ATK FreeRaider - Walk/Ski lever too stiff?

I kniw exactly what you mean, i have the r14 and i thought that too but in the end it's an all metall construction so should be quite stable. It might feel a little bit smoother if you push with your thumb against the opposite site of the lever at the moment you pull the lever.. I felt that kind off takes a little bit torque off the rotating part

Thanks! I was wondering if it was only me with this problem.
This happens only when the boot is clicked in the binding. Maybe it will get better with time, who knows.
There is no way of "setup" either? Only the release values right? I am completely new to tech bindings..

blyatfulI kniw exactly what you mean, i have the r14 and i thought that too but in the end it's an all metall construction so should be quite stable. It might feel a little bit smoother if you push with your thumb against the opposite site of the lever at the moment you pull the lever.. I felt that kind off takes a little bit torque off the rotating part

So i'm not sure about this one but there is a little screw with 3 different levels and i think this is to set the width of the pins. So maybe try the different levels out and see how it feels but if it's "to easy" then it might pre release idk.. You can adjust the din only in the heel.

RuffSkiThanks! I was wondering if it was only me with this problem.
This happens only when the boot is clicked in the binding. Maybe it will get better with time, who knows.
There is no way of "setup" either? Only the release values right? I am completely new to tech bindings..

There is the screw. I have it on the soft setting, so the pins should be in the furthest position. Well I will use the lock only in hard terrains and traverses, but if I tour on a mellow surface I will not use it. Will see how it goes.

blyatfulSo i'm not sure about this one but there is a little screw with 3 different levels and i think this is to set the width of the pins. So maybe try the different levels out and see how it feels but if it's "to easy" then it might pre release idk.. You can adjust the din only in the heel.

blyatfulSo i'm not sure about this one but there is a little screw with 3 different levels and i think this is to set the width of the pins. So maybe try the different levels out and see how it feels but if it's "to easy" then it might pre release idk.. You can adjust the din only in the heel.

No don’t fuck with the screw. It is to adjust the width, but it’s there to account for wear if your boot has been used a lot. It won’t change the tension of the lever

Yeah I have read that on the official site. You have no particular experience with this behavior on this binding?

animatorNo don’t fuck with the screw. It is to adjust the width, but it’s there to account for wear if your boot has been used a lot. It won’t change the tension of the lever

RuffSkiYeah I have read that on the official site. You have no particular experience with this behavior on this binding?

It’s harder to lock than some other tech bindings but it will sort of “break in.” The lack of springs makes it stiff at first. I haven’t used the Freeraider but I’ve used the Moment Voyager which mechanically is pretty much the same (the mount is slightly wider and the geometry is different but it’s the same mechanism in the toe piece) and it’s definitely a little tough at first.

animatorIt’s harder to lock than some other tech bindings but it will sort of “break in.” The lack of springs makes it stiff at first. I haven’t used the Freeraider but I’ve used the Moment Voyager which mechanically is pretty much the same (the mount is slightly wider and the geometry is different but it’s the same mechanism in the toe piece) and it’s definitely a little tough at first.

Thanks for the reply. I think the voyager is just a rebranded name for the Raider/FreeRaider so it is prety much the same. Maybe there is a slight tune to the geometry as you say.
There is that demo video from ATK where a dude clicks that locking with a single finger like it is nothing and I have to pull it harder than I would like to (fearing I will snap something tbh). But maybe I am just a little too afraid given the price I paid for that thing :D

RuffSkiThanks for the reply. I think the voyager is just a rebranded name for the Raider/FreeRaider so it is prety much the same. Maybe there is a slight tune to the geometry as you say.
There is that demo video from ATK where a dude clicks that locking with a single finger like it is nothing and I have to pull it harder than I would like to (fearing I will snap something tbh). But maybe I am just a little too afraid given the price I paid for that thing :D

No it’s not just rebranded, it is different. I just meant that the mechanism is more or less the same in the toe.

I've got two pairs of the new raider bindings and I'm a big fan. I'm using them on the black crows corvus and camox freebird. Between the two of them probably 50 days use.

To quickly answer your question, yeah it takes a bit of force pulling up to lock the toes. The entire toe piece is metal, you aren't going to damage them by pulling up to lock them. I think you'd have to put a shitload of force into it to break that part. You'll feel it click, thats it.

If you look close there are two lines in the center and a line on the lever that will let you know when you're in ski mode or locked out.

I started by using mine on the 'soft' setting. I noticed with locked toes trying to kick an edge into very hard snow the toe would release. I've since set them to medium. I weigh 155lbs for reference, using tecnica boots. Haven't had an issue since.

