P14/Axial 140 and S916 questions.

[arem86]

Alright guys, I've looked around but haven't found what I was looking for, so if it's been asked and answered before and I couldn't find it, I apologize. Here's the deal: I just bought some Prophet 130's, and I need a binding, I've considered the Look PX series, 4FRNT Deadbolt, S916 Lab, And the FKS155, but I knocked out the 4FRNT and PX right away, and then realized that I neither need a 15 DIN, nor want to run the risk of ripping out the FKS due to the screw pattern, and so I was left with the S916, but then a thought came to mind, I always loved my P12's, why not ride the older pivot style bindings? So here's the tech part of my post, I want to hear what people think about the S916 and the P14 (older pivot heel style)...I'm only 160lbs and don't usually drop cliffs bigger than about 15 feet, I'm leaning towards the pivots, my main concerns are: getting brakes to fit the Prophets, these will probably see some in-bounds use too, and I want to avoid using a snowboard leash because I've thought of some very bad possible outcomes of using that set-up and losing a ski (or two) I'll obviously have to do some vise-bending, but can they be made to fit, and if I'll need the wide brake to make it work, are they hard to come by? also I've heard something about there not being a jig to mount them on skis over 99mm, true? Cause I'd rather not let someone freehand them on if I can avoid it.
Just give me some advice on this guys, I usually run my bindings at 8-9 for normal skiing, and I figure I might crank them +1 or so for BC, so I don't think I need the S916, but are the Axial 140's sturdy like the S916, cause I know those are mostly metal and pretty much bombproof, just give me some thoughts, thanks.

[jonski]

b4 anything else...what are you refering to when you say:

and then realized that I neither need a 15 DIN, nor want to run the risk of ripping out the FKS due to the screw pattern

heaps of mags ski on these and 18din variant with no huge reports of them ripping out anywhere that I know of....


However, P14s (if you can find them) should be enuf as you say no more than 15ft, at 160.
You will have to bend brakes. Wide brakes can be found, although still need some bending. Its just convincing the hoarders to part with them!
No jig as such made for those binders that will fit a 130 waist, but someone may have a modified jig, though a GOOD tech could freehand without you knowing the difference.

[LaramieSkiBum]

has anyone actually seen brakes stop a wide wasted ski in powder?

In my humble experience, no, they take off like rockets due to all the surface area and end up 100' down the hill or are buried in a hole 3' down. These are wide brakes on P14's and freerides

[mc_roon]

has anyone actually seen brakes stop a wide wasted ski in powder?

In my humble experience, no, they take off like rockets due to all the surface area and end up 100' down the hill or are buried in a hole 3' down. These are wide brakes on P14's and freerides

in tahoe snow...hell ya they stop.

[mrkristofo]

has anyone actually seen brakes stop a wide wasted ski in powder?

In my humble experience, no, they take off like rockets due to all the surface area and end up 100' down the hill or are buried in a hole 3' down. These are wide brakes on P14's and freerides

i have seen them stop a ski by catching in a tree branch.

[arem86]

I just have heard that the FKS series tend to rip out easier than other models because of the tight screw pattern in the heelpiece, and who knows, I might start going bigger on these skis, that's what they were made for.
I don't know if it'll do any good to have brakes, I want them more for using the lift than anything else, patrol won't let you ride without some of or retention device, and like I said, I don't like the idea of using straps, if they stop the ski, all the better, but they are mostly so I can ride lift accessed terrain without getting hassled. Also, since I'm pretty sure Salomon and 4FRNT make brakes that fit up to 130mm, would it be possible to retrofit one of those brakes to the P14?

[carl jay]

I just have heard that the FKS series tend to rip out easier than other models because of the tight screw pattern in the heelpiece, and who knows, I might start going bigger on these skis, that's what they were made for.
I don't know if it'll do any good to have brakes, I want them more for using the lift than anything else, patrol won't let you ride without some of or retention device, and like I said, I don't like the idea of using straps, if they stop the ski, all the better, but they are mostly so I can ride lift accessed terrain without getting hassled. Also, since I'm pretty sure Salomon and 4FRNT make brakes that fit up to 130mm, would it be possible to retrofit one of those brakes to the P14?

nope, the brakes on pivots are way different than those on sallys. the amount of modification you'd need to do would prolly end up being more than if uoi wanted to weld on extender thingies to the brake arms

[skimasterflex]

FKS bindings don't rip out of skis that is bs. Especially not a maple core ski with a 160 lb skier. Your best bet if you think you can ski them non lifted is to get the 155s and cut the spring in the brake so they always rest on top of the ski. Don't bednd tehm or anything nobody is going to hassle you in the lift line. They might if you cut the arms but if you just cut the spring it looks as though there is still a brake. Having skied 15+ days on Prophet 130's however my next advice would be to use S914s or p14s with standard lifters as the ski skis much better lifted than non lifted (I have skied it both ways). I have KW Megafats (146waist) this year and am skiing them lifted or else they just wont get on edge as well.

[arem86]

Skimasterflex, Are you talking about the large underplate type lifter..I.E.:



Or the small type like this:



Cause I'm fairly sure I've seen them just mounted directly to the ski without either of those before...

[skimasterflex]

Skimasterflex, Are you talking about the large underplate type lifter..I.E.:



Or the small type like this:



Cause I'm fairly sure I've seen them just mounted directly to the ski without either of those before...

The latter is what I am referring to and no you cannot mount the P or PX with anything less than that. That piece under the heel is what the heel screws across for foward pressure setting. That is enough lift though, I just mean that really flat mounts on skis that wide make it more difficult to make the right edge angles.

[gwat]

I just have heard that the FKS series tend to rip out easier than other models because of the tight screw pattern in the heelpiece,

Trying to start a runour I see.
If the FKS/Pivots ripout so easy, why does EVERY Dynastar/Rossi professional skier (racers, bump fags, freeskiers.....) use the bindings?

[arem86]

Trying to start a runour I see.
If the FKS/Pivots ripout so easy, why does EVERY Dynastar/Rossi professional skier (racers, bump fags, freeskiers.....) use the bindings?

Not trying to start any rumors, but I've been on Newschoolers for a long time and been reading alot about the FKS, and they seem to be a super solid binder, however...there have been some issues with the tight screw pattern on the heel piece ripping out of some skis, mostly seems to be skis with foam cores, or skis like the JP vs. Julien, with the mystery core. And it usually results from having them set too high, so instead of releasing like they should, they rip out.

[gwat]

it usually results from having them set too high, so instead of releasing like they should, they rip out.

The nice feature of the turntables is they have so much elastic travel and release so predictably you can run lower DIN settings. And this year they come with a 109mm cabable brake, which would require a lot less bending then the old skinny brake models.