Forums > Kitesurfing Gear Reviews

The New Switch kitebar gets it right !

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Created by SaveTheWhales > 9 months ago, 14 Oct 2017
Chris_M
2128 posts
26 Oct 2017 3:20PM
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bjw said..

salt said..
last time i was on we weren't allowed to talk about switch, good to see we can talk about any kites we want.



First rule of Fight Club - don't talk about Switch Kites.

The amount of discussion about Switch is way more than actual kiters at my beaches. We have 2 and one of them seems to love kiting through the flags


That's just your beach bjw. At mine there is a surprising amount of discussion about Switch. Lots of guys asking about them and wondering if they should take the leap. And quite a few seem interested when they have a look and speak to the owners. Theres lots of people riding Switch around Auckland, everyone seems pretty stoked on it too

Greenarrowz
NSW, 301 posts
26 Oct 2017 6:43PM
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Switch also has retro kits for the controller 3 ...they sent out 3 kits to sort my bars...on the house.




NorthernKitesAUS
QLD, 1061 posts
27 Oct 2017 11:18AM
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Anyone know where I can get those swivel joins from? The X looking thing in the above picture.

toppleover
QLD, 2033 posts
27 Oct 2017 1:21PM
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NorthernKitesAUS said..
Anyone know where I can get those swivel joins from? The X looking thing in the above picture.


Kitepower sell one similar, Ozone trimmer line bracket.

toppleover
QLD, 2033 posts
28 Oct 2017 4:32PM
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Just a bit of info for anyone interested,
Bill Hansen - long time kite designer for Switch is no longer with Switch.

RAL INN
VIC, 2880 posts
29 Oct 2017 12:37PM
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toppleover said..
Just a bit of info for anyone interested,
Bill Hansen - long time kite designer for Switch is no longer with Switch.


I always thought Bill Hansen was Switch. That he took all the designs he did for Eclipse and with Felix in tow started Switch.

JBFletch
QLD, 1287 posts
29 Oct 2017 9:39PM
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Livit said..

JBFletch said..


SaveTheWhales said..
Im very impressed that they finally "Listened to the public on the forums"
and completely changed to what we recommended.





You mean they have just bought an "off the shelf" 3P bar.
With the same features as other brands, just a different colour.

I guess if you buy cheap you get cheap.

If i was you, i'd be buying a slingshot, north, core bar that actually works and rig it for your switch kite.
At least you'll know the safety is actually going to work.



Remember that expensive NORTH Whip that was built like a turd? Sometimes you buy expensive and you get cheap.... Just sayin'


I thought we were talking about this alibaba bar?Then you change to boards? Not sure which turd one you were/are talking about but the whip has always been pretty good.

oscar1
84 posts
30 Oct 2017 1:18PM
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Switch was started by 2 Bay of plenty guys. (new Zealand} Raplh Von Brauser and Daniel Kajavala. Bill was the kite designer only. Ralph sold his share last Febuary. Felix is still with Switch (not sure if he has shares in switch). The Eclipse thruster kite was a lot different to the Nitros. They were huge boosters!!! As good as Edges!

eppo
WA, 9372 posts
30 Oct 2017 6:34PM
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oscar1 said..
Switch was started by 2 Bay of plenty guys. (new Zealand} Raplh Von Brauser and Daniel Kajavala. Bill was the kite designer only. Ralph sold his share last Febuary. Felix is still with Switch (not sure if he has shares in switch). The Eclipse thruster kite was a lot different to the Nitros. They were huge boosters!!! As good as Edges!


As good as the edges...

blasphemy. Wash your mouth out.

toppleover
QLD, 2033 posts
30 Oct 2017 9:14PM
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oscar1 said..
Switch was started by 2 Bay of plenty guys. (new Zealand} Raplh Von Brauser and Daniel Kajavala. Bill was the kite designer only. Ralph sold his share last Febuary. Felix is still with Switch (not sure if he has shares in switch). The Eclipse thruster kite was a lot different to the Nitros. They were huge boosters!!! As good as Edges!


Ralph has gone as well.

Chris_M
2128 posts
6 Feb 2018 12:52PM
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Greenarrowz said..
Switch also has retro kits for the controller 3 ...they sent out 3 kits to sort my bars...on the house.




Me too, just fitted my new line splitter, defo makes the flagging out happen a lot more instantaneous!

Pretty pleased with the complimentary chicken loop I got too when I showed them a problem that arose with mine.

Good stuff

toppleover
QLD, 2033 posts
6 Feb 2018 7:58PM
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Chris_M said..

Greenarrowz said..
Switch also has retro kits for the controller 3 ...they sent out 3 kits to sort my bars...on the house.




Me too, just fitted my new line splitter, defo makes the flagging out happen a lot more instantaneous!

Pretty pleased with the complimentary chicken loop I got too when I showed them a problem that arose with mine.

Good stuff


Yeah, the Switch customer service is hard to beat.

Bara
WA, 647 posts
9 Feb 2018 7:52AM
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So does anyone know if this bar with its adjustable high y split means it really is an all round bar for north kites as well as the rest now?

JOYRIDER
705 posts
22 Feb 2018 4:26AM
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Good to hear you found the problem... Switch should do a Safety recall just like Cab and the others plus give you some free stuff for finding the solution

As for the other tossers lol I'll have a beer with you girls at the windfest cheer up buttercups.



