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April, 2024

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Whats the deal with FKS'

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acrislip320
Posts: 48 - Karma: 48
Besides the fact that the orange ones look awesome why does everyone want these bindings so bad. I ride sth14s, i have always had Salomon bindings and never broken a pair. granted i dont ride quite as hard as some people but im pretty damn abusive to my shred sticks. FKS' just see silly, they are really really heavy and the whole pivot heel piece seems a bit janky if you ask me. Im not hating just wondering.
Mar 3 2013 10:50AM
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LukasSchroeder
Posts: 1460 - Karma: 2,683
And you made this thread why? /gear talk
Mar 3 2013 10:55AM
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eheath
Posts: 61159 - Karma: 118,869
They are the best bindings, period. If you think theyre too heavy then you're just soft. I broke like 3 pairs of salomon binders when I was 15-16 and I bought fks and I still have that same pair from 8 years ago.
Mar 3 2013 11:31AM
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THEDICKBUTCHER
Posts: 3067 - Karma: 673
:( ive been trying to hard to get fks and havent gotten the money yet.  Everytime I see a pair I start to cry.
Mar 3 2013 11:37AM
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THEDICKBUTCHER
Posts: 3067 - Karma: 673
Click for larger image
Mar 3 2013 11:41AM
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7springsprod
Posts: 2661 - Karma: 3,181
Are the FKS and the look pivots the exact same binding? Or are there differences between the brands? Who rebranded from who if they are the same?
Mar 3 2013 11:48AM
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M.M
Posts: 1696 - Karma: 4,490
^^^^ if you look pretty much all there bindings are similar so i think they may be owned  togather. kinda like how k2 owns line and full tilt
Mar 3 2013 11:55AM
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Dustin.
Posts: 13839 - Karma: 7,704
Yep, same bindings. For park, they are pretty good but can be competed with. As an all around ski binding or pow ski binding, #1 in my book. Had the same pair for about 7-8 years now.
Mar 3 2013 11:56AM
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joshua
Posts: 5046 - Karma: 1,280
FKS aren't heavy, mabeye compared to plastic jr. bindings they are, but as far as their durability to weight ratio goes, they are pretty light.
Mar 3 2013 11:58AM
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prosnurfer
Posts: 1842 - Karma: 83

same binding, i think the fks looks better. i have the pivots because i got the pro form deal and they were cheaper than the fks model.  i love that neon shit tho. my gf has the neon green ones and i m so jellous.

and yea there boss as fuck. to the kid witht he solomon bindings.. u deffinatly dont ride that hard, bc i always ude to ride the stl bindings and iv broken every pair iv owned, espeshily the break part. those breaks always have a cheap peice of plastic holding them in and when ever i go big and land switch it breaks.  so this year i got the fks bindings and couldent be happier.

they are more durable. the heal peice is ultra strong and they are actualy lighter than the solomon bindings. 

best bindings made other than markers but those are too bulky and heavy for me.

next year im giving up on the ski resort scean if i still live on the east im going to get at bindings.

Mar 3 2013 11:59AM
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Skillz
Posts: 945 - Karma: 50
Salomon are good bindings but FKS/Pivots are just better.

Not only are the 18s all metal and super durable, they also never pre release and have a small mount pattern for a better, truer flexing ski (Look at the length of the heel of most other bindings vs the pivot heel).
Mar 3 2013 12:03PM
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joshua
Posts: 5046 - Karma: 1,280
Well the brakes on FKS bindings are pretty much the only downside to the binding, not an strength. When you snap a break on an FKS, you have to take off the entire heel piece to replace it. The reason why FKS are so well liked is b/c of the release characteristics, minimalist design, and bomber durability.
Mar 3 2013 12:05PM
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E-Nix
Posts: 382 - Karma: 187
They are awesome!
Mar 3 2013 12:06PM
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SladeSki
Posts: 263 - Karma: 290
First time I've ever bought FKS/Pivots was this year, and I'll never buy another binding. I just feel comfort knowing that there's less of a chance I'll hurt my knees, and I love the minimalist design & durability. They're expensive, but they're worth it.

