fks/pivot/tt appeal

[JakeK-T]

so i ordered some gotamas and need a binding. having flirted with the idea of dukes, i think i'd rather hike with the boarders than use a marker... so i'm wondering if anyone who works at a ski shop or who knows of one or someone or anywhere that has some new pivots/fks. I know a couple of others here are in the market too so any info would be good!

i'm mainly after p14/axial140's or fks155. and they have to be black.

-J

[Paul Oberin]

The P14 I have are black with yellow writing.

[JakeK-T]

ahhh Paul. you're a genius. i might have to buy them off you in a week or so... ultimately i'm after fks' but beggars can't be choosers and they would look oh so nice alongside the 10s you sold me in the quiver.

however, i'd like to keep this thread open for just a general binding discussion and why oh why they stopped making them

[Silence]

I had p18's for sale! bah. Cost me $65 to ship them to the US.

Honestly if you can find the FKS120 the have upward release on the toe which (IMO) is a better rig than the p15/18/fks155/185

I'm looking for some fks155's too.. so if i can come across a few pairs then i'll hit you up. I know of a few guys selling some, but they will run you about $300 shipped here.
I've also been wanting to call the rossi rep for a while, but now that i've finished exams i'll get onto him and see is there are any racestock gear left in the factory. I'll let you know if i can get anywhere with that.

Paul any turntable bindings (Not pivot, but full 360 deg turntable heel like these)?

[JakeK-T]

yeh i'm genuinely afraid of 18s... plus i want new... and black... (not picky at all)

my only concern about the 120s would be if i wanted to run them at 11/12... honestly i'd be willing to spend up to about 300, i mean they are super rare and it's not like they're going to break in a hurry. i can get the brakes bent properly at uni as well

[JakeK-T]

ps. thanks silence

[Silence]

As far as i know, Rossi got rid of the turntable heel because of compatibility with the integrated skis these days. The rossi rep didn't understand the logic either, as outside of race skis, the FKS are most often used by freestyle/freeriders on flat skis without any integrated system anyway, they are the safest heel ever made, and they have the best contact with the ski letting it flex naturallyly etc..(I could go on for hours about the benefit of FKS..) THe benefit of the PX geel is that it offers far more alestic travel than before, and i believe more than any other consumer binding. (Doesn't outweigh the benefits of FKS though, IMO)

Why do you want to run them at 11/12? Even still - these days all bindings are designed to work effectively at any level within the din range. Older bindings were suggested to be set as close to the middle of the DIN range as possible, but they according to ISO and DIN standards, modern day consumer bindings need to be able to operate effectively at all levels (with a certain margin of error)..

From memory, with your weight etc, unless you charge HARD, you probably don't need to be cranking the DIN that high..I ski above what I need, but not by much..so i'll run about 8-9 and i'm 5'10-11, 170lb, 315bsl, L3.

Seriously, look PX12 retail for about $400 or more here. Paying that for a set of FKS isn't foolish given that they will SERIOUSLY last you longer than 3 sets of skis. i've never seen a more bombproof set of bindings. I literally almost took the end of my finger off when engaging those p18's - my nail is still bruised from a month ago.
The only issue with FKS are the brake width. Yeah they can be bent upto 130mm if you really know what you are doing, but they are a race binding and therefore come with a stock brake around the 75mm mark (can't remember exactly how wide). You need to know what you are doing, because they are extremely solid brakes and will snap if they aren't bent properly. Rossi can't supply replacement compatible brakes either and spare parts are hard to come by (sometime you can be lucky on TGR)..plenty of tutorials on bending them, and i'm sure you know all about that anyway..

If you come across a spare pair of FKS155/120, PLEASE let me know. I'm in.

[size="1"][ 19.06.2008, 07:47 PM: Message edited by: Silence ][/size]

[Paul Oberin]

I do have some FKS in the shop, and fairly sure I have some bindings with full 360 heels, will check tomorrow.

[JakeK-T]

i will run them at a max of 10 here, and even that may be overkill, but i'd like the option of 12+ for my euro trip. and i totally get that they will work at the limit, but i like to keep my options open if that makes any sense...

also re. brake bending, i discussed it with one of the aero techs at uni and he's pretty confident he can do it to factory spec, which i think i'd rather trust him than myself.

and yes, if i come across any i will definitely hook you up!

[Seth]

Hasn't rossignol brought back the old axial heel?

[Silence]

Fixed/PX/Axial2 heel yes, Pivot/TT no.

[Taxman]

Originally posted by JakeK-T:
...having flirted with the idea of dukes, i think i'd rather hike with the boarders than use a marker...
-J

Myths and richard waving....

Marker got a bad reputation with the TGR crowd because the biometric toe releases upwards in a backwards fall. This means if you are a gnarly core dude, you will not be able to back slam a 30 metre huck and ski away.

Ignore the Duke/Jester binding and you are overlooking one of the best bindings made today.

[Silence]

couldn't agree more on the Duke/Jester being a different kettle of fish to other consumer marker gear.

[size="1"][ 20.06.2008, 08:16 AM: Message edited by: Silence ][/size]

[Paul Oberin]

The very latest bindings from Marker as seen on the newest K2 Crossfires are a much improved version, and will see the problems of pre release gone from that brand, now all they have to do is live down that reputation, which will probably take a while.

I am very impressed with the new design, it will take Marker to one of the most sought after bindings on the market now, especially for the free ride skiers, as they will have a huge range of elasticity to absorb shock when landing a jump.

[Paul Oberin]

Yes, I do have a few sets of the older FKS binding with the 360 degree turntable heel. $200 a set.

[Silence]

do you know which FKS they are? DIN, toe etc

[Paul Oberin]

Din to 10 only, and not the heavier full metal one, and has the Geze designed toe.

[Silence]

ah ok - Geze was the better toe anyway!

[Taxman]

Remember Geze bindings, were very nice, had some on a pair of Hexel skis in 1981.

[JakeK-T]

Taxman, wasn't dissing markers is general, just that the duke is really the only downhill binding with a touring feature, and if i was to go that way i wouldn't have any company on the way back to the top of my bc jaunts