The introduction of the new Click bar can be compared to the time when new cars got a remote control for opening and starting a car. Handy, but not necessary to get from A to B. So a game changer? No, of course not. You will not fly higher, ride harder or get more pop. But it is a refinement of the bar.
– See also our post on the Update after 6 months usage of the Click bar-
Compared to the standard bars of North, it is more than just the way you power/depower your kite. You may even safe money -although it costs 160 Euro’s more than the Quad bar- on the long run. For sure it is safer and more friendly to use. If sand will ruin the (de)power system, is hard to tell. It doesn’t look like it, but at least make sure you register your Click bar to get to the extra 6 month of warranty. Better be (18 months) safe than sorry,
Click vs Quad bar
We have a lot of experience using the North Quad bar (’15 and ’16). They are one of the best bars out there, but still some (mainly wear out) issues can be addressed; The 2015 version originally came with a certain split point case which damaged the lines. North provided an upgrade, but didn’t provide a new front line. The upgrade kit also isn’t ideal, since the two provided metal rings rub against an unprotected line. 
By the way the message on this upgrade was send out by email to people who registered their bar. Yes, also the bar (unique identification number is on the black plastic part where the depower strap is hanging at) can be registered at North. It will also get you 18 instead of 12 months warranty.
The standard quad 22m bar is Clickbar is 4cm wider. But if you compare attachment points of lines it looks pretty much the same.
Value for money?
Both the 2015 and 2016 bar suffer from wear out on the depower line. Replacement of about one or two per year (30 Euro) is quite common. And not to forget the red safety line (also 30 Euro) and the center part needs replacement about once a year (8 Euro). So in theory the Click bar’s 160 Euro’s extra costs are roughly earned back in 2 years! Not to mention the wasted hours to replace those parts. But some experienced users of the Quad bar warned us that preventive replacing of the center part sooner would prevent changing the depower and safety line so frequent.
Edit after 2 months of using;
We didn’t realise before we get 2m extensions for free on the Click bar to choose either for 22 or 24m riding. Which isn’t the case with the normal Quad Bar. Another feature which isn’t possible on the standard bar is the possiblity to ride the Click br with a low V. Just get the left front line out of the plastic ring and you can use the Click bar on kites which need a low V (split point front lines split for the Dice and the Neo at around 6m from the bar).
Moving parts and sand
Most obvious question on the Click bar is on its durability. The moving parts inside the bar will wear out really quickly if sand would get in touch with them. So the idea is that the system is so tight it won’t let any sand come inside. North claims -as we were explained orally- it has been using the Click bar system for a couple of years without any issues. The future will tell if they are right. For the moment, after testing it one day, we got the feeling the system is indeed sand proof.
At some point (probably years) however the lines need to be replaced. Our guess is that getting the left line al the way through the Click bar will be a hell of a job. But we know the lines of North, developed closely in cooperation with Teufelberger are from a very respectable quality and normally don’t need frequent replacement (we guess roughly about every 3 or 4 years). Another nice trick from the Click bar is that it has a way of changing the height of the split point of the front lines (for example the split on the Vegas with the five line set-up is higher). Main tip from our side by the way is to enlarge the knots, both on the steering lines as on the bridles. We have seen slipping (mostly of the steering lines) in quite some occasions.
Don’t forget to wash the inside of the bar with fresh water by opening the ends of the bar (which is pretty hard to do).
Functional differences
The new (de)power system is adjusted on the right side of the bar. It simply needs a turn to get more power and a press on the button for less power. On the bar a red indicator shows you where it is at. It takes about 3 minutes to get used to it, so it is pretty easy. Most happy on this new bar is our female tester. She can now power her kite without help, which was a bit of a struggle on her own on the traditional Quad bar.
Next to less wear out, there are a couple of functional differences which should get you buying the Click bar instead of the Quad one. Not only the way you depower but also re-hooking after a unhooked move is now easier. This is because the suicide mode has been rearranged slightly.
The leash now stays connected to a metal ring which cannot come down any more on the chicken loop. This is quite a relief compared to the Quad bar, where the red safety line got in the way when re-hooking, especially when the kite is depowered with little tension
on the red safety line.
Another -unique- feature is the way the depower line turns around it axis and untangles the safety line automatically.