Never again will I mount my skis with Marker Griffons.
Mar 3 2013 12:16PM
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Auzy
Posts: 569 - Karma: 1,827
After many times of tweked knees and random ejections I broke the brake piece completely off my salomon bindings (while doing a butter, like wtf?) but it gave me a reason to finally get my fks, hands down best binding ever.
Mar 3 2013 12:28PM
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7springsprod
Posts: 2661 - Karma: 3,181
Ok another question: I thought that the heel peice was meant to increase thd amount of elastic travel, keeping the boot in the binding. Would this not lead to more injuries? Or am I missing something?
Mar 3 2013 12:30PM
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SladeSki
Posts: 263 - Karma: 290
Basically, what they're trying to say is you won't have as many pre releases, but when you do need to eject, you will, and the heel piece will swing with your heel, reducing the force acting on your knees.

I think.
Mar 3 2013 12:32PM
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Balbertt
Posts: 1585 - Karma: 4,723
They are the best binding out there, along with look pivots, they are the same thing anyway. But they have the most play out of any binding I have seen.
Mar 3 2013 12:33PM
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Lucas
Posts: 4877 - Karma: 1,520
What the hell are you trying to say
Mar 3 2013 12:55PM
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charmander
Posts: 10636 - Karma: 372
The Pivot advantage is actually in the elasticity of the heel, combined with being bomb proof.

I don't ski park but at high speeds in chunder you just cant beat the rossi retention, i blow out of markers and sollys no matter what i put my din to, i run my fks at 9 and have never pre released.
Mar 3 2013 1:21PM
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Cotter
Posts: 2546 - Karma: 850
I have used rossignol freeski 120s, marker griffons, FKS 14s, and STH 12 driver. heres how I would rank them, in terms of durability, pre-release etc.

4) STH 14 while they were very easy to pop in-out of, I pre-released the shit out of them, they were very heavy however they seemed basically bomb-proof.
3)Rossignol Freeski 120, I used the same pair of bindings for 2 full seasons and and about 10 days of the third before both heel-pieces exploded. I found them annoying to pop in-out of and if you landed to back seat it was literally a pain in the ass.
2)Rossignol FKS 140 I bought into the hype of these bindings and I figured I would give them a shot, after my freeski 120s exploded. I have used them a couple of time and they dont seem all that different compared to any other binding. They are annoying to hike with because I find when I pop them down they either come back up after my foot comes out or the heelpiece rotates to the side. Not a bad binding, but not my favorite either.
1) Marker Griffon. I mounted these on my chronics this year and I love them! I never pre-release, it only releases when it should. they are light and durable. I have not had a single problem with them. perfect for hiking or laping the park.

I am 175lbs and I am hard on my stuff.

TL;DR
Marker Griffon>FKS 140>Rossi Freeski120>Sth 12 driver
Mar 3 2013 1:37PM
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El_Barto.
Posts: 11630 - Karma: 24,464
ya ok
Mar 3 2013 2:27PM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
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Mar 3 2013 3:04PM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
Congratulations Rossi and Look on your marketing campaigns over the past 2 years; this thread confirms that your staff have done a good job.
Mar 3 2013 4:04PM
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eheath
Posts: 61159 - Karma: 118,869
Problem 1 - you bought fks 140s. The 140s have the plastic toe pieces, the fks 15/18 are the bomb proof ones.

And I lol'd that you complained about the heel pieces.
Mar 3 2013 4:08PM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
This really isn't relevant to his post, he never said he had a problem with the durability, just that they didn't live up to the hype or something like that, but it's not like there's much hype, they're a retention binding with a ridiculous amount of elasticity, so much so that pretty much everyday I fall over when I try to unclip my heel using my other ski, it reclips in and I end up sliding on my ski.

