I have several issues with my North kites right now, not all are worth discussing here but one thing bugs me now more than ever because I know better now than before because I fly another brand of kite now besides the North Rebel and Rhino.
Today I used my 2009 16m Rhino and apart from the fact that it is big and slow and probably "old" for some one aspect irritates me the most: When I pull the bar completely in the kite does turn extremely slow if at all .. I have to rip it to the new direction let go of the bar and let the kite "breathe" some air before I can rip it down again and pull the bar in a bit again. All my North kites do it more or less and the turning is delayed and slower compared to the other brand I own now. The smaller Rebels are a bit quicker of course but still have the same problem that steering is very difficult with the bar pulled in completely ? I have flown a 2012 9m Rebel back to back with my 2010 9m Rebel and only found that the factory bar settings produce less power than my bar settings.
The factory settings (I was told the kite was out of the factory packaging) had only a short distance from depower to full power using the depower line. My setup is different and I have a longer depower if needed but mostly fly them on full power.
I still want to keep the North kites and would like to know if I can make some adjustments in order to avoid that sluggish steering/turning when the bar is pulled in.
They do a similar thing when fully depowered with the depower line. Very hard to control and turn, so I leave them at least on 1/4 power minimum. It never bothered me really until I have flown my new kites, which just do not show the same behaviour. So I was wondering if I can adjust something to reduce the problem if not eliminate the problem or if it is just a typical Rebel or Rhino "problem".
Thanks
gmd
... short answer, trimming the kite 'cause its being choked. Any kite does the same when over sheeted to some degree, but in my experience it happens especially bad when in light winds.
I would guess that if your taking the 2009 Rhino 16m, its light winds. Do the same oversheeting at the other end of its wind range and it won't happen. I've tried other kites and the same thing happens no matter what brand, pull too much and they will back down and turn slower. The trade off is if you design it out you loose some of the raw power it can develope. Its all a balancing act, pros and cons.
There are a few solutions which can fix it, the most obvious one is trim the depower strap 1/4 down, especially at the low end of the kites range, then as the wind picks up, let it go and when wind picks up even more, start trimming again.
Next is move the steering lines on the leader lines of the bar so that you lengthen the back lines (ie the connection under the floats).
The last one is check your line lengths. Since I'm heavy I tend to stretch the front lines well before most other people so the trim of the kite is out of wack. Once all lines are the same length, the problem is made better. As an example, I hadn't checked my lines on my Core 17m lines for approx 9 months and found the kite was getting progressively harder to go upwind and seem to be slower turning than I remember, alot slower through the air. I checked my lines and low and behold, the front was 25cm longer 
Fixed them and the kites performance was back. Its amazing how I see people put new lines on a kite and wow at the fact that it feels new again (which I've done too btw).
Anyway, just a few ideas to think about!
cheers,
Robbie 
Yeah I've heard the north kites are a bit crap looks like BWS is better see this thread. www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/Review/2012-BWS-Noise-vs-2012-North-Rebel/
Is there a way to see how many red thumbs you have?
Okay I will bite. Lol, just to put a smile on masks face. Due to to the loaded fifth line ( not needing a pulleys and giving a rigid frame , with a direct feel) line tuning on a regular basis is important these kites.
As far as sluggish, I have not found this at all. I ride am 11m 2012 and I have no problem looping this kite, through a jump, transition or a basic downloop through a gibe onto a wave. The kite still pivots on a dime even when depowered. But the bar feel when you are powered up could be seen a on the heavy side which you may be confusing with sluggish?? This kite is extremely rigid, giving a very smooth ride and it pulls all the way through the wind window, but a consistent pull, it doesn't spike and yank, maybe this is what you are affter. I remember my kahoona did this, massive power spike. So for me the the kite isn't designed to thrash around the wind window, it is smooth and graceful and consistent. For an experienced rider you could even call this a fun kite for this reason.
Again it depends on your style. What winds did you fly (I'm not commenting on the 2009 kite because there is no point) the 9m in. When it says it will Start you in 16 knots, it will start you and almost keep you upwind unlike a lot of other brands you really need to add 3 or 4 knots on the realistic. Hence were you out in lighting winds on the 9m and were the lines tuned.
Hey not trying to contradict your experience as if this is what you found , then maybe this is not the kite for you. Sluggish is the last word I would use to describe this kite. My 8m zings man.
