4 vs 5 lines

ridinghi · Since 20 May 2008 9 Posts Oregon New Member

I'm somewhat of a newbie and was wondering if anyone could explain in lamens terms the pros and cons of 4 versus 5 line kites? Is one better for safety, and is one better for certain riding styles? Any advice would help!

ryan800 · Since 09 Dec 2007 64 Posts Seattle

4 lines is enough for "complete" depower on hybrid/bow kites since they have a bridle on the leading edge. Most new kites use this approach. C kites need the center line to depower completely, so if you want to learn on C kites, get a 5th line.

You probably want your first kite to be at least an 07 and probably a bow or hybrid, so don't worry about the number of lines. If you decide down the road that you want to ride C kites you'll be able to decide for yourself whether you want 4 or 5 lines.

Chooch · Tue Dec 09, 08 3:18 pm

Most all kites are safe(circa 2006) now be it 4 line or 5. Most 5th lines are on kites without pullys or bridels. These bridals help support the leading edge on the kite, eliminating the bridals means they need to help support the leading edge so they add a 5th line to the center of the leading edge.

Now most but not all 5th lines are for safety...some kites has the 5th line but still use a 4 line style flag out system. This subject can get quite drawn out and confusing...your best bet is to do your research on the kites, demo all the kites you can, and if need be you can always ask people on the beach or your local shop. To sum it all up I wouldn't let the 4 vs 5 line question carry much weight in you decision. Really the way the kite feels in your hands is the only thing you should let sway your decision.

There is a huge demo day each spring at the hood river sandbar...I would keep an eye out for this event and fly every kite you can.

jblum · Since 13 Jul 2008 307 Posts The Gorge Obsessed

I don't have near as much experience as most of the posters on this site, but I was more recently a nube than most of them too. Kiting is really expensive to get into, but spending more on a kite setup that is modern (as opposed to the $199 special on ebay from 2003) will save you a lot of time learning, frustration from gear failure, and potential injury from unsafe gear.

I started with old C-kites (circa 2003) and everyone said "You need a 5th line on that to make it safe." So I paid a bunch of $$ to airtime to put 5th line attachments on older kites. I didn't have a 5th line bar, so I just started flying them with 4, just to try it out. I never had any problem with 4 lines on old C-kites, and eventually I decided to cut my losses and fly them with 4 lines, rather than dumping more $$ into older kites; I'd rather save for the new stuff.

Although I understand the dangers and risks of flying older kites with 4 lines, I think the dangers are overstated because we have gotten accustomed to an industry full of safety systems and benefits which aren't much more expensive for the advantages they offer. I smile remembering that ALL of the kiters who would call you crazy for flying an '04 Fuel with 4 lines now, were flying that setup five years ago and would have thought you were a nube for not having such a new, awesome setup.

As far as safety systems that are worth investing in: Good lessons are worth their weight in gold. You'll save yourself injury and embarrassment by having someone who knows show you what's up. And developing good judgment from people who know what they are doing is priceless. Keep your eyes open, and if everyone is rigging 9m, you probably shouldn't take out that 13m, even if its the only kite you have.

It seems like kiting went through a "safety" phase where lots of companies and riders were all about the 5th line, and then through more R&D they've phased it back out. Bear in mind that anything you buy that is 07 or newer is going to be light years ahead
of anything older... The sport is progressing so quickly, it makes it hard to keep up with. I'm sure that the 2008 REV's that I replaced my old kites with will be "old" and "dangerous" in no time....

Moto · Since 03 Sep 2006 2698 Posts Still a gojo pimp! Moto Mouth

jblum · Since 13 Jul 2008 307 Posts The Gorge Obsessed

From the last post on that god-forsaken argument of the summer:

Moto · Since 03 Sep 2006 2698 Posts Still a gojo pimp! Moto Mouth

pdxmonkeyboy · Tue Dec 09, 08 5:56 pm

I also wrote this awhile back to try to help some of the upstarts out..

http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-10564.html&highlight=newb+guide

Moto · Since 03 Sep 2006 2698 Posts Still a gojo pimp! Moto Mouth

to assist on the matter of 4 or 5 lines - I don't want to get into a discussion as to what is better for who - but a bit of a history lesson may help you out. I am going to use some dates - but they are general dates for illustrative purposes only Laughing

Prior to 2000 kiteboarding kites had two lines - no depower, very basic.

Sometime around 2000 kites came out with four line kites - it gave the rider the ability to depower the kite on the fly - sweet inovation. The problem with many of these kites was relaunching. You had to swim at your kite to get it to flip over and then convince your kite to go over to the wind window. Pain in the ass. At this time all the kites were "C" kites. They got called C kites - cus they look like the letter C in the air.

In 2005 kite manufacturers came out with 5th line C kites. 5th line C kites were cool cus now you could relaunch your kite much easier. You pulled the 5th line and the kite would roll over and then you tug an outside line and the kite goes over to the wind window and wallah - your kite relaunches. Also, when you would release the safety mechanism the kite would generally just flip upside down and depower almost completely - like a limp rag. 4 line c kites would still have some power when you pulled the safety mechanism.

in 2006 - the kite manufacturers took a trip to candy mountain and gave us the "Bow Kite" - its called a bow kite cus its shaped like a bow in the air (like a bow and arrow). Bow kites in 2006 had four lines - but relaunched even easier than most 5th line kites. They used bridals to assist in relaunching and also for massive depower.

2008 - was the year of the hybrid. Now you have bow kites with four lines and five lines. And in 2009 you have C kites with four lines that relaunch like bow kites.

C kites now have a lot of depower - not as much as bow kites - but definately a shit load compared to the older C kites.

Also - you got kites like the Rev and the Havoc that are true hybrids between bow and C kites - you get the stability of the C kite and the depower of a bow.

Also, some kites let you choose between four and five line set up. You get sent both set ups in the mail and you choose what you want.

Advantages and disadvantages? They are all over the place. Will have to get into that at another time. Gotta get back to work.

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

2 lines

a 2 line GTO Idea

jblum · Since 13 Jul 2008 307 Posts The Gorge Obsessed

Hey... I started on GTO's... they don't suck that much... unless you want to kiteboard. Then they suck. They do make great wall decorations... Laughing

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

My 7 goat was a great kite, rode it fixed, maybe that was it.
The 5 was the only way you could ride Rufus back then.
What you got on your wall? want to sell it?
Found a pic. It's what I'm on & that's another one floating.

As for the noob, KISS, test some kites. learn to use a small one.

FlyDunes · Since 09 Oct 2007 1034 Posts Aloha XTreme Poster

holly · Since 09 Jul 2006 440 Posts Hood River Obsessed

2 line is comming back in style.. dont waste your money on the 4 or 5 line kites..all the balla's on a budget get the 2 line shizzle!!!

forrest · Tue Dec 09, 08 7:51 pm

The only reason you hear about 5 lines is because the Internet has no delete key. Smile

Moto · Since 03 Sep 2006 2698 Posts Still a gojo pimp! Moto Mouth

pdxmonkeyboy · Wed Dec 10, 08 9:09 am