I was out kiting yesterday on a friends 2011 North rebel when my chicken loop came off unexpectedly, the kite fell out of the sky as it susposed to, but when pulling back through the 5th line and relauching the kite the lines had somehow inverted themselves. Is this a common problem with the 5 line kites. I was looking at buying a new north rebel but am now unsure if these 5 lines are really that much better. I currently have a cabrinha switchblade. Should i stick with cabrinha or go with a north kite??
cheers

I ride 5 lines and normally don't have a problem.
I had unexpected release as well, but not with the 2012 bar anymore.
I think 2011 had a problem there.

Some times I had problems with twistedmlines as well when it released...than I swam back to shore, better than trying and breaking your kite.

Check if you can fly the kite also with 4 lines?

But, 4 lines are one line less, so should be one line less hassle...

5 lines are nice for relaunching big kites.

Anyway....your decision

If a kite rolls over the lines will be twisted whether it is a 4 or 5 line kite. With a 4 line kite if you are experienced sometimes you can pass the bar through the front lines to sort the twist out.

But you are correct, major disadvantage of 5 lines is that the kite can roll and the 5th line can get wrapped around the canopy which is very hard to rectify - and always requires a trip to the beach to re-rig. For this reason 5 lines are not recommended for waves.

But on the upside 5th line is a better safety system and much easier to self land, I can land my 5th line Torch without the kite even hitting the floor, great on crowded beaches.

Finally 5th line kites feel great to fly, you get the direct feel of a 4 line kite with the stability and solid feel that the 5th line creates. The support from the 5th line allows the kite to be made more aerodynamic which means faster, better windrange etc

The reason there is a 5th line is so you can have leading edge support without bridles and pulleys. So the question is, do you want a kite that feels less responsive and direct, but has 4 lines, or do you want a kite that feels like an extension of your body but has a line that can get wrapped around the center.

Going from a kite with long bridles and 6 pulleys to a kite with no bridles is a big difference, and you might appreciate it.

The safety is supposedly better but I disabled it so I don't know

Next time you wrap your fifth line just let go of the bar to take the power out of the kite, then pull the 5th line, keep pulling. I've never not been able to undo the line wrap using this method, the lines will be crossed but the kite will be flyable.

Yeah that's kinda what I do except I pull on a rear line to turn kite then slide 5th line off canopy, like you say can relaunch kite but still have to go back and re rig usually. Pain in the butt sometimes but I haven't found a kite that I like without a 5th line. And as for 5th line ripping a kite I've never seen or had it happen

I've had rebel 5 line quiver for about 4 years now and only recall 3 or 4 instances of the inversion wrap. I pull on the 5th line only to flip it back.

I am in Maui and wrapped the 5th line right after launch yesterday in blustery easterly wind 22-30 mph. (curiously a day after i read this thread)

A simple 5 th line pull flipped it back and I was back in the air within 1-2 minutes. I consider the stability and safety worth the fifth line. I also kite a lot in waves in NC and relaunch is so fast have not had any problems with the kite in wave riding.

My experience with North's 5 line system:
- Had some cases where 5th line wrapped around an inverted kite and it is harder to recover than same situation with 4 line kite, but never felt that there is a danger of cutting the kite with 5th line
- Safety system, if activated, can be re-assembled on water
- When kite falls into water, easier to kill power via 5th line

Positives of 4 line system
- Easier to deal with an inverted kite
- Easier to self-land (I prefer pulling by the upper front line)
- In some situations easier light-wind relaunch (can pull a back line and the opposite front line)
- Bridled kites seem to be more stable and have better depower, a more modern design

since i have switch from 2011 switchblade to 2012 rebel 11m , i never have issued with inverted lines HOWEVER i am now a better kiter ... but i have no issues with the 2012 rebel ... great kite

I'm wondering how you do that... I'm guessing you fly the kite to zenith then climb up the 5th line hand over hand until you reach the kite? ... the kite hovering all the while kite flying wing tips up?

I've often thought of re-launching the kite from the 5th by flying it off the 5th until it's high in the air then letting go of the 5th line and grabing the bar and flying a wing tip. I've never tried that ... just curious. If it could be done reliably it would save the canopy lots of wear when launching from the 5th line.