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FKS Worth It?

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SwagtasticWalrus
Posts: 1268 - Karma: 184
I have super weak knees. I had a close call the other day (super man front gone wrong) but luckily I had taken judo for some time and I rolled out of it still with one ski on.Is the FKS worth the extra money? I'm almost 16 so I'm kinda on a budget. (My parents don't spoil me rotten like some kids parents tend to do. My all mtn skis have 2 mounts with Axiums. Would they even work now? And are the FKS mostly hype or could they really save my knees?
Jan 13 2013 7:21PM
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joshua
Posts: 5046 - Karma: 1,280
What do you mean by weak knees?
Jan 13 2013 7:24PM
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Pikachu.
Posts: 1290 - Karma: 1,641
fks are mostly hype, any freestyle binding (STH, Marker, FKS) will all be similar for you knees, I think its just all preference.
Jan 13 2013 7:24PM
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Thadius.Castle
Posts: 1436 - Karma: 250
I enjoy my Griffons, and to be honest I think the FKS hype is like On3p, not saying either are poor quality but they are just in trend right now and people will immediately suggest either.
Jan 13 2013 7:29PM
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SwagtasticWalrus
Posts: 1268 - Karma: 184
Not very strong. They were kicked out a few years back and aren't the same. I can ski no differently but if I wipe out they can get injured a lot more easily:/ *que sad worlds smallest violin music*
Jan 13 2013 7:31PM
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AJizzle
Posts: 1882 - Karma: 522
Fks/x and look pivot series bindings have been super popular for like 30 years, you obviously have no idea what the Fuck you are talking about.
To Op: the elasticity of the binding is directly attributable to their ability to retain a boot. Fks/pivots are some of the highest elasticity bindings on the market, wich in turn means that you don't have to unnecessarily crank your dins to avoid pre-release.
Jan 13 2013 7:52PM
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jjdsteeze
Posts: 2562 - Karma: 4,135
fks and pivots are my favorite bindings ever, i have clicked into salomons and markers and they just dont feel right to me, but im sure they are just as good. id say if you have money get some fks and try em out
Jan 13 2013 8:13PM
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Dustin.
Posts: 13839 - Karma: 7,704
I think the premise that FKS are safer than other quality bindings is easily debatable. People buy FKS because they have a very reliable release and the durability is above average. For park, FKS brakes are notorious for snapping in a switch ejection, so that might be something to consider as well.

I use Deadbolt/Mojo/Tyrolia Peak 15s for park because they are easy to replace parts, very cheap, and extremely reliable. I use FKS for everything else because they last forever. I haven't bought a new pair since high school, I keep re-using old ones that still go strong through countless broken skis.
Jan 13 2013 8:34PM
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Z-PAULY.
Posts: 559 - Karma: 284
This after having a pivoting binding it feels REALLY weird to bind into a normal binding. I love my fks. Get them
Jan 13 2013 8:51PM
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Park.
Posts: 2480 - Karma: 4,582
well if you have weak knees they might not be the right choice. they are an amazing binding and I love mine, but because of elastic travel, you might hurt your knees and then eject, whereas I will be fine because my knees are in good shape. look at any tyrolia binding that has a rear ejecting heel. they will be the best for weak knees. i have skied them and they make you feel confident on a fall unlike markers that I am not a big fan of anymore
Jan 13 2013 9:37PM
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Session
Posts: 5375 - Karma: 22,074
FKS are no safer than any other DIN certified binding. In the types of falls that are generally going to induce injury, the tear will happen before the mechanics of the release kick in.
Jan 13 2013 11:14PM
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Dustin.
Posts: 13839 - Karma: 7,704
This.

Could everyone speculating about your theory of binding engineering just stop? These are someone's knees we are talking about, keep your medical opinions out of it and keep to the facts. Every binding gets mounted and tossed into a machine to make sure that at X force it releases at X DIN setting.
Jan 14 2013 4:17PM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627

Jesus Christ.  Just no. 

It's the difference between a RELEASE binding and a RETENTION binding. 

FKS are popular because of FUNCTION.  They have an retention heel and an elastic toe,  which gives you a little extra elastic movement before releasing, which is great for sketch landings or maching through bullshit.  It's the only binding I'll use and that is 100% a result of the superior function of the mechanism it uses. 

Griffons are just a regular old release heel.  Hit somethingabove your DIN and POW!  You're out of them instantly- whereas FKS gives you that "second chance" to regain yourself.  Can't do it?  No problem, you'll come out just like the griffons.  Also, FKS18s have 40% more elasticity in the toe than FKS140s fyi. 

So yeah, that is just flat out incorrect.  They're not trendy, they're fucking awesome and people love them for a damn good reason. 

Jan 14 2013 4:30PM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627

Well yes but it's a matter of HOW. 

That shit matters. 

