Mojo 90s - 176 or 186 for me?

[Chainsaw_Willie]

Would like to hear from those actually skiing these boards. I've tried a bunch of different skis this year in lengths up to 184 (Volkl AC4 - really liked them too), the Mojo 90s have been my favorite but only got to ski them in 176.

Me: 5'8", 170 lbs of rock hard muscle.

Aggressive skier, mostly blacks and double blacks and bumps but looking to finally make some bc expeditions with these new boards.

Wondering if I could go 186 and still like them as much since they're such a "turny" ski with a huge sweet spot. Maybe mount the bindings a little forward to help turn initiation with the longer ski? Want the longest ski I'll be comfortable with for best float and high speed stability in pow when off exploring while still being able to come back and ski the front side stuff with my friends who are all intermediates...

Thinking of going with Tyrolia Railflex bindings too so the skis will flex better and to give me the option of moving the boot centerline forward or back for different conditions (back for deep snow and groomers, forward for narrow chutes & bumps).

Whaddaya think, will the 186s work or should I stick with what I know? Will the 176s offer plenty of stability to keep the tips from diving on the steep & deep at mach speed? Want to make a decision soon so I'm not stuck skiing on 15 year old Dynastar Vertical Assaults for even one more run.

[Jiehkevarri]

I'd say 186's.

The twin tip will take a few cm's off anyway...so they're like 180's actually.

With your weight and strenght(?) you'll be able to bend the skis easily, I guess. They're not super stiff at all.

Don't mount forward unless you're planning lots of park/jumping...the factory line is pretty forward already. If you get the shorter lenght, I'd say mount few cm's back instead.

I'm around 6", 180 lbs and 186's are my allround skis, for just a bit of everything (I have bigger skis for pow). So, if you're planning to ski lots of pow --> 186's for float.

And yes, they're pretty turny...migh need some adaption when skiing pow. If you're turning too much, sidecut will hook up aggressively (I guess, no experience from real pow, only spring corn). But sidecut is very nice on groomers though.

Just my 2 cents, hope it helped.

[Chainsaw_Willie]

Thanks for the replies so far.

That bit about the rock hard muscle was wishful thinking. I'm no cupcake, but I aint no body builder either. Some jogging or biking a couple times a week and skiing on the weekends is my workout routine. 2 jobs and school don't leave enough time for a regular workout schedule.

Highway Star - why not use the railflex bindings? What's the downside? Or should I ask, what's the advantage to fixed bindings?

Thanks!

Anyone else?

[flip]

Highway Star - why not use the railflex bindings? What's the downside? Or should I ask, what's the advantage to fixed bindings?

Lighter, simpler, cheaper, lower.

[Red Baron]

I'm 5' 8" and 165, and skied the Mojo in a 176 last year, and am on a 175 im88 this year. I like skis in that 175ish range for what I do - for you, it sounds like you might want than extra 10cm...

You know, the Mojo 90 exists in a 193 as well, if you special order it...

[WhiteHunter]

Wondering if I could go 186 and still like them as much since they're such a "turny" ski with a huge sweet spot. Maybe mount the bindings a little forward to help turn initiation with the longer ski? Want the longest ski I'll be comfortable with for best float and high speed stability in pow when off exploring while still being able to come back and ski the front side stuff with my friends who are all intermediates...

I had similar thoughts in terms of where I was going to use these skis. Ended up getting the 186. I'm 6' and 190. I mounted them 1.5 cm back and could've gone back a little further. I have no turn initiation problems with these on hardpack with that mount point. My previous skis were BanditXX. After using the Mojo's on the groomed this year the Bandits are retired to rock duty. I live in the midwest and think these would be a good one ski quiver choice for east or west.

I think these skis are a little on the heavy side so I would agree with avoiding extra weight with the bindings.

[Chainsaw_Willie]

Thanks everyone. It's looking like the laws of supply and demand are going to make my choice for me. The Mojo 90s are selling out everywhere around here, no one has them anymore. Even the online stores are jacking up the prices for them as their stock runs out. I missed out on a pair on Ebay for $450 two weeks ago. If I want to get a decent deal on them, I may need to buy some 176s in the next day or two as that's all I can find at a good price. The one local store that has them wants $749 + tax for their last pair of 186s and I aint paying that much for them.

So here's another question - if the stores that normally carry them around here are out of them at this time of year, is it likely they'll get more in by the end of the year, or are they really a "limited production" ski like some of the salesmen are telling me they are?

Anyone got a hookup on them?

Also, another data point - I skied the Volkl Karmas in both 177 and 185 on the same day I demo'd the Mojo 90s. I found the 185 Karma significantly slower/harder to bring around the fall line on steep pitches than either the 177 Karma or 176 Mojo. I could make it turn and ski the run, but it wasn't as fast, couldn't make as tight of a turn and required more effort. This was on hard pack & some ice mixed in. Would I find the same thing in the Mojo 90, and if so is that an indication that I should go with the 176?

[thommy21]

Skied the 176's my friend has and I'd say go for the 186 based on what you want to do with them. I'm 6'1" 195lb. While I didn't ski them in deep pow I'd want more float for sure. They were a good all around ski though. On deeper days my friend says they dive more than he likes. He's 6'0" 170lb. If it was an all mountain ski you wanted, including park, the 176 would be the way to go, otherwise go with the 186 if you can find it.

[Red Baron]

Psst...this years "Mojo 90" is the same ski as last years model, with a different topsheet. Dig around the web for a bit, and you should be able to find one with the snakeskin topsheet, in a 186, and stay well within your budget...

[Hicks]

Me 5'9, 175 lb, ski the 186 04/05 model with Tyrolia SP 120 demos on them. Sweet and easy turning setup.

If you're interested I'd part with them for $350 + shipping since my other (burlier) quiver gets more attention. They're like new, just skied very few days on them laste season. PM me if interesterd.

[Chainsaw_Willie]

Thanks for all the input! I managed to score a set of 186s on Ebay for a good price, they should be here by the end of next week.

I skied some 172 cm Salomon Scrambler Customs Thursday at Crystal Mt. They have the same shovel width and are only 2cm narrower in the waist and tail than the Mojo 90s and they definitely were not enough ski for deep snow. Found some waist deep pow in places and while I could ski through it on them, they were out of sight the entire time, just not long enough to float and I had to keep my weight way back on them. They also felt squirrelly on the hardpack and bumps, just not a long enough ski which is the impression I've gotten from most skis I've tried in the 170-ish range. The Karmas and Mojos were the only ones I felt comfortable on in that short of a length, probably because they have a little longer turn radius. Skied 184 Mantras earlier in the day and they were way better in the deep snow and I could stay centered on them, so think the 186 Mojos will be just fine. I figure if I've been able to make 195 CM Dynastar Vertical Assaults from '91 turn on groomers and in the bumps, I should have no problem with the 186 Mojo 90s...

now the only problem becomes bindings. Won an auction for some Solly S912tis over two weeks ago but the seller has never contacted me, hasn't responded to the three messages I sent, and hasn't even claimed the paypal payment I made. Looks like this transaction will be a dud and I'll get my money back, but I have to wait the 30 days to reclaim my payment or risk being labeled a deadbeat bidder. It was such a good deal too.... The biggest irritation is having to wait to ski my new boards 'til I can get some bindings for them. Oh well, if that's the lamest thing in my life right now, guess I'm not doing too bad.