Member of the Month

hi_vis360
November, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Francis Bacons or JP vs. Juliens

profile picture
Campeador
Posts: 7516 - Karma: -1,227
I'm torn between the two. I either want the Francis Bacons in a 182 or the JPs in a 188. I'm 5'10, 145. Anyone with experience with either of these skis tell me what you think.
Aug 10 2007 12:31AM
0 0
profile picture
cbrady
Posts: 2857 - Karma: 124
my roomate has both of those...he likes the bacon's for everything and the JP's for more of a backcountry ski since its so light.

i have the jp's for pow and they work phenominal.
Aug 10 2007 12:33AM
0 0
profile picture
Klick_2_klaim
Posts: 3396 - Karma: 25
I have the 178 jj's and they can do anything. Ive heard the bacons are neet, but Theyre not as light and not as rad I bet!
Aug 10 2007 12:48AM
0 0
profile picture
Triple_Strum
Posts: 6384 - Karma: 953
it totally depends on your taste since they are two very opposite skis. Yes, they are both fat, but the SFB is a very soft ski with a large sidecut (19 m turning radius!) and the JP vs JJ is a stiff ski with very little sidecut. Take your pick
Aug 10 2007 12:53AM
0 0
profile picture
Klick_2_klaim
Posts: 3396 - Karma: 25
dood the JJ's are not stiff. theyre snappy, but stiff is the last word i would use to describe them.
dont be leading people astray!
Aug 10 2007 12:57AM
0 0
profile picture
dorikin
Posts: 1914 - Karma: 16
Yea I wanted to say this, but was to lazy, thanks for hitting the nail on the head for me. It's funny you are trying to decide between these two skis because to be completely honest you couldn't have chosen two more dissimilar skis.
Aug 10 2007 12:58AM
0 0
profile picture
edd1e
Posts: 679 - Karma: 16
If you want a pure powder ski, of the 2, probably the jj. The bacon is the more versatile though.

However I probably wouldnt get either. If I wanted a soft pure pow ski, I'd get the moment melee which is $50 less than the bacon. Plus it sounds like they're super light as well. I am the same size as you ad got a pair of lizzies which are too short on super deep days, but I think either the bacon or the jj would be more work
Aug 10 2007 1:01AM
0 0
profile picture
Campeador
Posts: 7516 - Karma: -1,227
I know they're different, I only have money for one new pair of powder skis so I have to decide on one. I think I'll go with the JPs but the Francis Bacons still look sick, they're wider and a bit shorter.
Aug 10 2007 1:21AM
0 0
profile picture
Campeador
Posts: 7516 - Karma: -1,227
I can get a good price on both.
Aug 10 2007 1:21AM
0 0
profile picture
dorikin
Posts: 1914 - Karma: 16
Here's what I think. You can't go wrong with either. How do you ski? Do you consider yourself more of a traditional skier or do you ride switch A LOT, and play/jib around. The JP skis traditionally very very well. The only fault I have with them is their shape isn't very conducive to skiing switch, and at least the way mine are mounted, they are a bit long for a true powder jib tool. As a straight up powder and every day ride they rock, but jibbing wise I think the Bacon looks like a more playful ski.
Aug 10 2007 1:25AM
0 0
profile picture
Campeador
Posts: 7516 - Karma: -1,227
When I ski powder its not so much charging big lines (although it can be) but mainly just finding a cliff huck with some homies and throwing down off that. Lots of switch stuff and throwing down off the bc booters we build. Basically what I want is something that I can throw around and ski deep snow switch with but that can also handle those big lines.

Thanks for the info though, I'm thinking the Francis Bacons may be a better fit at this point haha. I have some thinking to do. I wish I could just buy both but I can't.

