Around 2011 I lived in Perth and had a few kite lessons. I then bought a 2011 North Neo 9m with a North Trust bar and lines (Pretty sure that's what the bar was called), Prolimit seat harness and 2011 North Soleil 138 board. Not long after I moved back to the East Coast, had children and didn't touch my kite. Now that my kids are older I'm ready to get back into it and get more lessons but I've heard kite technology has moved on and that I should get new gear. I only used my gear about 4 times and it doesnt seem degraded. It's still like new. I'm trying to find details as to why I can't use my old gear. Just a few questions:
1) How has kite technology changed in that time?
2) Are the harness and bar/line mechanisms that much safer now and how?
3) Are the kites that much easier to fly and launch than my old North Neo?
Thanks for any help with this.
I don't know about Neo's specifically, but most kites from as far back as 2010 or so are perfectly fine except for a likelihood of valves delaminating from bladders & causing a very inconvenient deflation. Maybe check if they can be easily peeled off, or just replace pro-actively to be sure?
Valves and /or bladders can be replaced, canopy design has been 'tweaked' in more recent kites (but not that significantly for your purposes just now), and any changes to bars since then are also inconsequential.
Safety system will be just as safe as any.
A harness is just a harness. if it fits well and the webbing hasn't degraded (some do) then you're good to go.
If you're planning on having a lesson or 2, you could have your instructor help in checking the kite, and you might also compare its performance with a similar-sized school kite during a lesson, but I think you'll find it plenty good enough to get out there and have some fun.
Don't listen too much to sales pitches from all the people trying to sell you new gear; there's always going to be something better, but you can have heaps of fun with what you have.
Select to expand quoteSandee said..
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Don't listen too much to sales pitches from all the people trying to sell you new gear; there's always going to be something better, but you can have heaps of fun with what you have.yup
100%
Issues of delaminating valves aside (I think most major manufacturers moved from glued valves to plastic welds within a few years of 2011 to deal with this issue), I don't think 'changes to bars since then are also inconsequential' is strictly true. At least some bars from that era had a fixed point of attachment where the safety line split to the bridles). The 2011 airush bar is an example. It would occasionally lead to a kite remaining powered and continuing to death loop (with the bar out of reach), even after the safety was pulled. having experienced this exact issue a couple of times on old gear, I don't class it as inconsequential. I think many bars changed to a sliding attachment at the V within a few years of 2011 to deal with that case. Familiar with Duotone these days, but not sure how a 2011 North bar was set up.
On balance more recent gear is generally safer, easier to fly etc, but the specifics depend on model and brand and age. In my experience newer Dice and Evo (>~ 2018) are much better overall than the older models, but haven't flown a Neo so can't comment there.
