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Understanding Look pivots/ fks's ( HELP! +K)

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Canuker
Posts: 4730 - Karma: 165

Im in need of new bindings, ive been spending alot of time sifting through the countless threads on NS and pages on the internet; all in the attempt to figure out what binding will take an abusing and last me multiple seasons.
After much time spent searching, no matter what ski site, i seem to keep seeing the same names pop-up, those most popular of which are the rossignol fks's/axial's and the look pivot series (same binding, yes i know)
Although NS is a great source of info, frankly, im getting a little confused.

Basically im wondering which are the "legit" fks's and pivot's

Now i do know that these fks's are among the favorites, but which are the actual good ones? Is it these...

https://www.newschoolers.com/ns3/web/popups/viewimage.php?picurl=http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o24/nilznissen/IMG_0435.jpg 

or how about these...
Click for larger image

but what about the others?
Are these also as burely as the previous?
Click for larger image

And what about the pivots? should i be looking for pivot 12's or p12's?
Is this pair the oh-so highly acclaimed binding? Or is this too recent to fall into that category?

Click for larger image


As you can see im very confused, i dont know which are the good ones and which are not. Id appreciate if my fellow NS'ers could help me pick the good from the bad and hopefully give me some understanding into this subject.

Thanks in advance!

Hope the pictures work...

Feb 10 2010 5:48PM
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GreenStezz
Posts: 3570 - Karma: 717
Click for larger image
Feb 10 2010 5:52PM
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GreenStezz
Posts: 3570 - Karma: 717
http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/Rossignol-FKS-180-Ski-Binding/ROS0609M.html.......................
Feb 10 2010 5:54PM
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Canuker
Posts: 4730 - Karma: 165
im not talking about the new ones, the older ones is what i want.
Feb 10 2010 6:08PM
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A.P.
Posts: 667 - Karma: 136
im pretty sure Axials and Piviots are not the same thing... I have Axials not the same as piviot/fks
Feb 10 2010 6:12PM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6661 - Karma: 10,910
how wide of a brake do you need?  Your first picture is of the World Cup binding, which will be the most bomber.  And that's what any bomber "freestyle" binding really is. STH series, FreeSki2 series, FKS series etc. all respectively use their manufacturer's World Cup heel design, just painted differently and without any riser plates.  However, once you get into the upper end DINs (usually 15+), the toe pieces change too, have more metal in the construction, and have more retention vs release features- think Driver toe vs. Z-series.
Feb 10 2010 6:15PM
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BWalmer
Posts: 9141 - Karma: 12,883
you want the ones that have the turntable heel piece (like in the first 2 pictures you posted) and ones that are metal...like the 2nd picture.
Feb 10 2010 6:42PM
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baaangthat
Posts: 2245 - Karma: 2,587
top three you posted are all fks...the top one has a geze toe which is a little less durable and releases easier, but they are still a rediculously good binding and you can usually find them at your local thrift store on a pair of $10 skis.  the 2nd and 3rd ones you picd are bomber as fuck.  the looks at the bottom are the turntables, still a very very very good binding, usually cheaper
Feb 10 2010 7:40PM
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JayDope
Posts: 6842 - Karma: 408
the look p12's are plastic and do not have a 360 degree heel movement, they have about 180 degrees of rotation, completely different than the fks bindings, what ur looking for is the look pivot race bindings which are the same as the fks series without the geze toe piece
Feb 10 2010 7:46PM
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JayDope
Posts: 6842 - Karma: 408
left to right pictured
look p12 race bindings, same as fks bindings, then i believe some type of fkis binding, toe piece is slightly different, then the ret are just older versions
Feb 10 2010 7:49PM
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JayDope
Posts: 6842 - Karma: 408
fuck here is the pictureClick for larger image
Feb 10 2010 7:50PM
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jibjunkie
Posts: 3807 - Karma: 191
believe it or not the geze can be more durable. all of the geze fks series raning from the 10 dins to the 18s have all metal toes. hoever some are 3 hole and some are four in the toe.

with regards to the rossignol pivot (not look pivot. look pivot is same as rossignol fks) they have more plastic but are still good bindings. if you want a good 12 din get rossignol fks 120 or look pivot 12 race.
Feb 10 2010 7:58PM
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chazz.
Posts: 2721 - Karma: 23
Nope, those are called axials (and sometimes pivots), the others posted above are the turntables because the heelpiece rotates 360 degrees, whereas axials only go like 180...someone correct me if I'm wrong...
Feb 10 2010 8:49PM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
pretty sure the new Look FKS style heel are called Look Pivots.

yes i know the FKS is Rossi.

that said, the second binding you posted was the FKS 185. you DO NOT need these.

i believe the second ones were the FKS 120s. i dont think you posted your weight. but honestly if you are asking on the internet i doubt you need anything more than the 120, or the new FKS 140 they just came out with.

although i personally feel the FKS 155/185 toe is a MUCH better constructed toe. (i have both the 120's and 185s and couldnt be happier) they are both miles ahead of the PX12. MILES.
Feb 10 2010 11:35PM
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MacMahoooon
Posts: 9009 - Karma: 3,305
You are basically looking for the turntable heel ones, though the newer pivots are still quite durable

