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WTB: Slingshot "red-bridle" kit from old Link kite

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Created by Loftywinds > 9 months ago, 16 Oct 2014
Loftywinds
QLD, 2060 posts
16 Oct 2014 6:28PM
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Anyone have a spare lying about?

Please don't tell me to get a new kite. This one was given to me for free and I just want to try it out.
Someone wants to kill me!

Yeah, I know I've said it's dangerous before and stay away, etc etc... but I still want to try it. Some reckon it's a good kite and I want to prove to myself if it's true or not.

Apparently the bridle kit was to bring the kite to a "safe standard" like other kites at the time, as SS sold it in a dangerous mode.

I have a 5th line bar ready for it.

waxman
SA, 1390 posts
16 Oct 2014 7:08PM
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The kit your after is it the one that changes it to a 5 line c kite? If so i found it worse. There was an upgraded bridle on them soon after they were released that most would have been upgraded to.

You can kite on the link as is just dont pull the bar all of the way in and don't let it go to far out either.

lukekiter
WA, 96 posts
16 Oct 2014 11:08PM
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Loftywinds said..


saltydawg said..
Slingy fuel has got to be the only kite which can be set stock for briddile, 4 line no bridle and 5 th line




And slingshot link, but I would not recommend it. It's a dangerous kite anyway.


lukekiter
WA, 96 posts
16 Oct 2014 11:09PM
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Please explain ?

Loftywinds
QLD, 2060 posts
17 Oct 2014 11:53AM
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lukekiter said..
Please explain ?



I already did above! I knew someone would hang me over it.

To be honest, after I'd made that post, I started Googling about bridles and the bridle configurations for this particular kite and thought .... hmmm.. you know... this just might work!

So I am giving this kite another chance. Once I have tried it and all else fails, you can have it !!

Oh and I did give it a static fly yesterday on my landboard and it held ok. Handled gusts pretty well I thought, being on land even. Winds were above 15knots but under 18, which for a kite of this nature is close to suicide. It did not loft me but then again I did not dive it deep enough either.

Loftywinds
QLD, 2060 posts
17 Oct 2014 11:59AM
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waxman said..
The kit your after is it the one that changes it to a 5 line c kite? If so i found it worse.


Well it's actually already in that mode (5 line), but I am not sure if it's the "official" set up that Slingshot recommended back then, or in a "C kite" configuration, as the bridles on mine look like they've been modified. I'll have to post a pic. But as I said above, the kite flew "fine".

waxman
SA, 1390 posts
17 Oct 2014 2:14PM
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Give it a crack then. The water is a much safer place to be with a kite. What size is it?

bjw
QLD, 3686 posts
17 Oct 2014 4:35PM
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Total respect for having a go.
There is no reason you can't play with the bridle and setup and make it work well.

kemp90
QLD, 1694 posts
17 Oct 2014 5:17PM
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can some one find that funny clip that a lad made about the link, that was gold! iv been trying to find it for a wile!

surfingboye
NSW, 2707 posts
17 Oct 2014 11:45PM
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kemp90 said...
can some one find that funny clip that a lad made about the link, that was gold! iv been trying to find it for a wile!


That cartoon one?

kemp90
QLD, 1694 posts
18 Oct 2014 8:21AM
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surfingboye said...
kemp90 said...
can some one find that funny clip that a lad made about the link, that was gold! iv been trying to find it for a wile!


That cartoon one?



I think so. I think one of the quotes on it was that "it lunches like the Titanic".

Loftywinds
QLD, 2060 posts
18 Oct 2014 9:50AM
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waxman said..
Give it a crack then. The water is a much safer place to be with a kite. What size is it?


12m waxman.

I got an email from Slingshot saying, '... We don't stock those old bridle kits anymore and highly recommend you do not fly the kite...we get a lot of emails from guys that have been given these old kites for free etc and we recommend they be thrown in the bin...'.

Yes, but the canopy and everything else is soooo crispy and hardly used... Mwwwahhh!!!!

surfingboye
NSW, 2707 posts
18 Oct 2014 1:39PM
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kemp90 said..

surfingboye said...

kemp90 said...
can some one find that funny clip that a lad made about the link, that was gold! iv been trying to find it for a wile!



That cartoon one?



I think so. I think one of the quotes on it was that "it lunches like the Titanic".


Wisha
SA, 255 posts
20 Oct 2014 3:59PM
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The official link bridle isn't all that great anyway (you will be wanting the pulley 4 line version), so I wouldn't look too hard for it. Set it up like just about every other free-ride kite these days (with 4 pullies / 2 double "V's" on the front lines (look up images of a Cabrinha Switchblade bridle for example). Use a direct connection to the rear lines). The first V on the front bridle should be as long as you can make it, without it snagging one of the struts (ie, run the pulley along the V towards the nearest strut. Make sure it's 10cm shorter. The second V length should be as long as you can make it without snaring a wingtip.

Lastly, remember front and back bridle lines need to be equal length when they join your bar lines (in the position when it is hovering above your head). So when you are making a single rear bridle line to match your new front V bridle, get someone to tilt the kite forward to mimic its flying position. Then going straight back / parallel to the ground, with your front V bridles laid out at their longest point, put a knot on your rear bridle line. Then add 20cm more and add another knot.

Start with the longest rear knot first, as this should be the least powered. Add / subtract knots accordingly to your wind conditions. The sweet spot should be at equal length, but start with longer first just in case you are out with your measurement.

This bridle will be far superior to the bridle design of yesteryear. It will make it quite a nice free ride kite to fly, as they pulleys will reduce bar pressure and soak up the gusts. But things like relaunch, boosting ability and upwind ability etc are all a factor of the wing design...and that's where the link will show its age.



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"WTB: Slingshot "red-bridle" kit from old Link kite" started by Loftywinds