What's the difference between Equipe and non-Equipe Salomon 997s?

[Superstar Punani]

...other than the DIN range and rubber layer on the bottom? and what does the Driver signify?

I bought a non-equipe variety on eBay. I also have two pairs of the used 997 Equipe Drivers...are there any significant performance differences between these two?

Here's what I can see.

997 Carbon like these
DIN 6-12
No "Driver logo"
No rubber layer
No riser plates
$55 NIB

997 Equipe Driver
Din 6-14
Has Driver and Equipe logo
Has rubber layer
With riser plates.
$6.50

or these, which are identical to the ones I got from 666.


Thanks. I'm deciding which want to stick on my new Igs and hadn't realized there's a clusterfuck of different 997 binders.

[Alkasquawlik]

Don't ask me.

[CaddyDaddy77]

The Driver was the riser change. The regular 997 was the flat the driver was the rubber riser. There should have been a 997 Equipe, that would have the same din scale but without the driver plate. Identical Heel and toe housings.

The first binding the Carbon's might have a plastic heel housing from memory. Love the "Power Setting goes up to '12'" Excellent! That's far past 11!

The 2nd binding you linked to was a 997 suspension. Same buildup as the driver but with the plate. Can be mounted without the plate without changing binding screws, BTW.

[marshalolson]

The 2nd binding you linked to was a 997 suspension. Same buildup as the driver but with the plate. Can be mounted without the plate without changing binding screws, BTW.

actually you have to change the toe screws on the suspensions, casue they went all the way through the riser plate, and would thus go all the way through the ski if installed.

the 997 carbon 12 DIN has a heel track like a 912/914 these days and more plastic overall. no where near as beef and an old equipe.

edit: also the 997 carbon only has a 4 hole pattern heel, not a 5 hole, 2 piece heel, just FYI for drilling.

edit #2: i would go with the 997 equipes from 666... IMO

[Mechmaster]

Primary difference between Equipe and non-equipe bindings was the heel. In the Equipe, the housing is aluminum and the foreward pressure set using a worm screw. The idea here is that since the screw is infinitely adjustable, the exact foreward pressure is more easily set. The non-Equipe heel uses the more common tab to adjust foreward pressure and has a plastic housing. Equipe heel is 5-hole pattern; non-equipe is the same, but without the center hole (4-hole).

Both toes are largely the same; both have plastic housings. To get a metal toe, you need to move to a team binding. The primary difference is the toe wing adjustment. On Equipe bindings, each wing can be adjusted independantly of the other, the idea again to get the best possible boot-binding connection. On non-Equipe toes, the wings adjust simultaneously using a single screw.

As has been said, the second bindings you referred to are the Driver suspension. It can be converted to a "normal" 997-series IF the correct driver plate can be found (the DR9 plate replaced the driver on this model). The last binding features the hard-to-find "flat" riser plates. These are a real chore to mount to fat skis as the hole pattern is different than standard Salomon and the jig is too narrow to fit many skis. This would likely involve a freehand mount in this case.

[Greydon Clark]

Dude, get out of the '80s and buy some Looks...

[marshalolson]

The last binding features the hard-to-find "flat" riser plates. These are a real chore to mount to fat skis as the hole pattern is different than standard Salomon and the jig is too narrow to fit many skis. This would likely involve a freehand mount in this case.

i would just use those bindings and ditch the riser plates - then you can use a wide jig.

[Greydon Clark]

Hah...

Hey, how much do Look P14's weigh? And the race stock version?

Thanks.

A lot more than the HD Mountaineers... best binding ever.

[runethechamp]

Hah...

Hey, how much do Look P14's weigh? And the race stock version?

Thanks.

P14 with no lifter: 2620 grams/pair (5 lbs, 12oz)

P18: 2470 grams/pair (5 lbs, 7oz)

Salomon S916 (for comparison): 2920 grams/pair (6 lbs, 7oz)

[Superstar Punani]

Thanks for the tips MechM, marshal, Caddy and H-Star.


I have a fetish for 997s, since these are the only bindings that has not given me any trouble. I got prerelease-paranoia after skiing my original Igs with the s912s for a month and getting all sorts of near death experiences

[runethechamp]

Thanks for the tips MechM, marshal, Caddy and H0Star.


I have a fetish for 997s, since these are the only bindings that has not given me any trouble. I got prerelease-paranoia after skiing my original Igs with the s912s for a month and getting all sorts of near death experiences

Well, the 916 should be good too then. Funny to see how the race stock bindings from both Salomon and Look look exactly the same as their consumer bindings from 10 years ago.

[PeachesN'Cream]

solly team/green spring/race room (what the hell ever you want to call them) are hands down the best bindings ever. yeah they weigh a bit but they function perfect IMO. i alwasys seem to come out only when i really need to.

for me it's a proven binding that works so there is no reason to switch. (though i hear high din looks and tyrolias do pretty good too)

pu, since you are such a rockstar i'd mount the 916's. a tough ass binding for a tough ass pair of iggies. perfect!

[runethechamp]

I think you can get 916s here for about $200.

www.skidealer.com

[Greydon Clark]

Can you run a 916 at 8 ½?

[runethechamp]

Can you run a 916 at 8 ½?

No. The DIN setting is 9-16, but the actual values might vary a little bit. In any case they don't recommend using the absolute minimum or maximum values on the bindings. I have 916s on a pair of GS skis set on 9 though (got the bindings for $80), but I'm telling you, that 9 feels different to step into than the 9 on a pair of 914s.

[FigureEleven]

The 11-17 Race Spring metal heel and toe are the best little bindings that have been around... IMHO.

[runethechamp]

So does anyone know what the good old 747s are good for? I'm trying to get a pair unused dirt cheap, so I figured I'd check and see if anyone of you knows if there's something to look out for. They are the equipe model, and from the pictures on ebay I can tell they have the good old rail on the rear binding and the wormscrew for the forward pressure adjustment.

[Mechmaster]

That binding is no longer indemnified, so you may have difficulty finding a shop to work on them. The adjustment procedure is essentially the same as the 997/900s/916 - style bindings.

[runethechamp]

That binding is no longer indemnified, so you may have difficulty finding a shop to work on them. The adjustment procedure is essentially the same as the 997/900s/916 - style bindings.

Thanks for the info. Do you know if the hole patterns are the same? I'll mount them myself (if I buy them) since they're going right on a race plate with pre-drilled holes.