here as well.

[Trent hink]

My current opinion is that the only reason to switch to a shorter bar is if you feel as if things are moving too fast to have good control. Otherwise whatever you have is just fine.

IMHO, this statement is correct, but not complete. The first reason to move to a shorter bar is as you say, often a large bar has too much control authority for a smaller kite. This is when it's really important to go with a shorter bar. But going to a shorter bar--even when the longer bar works fine--decreases control force required when flying the kite one handed, and increases the input angle required. This can make flying the kite faster and more fun--IF sufficient control authority remains. Of course, the shorter the bar, the less total control authority available.

I see it the opposite as you. Rather than going shorter if you have too much control, I'd rather only go longer if I need it for adequate control authority. That's the point of my original post: Does a 17" control bar have sufficient control authority to fly a 3m - 5m UFO--the UFO specifically--and is it more fun than using a 20" bar,? Does a 17" bar still have sufficient control authority to pinwheel a <= 5m UFO? As I said in the original post, I am well aware of the pros and cons of different bar lengths, I am merely looking for experience with small UFOs to determine if it's worth the monetary cost of building a new bar.

I get it, that's why my answer was basically, "it's not too long unless you think it is..."

Not much help, I guess, but in the end it comes down to personal preference and what feels right for you.

[Nak]

Well I tried a 17" bar with my V2 UFOs--3m, 4m, 5m and 6m. Back to back sessions with a 20" bar. With the any of them--even the 3m--the 17" bar isn't required. With the 3m, it's marginally more fun. With the 4m it's a wash. With the 5m, it's a bit easier to fly one handed, but it's also harder to turn it fast. With any of the 3 kites, I wouldn't be bothered to have to fly them with either bar. OTH, with the 6m--and I assume bigger kites--the 20" bar is definitely better.

All of that said, If I travel I'd rather bring two 20" bars than a 17" and a 20". That way I'd have a spare for every kite size. For the Gorge, I'll bring the 17" along for the 3m.

Obviously, all of the above is just personal opinion.

[IWantToFly]

Well I tried a 17" bar with my V2 UFOs--3m, 4m, 5m and 6m. Back to back sessions with a 20" bar. With the any of them--even the 3m--the 17" bar isn't required. With the 3m, it's marginally more fun. With the 4m it's a wash. With the 5m, it's a bit easier to fly one handed, but it's also harder to turn it fast. With any of the 3 kites, I wouldn't be bothered to have to fly them with either bar. OTH, with the 6m--and I assume bigger kites--the 20" bar is definitely better.

All of that said, If I travel I'd rather bring two 20" bars than a 17" and a 20". That way I'd have a spare for every kite size. For the Gorge, I'll bring the 17" along for the 3m.

Obviously, all of the above is just personal opinion.

Good to know with the back to back experience. I now have a 20” carbon bar to build up and I’m going to do another very light set up. I definitely loved using my super light 17” bar with kites up to 5m the last few weeks so I’m sold on the minimalist bar. Obviously the specific length is just a personal preference but I am sure I’ll use the longer bar with 6m-8m strutless and foil kites.