There you go mask. Lol
Hey dude, I'm not so sure about your line connection options, bit u want to move the back lines back, and the front lines forward for less bar pressure in the turns, and more.depower which will feel less sluggish..... 16 meters will sllways feel sluggish, and bow kites tend to not have much feedback when u turn them compared to the c kites. I ride the Vegas, if u try one, try a 2009 or 2011... The 10 is lower aspect and more sluggish, and I am not sure about the 2012....the 2011 is a great kite however.... My biggest is 12 metersb.... Get a lightwind board instead of a bigger kite if 12 isn't enough, as you get less pull from w bigger kite in the power stroke, but more pull sheeting in... Which means they suck for attempting to power up for a trick
thanks guys ..
just to clarify something: I do not call all my North kites "sluggish" .. I call them sluggish in turning when fully sheeted in relatively to their "normal" behaviour.
Thanks for the constructive posts regarding line adjustments. After reading carefully I think it is an adjustment problem to get the max power point adjusted right to the point where the bar is pulled in completely to avoid stalling/slowing the kite. I will check the lines and try to find that point ..
I like to fly the Rebels .. my buddy calls them "trucks" - he prefers quicker, easier turning kites in the waves he says, but I like the power and the forward drive of the Rebel compared to other same size kites (at least with the same number on it).
As far as I read there are quicker turning kites in the North range than the Rebel but I like it for what it is, was just bothered with the line setup. So please do not read more into the post then there is.
And I like all wind situations .. I like to fly my 16 as much as my 7 and now have a 6 and will get a 17 eventually. It is nice to have bar/line/kite setup the same across the range to have a similar feel except the size differences of course. Unfortunately as one poster suggested my Rhino does not fly in 8 knots .. but I hope to be out again today on the 16 in maybe 12-13 knots? We shall see..
thanks again for reading and spending the time to answer, even if you are maybe not "spot on"
thanks
gmd
Glad to add something even if we weren't quite spot on. It must be your line adjustments (can only speak for the 2011/2012) rebels as when I sheet in and turn, the kite pivots very quickly indeed. If depowered I need to move my hands to the extremes of the bar to get the same pivot arc. I agree with your forward pull description. for me the problem with quick darty kites as yes they can be useful for slash and burn style wave riding, but in general use they fly quickly to the edge of the window and in less than ideal conditions give you a very jerky rise. My Cores were like that. Hence to dial into the rebel, think smooth, think graceful, think consistent pull across the window and they work a treat. Again it is up to your style and mental disposition.
For me though if i was flying anyting bigger than say a 12/13m the rebel wouldn't be my kite of choice. An evo would give you a quicker turn. Awesome kite the evo, just well engineered.
GMD,
Before changing all of your settings, consider this. I don't think many kiters want to be able to turn their kite with the bar fully pulled in - and have it turn quick. The reason is fairly simple.
If you pull the bar in, and the kite turns quick, it means the kite is not near the stall with the bar in , and therefore, it's not making the max power when you are cruising witht he bar fully in. Especially with big kites, you want to be able to ask for maximum power, which means, right near the stall with the bar pulled fully in. When you are right near the stall witht he bar fully in, and you try to turn, you actually stall one side of the kite, and the other side can\t rotate quickly because with a big kite - there is lots of drag. You need to ease the bar out then you can turn sharply, and it will happen a lot quicker, then pull the bar in once the kite is centered.
This happens with all kites however, and you will find that if you did set it up " depowered" you will need more wind to stay on your board, won't be able to hang as long, etc, etc.... give it a crack !
No problems...
I just had a think about my smaller kites, and I turn them all exactly the same, mainly because if I depowered them enough to turn fully sheeted in - my jumps would be significantly smaller. I adjust my depower strap all the time while riding however,
Choking! Exactly the same with landing a big jump to bring some speed back into the kite you sheet out to chamge the position of the kite in the window then sheet in again to touch down softly!
Taking it out of context to try and put it back into context here...
How agile are you exactly, sprinting at full speed, compared to say, walking.
Hi GMD
if you are struggling with the handling of your north kites, or your bar needs trimming and lines adjusting, bring them into the AKS shop in scarborough and we'll have a look over and check your bar and lines for you.
Todd