Have a look at the manual, page 32
https://www.atkbindings.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/xfr14_rev01_2020.pdf

It does sound like if you adjust the screw it will become more difficult to lock the lever. I didn't notice that. As I understand, it will take more force to open the toes, in ski or locked mode as you turn that screw. If you decide to adjust it, make sure you have a properly sized flat head, as the metal is quite soft. I'd also say make sure you've got the heel adjusted properly and you'll be good to go.

animatorIt’s harder to lock than some other tech bindings but it will sort of “break in.” The lack of springs makes it stiff at first. I haven’t used the Freeraider but I’ve used the Moment Voyager which mechanically is pretty much the same (the mount is slightly wider and the geometry is different but it’s the same mechanism in the toe piece) and it’s definitely a little tough at first.

Where are you seeing that the moment branded version is any different? Pretty sure its the same, just rebranded. I think black diamond is going to carry them. Majesty is also selling them.
Theres a massive ATK thread on TGR as well.

m3mike02Where are you seeing that the moment branded version is any different? Pretty sure its the same, just rebranded. I think black diamond is going to carry them. Majesty is also selling them.
Theres a massive ATK thread on TGR as well.

I’m not seeing it anywhere. I work at a Moment retailer and have been given a clinic on it.

So I wrote the customer service at ATK and got a reply.
For everyone who is interested, these are the main points from their reply:

If I can lock the lever, I should use it normaly. The stiffness is usual in new bindings and it should get softer with more use.
Also I´ve read a blister review, where they mention basicaly the same thing.

Hope it helps anybody who was wondering the same thing as I was!

Now just hope for some snow, because Europe´s got none this winter.

Where are you from? It was literally snowing for the last 3 days in switzerland

RuffSkiSo I wrote the customer service at ATK and got a reply.
For everyone who is interested, these are the main points from their reply:

If I can lock the lever, I should use it normaly. The stiffness is usual in new bindings and it should get softer with more use.
Also I´ve read a blister review, where they mention basicaly the same thing.

Hope it helps anybody who was wondering the same thing as I was!

Now just hope for some snow, because Europe´s got none this winter.

m3mike02Where are you seeing that the moment branded version is any different? Pretty sure its the same, just rebranded. I think black diamond is going to carry them. Majesty is also selling them.
Theres a massive ATK thread on TGR as well.

So, the first season they were out, last year, they were the only Freeraiders on the market with a higher toe, which gave them a flatter ramp angle, more similar to Pivots. That made them unique, I'm a big fan of getting that ramp out of the box without having to shim like you would do with the BD (or DPS, or Majesty, or Hagan, etc.) branded ones. The mount pattern is the same as a Freeraider pattern, but I believe ATK may have made a running change to the screw pattern, so it's always worth double checking.

I believe Luke mentioned in the Moment TGR thread that this year ATK is offering the flatter ramp on non-Moment branded Freeraiders, but I'm not 100% sure on that.

As the TGR thread makes it clear, ATK has a very complicated product line, especially since they've allowed so many brands to co-brand. But Moment's website explains the changes they've made to the stock ATK bindings, none of which are really relevant to the issue in this thread.

To OP: As has been said, they should get a little easier to use over time, as they break in, and I wouldn't worry about breaking them. It's a little more positive of an engagement, and takes a little more force than some other tech toes, but it's fine.

blyatfulWhere are you from? It was literally snowing for the last 3 days in switzerland

I was In Zermatt last season and all summer. Currently I was home in Czech for christmas and got stuck here with all the corona traveling issues. But I am leaving to Laax (hopefully) next weak and from there to Zermatt to spend summer there. Love that place.
You from where?

cydwhitSo, the first season they were out, last year, they were the only Freeraiders on the market with a higher toe, which gave them a flatter ramp angle, more similar to Pivots. That made them unique, I'm a big fan of getting that ramp out of the box without having to shim like you would do with the BD (or DPS, or Majesty, or Hagan, etc.) branded ones. The mount pattern is the same as a Freeraider pattern, but I believe ATK may have made a running change to the screw pattern, so it's always worth double checking.

I believe Luke mentioned in the Moment TGR thread that this year ATK is offering the flatter ramp on non-Moment branded Freeraiders, but I'm not 100% sure on that.

As the TGR thread makes it clear, ATK has a very complicated product line, especially since they've allowed so many brands to co-brand. But Moment's website explains the changes they've made to the stock ATK bindings, none of which are really relevant to the issue in this thread.

To OP: As has been said, they should get a little easier to use over time, as they break in, and I wouldn't worry about breaking them. It's a little more positive of an engagement, and takes a little more force than some other tech toes, but it's fine.

I was looking for the main difference in the original Raider and the FreeRaider. Is there other difference than the "DIN". Cuz I bought the FR12 and you can get the 12 also in the Raider version. They should be somewhat sturdier?
And boy does the freeride spacer make a difference when riding harder. It changed the feel of the binding big time.