The new Bear bows are up on their website.
Looks like they're making an effort.
Some good changes: nicer timbers, a take-down at a more reasonable price...
I'd say it is an improvement over the recent stuff; but still not close to where they were 50 years ago. The wood choices are really poor;
but I guess they are trying to meet price points.
I just looked at them, they look nice. I've kinda got a soft spot for Bears. I started with a Hunter in the early 60s. Among other bows I hunt with a two year old Super K now. I kind of like the "new look", might not be what they were 40 years ago, but I think they are improving. I still like them. :thumbsup:
Frank
Kind of fancy that K Mag, takes me back to the days of my youth.
What is the website?
I give them 4 stars just for the pricing. They seem much better priced than Martin which is on the steep side.
Been talking with the fellas in charge of making all this happen at Bear Archery. They are enthusiastic and doing a great job! Just got their new 2011 traditional catalog. I believe their right there with anything going. Great job guys and the marketing effort looks great too!
I think they look pretty good. Specially the super grizzly.
buckster, the site is:
http://www.beararcheryproducts.com/bows/traditional/
New line-up looks good --- glad to see a more affordable takedown --- anyone know if they have a price for limbs? I wonder what the Takedown Supreme will be bringing on ****, or where prices for Custom Kodiak T/Ds will go.
I belive i need one of those A handles with #3 limbs.About 50#'s will do just fine.When i talked to the guy's from Bear at cloverdale they said they would only offer the B handle this year.But seeing the A handle option has changed my plans.
For me anything Bear seems to be what works for me. I have tried a Quinlan, Black Widow, and Howatt but it has been the Bear SK, Grizzly, and even a 76'er for me. I would give Shakespear an honorable mention.
I really like the looks of these new Bear bows!!!!! I don't care what anyone thinks....Bear bows will shoot with anything out there! The new Super Kodiak and Takedown are SWEET!
Bears don't work for me, but maybe they've made improvements in this line.
I'd like to shoot a few.
There's just something about a KM.
It's nice to see them invest in Trad and try different things. Through action they are showing they desire to keep and/or improve their competitiveness in the Trad market. They must see value in this heritage.
I am still hoping for a new 62" Grizzly in some nice wood, but I have to admit the 2011 Super Grizzly and K-Mag look pretty nice.
I am really diggin the Red Stripe Takedowns!!
I'm traveling to Orlando since yesterday. I was thinking about stopping by Gainsville to go through the pro shop. Now I have even more reason to stop by!
Sweet Looking Bear Bows,
I kinda Partial to the Super Grizzly,
I like the looks of the SK, but not as well as my 1968 SK. the Grizzly, and K Mag are nice to. A lot better then they have been in the last few years. I may have to check out a 55 or 60# Griz.
Nice to see the diagonal stripes back in the one- piece Kodiak. To me, thats the nicest looking bow in the line-up. Good effort.
I just got upset with them. I see all these posts dated yesterday and my new catalogs didn't arrive until today! As a dealer, why did I have to wait?
Seriously, they made a lot more changes than I expected. Sure would like to try that Ausable bow. I give them kudos for all the investment.
Looks like everything gets a flemish twist string now. And the Super Grizzly accepts DynaFlight 97.
I noticed that the heaviest weight offered on the takedown is 60# for RH and 55# for LH. Why would that be? Aren't the limbs the same?
Yes, the limbs are the same --- it's a matter of optimizing SKUs.
I've been wanting a K MAG,I don't know if a 52 inch bow is to short with a 27 inch draw.
TXCP
I had a Kodiak Mag. 45 lb that I used to use for bowfishing. I gave it to my Nephew. It was a current bow, but shot well. The new look is nice I think. I hope they sell really well. I kind of like the look of the Super K.
Frank
I'm glad they offer the longbows in more weights, starting at 30# and going up......
Man these bows are Smok'n! :scared:
Very nice :saywhat: :saywhat: :saywhat:
Except for maybe the super kodiak and takedown they do nothing for me especially with the seemingly high brace height they have. I guess they hope their price will sell'm cause their lQQks don't.
Like most American car deigners of today, their not giving us what we want to see in a design or function.
Do they have out the door date ...when can you buy one?
Good question Roy. I tried to contact a guy today who I have spoken to before with at Bear but haven't yet got an email response.
I emailed my rep yesterday and still haven't heard back. I hope we get them soon.
Good year to be a Bear Dealer - they did a great job with the line-up.
