Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Working With Thrusters on the Flybar 800

How Many Thrusters to Engage?

Your Flybar 800 is equipped with twelve thrusters—the rubber rods anchored to the lower mount. The top end of each thruster is designed to be hooked —or “engaged”—onto the upper mount in order to power the Flybar 800. By choosing how many thrusters to engage, you determine the force of the Flybar bounce. Note: For safety reasons, always use your Flybar with at least four thrusters engaged.

We recommend you start by engaging one thrusters per twenty pounds of weight (i.e. if you weigh 160 lbs., engage eight out of the 12 thrusters ) anything more you can move up to the flybar 1200 model. If you engage too many thrusters for your weight/ability, you’ll encounter too much resistance. If you engage too few, you’ll be able to “bottom out” (i.e. push the foot pegs to the ground) without even tapping your full strength. Either way, your bounce height will suffer. The ideal setting should allow you to nearly bottom out while jumping with your full strength. Check out the actual mechanics here on "How Stuff Works"

How to Engage and Disengage Thrusters
When the T-shaped hanger at the top of a thruster has been hooked into its cradle in the upper mount, the thruster is “engaged.” Otherwise, the thruster hangs slack. Engaging and disengaging thrusters is relatively simple, but it may take some practice to get these manoeuvres down. To engage a thruster: (1) Insert the end of the Flybar Tool marked “B” in the hanger’s access slot. The tool functions as a hook. (2) Using the tool, lift the hanger up and over the cradle sill in the upper mount. (3) Then lower the hanger into the cradle, and (4) withdraw the tool.
To disengage a thruster: Perform steps 1-4 of Engaging/Disengaging Thrusters in reverse order. Insert the “B” end of the Flybar Tool into the hanger’s slot. Lift the hanger up and out of the cradle, then let the thruster slacken, and withdraw the tool.

Note: Special slots in the Flybar 800’s shell allow experienced users to engage and disengage thrusters even when the shell is in place. At first, however, you’ll want to perform the operation with the shell off. If you want to check out more visit this flybar site.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

THE BASICS: HOW TO USE THE FLYBAR 800

THE BASICS: HOW TO USE THE FLYBAR 800
1) Jump on. Using the Flybar 800 is mostly intuitive, and the best way for novices to learn is to simply hop on. Initially, just focus on trying to keep your balance as long as possible.

2) Try to stand correctly as you start bouncing: For the best results, hold the Flybar 800 perpendicular to the ground (as vertical as possible, with no tilt) so its tip lands squarely on the surface. Stand upright with knees bent, centering your weight over the piston. Hold the handlebars in close to your body. As you improve, try leaning your chest over the handlebars for even better alignment.


3) Learn to master balance. Good balance is really the key, so be patient. Focus on executing small controlled hops in one spot until you can bounce, say, 25 times in a row. Ultimately, you want to gain enough control that you can step off at any time and land on your feet.

4) Now start plotting your moves. Once you’ve got balance down, try to control your trajectory. Choose a landing spot and challenge yourself to place the tip accurately. (A hopscotch court is idea for this).

5) Go for it. What’s next? That’s totally up to you.
Just remember: Keep it safe.
If you are eager to learn more about the flybar 800, click to see this awesome site.

MAINTENANCE of the Flybar 800

MAINTENANCE of the Flybar 800
It’s important to examine your Flybar 800’s mechanism periodically to check that all its parts are in good working order. First, remove the shell by unscrewing the six screws around the base, and sliding it off.

Note: Whenever replacing the Flybar’s outer shell be sure to have the 6 bolt holes in the shell properly aligned with their corresponding threads on the Flybar core. This will guide the bolts properly into the Flybar core and prevent the threads from stripping. Do not force the bolts - if they do not screw in easily, remove and realign them.

Maintenance of the Flybar 800 Thrusters
If engaged, a thruster will naturally lose a little elasticity over time and stretch out. The Flybar has been designed so that you can reposition aging thrusters to ensure they still deliver optimal performance.When to reposition a thruster: If the hanger, when disengaged, brushes against the upper mount, it’s time to make the adjustment.

How to reposition a thruster: You’ll notice that the bottom of each thruster is attached to a plastic anchor equipped with three flanges. Initially, the lowest of these three flanges is used to engage the thruster in the lower mount. Grip the anchor and disengage it by pulling outwards. Now, re-engage the anchor. Shift it down to the next-lowest flange and push it back into place.

Replacing a thruster: If, for any reason, you need a new thrusters, contact your dealer or www.flybar.com

Maintenance of the Flybar 800 Bearings: The Flybar uses sliding plastic bearings designed to last for several years, but inevitably they will wear somewhat with use. To prolong bearing life, try to keep the piston clean of sand and grit. If you notice that your piston has begun to wobble seriously from side to side, you may need to replace the bearings.

Contact your dealer or www.Flybar.com for a bearing-replacement kit, including instructions.

Maintenance of the Flybar 800 Skid Plates: It’s not always the tip that hits the terrain first. Advanced users—or reckless novices—will sometimes land on the foot pegs, intentionally or not. The bottom of each foot peg is equipped with a skid plate to protect the Flybar (and the terrain), but if the plate has cracked, or has worn to the point where its screw heads are exposed, it needs to be replaced. Contact your dealer or www.Flybar.com for a skid-plate replacement kit, including instructions.