Few things to keep in mind though if you are buying used ones:

- they do still wear out/break over time.  I have a set of ZR18, which were known to be some of the most durable and I am using my last 2 of 4 heel pieces (2 brand new, 2 used) due to damage and wear/tear
- mounting older/higher DIN bindings can be tough finding a shop to do it for you.  You are in ottawa so I'll let you know that Surf Side is one of the few who will mount a turntable, even fewer a 15+ DIN one (and you have to ask real nice)
Feb 10 2010 11:49PM
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MacMahoooon
Posts: 9009 - Karma: 3,305
You are basically looking for the turntable heel ones, though the newer pivots are still quite durable

Few things to keep in mind though if you are buying used ones:

- they do still wear out/break over time.  I have a set of ZR18, which were known to be some of the most durable and I am using my last 2 of 4 heel pieces (2 brand new, 2 used) due to damage and wear/tear
- mounting older/higher DIN bindings can be tough finding a shop to do it for you.  You are in ottawa so I'll let you know that Surf Side is one of the few who will mount a turntable, even fewer a 15+ DIN one (and you have to ask real nice)
Feb 10 2010 11:49PM
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SHastatahoe
Posts: 3414 - Karma: 20
The first two pictures you posted are fks style heals.  The first picture is probably a higher din, which you can tell becasue the toepeice is on a stem.   The third binding is a pivot.  The first two, I call turntables.  There is confusion in nomenclature, for sure.  The two peices vary, but between the 2nd and 3rd image they are pretty close. 

The real difference in toe pieces I have seen is geze style vs. the newer ones (and there are real old ones too).

I have both geze style (3 screw), newer FKS style, and pivot style. 

the pivots are real great bindings, and will hold you in real well, and always worked well for me.  I have broken them before.  There is a lot of plastic on them.
Feb 11 2010 12:35AM
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Canuker
Posts: 4730 - Karma: 165
Well i jusst bought Rossignol FKS 120's ( turntable, metal heal but crabon fiber toe...i think) from 2007, brand new for $89
Feb 11 2010 1:03AM
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BWalmer
Posts: 9141 - Karma: 12,883
Those'll be pretty good, I think I have a pair of them lying around, very nice binding, it's ok that the Toe isn't metal, the heel gets most of the abuse anyways. And $89 is a pretty sweet deal, enjoy.
Feb 11 2010 1:29AM
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fouldsys
Posts: 7404 - Karma: 39
sick deal
Feb 11 2010 1:29AM
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Canuker
Posts: 4730 - Karma: 165
I could share with you the online shop which i got them from
Feb 11 2010 2:09AM
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Mr_pretzel
Posts: 4616 - Karma: 1,289
please do i need a pair!
Feb 11 2010 6:06AM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
thats a sick deal. i payed $200 for mine a couple of years ago and they have been worth every penny.

you wont be disappointed, now you just have to bend the brakes, check the sticky threads at the top of GT there is a good video tutorial.
Feb 11 2010 9:34AM
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jibjunkie
Posts: 3807 - Karma: 191
check with your shop first they more often than not will bend em for you
Feb 11 2010 9:42AM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
it depends how big you want to bend them and how you want it done.

i know the shop i talked to said no way would they take the heel piece apart and bend them correctly. but maybe your shop is different.
Feb 11 2010 10:25AM
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jibjunkie
Posts: 3807 - Karma: 191
one shop said that if i were to take my 80 mm brakes and bend them to fit my 93 mm waist skis the brakes would not be long enough and would no longer touch the ground. so i pretty much said your retarted and went to a different shop.
Feb 11 2010 11:06AM
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BossHogg
Posts: 189 - Karma: 19
i know where you bought them. they are sold out now. ive been watching that place...they were 150 a couple days ago. i just didnt want to have to bend the brakes. nice find man
Feb 11 2010 11:40AM
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Yung_Gnarley
Posts: 9092 - Karma: 3,022
I found the ones in the second picture for like 200 bucks. The brake was originally 80 mm and I was mounting them on t-halls which are 90+ mm underfoot. I wasn't sure if I would find anyone to bend them. Luckilly, I went back to the shop I got them from and they bent them no problem. So, just ask the shop to bend the brakes and if they don't, keep asking different shops. You could bend them yourself too, but it's risky. They are the best bindings I have ever clicked into. They're metal everywhere that needs the durability of metal and plastic in all the places that need to be lightweight (parts of the riser). GET SOME
Feb 11 2010 11:44AM
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PaleCelery
Posts: 7228 - Karma: 609
Personally I'm a fan of the 155's because the DIN range is more accomodating than the 185s or newer 180's, but it still has the all metal toe and is super bomber (first ones you posted) dpending on your height weight ability these might not be the best bindings for you, an you could go with the 120's but they have a plastic toe (same as px12's), which is still great but probably not quite as durable.

PM me if you are seriously looking into getting a pair, I know a site where you can get 155's and 120's (the old ones) brand new for 220 and 140, respectively. I'm not gonna post it here because I want to buy a pair for next season sometime this summer and I dont want them to be sold out, its hard to find minty 155's these days.  You cold def get a used pair for cheaper than that on here though.
Feb 11 2010 11:46AM
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