We never saw an swivel that actually turns by it self all the time. The below the bar swiffel on the Quad bar needs manual adjustment, but the one of the Click bar turns by itself. This is constructed quite simply due to squared shaped plastic depower line. Simple but very effective on having the ultimate safe bar. Too bad the stopper ball isn’t really one that works on the fly anymore. You need a lot more force (down) to get it going up again, it gets stuck pretty firmly. But on the other hand we know the one of the Quad bar (which one that works on the fly) stops functioning after about 20 sessions.
Most features of the Click bar in this review is compared to the alternative Quad bar from North. Of course some features are also present on bars from other brands. But- as we wrote before– be aware when using alternative bars; All North kites require a high split point bar (around 6m from the bar). Using a low split (which a lot of other brand have) will influence the performance negatively.
List prices
North Click Quad Control bar (with 22 or 24m lines and safety leash) 649,- Euro
North Quad Control bar (with 22m lines and safety leash) 489,- Euro
Hi Viktor,
Yes this should be no problem!
Dave
We Test Kites
Hi,
I have a fast question, can I use the 2 m extension lines also on a 22m quad control bar, to make it a 24m lined bar?
Thanks!
Viktor
Have a look on the 2018 v-distributor. It has a turning button to secure it, which makes it possible to install it anywhere. You will need to focus on the little ball and protection on the lines to see if that is all going to be okay. But maybe it is wise to just use the 6m position?
Dave
We Test Kites
Hi Dave,
Thanks. I’m sold on the click bar. I just have to figure out if I can McGyver another v-distrubutor attachment point at the 4m for the bandit then.
Cheers!
Hi Sam,
we got the figures:
North click bar has 4 options. Calculated from the bar; 0cm/6m/8m/10m.
F-one bar: 1 option 4m.
To answer your question; I am not sure about the F-one 2018 bar since we haven’t tested it yet. The 2017 Click bar matches close (2m difference) which must be okay. Bonus is the +2 extensions so you get 22+24m which makes your range grow upward.
If you want a bar with at exactly 4m split point, you need the F-one bar.
But for the +2m and the clean system I would recommend the Click bar, but it is pretty close.
Dave
We Test Kites
Hi Dave!
Wondering on those numbers still hope you could help!
There’s just not a very solid answer online.
I’m deciding between 2018 linx bar or 2017 click bar for the f-one bandit.
Do you recommend one or the other?
Cheers!
sam
Hi Dave,
I always appreciate an honest review!
Looking forward to the numbers. I have been considering the Linx bar vs the Click bar.
I hope the V-distributor has a fix for that wearing of the lines.
Ocean Rodeo’s stick shift also looks interesting also.
Cheers!
Sam
Hi Sam,
Thanks for your wonderful reaction.
We will get back soon with the exact details. ps The Bandit bar has been redesigned (finally) completeley.
Old one: Monolith
New: Linx
http://www.f-onekites.com/Products/Accessories/Produit/LINX-BAR
We did not test it yet, but it improved a lot (which was also very necessary). You may re-consider a change to the Click bar?
Anyway we will get the numbers in asap!
Dave
We Test Kites
Hi Dave,
Thank you for this review – very helpful! You guys always hit home with these reviews.
I’ve been scouring the web for information on compatibility of the click bar with the F-one Bandit.
Here are my questions – hoping you guys could help shed some light on this!
1.) Some say the V split on f-one is at 3.6m but I’m not exactly sure. I’m wondering where the actual split is for the f-one bar is for Bandits.
2.) Also wondering at what length are these 3 V-distributor options are on the click bar.
3.) I’m also wondering what lenght is the Click bar at (bar length). as the F-one bars are 52cm and 45cm all the way to 38cm.
Just want to be sure I’m getting the most out of the bar and kites.
I like the bandit but I also like the clean design of the click bar – not to mention the extremely accessible depower system.
Cheers!
Sam
Hi Fotan,
You should be fine with a click bar on the Enduro or Catalyst. Make sure you take the front line out of its high v-distributor, which is super easy by just pulling one line down through it. You can also remove the V-distributor , it works like how you remove a key from a chain. That is slightly more difficult, but you may also leave it up there.
The Ozone kites probably work best with the 2m extensions (24m) on.