But we thought "THE NEW SWITCH KITE BAR GOT IT RIGHT!.How could this be?

toppleover
QLD, 2033 posts
22 Feb 2018 8:06PM
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I had a look at a C4X the other day & wasn't impressed.

TST
4 posts
9 Oct 2018 1:23PM
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Looks like the Switch store now has C4 parts. I've already added the C4 trim bracket.

Has anyone tried modifying their C3 with the C4 quick release? Assuming you also have to use the plastic coated depower rope?

If you have any pictures that would be great.

Cheers

Alysum
NSW, 1024 posts
17 Oct 2018 10:50PM
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toppleover said..
I had a look at a C4X the other day & wasn't impressed.


Why?

toppleover
QLD, 2033 posts
18 Oct 2018 6:05AM
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Alysum said..

toppleover said..
I had a look at a C4X the other day & wasn't impressed.



Why?


Just not my cup of tea mate, I bought a Cab bar that was on sale for about the same price as the switch offering.

Sold all my Switch gear, on drifters now.

quikdrawMcgraw
1221 posts
7 Nov 2018 7:58AM
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Hello switch enthusiasts and haters, at 80 kgs I'm thinking of getting switch to send a 12 & 8 (element 6) to Mui ne I'll be there next week currently in bali. Or do you think 12 and 7 would cover more wind range and be a better option? Also with that combination would you go for the larger or smaller bar coz I'm not buying two bars for the sake of 6 cms whatever it is. I have kited before but not for a few yrs now. Thanks heaps.

TimNZ
4 posts
8 Nov 2018 6:17AM
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Mcgraw, my 2c as a relative newcomer to kitesurfing...
I'm 75kg and purchased a 12 and 8m E6 with a 55cm bar and have been finding these overlap nicely in my case. I get away with the 12m in 13-20+kts on my 132TT (i'm running ~1/3 depower on bar by 20kts but keep in mind i'm a beginner/intermediate and find i am less inclined to pull on depower and just dig in harder instead each time I go out now).
From 20kts onwards I prefer the 8m (haven't used in anything over 26kts/gust 30 yet though where i was using ~1/4 depower). Based on my experience of the kites v switch published wind ranges and my weight and experience I would say the 12/8 would cover you nicely for 15-35kts comfortably... 12/7 might leave a bit of a gap/compromise in the middle.
Regards the 55 bar I use for both kites and love it, = quick turning on both and very quick on the 8m but I like that.

quikdrawMcgraw
1221 posts
8 Nov 2018 12:08PM
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Cool cuzy bro thanks for the reply that combo is what I've gone with so all good

gokid
QLD, 491 posts
10 Dec 2018 10:43AM
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Just ordered a 7m Switch Helium

toppleover
QLD, 2033 posts
10 Dec 2018 3:03PM
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gokid said..
Just ordered a 7m Switch Helium


You foiling yet gokid ?

I would of grabbed a Helium too, if they did a 5 or 6m.

Alysum
NSW, 1024 posts
12 Dec 2018 7:42AM
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toppleover said..

gokid said..
Just ordered a 7m Switch Helium



You foiling yet gokid ?

I would of grabbed a Helium too, if they did a 5 or 6m.


Yeah me too....
Or get the Element 6 which is 3 struts in that size. I do prefer the helium though both, especially the colours.

gokid
QLD, 491 posts
14 Dec 2018 12:13PM
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toppleover said..

gokid said..
Just ordered a 7m Switch Helium



You foiling yet gokid ?

I would of grabbed a Helium too, if they did a 5 or 6m.


Ive tried it a few times in Bali last year,kangarooed along for 200m a couple of times.I might get into it once my leg is 100% healed.

eppo
WA, 9372 posts
14 Dec 2018 12:20PM
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Just thought I'd address the posts actual title ...

... no they didn't...

Gorgo
VIC, 4911 posts
14 Dec 2018 3:44PM
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It depends on what you mean by "right'.

The Controller 4 is almost identical to similar offerings from North/Duotone, Ozone, Naish and other major brands. It does have a couple of minor defects that should not exist, but they're not all that serious. The bar does cost less than half the price of the major products.

When compared to modern top of the range products from Cabrinha or the various clicky bar things the Controller 4 sucks, but so do all those major brand older style bars. People still seem to buy the major brand products and pay loads for them.

shi thouse
WA, 1129 posts
14 Dec 2018 9:51PM
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Can't agree with you there Gorgo. Admittedly their kites are much cheaper, but after having flagging problems with their C3 bar (and sending it back for refund) I have steered away from their bars. For $490 you get the Switch bar or for a similar price you can get the Cabrinha bar. Having owned both, I think the Cab is a much better bar. Looking around, there are a lot of other big brands with similar priced bars as well.

Alysum
NSW, 1024 posts
15 Dec 2018 9:29PM
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The controller 4 is ok ish. Just seems to wear out and fade out quickly. Not very durable so far.

Alysum
NSW, 1024 posts
11 Jan 2019 7:15AM
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Aaannnndddd my Cx 4 lines with the black tube coating have snapped after just 1 year use.... Time to buy some proper bars.



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"The New Switch kitebar gets it right !" started by SaveTheWhales