Tkb Review: 2022 Core Sensor 3 & 3+

The Sensor 3 and Sensor 3+ are the standard bars for Core, and while these bars share many of the same features as the Sensor Pro level bars, they feature a bar that is plastic rather than carbon fiber along with different line length options. The Sensor 3 gets 24m lines that are the standard line diameter, but if you upgrade to the Sensor 3+ then you get the thinner Vario lines that come with the Pro, but with 2m and 4m extensions that allows you to rig up four different line length options (24 = 18+4+2).

Core’s recent introduction of the new ”˜click-in’ style quick release features a minimal shape with molded grooves that guarding against accidental triggers but allow you to get a good grip on the trigger when needed. The quick release has the new click-in style reset where you just need to insert the end of the loop back into the quick release body and it clicks itself closed. It’s a very clean design and the key on the end of the quick release loop is really easy to find its way back to its target with a very obvious audible click that gives you good confirmation that your bar is ready to go again. The power tuning system uses a Cam cleat and a toggle with a bungee built into the tuning line as well as Velcro to keep the toggle in place during riding. The tuning system is both clean and simple as well as very smooth and easy to operate. The above the quick release handle swivel has an excellent smooth motion that also acts as a quick-release guard and transitions into the double PU-coated throw lines that travel through the bar with a single centerline safety depower that’s routed up one of the lines. The PU throw lines feature a fairly thin diameter which we noted translated into remarkably smooth movement of the bar during riding; the bar additionally auto untwists your center lines after you do spins. The bar’s center insert has a logo that tells you when you’re holding the bar the right way and on the other side, a red ”˜stop’ sign and a red line that goes all the way across the bar indicates when you’re holding the bar wrong.

The bar grip has nice, thin, lightly textured EVA without knuckle bumps, but its slight asymmetrical oval shape feels good in your hands. The bar ends received a complete redesign with the bar’s end opening up like a snake’s mouth for two purposes. First, to create a winding post for stowing your lines, and second to access the cassette that changes the length of the bar. By pressing and rotating a small cassette you can change the outside line mounting points to adjust the width of the bar, and you also get three knots to adjust/tune the length of the outside lines, with the adjustment concealed under the floats. This slick design makes the bar ends super streamlined during riding, yet easy to wind your lines up when you are done. The floats are separate from the bar ends and feature hidden bungees for a clean wrap job. The Sensor 3 and 3+ give you a lot of innovative features while keeping the overall product in a nice lightweight, simple and clean layout that earned high praise from our test team.

Visit for more info: www.corekites.com/us/kite/bars/sensor-3