Maintenance of the Flybar 800 Shock Pad: The shock pad is the rubber cushion attached to the top surface of the Flybar core. If this pad becomes visibly damaged it should be replaced. Order a replacement kit from your dealer or from the flybar 800 website; instructions will be enclosed.

Tip: The Flybar’s rubber tip is designed for heavy-duty use, but if it cracks or becomes excessively worn, it’s time to toss it. Order a replacement kit from your dealer or from www.flybar.com; instructions will be enclosed.

Repositioning Thruster Anchors
Lubricants: We don’t recommend using lubricants, but if you want to experiment, choose a dry
graphite lubricant. Oil- and grease-based lubricants can carry grit up into the mechanism, which tends to wear out the bearings.

Storing Your Flybar 800: If you’re are planning to store your Flybar for a significant
period of time, disengage all the thrusters (they’ll last longer) and store it in a cool, dry place where it’s unlikely to experience extreme

SAFETY for Flybar 800

SAFETY for Flybar 800
* Please not this isn't only for the flybar 800 but also for the razor pogo sticks, maverick pogo sticks and much more.
Use your head—play hard, but play safe. The Flybar 800 puts a lot of power under you.
Using it safely is mostly common sense. It boils down to three rules but more can be found here!:

1Wear a helmet.
Don’t even think about using the Flybar without one. If worn properly, helmets prevent hundreds of serious head injuries every year. Choose one that’s been approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and make sure you adjust it correctly. The helmet should fit snugly—if you can easily twist or push it out of position, the straps are too loose. It should sit squarely atop your head (versus tilted back) to protect your forehead in case of a forward fall.

2Check for hazards before you start.
Never jump without making sure that the surface is safe—solid, flat, clean, well lit, and dry. The best bet: concrete. Stick to outdoor areas that are free of hazards and give you plenty of room to maneuver (you’ll need several yards of clear surface on all sides). Define a field of action before you start a session, and have the discipline to step off the Flybar if you near the edge.

3Hazards to watch out for:
• Traffic: Steer clear of streets, parking lots, and any other area vehicles may use. Maintaining your balance (and attempting challenging moves) is going to require your full attention.

It’s about focus—not about trying to dodge SUVs.
• Humans: Using your Flybar too close to other people is dangerous and rude. There’s no way to predict how they’ll react, so back off. Respect their safety and their space.

• Slippery Ground: Don’t try to jump on a surface which is wet, oily, or even lightly covered with sand, gravel, leaves, or litter—you’ll greatly reduce the traction of your Flybar 800’s tip. You want to maintain an upright posture, not skid off-balance.

• Overhead Obstacles: Once you master the Flybar 800, it’s possible to bounce so high that the top of your head will be 10-to-12 feet in the air. Even novices, however, should check for overhead clearance all around the field of action.

• Steep Inclines: Remember, you want to maintain a position perpendicular to the ground. If the surface slopes sharply, that’s just not possible, and it’s far more likely you’ll skid sideways and fall.

• Soft or Weak Surfaces: At peak compression, the Flybar can pack over 1000
pounds of force. Don’t jump on plank flooring, lawns, or any other surface you wouldn’t be confident driving a car across.

• Holes and Uneven Ground: You’re in greater danger of skidding or experiencing a jarring drop if you use your Flybar on any surface with holes (e.g. storm grates)
or irregularities such as speed-bumps or curbs.

Flybar 800

Here is my summary of the flybar 800 taken from the flybar 800 website, The most sophisticated pogo stick around. If you want more of a review, listings check out Here.

First, take it out of the box; You will see four solid screws to attach the handle and then boom you’re almost ready to go airborne. No steel coils in this rebounding, gravity defying machine. How about 12 individual “rubber bands” called thrusters (I know you’ll ask where the engine is when you’re on it) providing 100 pounds of energy stretching approximately 300 percent beyond their normal length with no degradation in strength. Did I say it the Flybar will place you in “suspended animation” five feet above the ground. Hey, the current record liftoff is over eight feet. It’s customizable for anyone’s weight and desires for jump height. Just utilize the included tool to engage the number of thrusters. The more you engage, the higher you fly. This 20-pound aircraft aluminum exotic machine can reach 1,200 pounds of thrust depending upon your strength, skill and customized adjustments you make. Think of the stunts and exercise benefits you can attain! I did a 360, one-legged right angle turn and even manage to “stuff” a basketball on the fly.

With the word “fly” in the name, it better do what it implies. I will tell you it wasn’t long before I was up and flying, not literally but you know I was bouncing. I find the Flybar provides you with that freedom for as long as you choose to attain it or until your body gives out. I guarantee you will slow down before the Flybar does. Yes, it really is designed that well, just look at it, it looks like a beast. Even the packaging kept it compact, protected yet instantly ready to “jump” out of the box and calling you to climb aboard. You can see and feel the quality and ruggedness immediately while retaining its sleek, futuristic design. After all, how do you replace the icon of icons in the “pogo stick” without ensuring everything incorporated to replace and improve it is first-class? Well, This isn’t your parents or grandparents old stick. If it had wings you’d think it really could fly. In a world full of seriousness and never enough time for fun; this simple concept, but futuristic looks and high tech materials will provide you and your family with the release you need. So, go ahead and relieve your frustrations. The Flybar 800 can take it. Let’s look at what it is and what it does.