Aug 10 2007 1:34AM
0 0
profile picture
dorikin
Posts: 1914 - Karma: 16
From what you just posted, I'm thinking the SFB might be a better choice, I'd also look at the Hellbents/ Made'n Aks.
Aug 10 2007 1:48AM
0 0
profile picture
Ryanvdonk
Posts: 12811 - Karma: 1,971
haha, jps are super soft, don't listen to anything different that that. though they have a lot less sidecut and are lighter and skinnier. if you ride pretty much only soft snow, and like to hike with them and take em in the trees, get the jp, if you want to do all that but with less hiking and trees but with some hardpack get the bacon (similar flexes, bacon while maybe a tad softer is much more damp and wont chatter as much on ice and will have an easier time in chop, where's the jps can get pushed around, especially for someone as light as you.) for jumping they are equal, since the weights and lengths counteract each other in that comparison.
Aug 10 2007 4:06AM
0 0
profile picture
Love_Wins.
Posts: 5536 - Karma: -1
Not good for switch? The tail is higher than the tip, they were DESIGNED for switch in pow...
Mine ski fine switch, they don't lay trenches as well as the Bacons do, cause the sidecut isn't as deep... but they certainly aren't a bad ski for switch riding by any means.
Aug 10 2007 4:13AM
0 0
profile picture
dorikin
Posts: 1914 - Karma: 16
They are decent switch...they are far from stellar though, just admit that. I think having sidecut obviously helps one turn/carve whether it is forward or backward, if you don't agree you are some sort of wierdo. It's only logical. Obviously, a Super straight 188 length traditional powder ski is not going to ski as well switch as a practically fully symetrical true twin designed for powder jibbing. And the JP Julien designed for switch pow? HAH! I laugh in your general direction. That is a complete marketing tool that Armada has used to try and sell more skis. Yes the Tail is quite high, does that make a ski proficient switch? Far from it. Jp and Julien said themselves the ski was designed to be Very straight, and has a high tail Simply so that the ski doesn't hook (AKA try to turn) on an inrun. These skis were practically designed not to turn. Let me ask you something, does anybody on the Armada team especially JP and Julien who designed this ski ever ski switch in pow? No they don't. Jp and Julien have complete oldschool style, and this ski, I believe, is no different. It is like an old school mogul ski that is huge. The Bacon is completely progressive.
Aug 10 2007 4:15PM
0 0
profile picture
JGP.
Posts: 2785 - Karma: 474
couldnt have said it better myself. i skied the 08 bacons all winter and they are the most fun skis you can buy. from your description, they would be a much better choice. amazing switch, great for hitting jumps, and just fun to ski with. id say go SFB
Aug 10 2007 4:32PM
0 0
profile picture
SHASTANG
Posts: 396 - Karma: -14
SFB'S
Aug 10 2007 4:39PM
0 0
profile picture
pDails
Posts: 1238 - Karma: 75
^^said it perfectly.
Aug 10 2007 7:02PM
0 0
profile picture
Campeador
Posts: 7516 - Karma: -1,227
I'm convinced, SFBs it is, thank you.
Aug 11 2007 8:38AM
0 0
profile picture
wils.
Posts: 2012 - Karma: 48
tread is done
Aug 11 2007 8:42AM
0 0
profile picture
jp_draves
Posts: 1866 - Karma: 37
hmmm, sounds like....
Aug 11 2007 11:01AM
0 0
profile picture
K_9
Posts: 879 - Karma: 10
mmmmmmmmmmm      Bacon
Aug 11 2007 11:04AM
0 0
profile picture
minga
Posts: 42 - Karma: 10
Im heading to japan for a month, what would be the better of the two. in japan they have heaps of pow and heaps of trees
Aug 16 2007 1:06AM
0 0
profile picture
Tha_Grouch
Posts: 2216 - Karma: 14
^uhh.. Hellbents or EP's! Yeah..or Lizzes/Bacons would be fine. I'd want lizzes for tight trees though.
Aug 16 2007 1:49AM
0 0
profile picture
liquidsword
Posts: 566 - Karma: 10
i'm getting hellbents. get the jp's they won't delam on the first run like this kids i know
Aug 16 2007 4:17AM
0 0
profile picture
Tha_Grouch
Posts: 2216 - Karma: 14
^Wow dude. No.

That was only a few skis.. and they were warrantied immediately with next years model. Get your facts straight. At least Line will warranty their stuff... whereas Armada won't do crap for the people I've seen who have pulled their bindings out of their JPs. Which has been a few.
Aug 16 2007 12:29PM
0 0
profile picture
Bo_bot9
Posts: 1437 - Karma: 275
jps are sick skis but are considerably stiffer than the bacons. when i skied the bacons i thought there were so much fun to butter around on. I skied the bacons in 5-6 in of fresh pow and they worked like a charm couldnt beat them. They will perform even better in more pow also. When i rode the jj's i kind of felt like they were not as responsive. My style of riding is pretty carvy. I felt that the bacon was much easier an forgiving when i was turning. but if you straight shoot everything then you might wnat to go with the jj's


SUMMARY

Bacon's soft, easily turn, lively, heavier than JJ's but still light

JJ's , stiffer (snaapy), less side cut, light
Aug 16 2007 1:27PM
0 0
profile picture
skoganskier101
Posts: 2067 - Karma: 14
damn kinda wish i had gotten sfb's, but i actually just got jp's like 1 month ago
Aug 25 2007 11:06AM
0 0
profile picture
Carrphotography
Posts: 590 - Karma: 95
Not saying JP's are bad skis, they are good.  But here's my 2 cents to add:
Took out my JP's on a Alta Pow day, ended up putting them away after a few runs and traded them for my Elizabeths that were in the car (didn't have Bacons yet) and had WAAY more fun. I don't know what it is, but for me, I love the ski.  Also, the JP that I have has had a problem with being real slow bases.  I have the 05/06 model and I hope that they fixed that issue by now. 
Sep 3 2007 1:11PM
0 0
profile picture
FNJ
Posts: 3026 - Karma: 110
my bros 07s bases are sooo slow too
Sep 3 2007 1:19PM
0 0
profile picture
Carrphotography
Posts: 590 - Karma: 95
really?  that sucks, part of why I don't like the ski.  They were fine when they were new, but now it seems that no matter what I do for wax, they don't move.  Maybe a stone grind will help or something. 
Sep 3 2007 1:21PM
0 0
profile picture
dorikin
Posts: 1914 - Karma: 16
The bases on my JPs are horrid! Sooo slow. I have also heard the same thing about ARG's but that might just be the shape of the ski. I am also thinking maybe a stone grind and really good tune might help the situation. I am definitely gonna get them tuned up professionally before the season starts.

