Ride SPI Ratchets - Snowboarding Forum

Jasafar · 01-06-2011, 07:53 AM

Hi folks, just got back from a trip to Breckenridge. Tried out my new Never Summer SL w/ Ride SPI bindings. The board is really amazing, love it. The Ride SPI bindings, not so much. The bindings gave me amazing response and the ride was great, but the ratchets wore away the plastic. The ratchets also wouldn't release leaving me trapped in my bindings repeatedly, this all happened on day one. It was a great disappointment and I had to rent a set of Burton Cartels at a local shop for the remaining 3 days of my trip. Needless to say, the Ride SPIs have to go back to the store for a refund. I have 5 days in Utah planned, and I can't deal with this crap.

I could tell a significant difference in response between the SPIs and the Cartels. I'm pretty sure I like a binding on the stiffer side, compared to the SPIs, the Cartels felt a tad mushy. Even though I do ride with a little forward lean, I don't like how the Cartels dictate that I have to ride with 7' when I have them set to 0'. The Cartels were reliable though, were considerably lighter than the SPIs and allowed me to fully enjoy the rest of my trip.

I'm just confused now. I have a great board that I love, but I still am on a hunt for a binding that will meet my needs.

Psi-Man · 01-06-2011, 08:09 AM

I haven't had the plastic wear out on mine, but I agree they can be a PITA to release more than half the time.

hanzosteel · 01-06-2011, 10:30 AM

i have problems with last year's alphas too. both toe and heel straps, both left and right feet, all four of them not as easy to release as my 390s. but everything else about them are great - stiffness, straps, cants..

JoeR · 01-06-2011, 10:31 AM

My 05-06 SPi's sometimes had a problem with sticking ratchets. I never absolutely could not get out of them, but occasionally it took a mighty effort. However, I didn't experience any excess wear on the straps. The bindings proved very durable.

My new 09-10 SPi's have easier-releasing ratchets. I really haven't had any problems so far this season.

svwannabe · 01-06-2011, 10:36 AM

I have the same combo this year and i did have the problem of them not releasing. I found that having that ratchet on a spot of the boot that was round made it worse, so i adjusted so the ratchet so it is located on a flatter spot when im locked in and i have yet to have them be a problem since.

Jasafar · 01-06-2011, 02:55 PM

The shop would not take them back, but replaced all the ratchets for me. I called Ride and they told me they never heard of the ratchet issue, but if it continues, they would fix it.

If it happens again, I will try to adjust the strap so the ratchet is on a flatter part of the boot as svwannabe suggested. The bindings themselves are great, so maybe all I need is some additional tweaking. Thanks all for the feedback.

BTW.. svwannabe, you're in West Chester AND have the same setup as me. Crazy!

svwannabe · 01-07-2011, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasafar

BTW.. svwannabe, you're in West Chester AND have the same setup as me. Crazy!

Yeah after i posted i saw that you are in west chester, after adjusting them i havent had a problem since.

legallyillegal · 01-08-2011, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasafar

I called Ride and they told me they never heard of the ratchet issue

that's pure bullshit they know about it

skipmann · 01-08-2011, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by legallyillegal

that's pure bullshit they know about it

I'll give this a times 2. I went ballistic on them in 2009 over this issue. Pure and simple, Ride ratchets are shit...which is why I stopped buying Ride bindings.

Bones · 01-08-2011, 09:03 AM

My 2 pairs of SPI's did the same thing.

I took a little sandpaper and slightly rounded the edges of a couple of teeth on the ladder strap. Right where the ratchet sits when fully cranked up. Just kinda knock the sharp edge off, like detuning a board. Never a problem since

01-06-2011, 07:53 AM	#1 (permalink)
Jasafar Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: West Chester, PA Posts: 7	Ride SPI Ratchets Hi folks, just got back from a trip to Breckenridge. Tried out my new Never Summer SL w/ Ride SPI bindings. The board is really amazing, love it. The Ride SPI bindings, not so much. The bindings gave me amazing response and the ride was great, but the ratchets wore away the plastic. The ratchets also wouldn't release leaving me trapped in my bindings repeatedly, this all happened on day one. It was a great disappointment and I had to rent a set of Burton Cartels at a local shop for the remaining 3 days of my trip. Needless to say, the Ride SPIs have to go back to the store for a refund. I have 5 days in Utah planned, and I can't deal with this crap. I could tell a significant difference in response between the SPIs and the Cartels. I'm pretty sure I like a binding on the stiffer side, compared to the SPIs, the Cartels felt a tad mushy. Even though I do ride with a little forward lean, I don't like how the Cartels dictate that I have to ride with 7' when I have them set to 0'. The Cartels were reliable though, were considerably lighter than the SPIs and allowed me to fully enjoy the rest of my trip. I'm just confused now. I have a great board that I love, but I still am on a hunt for a binding that will meet my needs.

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01-06-2011, 08:09 AM	#2 (permalink)
Psi-Man Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 286	I haven't had the plastic wear out on mine, but I agree they can be a PITA to release more than half the time.

01-06-2011, 10:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
hanzosteel Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 189	i have problems with last year's alphas too. both toe and heel straps, both left and right feet, all four of them not as easy to release as my 390s. but everything else about them are great - stiffness, straps, cants..

01-06-2011, 10:31 AM	#4 (permalink)
JoeR Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 412	My 05-06 SPi's sometimes had a problem with sticking ratchets. I never absolutely could not get out of them, but occasionally it took a mighty effort. However, I didn't experience any excess wear on the straps. The bindings proved very durable. My new 09-10 SPi's have easier-releasing ratchets. I really haven't had any problems so far this season.

01-06-2011, 10:36 AM	#5 (permalink)
svwannabe Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: West Chester, Pa Posts: 62	I have the same combo this year and i did have the problem of them not releasing. I found that having that ratchet on a spot of the boot that was round made it worse, so i adjusted so the ratchet so it is located on a flatter spot when im locked in and i have yet to have them be a problem since.

01-06-2011, 02:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
Jasafar Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: West Chester, PA Posts: 7	The shop would not take them back, but replaced all the ratchets for me. I called Ride and they told me they never heard of the ratchet issue, but if it continues, they would fix it. If it happens again, I will try to adjust the strap so the ratchet is on a flatter part of the boot as svwannabe suggested. The bindings themselves are great, so maybe all I need is some additional tweaking. Thanks all for the feedback. BTW.. svwannabe, you're in West Chester AND have the same setup as me. Crazy!

01-08-2011, 09:03 AM	#10 (permalink)
Bones Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 827	My 2 pairs of SPI's did the same thing. I took a little sandpaper and slightly rounded the edges of a couple of teeth on the ladder strap. Right where the ratchet sits when fully cranked up. Just kinda knock the sharp edge off, like detuning a board. Never a problem since