S916 v Atomic 1018

[doublediamond223]

I need some race bindings and I really don't want to spend much more than a hundred bucks. I'll be slapping them on some boards that are drilled for FR17s. I can get 1018s for about a hundred on ebay, does an S916 offer any big advantage worth extra cash?

(JONG forum newb question I know...)

[nick > jesus]

as far as i know its jsut preferance in bindings, i really like sally, and am not too big of a fan of atomic,so i would spring forthe 916s

[Toby]

Why not get some FR17s? Or do you have a different sole length? AFAIK 1018s are viewed poorly because they're heavy. If it were me, I'd go Look unless I wanted to use them with Trekkers, in which case I'd go 916s but that's mostly just personal preference and from listening to rumours.

[Mechmaster]

The 916 is lighter than the 1018. In terms of the release mechanism, the 916 has a more advanced toe. The 916 toe has more adjustability to better match your boot. 916 brakes are removable for tuning and are easier to come across in "wide" widths.

I find the 916 easier to get back into after a yard sale than Atomic bindings.

If money is a problem here, look for any 11-17 or 9-16 DIN range for bindings with 977, 997, 900S, or 916 graphics; the binding is the same as only the graphics and the AFD change.

[Damian Sanders]

The 916 is lighter than the 1018. In terms of the release mechanism, the 916 has a more advanced toe. The 916 toe has more adjustability to better match your boot.

I'm going to have to somewhat disagree on the toe comment here, not newer, just better....the S916 toe design is 15+ years old and dates back to at least the 957, or even further. They are virtually identical. None have any sort of upward release. What is nice is that the toe pivots slightly up as it rotates, while the AFT drops out of the way - thus the toe height can be set to really clamp the boot toe, but the binding will still release.....if you don't want upward release, it's the best design out there. The other wing adjustments are very nice.

The atomic race toe dates back to the late 90's.....it takes alot from the ess var design, though I think it was changed a bit (I've never compared the two). Key point to note is that the 1018 has upward release, which can be disabled. Otherwise, it's just a simple lateral pivot, with a toe height adjustment.

S916's are already very heavy bindings, 1 lb more than p18's and 2-2.5 lb heavier than most 12 din bindings. 1018's are boat anchors, and overall better suited for carving and race skis. Aside from that, they ski very well due to being laterally stiff and have a nice free-floating heel design, along with the fore-aft adjustment.

[Arty50]

Last time I checked: "more advanced" /= "newer."

[Damian Sanders]

Last time I checked: "more advanced" /= "newer."

Whatever. I would still not call it "advanced".

There are plenty of "advanced" design bindings on the market, and most of them suck.

[doublediamond223]

I have a different sole length than the guy I'm buying these from. They are going on race skis, so the extra weight will only be a problem in the parking lot. (Which is still a PITA, try carrying around metron b5s with demo bindings, THOSE are boat anchors)

As far as FR17s, I can't seem to find any cheap ones, and I've read a lot of negative things about them in some of the TGR binding threads. I've had 1018s on my other race skis, without issues. I was curious if the 916s offered any big advantage, since I'm setting up a flat ski. It will probably end up being whatever I can get for a hundred bucks.

[soul_skier]

i have some ff18s that i would sell for less than 100 bucks, they are used, but will still kick ass

[davep]

Whatever.

Oh no you di'nt!

[doublediamond223]

i have some ff18s that i would sell for less than 100 bucks, they are used, but will still kick ass

PM sent.

[real9999]

If they're race skis, why are you mounting them flat?

[nick > jesus]

yes, why are you mounting flat?

[doublediamond223]

There is a built-in plate. Fischer WC SL.

See:

[Plakespear]

I'm not a big fan of the old Atomic heelpiece. Maybe the 1018's are a bit better, but I had to warranty a bunch of 412 and 614 heels last season. The 1018 is the same design with more metal and beefier springs, but maybe the failure was a piece of plstic that is metal on the 1018. Or perhaps its a bad design which led to the completey redesigned Neox bindngs (which although heavy, seem to work well)

I guess I'm saying go for the Sollys, althouugh you can probably get high DIN Tyrolia/Fischer bindings fairly cheap too.

[marshalolson]

I'm going to have to somewhat disagree on the toe comment here, not newer, just better....the S916 toe design is 15+ years old and dates back to at least the 957, or even further.

The atomic race toe dates back to the late 90's.....it takes alot from the ess var design, though I think it was changed a bit.

the current version of the salmon is virtually identical to the mechs of the original driver toe piece on the 747 binding.

the atomic bindings are virtually identical to the original ess-var bindings, both toe and heel release in the same manner, and function in the same way.

really only marker has changed the original design much (biotic toe), other than that, they are all basically the same since the early 80's

[Damian Sanders]

the current version of the salmon is virtually identical to the mechs of the original driver toe piece on the 747 binding.

You mean the s916/s920 only right? Salomon commercial stuff changed at the S900, going to an upward release at the toe....right?

[Damian Sanders]

There is a built-in plate. Fischer WC SL.

See:

I would not put atomics on those.

[marshalolson]

You mean the s916/s920 only right? Salomon commercial stuff changed at the S900, going to an upward release at the toe....right?

no vertical release on any driver toe. 912/914's have a different AFD, but mechanically the toe is the same.

[Damian Sanders]

Really? I was playing with some old S800's last night, they appear to have upward release (or a TON of upward flex).

[real9999]

I wouldn't put Atomics on a pair of Fischers WC SL's. That's just a funky setup. I don't consider mounting on a 15mm plate a flat mount, but whatever. That ski in 07 livery just just arrived at my door the other day. I ran FR17's on them before, and I'm going to run FR17's on them now. They work just fine and the colours match. I would only go with the s916 or FF18 or FF20's if you really feel like you need more burl, or get a smoking deal.

One more thing, if you're into alot of duct tape canting, which some coaches are, the adjustable toe height on the Salomon bindings can be useful.

[doublediamond223]

I wouldn't put Atomics on a pair of Fischers WC SL's. That's just a funky setup. I don't consider mounting on a 15mm plate a flat mount, but whatever. That ski in 07 livery just just arrived at my door the other day. I ran FR17's on them before, and I'm going to run FR17's on them now. They work just fine and the colours match. I would only go with the s916 or FF18 or FF20's if you really feel like you need more burl, or get a smoking deal.

One more thing, if you're into alot of duct tape canting, which some coaches are, the adjustable toe height on the Salomon bindings can be useful.

I'm just looking for the cheapest way out. I could care less about color. Most of my old racer buddies who skied fischer had sollies on them, but that was really before fischer bindings were a serious contender.

Anyone have race bindings they want to get rid of?

As far as canting, I have planed soles with a riser.

[real9999]

Fischer/Tyrolia/Elan Freeflexes are the cheapest of the bunch.

Look here on Gapic.

http://forums.epicski.com/showthread.php?t=43340

Sole planing is non-adjustable. My last coach liked to try different setups for for snow conditions, slope pitch, phases of the moon, etc... Duct tape and adjustable toe height comes in handy for that.

[doublediamond223]

i have some ff18s that i would sell for less than 100 bucks, they are used, but will still kick ass

..... Did you get the PM?

[doublediamond223]

Fischer/Tyrolia/Elan Freeflexes are the cheapest of the bunch.

Look here on Gapic.

http://forums.epicski.com/showthread.php?t=43340

Sole planing is non-adjustable. My last coach liked to try different setups for for snow conditions, slope pitch, phases of the moon, etc... Adjustable toe height comes in handy for that.

That makes sense, my coaches never tried that.