Tddragon Posted February 1, 2021 Report Share Posted February 1, 2021 With Apex out of business and noone selling them anymore - I was excited to see that Virus just released similar plates - in 2 widths and with customization options. Getting some. Will post a review once I get them. https://shop.virus-snowsports.com/produkt/virus-isolator-absortion-plate/ Have an old set of gecko plates but they are to wide for some of my boards. But they work great imho especially on ice coast (have knee issues). Quicker edge engagement, more leverage and smooths out bumps. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhamann Posted February 1, 2021 Report Share Posted February 1, 2021 23 minutes ago, Tddragon said: in 2 thicknesses looking for specs. ie, how high riser extensions are (10mm?), durometer of bumpers, bumper options, plate thickness composite, etc. i see two plate options depending on width of board, but not any tech info. assume they're all pretty much identical to gecko cross and carve plates. definitely a sigh of relief knowing there's another set of bx plates out there, with gecko/apex gone. thanks for sharing. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tddragon Posted February 1, 2021 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2021 19 minutes ago, dhamann said: looking for specs. ie, how high riser extensions are (10mm?), durometer of bumpers, bumper options, plate thickness composite, etc. i see two plate options depending on width of board, but not any tech info. assume they're all pretty much identical to gecko cross and carve plates. definitely a sigh of relief knowing there's another set of bx plates out there, with gecko/apex gone. thanks for sharing. 30mm diameter bumpers . Medium/firm 65shore bumpers currently only available. Soft on backorder. Height of whole setup is 5mm plate + 10mm bumpers. They also have 6mm thick plates but these are very stiff. They said they will also be able to make custom plates for wider boards or narrower boards, or a carbon mount for go pro etc. Design looks more thought out then geckos with the mounting. Will write full review once I try them out. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atom Ant Posted February 1, 2021 Report Share Posted February 1, 2021 For what these do, the price is ridiculous. Was with Apex, and even more so with Virus. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tddragon Posted February 1, 2021 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2021 3 minutes ago, Atom Ant said: For what these do, the price is ridiculous. Was with Apex, and even more so with Virus. That's a matter of opinion. Allflex plate is over $1,200 with shipping and import duties For what they do for "me" they are "worth it" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atom Ant Posted February 1, 2021 Report Share Posted February 1, 2021 Under today's exchange rates, the price comes out to around $577/set + shipping. I would encourage people to look at Donek's offerings, JJA's offerings, and a few others all of which are remarkably, dramatically cheaper and will be just as effective for the average rider on this forum. Correct, my opinion only. But my opinion is that is outlandish. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slapos Posted February 1, 2021 Report Share Posted February 1, 2021 Couldnt agree more. Additional power to price ratio is just not worth it. Have a look here, will do the same and cost you much less http://xpe-plate.com 58 minutes ago, Atom Ant said: For what these do, the price is ridiculous. Was with Apex, and even more so with Virus. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poloturbo Posted February 1, 2021 Report Share Posted February 1, 2021 Like the look of them. Everything Virus is quite exquisitely executed. Like my JJA for softboots because of the large footprints they provide. I don't know if he does carbon models. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tddragon Posted February 1, 2021 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2021 21 minutes ago, slapos said: Couldnt agree more. Additional power to price ratio is just not worth it. Have a look here, will do the same and cost you much less http://xpe-plate.com Different strokes for different folks:) I love my carbon gecko plates (even though they were just as expensive as the new virus ones) - and looking forward to trying the virus ones. 2 minutes ago, Poloturbo said: Like the look of them. Everything Virus is quite exquisitely executed. Like my JJA for softboots because of the large footprints they provide. I don't know if he does carbon models. Agreed. It costs more money producing high end stuff especially for boutique shops to produce high end items with high end materials. And if we don't support them none of them will be around in another 5 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corey Posted February 1, 2021 Report Share Posted February 1, 2021 Is that two different models? Only one shows that grey center puck for the 4x4 bolts. I don't like the simple extender nuts in the Geckos. These look similar. It's like a tower putting bending load into the bolt and insert. Probably not a big deal for how few cycles this goes through with the average rider, I just don't like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pokkis Posted February 1, 2021 Report Share Posted February 1, 2021 As some of you know from pictures, i have been building those already several years for my self from commercially available carbon plates. And