Differences among North (/Duotone) bars

[k-t]

Hi,

Could anyone please explain if there are any differences between North trust bars from different years? And the Duotone one? Are these the colors only or anything else?

Thank you, appreciate a lot!

[Leon van Bergen]

Hi,

Could anyone please explain if there are any differences between North trust bars from different years? And the Duotone one? Are these the colors only or anything else?

Thank you, appreciate a lot!

Jup, between 2018 North and 2019 Duotone just the colors..
I thought the same between 17 and 18 but there I am less sure about ...

[Da Yoda]

Could anyone please explain if there are any differences between North trust bars from different years? And the Duotone one? Are these the colors only or anything else?

I only know back to 2011. In 2011 and 2012 the bar was an older traditional design with separately attached (non-molded) line floaters. The Iron Heart CL was the same both years. The stopper-ball was a wedge/ball combo so it wouldn't slip/jam. They also had limited line length options... I think it was 24m & 27m only.

In 2013 North updated their bar to essentially the same design now found at Duotone. Too much detail to cover, so just watch this video instead...


The later year bars (2014+) allow for easier change-out for replacement parts... e.g. screws instead of press-fit pins.

[NorCalNomad]

Any certain years you're looking at? Like Yoda said 2013 till now is a bunch of small improvements every few years. I wouldn't buy anything older than the 2014. This is what I remember and was backed up with some cursory googling.

2013 (black and white) - Introduced the push button bar length change/ flip flop floaters
2014 (blue and blue) - Switched the center line bar bushing to a two screw configuration, and the center line swivel updated to screws over pins securing it (if the 2013 didn't already) Improved the buttons on the flip flop floaters so it's easier to do on the fly.
2015 (blue and yellow green) - There was an inline switch to a lighter center line split after their initial release. https://www.wetestkites.com/wp-content/ ... og_Bar.png
2016 (blue and red) - Same as 2016
2017 (blue and teal) - Different flagging line stopper (might have been a 2016 change, can't remember) https://en.kitefuntarifa.com/blog/image ... system.jpg
2018 (white and dark blue) - First year that they started offering the different length chickenloops outside of the wakebar, also a different leash attachment "ring"
2019 (blue and orange) Haven't really caught up on 2019 gear but I believe this one is the first that you can swap between 4 and 5 line setup on the beach.

And for lengths of bars in relation to line length this sums it up for all years (minus the wake bar, and the race trust bar they made in 2013)
"The Trust bar is a dual adjustable length bar that comes in two options, 42/49cm and a 46/53cm length. On the smaller bar you can choose between 19 or 22m lines and on the longer bar you can choose between 24 and 27m lines"

[k-t]

Thank you! That’s exactly what I was looking for. Was mostly interested in 2015-2018 and that explains it all

[cor]

Maybe just a detail but I remember that North had a lot of issues with seperating bargrips until 2016. They solved it - afaik - only in 2017.

Not sure what you are trying to do here, k-t.... if you are aiming for an older used bar, make sure that you check the lines first.

[Kitemenn]

Maybe just a detail but I remember that North had a lot of issues with seperating bargrips until 2016. They solved it - afaik - only in 2017.

Not sure what you are trying to do here, k-t.... if you are aiming for an older used bar, make sure that you check the lines first.

Seperating bargrip was deff a thing for my 2013 bar...really interested in the Clickbar now

[cor]

Seperating bargrip was deff a thing for my 2013 bar...really interested in the Clickbar now

yeah... went on until 2016.

Clickbar doesn't have this issue... or any other issue in my opinion except the lines. Still love it.

[NorCalNomad]

Maybe just a detail but I remember that North had a lot of issues with seperating bargrips until 2016. They solved it - afaik - only in 2017.

Not sure what you are trying to do here, k-t.... if you are aiming for an older used bar, make sure that you check the lines first.

Just incase someone is wondering about what "separating bar grips" means, as even I initially thought you were talking about one end of the bar coming off.

The problem was that the foam wrapped around the bar had a seam where delamination of the foam from the structural part of the bar would sometimes happen. Still 100% rideable, you just had to reglue a flappy end with contact cement.