On another note: I just went and checked out some new stuff at Jibij. The lizzies are so sick! If they made them in a 180 or so they would definitely be on the top of my list as a park/all mountain/tight tree ski.
Sep 3 2007 1:33PM
0 0
profile picture
JGP.
Posts: 2785 - Karma: 474
BACONS!!!
Sep 3 2007 2:10PM
0 0
profile picture
dorikin
Posts: 1914 - Karma: 16
The bacons are a little wider than the Lizzie though yes?
Sep 3 2007 2:31PM
0 0
profile picture
JGP.
Posts: 2785 - Karma: 474
5mm is nothing. seriously, nothing. Once you go fat, you never want to go back..
Sep 3 2007 2:35PM
0 0
profile picture
ninjea
Posts: 2083 - Karma: 28
A friend of mine was thinking about getting either Hellbents or pontoons. in the end he couldn't decide so he got both. And the funiest part about it is that he has a pair of 06/07 Maidens. It looks as if he wants to build a bench in a few years
Sep 3 2007 2:40PM
0 0
profile picture
JGP.
Posts: 2785 - Karma: 474
are you kidding me? shit i want his hellbents....
Sep 3 2007 2:45PM
0 0
profile picture
Carrphotography
Posts: 590 - Karma: 95
Aren't the Hellbents and Pontoons very similar?  As far as design goes?  
Sep 3 2007 9:53PM
0 0
profile picture
illadelphlife
Posts: 1386 - Karma: 27
wow great gramar "phenominal"
Sep 3 2007 9:54PM
0 0
profile picture
cbrady
Posts: 2857 - Karma: 124
thanks for being a grammar teacher buddy
Sep 3 2007 10:00PM
0 0
profile picture
dorikin
Posts: 1914 - Karma: 16
yea nice spelling of "grammar," buddy.
Sep 4 2007 10:48AM
0 0
profile picture
Love_Wins.
Posts: 5536 - Karma: -1
ZING!
Sep 4 2007 11:04PM
0 0
profile picture
Carrphotography
Posts: 590 - Karma: 95
check the dictionary pal
Sep 4 2007 11:30PM
0 0
profile picture
nothanks
Posts: 13551 - Karma: 31
Are you talking about me? I don't really know you.

LINE, after a little finaggling, hooked it right up and offered up a pair of next seasons...even more importantly was the wonderful help Josh and the JIBIJ crew gave me.

All in all the ski is fucking SICK, but my case was unfortunate and pretty isolated.

As for these two skis...sell everything you own and buy both. Rip the JJ's in more of a BC setting, going super fast, big shit. Ride the SFB's everwhere else.
Sep 4 2007 11:55PM
0 0
profile picture
dorikin
Posts: 1914 - Karma: 16
maybe you should check the dictionary...pal. Surely he wasn't talking about "covering shit with tufts of grass?"
Sep 5 2007 9:26PM
0 0
profile picture
Dudesinpools
Posts: 745 - Karma: 15

being your size i would go with the jj's since you can get em shorter (177 compared to the 182 bacons, dosent seem like much) , and they are much much lighter. i have the 188 jj's and im 6'5 190 and they are so much fun.

Feb 27 2008 12:23PM
0 0
profile picture
Literature
Posts: 13673 - Karma: 3,085
I put up a pretty thorough review of the Bacons a bit ago.
Feb 27 2008 12:40PM
0 0
profile picture
49566738265
Posts: 0 - Karma: 7,704
The JJ's are really light and the Bacon's have a much bigger sidecut.  It's just a coin toss to see what you like better
Feb 27 2008 5:00PM
0 0
profile picture
dorikin
Posts: 1914 - Karma: 16
This is a completely different question now with the changes they are making to the JP Julien Next season. For those that do not know:

-The Jp Julien has been beefed up something considerable next year with a 115mm waist (compared to 103 on the older models).

-It now has reverse camber in the tips and tails with a small amount of normal camber underfoot

-it has reverse sidecut in the tips and tails and a considerable traditional sidecut underfoot.

There we go, completely different ski!

Should be comparable to the rossi s7, and is basically unlike anything that has every been released before. Apparently kicks ass, and I can't wait.
Feb 27 2008 9:59PM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-5)