North Dyno with 4 line bar?!

Hi, is the Dyno compatible with 4 line control systems?
I know it accepts 5 lines... i want to use it with a 4 line system...
What will be the effects of such change?

Thank you

Hi Judas

If a kite can be flown either with 5 lines or 4 lines bars it means that the 5th line isn't loaded, which means that when fitted with a 5th line, that extra line doesn't have any tension on the leading edge which means it doesn't impact on the flying characteristics of the kite.
The Rebel, for example, has a loaded 5th line so cannot be flown with a 4 line bar.

So yes you can use any 4 line bars with your Dyno you just want to test the safety system on that bar you're using to make sure the kite flags out properly. Ideally that bar would match the North bar in terms of height of the center line split ( i.e. the ''V'' or '' Y'') and also match the safety system configuration (i.e. single front line flagging vs dual front line flagging).

The advantage of using a 5 line bar in your case is just in terms of safety, a 5th line guarantees an instant and symmetricall flagging of the kite which can make self-rescue procedures easier, and safer but aside from that there are no advantages really. Using the 5th line for relaunching was an advantage with older styles of kite in low winds, but nowadays you don't have much use of a 5th line for relaunching modern bow/delta kites as they already relaunch extremely well

Christian

Aren't the bridles on the dyno optional? Meaning you can ride with the bridles + 4 lines, or no bridles + 5 lines? That would be why there is a loaded 5th, if that's correct

Hi,
On North's website there are 2 relevant Dyno models:
2015
2013

I am getting the 2015 model...

hey Judas,

I've been a long time fan of the Dyno and ridden all of the incarnations of the Dyno's in the biggest sizes ie 17 - 18m, owning all versions from 2011 to the 2016 LTD except the 2012 LTD but I did ride it once.

I can confirm, the 2015 and 2016 LTD Dyno's are the same design so perform the same as each other, with the only differences being material used in the struts ie dacron struts in the 2016 LTD. Colours are a bit different too.

Over the years I did experiments testing the Dyno's on different bars just for sh i ts and giggles and I found, the Dyno's 'can' be flown with a 4 line bar but in my opinion it's preferable to use a high Y 5 line bar (ie the north bar), and more so with the 2015/2016 LTD for a few reasons. The main reasons are: stability, safety and relaunch convenience.

What I found as the most glaring difference was relaunching was terrible with a 4 line bar, it took a bit of practice and mucking around especially in the lighter winds and then in stronger winds, due to the bridle design and aspect ratio, puts un-due pressure on the struts and wants to just stay on the water pulling you down wind. With the 5 line bar you can quickly just hold the safety line in and release pressure from the other lines so it tips the kite over and onto it's back (not completely over on its back, this causes other problems), then pull one side of the bar and your off again.

Safety was also compromised with a 4 line bar when punching out, made the kite flail about and kept pulling and ultimately, cause it to be impossible to relaunch with tangled lines. I haven't tested a punch out in stronger winds in 4 line mode as I didn't trust it at all but I can predict all sorts of trouble would ensue if the same flailing thing would happen and at minimum, damage to the kite especially to the bridle system.

I felt stability in the kite is also compromised with a 4 line bar. I tried a low Y 4 line bar and was even worse. When just cruising along with kite parked, both 4 and 5 line bars seemed ok but it was when you were driving it around the wind window where you felt the biggest difference. Being heavy I really felt it. As you dived the kite, the power spike was kind of delayed and kite had a wobble so instead of 1 or 2 sine-ing the kite to get going, it took 3 or 4 in the same given wind.

The steering also seemed to have a feel that made it spongy and not "as accurate" with a 4 line bar. Lighter guys didn't feel this much but I certainly did. Any delay in steering is a horrible trait and I reckon one of the reasons why big kites aren't more popular. The "accuracy" of big kites is difficult so making the kite feel spongier is definitely going in the wrong direction.

Anyway, just a few opinions, good luck.

Robbie