I've found the 140s durable enough for me anyway, if there's a problem I can always get the 155s.
Mar 3 2013 4:16PM
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eheath
Posts: 61159 - Karma: 118,869
Kid obviously isn't very hard on his shit if he thinks marker bindings are better than fks'.
Mar 3 2013 4:20PM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
True, but some people get lucky with bindings/ are just graceful motherfuckers at landing.
Mar 3 2013 4:22PM
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I_liketobutter
Posts: 2664 - Karma: 997
only bindings ill ever buy are fks and salomon steel 16's
Mar 3 2013 4:29PM
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skier_boy26
Posts: 11295 - Karma: 502
I have a pair of p18s that I've had for about 7 years. Hundreds upon hundreds of days of abuse and they still work great. Best bindings, period.
Mar 3 2013 4:50PM
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joshua
Posts: 5046 - Karma: 1,280
Not really, people were searching for/using old FKS and pivots for years before rossi/look brought the binding back, those bindings have a cult following for a reason, its not all marketing hype.
Mar 3 2013 5:09PM
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Cotter
Posts: 2546 - Karma: 850
I'm going to reply to both of your posts directed to me.

I put the fks 140s on my jib skis, I find it pretty annoying when I'm clicking out all the time that I have to fix the heel piece, or maybe I just need to get used to that. Also I did not complain about their durability they seem like a pretty sturdy binding. I guess I just expected too much out of a binding that is hyped the fuck out of.

I mean this with all respect, You are definitely harder on your shit than I am on mine, you are bigger than I, hitting bigger features and jumps. I haven't seen a single problem with my markers. they have done me good through 2 weeks of water ramps and they are now coming to the end of their first season.

Just because you may have had some bad luck with a product several years ago does not mean they haven't changed since.
Mar 3 2013 5:31PM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
Did you seriously just compare water ramps to real skiing? I can't even believe that, unless I misread it.

Also I've had markers in the past 2 years, and I hate them, not so much for explosions(although my toe did once), but the afd sucks(always falls off), the worm wheel is a terrible idea too and doesn't hold etc.
Mar 3 2013 5:47PM
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Cotter
Posts: 2546 - Karma: 850
noo, I was not comparing water ramps to real skiing. I was just adding that they have gone through that aswell as almost a season of skiing.
Mar 3 2013 5:52PM
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K-Dot.
Posts: 3710 - Karma: 7,421
No but they're better for him, and that's what really matters. Look at Hoji for Christ sake.
Mar 3 2013 6:15PM
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last_tango
Posts: 2635 - Karma: 2,665
Good to hear that I'm not the only one coming out of sth 14s. I have those mother fuckers cranked at 12 and I'm still coming out when I shouldn't and I have the forward pressure set correctly and my boot have plenty of plastic on the traction plates.

I weigh 180lbs and I have fks 140s and I haven't come out of them yet once this season but I have pulled my mcl with them. I much prefer staying in and not coming out when it matters though.
Mar 3 2013 6:48PM
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DeRizzo
Posts: 3827 - Karma: 3,483
Ok so I kinda want to try FKS'. However, The 180 din size is a little big for me (5'6" 125lbs). I'm afraid that I'm going to grow and the 140 toe piece is going to have issues. I go pretty hard on my stuff, so I wanna make sure it lasts.
Mar 3 2013 7:13PM
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Cotter
Posts: 2546 - Karma: 850
you will be fine with the 14, im 6'0 175lbs and I use the 14
Mar 3 2013 7:29PM
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JUP*
Posts: 728 - Karma: 200
140s if ur 125 ur gunna hurt ur self in the 180s
Mar 3 2013 7:32PM
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El_Barto.
Posts: 11630 - Karma: 24,464
I have the metal driver toe on px15s and i know exactly why you want it. Really though, youre tiny. Unless youre skiing as hard as any little dude has ever skiied before thats just too much binding for you.

