The Official Burton Thread

[scrub]

The DT ankle straps commonly found on the Genesis and Hitchhiker have the ratchet integrated and can't be changed. They can be identified by the two cross plastic pieces, the hammock on these is a little more forgiving and allow you to lean into the straps more
The Cartel strap have replaceable ratchets and are generally smooth glide but some have come with DT ratchets, they can be identified by the single plastic piece across the front. They are also generally a little less forgiving than the genesis

[scrub]

Here they are side by side cartel on the left (note the screw) and genesis on the right (note the pin)

[C.Fuzzy]

The DT ankle straps commonly found on the Genesis and Hitchhiker have the ratchet integrated and can't be changed. They can be identified by the two cross plastic pieces, the hammock on these is a little more forgiving and allow you to lean into the straps more
The Cartel strap have replaceable ratchets and are generally smooth glide but some have come with DT ratchets, they can be identified by the single plastic piece across the front. They are also generally a little less forgiving than the genesis

Oh! Awe yeah... good to know there are options and what to look for.

[kimchi]

@jota I'm pretty sure these are Hitchhiker (Burton's splitboard binding) straps. I hit them up a few years ago looking for backup parts and Im pretty sure this is what they sent me. The original set that was on my Hitchhikers were integrated.

Limited repairability is a bigger problem in the back country. I'm not sure why these aren't standard though, looks like they still use the integrated straps a lot.

[jota]

@jota I'm pretty sure these are Hitchhiker (Burton's splitboard binding) straps. I hit them up a few years ago looking for backup parts and Im pretty sure this is what they sent me. The original set that was on my Hitchhikers were integrated.

Limited repairability is a bigger problem in the back country. I'm not sure why these aren't standard though, looks like they still use the integrated straps a lot.

Sorry @kimchi I confused the word Hitchhiker, that's why I didn't understand what bindings they belonged to...

I think the DT system is joined by a "buy the package" economic model. It's like Cannondale that sells MTB with its own monofork. Over time they had to change that in some models but they sell identity and it is the way to sell a MTB with their own components... and then you bought their suspension too. Same step on. B sell a binding and a boot. Different to superautomatic, flow…

B still thought that since his DT system looks so good and robust and generated at least a visual advantage over everything else, if it was united, people would pay for strap + DT and thus they would earn more money... I don't know... it's just speculation .

Who thinks about needs that appear in EL...?

[casjcade]

Looking at the Cartel strap, I can understand why they combined it.

[kimchi]

Haven't actually put the new [Free Thinker] to snow (obviously), but I put it through the ever scientific practice of carpet boarding. It doesn't feel that stiff to me. I'd call it a 6 or 6.5.

Obviously carpet boarding isn't actually riding, but I'd be pretty surprised if it's more aggressive than the Blossom I demoed last year.

Follow up, I was very wrong. Free Thinker 160W was waaaaaay stiffer on snow than expected. Not crazy aggressive but I was working hard for some pitiful tail presses. I’ve never misjudged flex that bad. Felt comparable to the Aeronaut in my basement, but noticeable stiffer lengthwise riding same day, same run. Felt stiffer than the Blossom 158 I demoed last year, which I enjoyed more.

I took two laps and decided to catch and release.

I had a feeling I wouldn’t love it, I haven’t loved a true twin in a decade and the sidecut is tighter than preferred— 7.7 m, the boards I’ve loved recently are more around 8.3. The stiffness required speed to come to life, but then the sidecut felt twitchy opening up throttle. I was also working way harder to hold my edge in firm spots and got washy a few times, while no issues on Aero.

I couldn’t wait to get back on the Aero. I picked up both in off-season and from basically the first turn I knew the FT had no chance.

One thing I’ll give Burton, that WFO base be fast. Off identical wax jobs, the Aero was fast enough but the FT was FLYING. Dont know if it’s a higher end base material or the finer factory structure, but I definitely accelerated down fall line quicker on in the FT. The speed was almost a drawback given my experience, but would be a lot of fun on a different board.

[Vanni]

One thing I’ll give Burton, that WFO base be fast. Off identical wax jobs, the Aero was fast enough but the FT was FLYING. Dont know if it’s a higher end base material or the finer factory structure, but I definitely accelerated down fall line quicker on in the FT. The speed was almost a drawback given my experience, but would be a lot of fun on a different board.

My Fishcuit WFO base is SCARY fast too.
Also, with that pocket rocket size is more scary than a standard sized board.

[YukonCornelius]

Haven't actually put the new [Free Thinker] to snow (obviously), but I put it through the ever scientific practice of carpet boarding. It doesn't feel that stiff to me. I'd call it a 6 or 6.5.

Obviously carpet boarding isn't actually riding, but I'd be pretty surprised if it's more aggressive than the Blossom I demoed last year.

Follow up, I was very wrong. Free Thinker 160W was waaaaaay stiffer on snow than expected. Not crazy aggressive but I was working hard for some pitiful tail presses. I’ve never misjudged flex that bad. Felt comparable to the Aeronaut in my basement, but noticeable stiffer lengthwise riding same day, same run. Felt stiffer than the Blossom 158 I demoed last year, which I enjoyed more.

I took two laps and decided to catch and release.

I had a feeling I wouldn’t love it, I haven’t loved a true twin in a decade and the sidecut is tighter than preferred— 7.7 m, the boards I’ve loved recently are more around 8.3. The stiffness required speed to come to life, but then the sidecut felt twitchy opening up throttle. I was also working way harder to hold my edge in firm spots and got washy a few times, while no issues on Aero.

I couldn’t wait to get back on the Aero. I picked up both in off-season and from basically the first turn I knew the FT had no chance.

One thing I’ll give Burton, that WFO base be fast. Off identical wax jobs, the Aero was fast enough but the FT was FLYING. Dont know if it’s a higher end base material or the finer factory structure, but I definitely accelerated down fall line quicker on in the FT. The speed was almost a drawback given my experience, but would be a lot of fun on a different board.

i have similar qualms with going back to the Deep Thinker after being on different boards, which feels very twitchy and not as fun on edge with the tighter sidecut wanting to exit turns on hardback more quickly. it is a monster in powder and big mountain terrain, and is fantastic for jumping. so it certainly has its purpose in my quiver, just becoming less of a DD then it once was for me in the flatter mtns of summit county.

maybe i am just over burton sidecuts at the moment, who knows. i want to take a custom out for some laps at some point this season out of curiosity, as it's been many years.

[McK21]

Had the deep thinker too, 160, really stiff, on hard pack not fun at all.