Jan 14 2013 4:32PM
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Dirty.Harry.
Posts: 1779 - Karma: 351
FKS may be a 'cool' binding since its re-introduction, but it's been around more or less for 30 years. I have an old 12 DIN pair on my rock skis that still kills it.

I'm not saying that you haven't skied on FKS or ON3P, but if you haven't than how do you know if they live up to their reputations?
Jan 14 2013 4:33PM
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OhioDreams
Posts: 444 - Karma: 918
BOOM. Well said.

If I had one choice for a solid park binding it would be a Pivot 18/FKS 180, and that is what I have been riding for the past three seasons. 3 years of heavy use in 80-100 day seasons on the biggest features at PC, Breck, Aspen, etc. All on one pair of bindings and they are still going strong.

After testing tons of Markers and Tyrolia's in the shop that I work at, there is no way that I would trust either of those bindings over a Pivot/FKS.

In short OP, yes they are a great binding for park and definitely worth the money.

PS I have yet to pre release and I don't have to crank my DIN's crazy high to stay in. I also have yet to break/tweak my breaks when I have done this numerous times on Markers/Salomons.
Jan 14 2013 8:31PM
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joshwyat
Posts: 139 - Karma: 23
I find the "pivot" park of the binding is a lot of hype, but they do help somewhat. But for the most part, they are bomb-proof bindings that have held up to a beating. I'd buy my 140's all over again.
Jan 14 2013 10:08PM
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Lemuel
Posts: 14486 - Karma: 10,635
I wouldn't buy FKS again. I like the Salomon heel much better. It's all about the retention, I don't need the retention of FKS. I never pre released from my old STH's and I popped out when I needed to. I almost never pop out of my FKS, it gets scary in the trees sometimes. Also having 6 flex FulTilts doesn't help because they flex to the ski before any binding can pop out.
Jan 14 2013 10:24PM
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SwagtasticWalrus
Posts: 1268 - Karma: 184
Any difference between the Look Pivot and FKS? I don't think so I just want to be totally sure
Jan 14 2013 11:01PM
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jjdsteeze
Posts: 2562 - Karma: 4,135
The new fks and pivots are the same, some of the older pivots though didn't have a full turntable
Jan 15 2013 2:38AM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627

Well if you're just sliding rails at 1mph, it totally is. 

Jan 15 2013 8:06AM
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SkiTennessee
Posts: 345 - Karma: 44
This
Jan 15 2013 9:35AM
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AJizzle
Posts: 1882 - Karma: 522
This is how I feel about 80% of the stupid shit kids say in this site +k
Jan 15 2013 12:01PM
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iffe
Posts: 984 - Karma: 120
I would say that for park, every single brake system is notorious for snapping in a switch ejection.

Otherwise, I think the main advantage of FKS is the durability and longer elastic travel before release than other bindings, and maybe also the short mounting pattern. I don't believe they are going to save your knees any more than any other properly adjusted binding.
Jan 15 2013 12:06PM
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k2andcannoli
Posts: 644 - Karma: -36
If people would just buy the correct size brake, so when engaged by the boot the brake arms tuck atop the ski, ppl would never bend a brake.
Jan 16 2013 8:00AM
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SwagtasticWalrus
Posts: 1268 - Karma: 184
It would still happen. Switch crashes break brakes even if the breaks are correctly sized for the ski
Jan 16 2013 11:16AM
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iffe
Posts: 984 - Karma: 120
Not true. Brakes break when you land switch super front seat, and eject from the heels. Brakes deploy and snap.
Jan 16 2013 11:36AM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627

I think he's saying if the brakes had proper clearance (most that are bent are ony bent to the absolute first position they'll sort of work in lol) they would pop up and out of the way as designed.  If they rub due to a crappy "barely-works" bend, they're more likely to catch and break in the event of an ejection like that. 

At least that's what I got.  I could be high on paint fumes or something. 

Jan 16 2013 2:38PM
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k2andcannoli
Posts: 644 - Karma: -36
My heels dont really ever eject and i do alot of nose butters but yeah I could see that happening.

But Mr. Norris was pretty much right, high or not. I just see a lot of people complaning about their brakes braking and their brakes are a good 1 or 2 cm to large. If it never tucks atop your ski of course its gonna catch.
Jan 16 2013 7:40PM
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k2andcannoli
Posts: 644 - Karma: -36
And I only ride the fks...which is why I never eject. Every other bindings I can butter out of at 10. Im 6'3" 250 lbs so dont doubt me
Jan 16 2013 7:44PM
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m.dizzle
Posts: 298 - Karma: 67
This? Can anybody explain the difference in name if they're essentially the same mechanism?
Jan 16 2013 7:58PM
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AJizzle
Posts: 1882 - Karma: 522
They are marketed by two different companies that are owned by the same parent company. The fks 140/ pivot 14 have full drive toe pieces and pivot heels, the fks 180/ pivot 18 have the dual action II (race) toe piece and the pivot heel.
Jan 16 2013 8:32PM
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