Dave
We Test Kites
Hi Dave,
I am gonna have for free a North Click Bar from a friend and i have to buy the kite and Enduro or Catalyst are among my favorites. So what do you think? Should i do this combination or should i stick with North Kites (Dice maybe) since i will have their bar? (Begginers level)
Hi Fotan,
Thanks for the compliment!
The Click bar is okay but a bit expensive. The 2017 one has some west out issues thought. The Nice part is that you can use either 22 or 24m.
Why not Just use the Ozone bar?
Dave
We Test Kites
Hi Dave and compliments for the honest reviews,
would you consider using North Click Bar with Ozone Catalyst or Enduro for a begginers level? Or do you have any other combination to suggest? Or maybe you wouldn’t consider combination at all?
Hi Alexander,
It may work, we will try to see if this is an option. If you find it out before us, please let us know?!
Dave
We Test Kites
Hi Dave,
My suggestion was to connect blue line to the side of front bridle, othe words – connecting front lines blue-red-gray
the key thing – is blue line has the same lenght as grey one?
if so, I see no issue mix them, except handle on blue line which become unusable.
and sorry for my English )))
Hi Alexander,
Good question. You are right the Click bar now has a different safety as the normal 5 line bar. I don’t have a direct explanation for it, but I will try to ask North about it.
I don’t think there is a easy way to change it on the Click bar, since the blue line needs to go through the depowerline, which isn’t possible with the blue relaunch part on it.
Dave
We Test Kites
Hi Dave,
getting back to clickbar
do you know why do North suggest to connect sefety line not to the center?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-uJDFeogvM
on regular north 5th element bar center line is safety line
And North always was proud of that system and tells that it’s much safer, than 4 lines safety.
But in this case they recommend to connect safety line to one of two, so to say, “side” front lines, not the center one. that looks strange.
I understand about 5th line relaunch, but for me low wind is not the case.
Can I use 5th line safety on clickbar or not?
Have you tried to connect safety line tho the center bridle?
what is the difference?
Hi Devin,
any news? We could figure out what you meant with the bridle issues related to the bar!
Dave
We Test KItes
please refrain from posting my previous comment as North has contacted me with helpful information. Will update after a few more sessions
Hi Eric,
Good and important question. The main differences on a low or the proper/high V on a North kite is that it will tend to stall much sooner. Most people will solve that by re-adjusting the line lengths (longer back lines). The second difference is in the turning circle, the kite tends to make a bigger and thus a bit slower turn around its axis.
The Dice and the Neo tend to have the most problems, the Evo the least (but this is what we learned from ’15 or ’16 models, not sure how much would change to ’17).
Dave
We Test Kites
Hi Dave,
You said; “All North kites require a high split point bar (around 6m from the bar). Using a low split (which a lot of other brand have) will influence the performance negatively.” I fly my 2016 North kites on a 2016 Cabrinha and a 2016 SlingShot bar. Could you elaborate on what you meant in your statement. Not sure that I have noticed anything negative, although I have never flown the kites on a North bar to feel the difference.
Hi Daniel,
Thanks for the compliment!
As most other bars from North i think it is 50cm. And yes you get 2m (so you can use it for 24m and 22m) extensions with the bar. The difference between the Click and the normal Quad bar is that on the Click bar you cannot adjust the ends to make it smaller.
Dave
We Test Kites
Hi.
I can´t find a clue how wide the bar is.
Are there different wideness bars ?
And what´s about the line length – 22m with extensions ?
#Thanks for your great Reviews !
Daniel
Hi Panagiotis,
Yes we did check that. Lowering the V on both a Dice (’16) and Neo (’15) gave very interesting results. They both tend to stall a lot more and changed behavior in almost all aspects negatively. We also spoke with North about it and they say every meter changing the V tot the kite will change the kite behavior, which means if you alter the length of your lines (for example); do it below the V.
See also https://www.wetestkites.com/2016/06/04/alternative-bars-tech-talk-and-a-test-of-a-279-euro-bar/
And thanks for your compliment! Really appreciated.
Dave
Hi,
great review as always.
For 4 line kites (mainly EVO), have you checked how altering the V point changes the characteristics?
It would be very interesting to read a back to back test with the same kite at the same day/ conditions. Which characteristics change and how. (My guess is that lower V translates in faster turning but worse low end)
Thanks!
Hi Manu,
Don’t know. We expect it does, but We will do a test!
Dave
We Test Kites
does the clickbar float?