Hi all,
I bought a second-hand Bandit and I noticed these inserts on the trailing edge are missing. Do you know what they are called and how can I replace them? It seems like it's a thin rectangular piece. I've tried looking on the F-One website but it doesn't seem like they are selling anything that resembles that. The kite TE is flapping like crazy and I think this is the reason...
They are called "Battens" and yes, they are put in there to reduce flutter in the trailing edge, particularly in kites with less struts. My Cabrinha Moto has them too.
Adventure Sports in Noosa/Sunshine Beach stock the new Bandits so may be able to get you replacements.(07) 5455 6677
Thanks! Funny you mention Adventure Sports because that's where I bought the kite yeah I'll give them a call, cheers
Yeah they are called battens. Strange that they are missing because the kite would be flapping like mad without them. If your dealer does not have spares you could buy some 3mm round fibreglass rod and some matching end caps then just cut some to fit. Does not need to be rectangular.
Kitepower in Sydney will have it and so should Briskites and its cheap, like $3 perM, end caps are like 10c each.
It was, in fact, flapping like mad! The shop didn't have exact replacements so I've decided to take a gamble and stuck in some $0.49 school ruler from office works... It fit like it was meant for it! I just had to shorten it a bit but the width was literally made for the pocket.
I've had one session with 22+ knots and no flapping at all, the kite flies smoothly as. I just wonder how long the ruler will last but with the price of $0.49 I can't complain. I've even done some testing on it and I can bend it both directions to full "U" shape so in my opinion, it will last few months at least.
I've actually removed my battens in my 2019 Neo kite. Very first time I dropped my kite a line got caught on the batten and tore right down the side (poor design). Replaced them with 8mm wide cable ties cut to size. Kite doesn't flap and they are flexible enough to prevent tears. Cheap and effective.
It was, in fact, flapping like mad! The shop didn't have exact replacements so I've decided to take a gamble and stuck in some $0.49 school ruler from office works... It fit like it was meant for it! I just had to shorten it a bit but the width was literally made for the pocket.
I've had one session with 22+ knots and no flapping at all, the kite flies smoothly as. I just wonder how long the ruler will last but with the price of $0.49 I can't complain. I've even done some testing on it and I can bend it both directions to full "U" shape so in my opinion, it will last few months at least.
I was going to suggest a piece of "yellow tongue" the electricians use to pull cable through a wall cavity. It's 15mm wide, about 3mm thick and you could round the edges with sand paper or a file.
I have actually found these 20mm wide, 1.2m long fibreglass battens on the Whitworths website, they are only $8 and would be enough for 4 battens in the bandit but I don't think I will bother unless the rulers will break.
www.whitworths.com.au/blue-streak-batten-dinghy-20mm-x-2mm-x-1200mm
Interesting how so many kite manufacturers are now using fibreglass battons in their kites now - Gong, Slingshot, Flysurfer VGM, etc. So they were'nt such a bad idea back in 1999, then ay?
Interesting how so many kite manufacturers are now using fibreglass battons in their kites now - Gong, Slingshot, Flysurfer VGM, etc. So they were'nt such a bad idea back in 1999, then ay?
I seem to remember in the early days the battens formed part of the wing tip on the older C kites, they became obsolete with the advent of the bow kite but now some manufacturers are using battens in the canopy to help stiffen the trailing edge when they only have one or three struts. Way back then, if you didn't pull your battens out when putting kite in as airline luggage, they generally came out broken.
An option is your local toy store that sells kites - not the kite surfing types but the kids versions - they usually have fibreglass and carbon fibre 3 mm rods for the kids kites Just cut them to size and use end caps - a kite that is designed to fly with batterns that dosent have them is a dog to fly and will flog itself to death prematurely. There is a kite advertised on SB that should have batterns but apparently hasn't since the current owner has flown it - I reckon it would be flogged !!