Jack M Posted May 22, 2019 Report Share Posted May 22, 2019 3 hours ago, daveo said: If you're going to spend the big bucks, might as well get a custom made from HK! Having gone through that process, it's significantly more expensive. One of the reasons I did it was they don't have a stock board anything like the design I wanted (175, 10-14m). Unless you're outside the weight range of the 168 (65-95kg), there's nothing I'd change about it. 3 hours ago, Comapedrosa said: Jack, if going with the Apex X plate, is there any reason to pick the Kessler with UPM over 4x4 inserts or vice-versa? (E.g., would UPM inserts provide better contact/less play/better longevity?) UPM or Allflex inserts provide a more direct mount for the plate, with less torque on the hardware and board inserts. A nice thing about the Allflex pattern is you can remove and mount the plate without removing your bindings. This would be a big help if swapping the plate between boards, or for tuning. Aesthetically UPM is cleaner looking because all the hardware is under the plate. I think it's a slightly more direct mount, but probably not significantly. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveo Posted May 22, 2019 Report Share Posted May 22, 2019 14 hours ago, Jack M said: Having gone through that process, it's significantly more expensive. One of the reasons I did it was they don't have a stock board anything like the design I wanted (175, 10-14m). Unless you're outside the weight range of the 168 (65-95kg), there's nothing I'd change about it. Yeah fair enough. Personally, I'd make it stiffer for my 85kg. I think the weight range is a bit broad for it. I would say 65-80kg. But that's just me and I feel I'm at a point where I'm more in touch with my preferences than I was say 5 years back. I always found myself on the edge of pushing it too far. But I still think it's the easiest board to carve dynamically on and look good. Pity I've never looked good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack M Posted May 23, 2019 Report Share Posted May 23, 2019 11 hours ago, daveo said: Yeah fair enough. Personally, I'd make it stiffer for my 85kg. My 168 is my go-to board when it's icy and I want to keep speed down and get turns done in less space, so I like the flex. @Comapedrosa, if you find it too soft, I think you might have an easy time selling it here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveo Posted May 23, 2019 Report Share Posted May 23, 2019 (edited) On 5/23/2019 at 12:03 PM, Jack M said: My 168 is my go-to board when it's icy and I want to keep speed down and get turns done in less space, so I like the flex. @Comapedrosa That's perfect! Still too soft for me for that, though. Edited May 24, 2019 by daveo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comapedrosa Posted May 24, 2019 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2019 On 5/22/2019 at 7:03 PM, Jack M said: My 168 is my go-to board when it's icy and I want to keep speed down and get turns done in less space, so I like the flex. @Comapedrosa, if you find it too soft, I think you might have an easy time selling it here. Impeccable logic - I like it! Thanks for all the advice! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Kirk Posted May 28, 2019 Report Share Posted May 28, 2019 My K168 is the go-to board on weekends when I need to take up less space and grow eyes in the back of my head. My K185 is a weekday board when I'm the only one on the hill.....that said it's being replaced by a custom K180 with an adjusted radius and stiffness so the stock K185 will be for sale. dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveo Posted May 29, 2019 Report Share Posted May 29, 2019 3 hours ago, David Kirk said: My K168 is the go-to board on weekends when I need to take up less space and grow eyes in the back of my head. My K185 is a weekday board when I'm the only one on the hill.....that said it's being replaced by a custom K180 with an adjusted radius and stiffness so the stock K185 will be for sale. dave What inserts does your 185 have? Interested if you're selling... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Kirk Posted May 29, 2019 Report Share Posted May 29, 2019 1 hour ago, daveo said: What inserts does your 185 have? Interested if you're selling... It has the normal 2x4 inserts of course as well as UPM. And yes I'm for sure interested in selling it. dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack M Posted May 30, 2019 Report Share Posted May 30, 2019 What year? Swiss or Austrian? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Kirk Posted May 30, 2019 Report Share Posted May 30, 2019 12 hours ago, Jack M said: What year? Swiss or Austrian? I bought it new in early 2018 and it's listed as Swiss made on the top sheet. dave 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comapedrosa Posted September 6, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2019 Quick update on this old post: just ordered from Ivan, who was 30% cheaper all in, and was very responsive and knowledgeable. Interestingly, he mentioned that Allflex will introduce a new free carving plate in December (and that VIST is developing some new ones too). Apparently Kessler will release a new plate in September/October (for 4x2 inserts)... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barryj Posted September 7, 2019 Report Share Posted September 7, 2019 (edited) 17 hours ago, Comapedrosa said: ordered from Ivan, who was 30% cheaper Hey Coma....do I have this right? ......your saying you ordered a New K168 from Ivan at iCarve for 30% cheaper than the SRP of $1440?? Dude! Congrats!! Edited September 7, 2019 by barryj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comapedrosa Posted September 7, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2019 Yup. He still has one more... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack M Posted September 7, 2019 Report Share Posted September 7, 2019 13 hours ago, Comapedrosa said: Yup. He still has one more... No he doesn't... . But I think he'll be getting more. