Bar Sizing

[CanadianGringo]

I have a 6,9, and a 12m. I almost always use my 12m. Will a 44cm bar be enough?
I don't really wave sail, more like free riding - often in gusty conditions on the lake.
My level is intermediate. I know a medium bar may be better like a 48-52cm - but saw a good deal on a 44 fixed length.
Advice would be great. Thanks in advance.

[Matteo V]

I know a medium bar may be better like a 48-52cm - but saw a good deal on a 44 fixed length.
Advice would be great. Thanks in advance.

Small bars are cheap because they are less versatile, but they do fill a niche in that they help slow down the turning of the kite as is desirable for wakestyle. Large bars are harder to find and cost more because of more demand due to their versatility.

A small bar forces the kite to turn less and will not allow extremely fast loops or stalling a tip during a turn.

Large bars can easily be made to turn a kite less - by the rider not turning the bar so much. But they can also turn a kite more. Again, more versatility.

[CanadianGringo]

Thanks Matteo - what about a bar that ranges 57-65?
If I am mostly riding a 12m would that be ok?
Occasionally a 9m and almost never my 6.
My style is not wake/wave - but freeride.

Thanks

[sarc]

Personally I like 60cm with my 12m because i like to chuck it around. 55cm OK. Too long bar on small kite is much better than too short bar on big kite. My sweet spot is 50cm for 5m, 55cm for 9m and 60cm for 12m. So a 50-55cm adjustable bar is most versatile I think.

[iriejohn]

If only one bar then 20"/50 cm is the most generally useable.

[Peter_Frank]

If only one bar then 20"/50 cm is the most generally useable.

Spot on, a bar 50-52 cm will work for all sizes indeed, from say 5 to 15 m2

Peter

[grigorib]

I have a 6,9, and a 12m. I almost always use my 12m. Will a 44cm bar be enough?
I don't really wave sail, more like free riding - often in gusty conditions on the lake.
My level is intermediate. I know a medium bar may be better like a 48-52cm - but saw a good deal on a 44 fixed length.
Advice would be great. Thanks in advance.

for 5-15m kite size range I've been using 20" bar. 44cm might be a bit short I'd say