BD01's or NTN's?

[PWDR8S]

I've been saving my pennies and have been lurking on other sites researching as much as I can... I've narrowed my search to buy to the BD 01's which I've read are basically bombproof and versatile enough for BC touring fun... On the other hand the Rottefeela's NTN's read up pretty well too AND... nutty as it may sound it will fit AT boots... Soooo I'm pondering to possible use of my Mega Rides.

No before you jump all over me about those mega rides are alpine only... I've bent the so called implied "rules" and used them as tele boot in my dynafit setup and have been satisfied. I do have T2's but they are nowheres near as comfy as my megas. I would prefer to tour in the megas anyday. Also, I can get some dedicated teleboots later.

Inbounds or resorting, I'll use my T2's but I'll bring the megas anyways in the PWDR8Smobile.

So.... any thoughts or insights I should consider?


So far I hear they both have superb edging control on both skis, for and aft.... I like that... I tend to like the illusion of having control of these two slicked up planks hurtling downhill at breakneck speeds. :p The other benefit of both is touring capability. They seem to be most popular to date
and I hope to get to 1st or even 2nd base with either of them. ;)

[RR]

I'd say wait on the NTN. There's another bug. One of the TTippers had to modify his after installing the stiffest cartridges...the frames torqued, deforming enough so that a critical latch would not engage. Version two will be prolly be stouter.

read: http://telemarktalk.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=40268&sid=cfeef2fb07822cebb2a6277ef68893d3

[PWDR8S]

I'd say wait on the NTN. There's another bug. One of the TTippers had to modify his after installing the stiffest cartridges...the frames torqued, deforming enough so that a critical latch would not engage. Version two will be prolly be stouter.

read: http://telemarktalk.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=40268&sid=cfeef2fb07822cebb2a6277ef68893d3

Funny you mention that... I just came across that thread.

Think I may get the BD 01's after all they being tried and true. I kinda forgot the wisdom of never getting the 1st version until the bugs are worked out. (Thank you Microsoft and Apple for those lessons)

[stoneman]

Also. I'm prety sure Rott's NTN requires new booties - no?

[Affix Snow]

You cannot use AT boots in an NTN binding.

You can use NTN Boots in AT bindings.

Big difference.

I say wait till next year. Im leaning the NTN way, but not until the bugs are worked and there is more of a boot selection.

[PWDR8S]

You cannot use AT boots in an NTN binding.

You can use NTN Boots in AT bindings.

Big difference.

I say wait till next year. Im leaning the NTN way, but not until the bugs are worked and there is more of a boot selection.

That did occur to me after doing more research. :doh: Wishful thinking wilst imbibing a few created some interesting assumptions. My bad!http://www.techsourceconsultants.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10020/drinkup.gif

I'm off the NTN bandwagon for now... maybe in a few years when I'm due for the next round of upgrades. Now to find them BD 01's for a song.

[surfsnowywaves]

01? Eh...get the Switchback. I've played around with the 01 in stores, and I'm just not satisfied with it. Is it me or is that tour mode switch REALLY hard to activate? I can't believe doing it in cold weather...

On the other hand...the Switchback seemed real user friendly, and the initial reports on that also show strong satisfaction. Yes, it is a first-generation product, but the only change has been the touring mechanism, the rest of the binding stayed the same.

I guess it all comes down to preferred level of activeness. If you want the binding to make the turn for you, get the 01. I enjoy skiing, especially telemark. So I'll stick to something less active. Speaking of which...I should try out my dad's old leathers again this winter...I bet I'd have more success this time around...

[Affix Snow]

01? Eh...get the Switchback. I've played around with the 01 in stores, and I'm just not satisfied with it. Is it me or is that tour mode switch REALLY hard to activate? I can't believe doing it in cold weather...

In the Shop, yes its hard. On snow, using you POLE, its wicked easy. ...everything is hard to judge IN THE SHOP.

Can you really pass judgement on a skis performance by standing on it on the carpet in the shop?

NO.

Talk to JDW 8's...he might let ya demo his O1's.

[kfarrar]

I just mounted my first pair of "Dump" skis two weeks ago. Took the Rottefella three pin binding off a 205 Karhu XLS and put it on Another. This weekend I was fiddling around trying to put together a pair of Superloops. What PIA that was, but there now together. Hoping to mount them this week.

My point is, I got a long way to go before I'll be talking about O1's and NTN's.

Whatever you get, enjoy them.

[surfsnowywaves]

In the Shop, yes its hard. On snow, using you POLE, its wicked easy. ...everything is hard to judge IN THE SHOP.

Can you really pass judgement on a skis performance by standing on it on the carpet in the shop?

NO.


True true...I forget about these ski pole things sometimes. Speaking of which, I bent my BD poles. :( I've heard about BD being good about replacing these sorts of things? Or would it just be tossed out as a user problem, and therefore not their responsibility?

[yuckster]

skied on the O1 this weekend (Mountain Travelers demo day at KMart.)

For the crossover alpine skier who wants to learn tele it is a great binding. It does come with different spring cartridge options so if it's too active, you can go with one of the less stiff options. It does seem like the "ridiculously stiff" (BD's own terminology) cartridge might be a little too stiff, even for a telebumblie like me; makes it hard work to drop your knee all the way to the ski, even when standing still, and seems harder to get into the bindings. I resorted to sitting down on the snow to strap in.

all that being said, the super-stiff cartridge made me feel a lot more stable and had me getting down an icy Superstar Headwall without any difficulty whatsoever. Going back to my AT setup made me realize how screwed up the edges on my own skis are.

Since I'm on the subject, I demoed Kilowatt's (185cm mounted AT, a size too long for me), as well as Stigmas and Havocs mounted tele. The Stigma is not as bad of a ski as I thought it would be. It held its own on steep killington ice at slow speeds, and was stable and grippy enough to carve arcs on blue trails, even for this telenewbie skiing mostly parallel turns. Downside: it has too much sidecut for my taste as a tele ski; since I tend to stem a lot on tele and the sidecut tails want to hook up when you do this. As an alpine setup I could probably get used to the sidecut, though it has more sidecut than most skis this width and that makes me nervous about the eventual powder day.

I could probably get used to it as an all-around front/backcountry ski if there weren't other options that I suspect would strike a better balance between touring weight and downhill performance. (Shuksan is a little stouter with less sidecut)

The Havoc makes a better beginner tele ski than the Stigma; there is plenty of stability underfoot for off-balance newbies and the more traditional sidecut makes for easier releasing tails and smoother transitions when stemming. Plus you know that this is a ski that will grow with you if you ever become an expert.

[jdw]

Talk to JDW 8's...he might let ya demo his O1's.
Hey 8s -
let me know if you want to hit up sunapee or ragged or ?? I'll let you try em out. stiff, powerful with mid-stiffs. you can hit tour mode to get btwn the 2 lodges at sunapee :)

the one complaint i've heard is the loosening cartridges. it's true, but can be alleviated. first, once under preload, they don't loosen. second, if you transport them with a little tension on them, they don't loosen. just be sure they're on right at the beginning of the day and you're set. This in contrast to my g3 targas whose cartridges are pretty darn hard to move now. if anyone has recommendations on getting them to do the unstuck, lemme know.