dont let all the talk on here get to your head. A plastic binding is good enough for almost every single one of us
Mar 3 2013 8:34PM
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charmander
Posts: 10636 - Karma: 372
I can't even fathom how you came up with this. I pop out of barons/griffons/jesters/dukes with my din at 12... on groomers. Also, they're plastic, and the toes break, the afd's break etc.
Mar 3 2013 8:34PM
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Cotter
Posts: 2546 - Karma: 850
well, I use them every weekend. I never pre-release and I have my din at 8 in park
Mar 3 2013 8:51PM
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james6345789
Posts: 4763 - Karma: 465
You definitely do not need an 18 din binding.
Mar 3 2013 9:02PM
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andybob
Posts: 474 - Karma: 35
Wat.

After having Marker Griffons and now Jesters, I have a pretty hard time believing this. I blew up the Griffons but liked the way the Markers felt and rode so that's why I went with the Jesters. The thing that led me away from FKS/LOOK Pivots are the brakes are a bitch to change if you mess them up.
Mar 3 2013 10:55PM
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charmander
Posts: 10636 - Karma: 372
I dunno man, I can't stay in mine worth anything. I don't have problems with my rossi stuff, I know the markers have been set up right as far as forward pressure and toe height goes.

Also, plastic in a binder is no bueno.
Mar 3 2013 11:00PM
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DeRizzo
Posts: 3827 - Karma: 3,483
Thats my point. I was being sarcastic when I said a little bit big. Oh and +k to everyone else^
Mar 3 2013 11:22PM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
Interesting how they didn't get discussed at all from 2001-2009 on Newschoolers, eh? Good bindings, but they have their flaws just like any other.
Mar 4 2013 3:59AM
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joshua
Posts: 5046 - Karma: 1,280
Bro, do you even FKS?

Look on TGR.
Mar 4 2013 9:03AM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
?

https://www.google.com/search?q=rossignol+fks&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft%3Aen-GB%3A%7Breferrer%3Asource%3F%7D&rlz=1I7ADFA_en&biw=1366&bih=643&sa=X&ei=46k0UY-wHI26hAfxkoCIDQ&ved=0CB0QpwUoBg&source=lnt&tbs=cdr%3A1%2Ccd_min%3A6%2F29%2F2000%2Ccd_max%3A6%2F29%2F2008&tbm=#hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-GB:%7Breferrer:source%3F%7D&rlz=1I7ADFA_en&tbs=cdr:1,cd_min:6/29/2000,cd_max:6/29/2008&q=+site:newschoolers.com+rossignol+fks&sa=X&ei=IKo0UfO7B5SXhQe3z4CAAw&ved=0CEEQrQIwAA&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.43148975,d.ZG4&fp=fc4f20e45b907d33&biw=1366&bih=643
Mar 4 2013 9:05AM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627

If you can, always go for the 155s over the 14s. 

The reason being is that they are of light weight construction like the 14s, but they have the same 1-piece toe and release mechanism of the 18s.  The 14s release on the toe via toe wings while the main toe body stays put, whereas the 155s ad 18s have a one-piece toe that the whole thing releases upwards.  Fewer moving parts, more bomber release mode.  That way you really do get the best of both worlds if weight is a big factor for you but you want the most durable lightweight model available.  Kind of surprised more people on NS don't have them seeing as how important weight is in park skiing.  Also, I do know the toe in the FKS 18s are 40% more elastic than the 14s, but I'm not positive is that stat reaches over to the 155s.  It wouldn't surprise me if it did though, being of the internals of the 18 more than it's 14 DIN cousin. 

In any case, always go 155s over 14s even if they aren't as pretty.  They're an all around better binding and still very lightweight for how banger of a binding they are. 

That said I do love my 18s.  There really is no replacement for that level of confidence in your gear. 

Mar 4 2013 9:45AM
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TristonHall
Posts: 194 - Karma: 564
Yeah after reading this thread I need some FKS' quick. I'm using marker squires right now and they hardly even work. The releases are not solid and hurt. They don't seem to pre-release very often but suck ass at releases
Mar 4 2013 9:45AM
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