What to mount on new skis: old Pivot 14's (full metal) or new Pivot 12's (plastic)

treebeard

treebeard

Active member
Just got a pair of J Skis FastForward, they came with a free pair of Pivot 12's, which have a plastic toe piece.

I have an old pair of Pivot 14's, fully metal, that are at least 10 years old. They still pass a release test, but they sure look like they've been skied hard for over a decade. Rusty, a bit wobbly when not connected to a boot, but the brakes and AFD are in good shape.

At 140lbs I am reasonably within the weight range of a 12 DIN binding, I run mine at 9 or 10. I love my old Pivot 14's, they're absolutely bombproof and I feel like the extra weight helps dampen some chatter. But I am slightly hesitant to mount an old binding on brand new skis, especially when I have brand new bindings with no other use for.

One of these bindings will end up sitting in my garage. Am I right in thinking it's a better call to mount the full-metal 14's to take advantage of the somewhat smoother ride quality compared to the 12's? These skis are my hardpack send-it-in-shitfuck-conditions daily driver so it seems to me like heavier is better.

I guess, can anyone give me a good reason to pick the 12's instead of the 14's?
 
I'd go with the 12s. While the 14s sit in the garage strip them down and repaint them! It could be a fun project for a future pair of skis.
 
There are photos around of Harlaut skiing plastic toe pivots by choice, If you’re looking for a reason.

**This post was edited on Feb 27th 2024 at 1:08:48am
 
Same hole pattern, if the old ones blow its no big deal. I'd still do the new ones tho

**This post was edited on Feb 27th 2024 at 1:47:31am
 
A reason to pick the new bindings over the old could be your boots. Are your boots new enough to be GripWalk? If so, your old bindings won't take the gripwalk boot properly and you could have issues with release.

Personally I would put the nice new bindings on a nice new ski if you had the choice and put the pivots on something else like a rock ski.
 
14593947:FaunaSkis said:
A reason to pick the new bindings over the old could be your boots. Are your boots new enough to be GripWalk? If so, your old bindings won't take the gripwalk boot properly and you could have issues with release.

Personally I would put the nice new bindings on a nice new ski if you had the choice and put the pivots on something else like a rock ski.
Click to expand...

Boots are Head Kore 2's from 2021, ISO 5355 alpine sole (you can buy a GripWalk sole for it but I didn't)

So everyone's voting new 12's huh? I'm honestly kinda surprised, but maybe it is the right call. Have any of you used the plastic toe after riding metals? Is there actually a difference in ride quality?
 
14594005:treebeard said:
Boots are Head Kore 2's from 2021, ISO 5355 alpine sole (you can buy a GripWalk sole for it but I didn't)

So everyone's voting new 12's huh? I'm honestly kinda surprised, but maybe it is the right call. Have any of you used the plastic toe after riding metals? Is there actually a difference in ride quality?
Click to expand...

I've ridden 12's and taken some big spills with them and Haven't had any issues, but everyones experience is different. I'm on 14's now I haven't noticed any difference in ride quality
 
i'm def no stranger to using old pivots, but in this case i'm going new 12s over old 14s. also are you mounting them yourself? if not, are the 14s new enough that a shop would mount them for you?
 
14594005:treebeard said:
Boots are Head Kore 2's from 2021, ISO 5355 alpine sole (you can buy a GripWalk sole for it but I didn't)

So everyone's voting new 12's huh? I'm honestly kinda surprised, but maybe it is the right call. Have any of you used the plastic toe after riding metals? Is there actually a difference in ride quality?
Click to expand...

I've been on some older 18s and some newer 14s (ones with the same profile as the new 12s, just a different spring). I have noticed no difference between the 2 other than the 18s being a bit heavier (not noticeable after 1 day of skiing though).
 
14594019:SofaKingSick said:
i'm def no stranger to using old pivots, but in this case i'm going new 12s over old 14s. also are you mounting them yourself? if not, are the 14s new enough that a shop would mount them for you?
Click to expand...

I chatted with the ski tech when I dropped them off, he said if I chose to go with the old 14's he'd just ask me to sign something saying I consent to accepting a release test that may or may not be accurate

14594102:WittyCong said:
I believe OP is referring to the 14's when the pivot was rereleased around 2009. They were all metal then
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Yep! Pretty sure I got them in 2010. I'll miss the raw silver finish
 
14594113:treebeard said:
I chatted with the ski tech when I dropped them off, he said if I chose to go with the old 14's he'd just ask me to sign something saying I consent to accepting a release test that may or may not be accurate

Yep! Pretty sure I got them in 2010. I'll miss the raw silver finish
Click to expand...

nice! either way then. im a big fan of the metal pivots' longevity but brand new 12s will be great too
 
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