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comapedrosa Posted September 7, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2019 7 hours ago, Jack M said: No he doesn't... . But I think he'll be getting more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobdea Posted September 21, 2019 Report Share Posted September 21, 2019 On 5/22/2019 at 10:31 AM, daveo said: Yeah fair enough. Personally, I'd make it stiffer for my 85kg. I think the weight range is a bit broad for it. I would say 65-80kg. But that's just me and I feel I'm at a point where I'm more in touch with my preferences than I was say 5 years back. I always found myself on the edge of pushing it too far. But I still think it's the easiest board to carve dynamically on and look good. Pity I've never looked good! Yeah, IDK, my 162 was made for a dude that is 100lbs less than me. That thing could be a touch stiffer but I don’t think I’d benefit from it all that much. I’ve ridden boards that were unridable for me they were so soft that I could not control the turn but this is not the case with the kesslers made for the normal guy weight range, they work realllllllllly well for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comapedrosa Posted January 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2020 (edited) This board is the tits!! It is absolutely mind-bogglingly AWESOME! Had a chance to ride the Alpine 168 I got from Ivan for a few days in great conditions at Northstar, Lake Tahoe, CA. As @Jack M, @skidad62, @daveo,@barryj and others all wrote, it’s a 10/10!!!! Telepathic initiation, great at holding the carve (did not default to exit the turn too quickly as a race board would), unbelievable edge hold, quick, sure, precise, gradual, nimble, incisive... never felt so secure. See, as a very mediocre snowboarder, I need all the help I can get. This felt like driving a McLaren on a smooth mountain road. OMG. Kids kept asking me why I was smiling at the end of every run. No plate for now... but considering how great and sure-footed this felt, I now want to try one... (not clear at all which one) Edited January 5, 2020 by Comapedrosa 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack M Posted January 6, 2020 Report Share Posted January 6, 2020 Welcome to the club, @Comapedrosa. IMO it is THE board. Also IMO, the ultimate plate for it is the Apex X-plate. But it's not required. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
st_lupo Posted January 6, 2020 Report Share Posted January 6, 2020 9 hours ago, Comapedrosa said: This board is the tits!! It is absolutely mind-bogglingly AWESOME! Had a chance to ride the Alpine 168 I got from Ivan for a few days in great conditions at Northstar, Lake Tahoe, CA. As @Jack M, @skidad62, @daveo,@barryj and others all wrote, it’s a 10/10!!!! Telepathic initiation, great at holding the carve (did not default to exit the turn too quickly as a race board would), unbelievable edge hold, quick, sure, precise, gradual, nimble, incisive... never felt so secure. See, as a very mediocre snowboarder, I need all the help I can get. This felt like driving a McLaren on a smooth mountain road. OMG. Kids kept asking me why I was smiling at the end of every run. No plate for now... but considering how great and sure-footed this felt, I now want to try one... (not clear at all which one) Just wait until you try it in not so great conditions. You'll be wondering why everybody else is packing up and going home. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Kirk Posted January 6, 2020 Report Share Posted January 6, 2020 I love my K168. Best money I ever spent on the sport. dave 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charliechocolate Posted January 12, 2020 Report Share Posted January 12, 2020 What's the poor man's Kessler 168? Doesn't SG have an equivalent? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidad62 Posted January 12, 2020 Report Share Posted January 12, 2020 Congrats on the K168 - love it. Just added the Apex plate to mine - managed to score one from the Apex site with the AllFlex mounts I needed. Worked great on boilerplate - still looking forward to trying it on groomed cord Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack M Posted January 12, 2020 Report Share Posted January 12, 2020 8 hours ago, charliechocolate said: What's the poor man's Kessler 168? Doesn't SG have an equivalent? Not really. There is the Full Race 170, but the average radius is 15.7m, which is significantly longer than the K's 8-12m range. Full Carve has the same specs, but no metal if I understand correctly. Donek Metal FC 171 is close, the retail price is less but not exactly poor man's territory. Coilers are generally more affordable but prepare to wait. Prior FLC 169 would be a good choice too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted January 12, 2020 Report Share Posted January 12, 2020 Maybe check out the SG Full race titan 163xt. Is in the same place in the SG lineup as the K168 is in the K lineup of race sticks. According to SG, it's a SL board for larger WC racers (it's wider and stiffer then the standard 163 frt, same scr), under the feet of mere mortals it might ride like an all-around free carver. (as long as you're close to the correct wt range). I have no 1st hand experience with the 163xt (so maybe contact SG directly for advice). There was one for sale here: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudedude Posted January 12, 2020 Report Share Posted January 12, 2020 I had both the SG163 FRT (not XT) and K168 last year. Both very friendly and smooth-handling boards when used for freeriding, but keep in mind I'm on the high end of the weight range (195 lbs). The SG felt slightly stiffer and likes to stay pointed down the fall line, so it ended up feeling easier for me to control my carves and adjust speed on the K168. Both had great grip and dampness on icy conditions. Both responded well to riding with Geckos, but the big step up for the K168 came from installing the apex plate. As Daveo mentioned above... no issues at all "pedaling" to control the board at sub-carving speeds or to adjust the line, and holy crap it is unbelievably stable/easy to manage in sketchy east coast conditions. Ended up keeping the K168, but honestly a big part what sealed the deal was that the K was drilled for UPM and I have an Apex plate, while I didn't have anything that used allflex inserts for the SG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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