I think they look great also. Really happy that Bear seems to be putting a little more thought/effort into their traditional line. I wish they had a pic showing the green glass though.
I am pretty excited about the reintroduced Super Grizzly. Looks like my next bow purchase to me.
The Super Kodiak and the Kodiak Mags also look better than before
Yes, this is true, good looking bows. I really like the SK but love a lot the take down with the red stripe. ;)
With the compound market so saturated, it's likely a few more big manufacturers will test the trad waters in the near future. Mathews tried it a few years ago. Didn't work out. Bear is positioned best to reenter the trad market. The new Super Kodiak and TD look like some mighty fine bows, IMO. Wonder if they're thinking of bringing back any of the 59-62 Kodiaks, Grizzlies, etc.
I'm a little disappointed. I was hoping to see the one piece Super Kodiak in a 62" or 64" length, but no joy. The SK is still only offered in a 60" length.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Personally these bows except for the SK don't do much for me. What really matters is how do they perform?
Any know?
Instead of slamming Bear archery because Fred Bear hasn't personally hugged everyone as it leaves the factory,I commend them on bringing back the classics.
Does it really matter if they use Dymondwood in the risers?Nope sure doesn't.
I shot that red stripe take down at Denton hill this year and that thing is awesome!Smooth drawing and fast!I liked it alot.
I guess to some because it's not Fred Bear's day Bear will never be the same,and the bows they make will never measure up to them.Their loss I 'spose.
I have used Bear bows since 1973 and I'm glad to see them putting forth an effort to "get'em right". Their new line-up looks real good, but since I put my hands on a Predator Hunter recurve my search for "THE" bow is over!!! Its everything a Super Kodiak "wishes" it was and a whole lot more! I wish you success, Bear Archery!
I concur somewhat with 69RECURVE and hope that they push research for limb design that has performance in mind for the hunter and quietness. I'm for more of that in hunting bows than exotic furniture wood designs etc.
Looks like the Grizzly/Super Grizzly have gone back to the riser shape they had in the 70s, which I liked a lot; did not care for the feel of the recent ones at all (performance was great though). Nice to see the lower draw weights too.
Bear Grizzlies and Shakespeare Necedahs seemed the most popular bows when I was growing up in MI in the 60s. I still have 3 Necedahs (my favorite then and still).
My buddies and I hunted near Grayling, MI. Looked fwd to our trip to the Fred Bear Museum every October.
I really like the looks of the TD. I'd like to shoot one before placing an order, but that's unlikely. Overall, I'd say they do look a bit stepped up from lately. Now I gotta choose between an "Old School" Great Northern and that new Bear Takedown. Both are nice lookin' bows!!
I spoke to my Bear rep today and he said the compound shops are placing orders. I also hear that Bear brought back an employee with 30 years experience to re-work all the master forms. I'm afraid there will be a backlog before we know it. My Bear rep hopes to have samples by the end of November.
Brokenarrows, did you know the old Bear Museum was torn down a couple of years ago? It was a sad day.
Good for Bear,
I'd like to see the old Polar brought back.
Jason
I visited the Bear plant in Gainesville several years ago before Fred's museum collection was broken up. It was really cool seeing all the machinery. I am glad to that they are pushing traditional archery once again.
I know I'm a little late to this thread but I spoke to "JR" at Bear Archery concerning another issue this past week and if I remember correctly he said there is an 8-10 week lead time for any of the models.
For what it's worth, I've got an original Super Grizzly that makes me a better archer than I am and think I may have to have one of the new ones.
I have looked at this thread several times. I am really glad to see Bear (sans Papa Bear) back in the mix with a strong line up.
Oh, how I wish they would have gone back to the look and make up of the 1969 Super Kodiak. That was my first real Trad bow. That bow will always stay in my mind. I love the black with wood overlay on the riser. By the way my 1969 catalog lists that bow for $135.00.
I would buy a new one in a minute if it looked like that.
I would like to see Bear produce its 1959 Kodiak and Grizzly again and not on a limited edition basis so that that model can be available at a reasonable price.
I saw this thread when it started, looked online at the trad catalog and sent them a note asking for one. In the mail it came with a couple of notes in between from Greg. I feel looked after and Man, I like the look of that green glass on the KMag. I've been thinking of a short bow since day one and that may be it. Fred Bear IS alive and well folks.
The green glass models look really nice, as does the takedown. I may have to splurge for a takedown model. It does look like they have woke up and responded to a market increase. I could do without all their compound attitudes, but their new line of trad bows seems really neat.