I use it with 5 lines. The fifth line gives me extra safety and easy light-air water-relaunch. The kite feels crisp and responsive. The Fuse runs very smooth indeed. It is great for wave jumping or sailing around. Good job North!... read more
North Fuse 2012 Kite Review
Kite Features
North is one of the appreciated brands in kiteboarding industry. Their team crafts reliable and high quality gear which shapes in a solid way the performance of all riders out there. In 2012 North is ready to revolutionize the freeride, wave and race disciplines with the new Fuse kite. The 2012 Fuse takes the performance of four line kites a step forward and offers a smooth and fun drive. The kite blends awesome power with reliable control and has a wide wind range.
• Adaptive Tips
• Improved Attack Bridle
• Four Line Hybrid design
• Direct Depower
• Lazy Pump System
The third generation of the Fuse kite has finally arrived. The kite is engineered using the latest technology and delivers solid performance to all wave, freeride and race enthusiasts out there. The kite blends an amazing power delivery with smooth control and has a very fluid flight. The Fuse is powered up through a fast and intuitive Lazy Pump system which gets it quickly into the air. Although the Fuse is a four line dedicated kite, it can be used with an additional fifth line if the rider desires.
Once launched, the Fuse feels very light and turns very smooth. It has unique jumping abilities and can reach impressive speeds. It also has good low end and offers massive hangtime. The kite uses the innovative Attack Control Bridle system which allows the rider to steer and maneuver the kite without any effort. This system also provides a direct steering feel and assures optimal depower. The Attack Bridle also allows the rider to depower the kite on its back a bit slower than when using a five line configuration.
The North Fuse runs very well in a wide wind range. In light winds it is easy to power up and has a constant and consistent pull and in strong winds it has a crisp bar feel and it is extremely stable. The kite uses a special sheeting force feature, developed by North to allow the rider set two bar pressure settings by tuning the pig tails. This way the rider can adjust turning speed and the direct bar feedback. Another innovative feature of the Fuse is the Adaptive Tip. This feature allows the rider set the right sheeting force and turning performance by using a back pigtail adjustment.
The North Fuse is also very easy to relaunch due to the use of the Relaunch Bungees which prevent the lines from tangling. The kite is built using Techno Force D² canopy fabrics which make it robust and very light.
Control Bar
The 5Th Element Trust Bar is design to offer safety, performance and comfort. It is one of the most efficient control systems in the industry and it suits any rider out there.
Features:
- Short bar stroke
- Iron Heart IV
- Roto-Head
- Sliding Stopper and Stopper Ball
- Vario Cleat
- Comfortable Bar Grip
Wind Range
5m: 21-40 knots
7m: 17-36 knots
9m: 15-32 knots
10m: 14-30 knots
12m: 12-27 knots
14m: 11-23 knots
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