I got a chance to finally ride with the 7m GTS3 and new Sensor Bar 2. I had used the bar a couple times down in Hatteras with my North Dice 10m (bar crosses over quite nicely, just change pig tails)…
Anyhow I think this company has the potential to be at the top. What I believe is holding them back is their bar and their Quick Release. The kite is a work of art IMO. Such quality, beefiness, the fabric, the bridal lines, pulleys. Everything is so classy. Yeh I suppose they could take more chances with graphics but you know it's a Core when you see it…
The GTS3 7m performed brilliantly in winds from 20-35mph. For a 3-strut to ride so stable is amazing to me. I have read reviews of lack of low end and yes you can tell at the lower end there is a weakness say in comparison to a similar sized Rally but at the high end so much confidence is inspired by good gust handling. Great drift, good jumps, nice and vertical. Not the longest hang time but certainly fun...
Here's all the things not happening with the bar. Some yellow dye from the floats bled onto anything white. This happened in the 3 weeks between the Hatteras trip and today. Maybe the bar was packed in the bar bag slightly wet but the bag allows for air to pass through. Still I get bleeding. None of my other bars have done this. Ozone, North, Slingshot.
I have messed with the variable line lengths going from 24m to 22m. Just need to take the extensions off. SInce Core has a neat loop through loop system rather than knots you can't get them off without spending 15 minutes with a small needle-like tool poking at the tight loop to loop. You can do it but you're likely not because of the time you will spend and potential for creating a burr in the line by poking at it. I prefer having 2 different bars with North. Just get the regular Sensor bar with fixed 24m lines. However I'm glad I had 22m today. It was nukin' and I was riding strapless in waves… Would have liked the 20m lines today… This bar allows for that but what a pain…
The sheeting out is not as smooth as it could be because of the way the 2 lines come through separate places… North is smoother. Also the bar ends are too "pointy" and the floats are cheesy. Depower above the bar works great! I love how there is no swivel taking up space below the bar. I love how the bar rides close to your hips as opposed to North where you have a 2" swivel taking up space below the bar… Core's bar unswivels with a clever simple thing below the bar and lines unswivel by simply sheeting in. Nothing takes up much space - maybe 3/4 inch...
The bar is so light. So don't get the "Pro" bar unless you want the black tec lines… The shape of the bar is boring. It should taper like Norths or Naish. A straight bar is just no fun. I also don't see how that bar can work for the bigger kites. It's a pretty small bar…
I have several riders come look at my Core stuff and say, "I won't buy Core because of the rotary release" - and even though I got no problem releasing it I can see their point. It's one of those things where sometimes it's better to follow the pack...