using skateboard bushings as bumpers, there exist 10mm height ones. Price for square carbon parts is less than 100EUR, i used diamond plade to cut them on shape and size i wanted. Drilled holes for screws. Dirty job and you need to take care of carbon dust, not something you want breath. I could have order them ready cut and drilled but price would been higher. So that Virus price is not so bad if you dont want tinker. But i must admit that i'm back for full length plates again 4 minutes ago, Corey said: Is that two different models? Only one shows that grey center puck for the 4x4 bolts. I don't like the simple extender nuts in the Geckos. These look similar. It's like a tower putting bending load into the bolt and insert. Probably not a big deal for how few cycles this goes through with the average rider, I just don't like it. Apex had S13mm extender with height of 10mm so bending would not be too much, S13 meant that there was 3mm metal all round of inserts. I see that less risky than F2 Titanflex long screws. Dont remember length of Bomber screws any more. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonbordin Posted February 1, 2021 Report Share Posted February 1, 2021 (edited) 12 minutes ago, Corey said: Is that two different models? Only one shows that grey center puck for the 4x4 bolts. I don't like the simple extender nuts in the Geckos. These look similar. It's like a tower putting bending load into the bolt and insert. Probably not a big deal for how few cycles this goes through with the average rider, I just don't like it. I've ridden the Geckos for the majority of my riding for the last several years. I'm way past average size and I ride like a goon on meth in all conditions but mostly crappy conditions. I typically get 50+ sessions on the snow per season. Some F2 usage but mostly BP3 SWs standard on plate mount baseplates. The stack height is actually lower than standard BP3s by a fraction. I've never seen any issues from the extender nuts. Edited February 1, 2021 by lonbordin Another carver called my riding "powerful" this season, I'll take it!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tddragon Posted February 1, 2021 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2021 1 minute ago, lonbordin said: I've ridden the Geckos for the majority of my riding for the last several years. I'm way past average size and I ride like a goon on meth in all conditions but mostly crappy conditions. I typically get 50+ sessions on the snow per season. Some F2 usage but mostly BP3 SWs standard on plate mount baseplates. The stack height is actually lower than standard BP3s by a fraction. I've never seen any issues from the extender nuts. Agreed. Except.they dig into top.sheet which is just cosmetics. But virus I think has a little thin plate protecting top sheet. It's these little things that make me like their products. . 11 minutes ago, pokkis said: As some of you know from pictures, i have been building those already several years for my self from commercially available carbon plates. And using skateboard bushings as bumpers, there exist 10mm height ones. Price for square carbon parts is less than 100EUR, i used diamond plade to cut them on shape and size i wanted. Drilled holes for screws. Dirty job and you need to take care of carbon dust, not something you want breath. I could have order them ready cut and drilled but price would been higher. So that Virus price is not so bad if you dont want tinker. But i must admit that i'm back for full length plates again Apex had S13mm extender with height of 10mm so bending would not be too much, S13 meant that there was 3mm metal all round of inserts. I see that less risky than F2 Titanflex long screws. Dont remember length of Bomber screws any more. Right on. Yeah I always laugh when people say "it's to expensive" when something takes a shit ton of tools, experience, labor, facilities or all of the above. Yet almost everyone wants folks to make a living wage, wants products to be of high quality, have good support, have Crap that lasts AND don't want to build it themselves etc. Smh:) 19 minutes ago, Corey said: Is that two different models? Only one shows that grey center puck for the 4x4 bolts. I don't like the simple extender nuts in the Geckos. These look similar. It's like a tower putting bending load into the bolt and insert. Probably not a big deal for how few cycles this goes through with the average rider, I just don't like it. Pretty sure they all have the extender puck. Which I personally think is a great improvement over the gecko plates. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atom Ant Posted February 1, 2021 Report Share Posted February 1, 2021 (edited) Apex, per my understanding, didn't go out of business due to a lack of support from customers... rather, it was a combination of terrible customer service and poor financial management. Supporting these companies is not a moral obligation, and as a component for any business to stay afloat the putting out of products that are correctly tailored to the actual needs of the customer base is key. Some of us don't need the F1-car of snowboard equipment--although it seems some of us are certainly prone to thinking we do. Therefore, I reserve my right to call a spade a spade. Regarding tooling, etc... agreed, it takes money to make money... I am not proposing these should cost $50. Edited February 1, 2021 by Atom Ant 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barryj Posted February 1, 2021 Report Share Posted February 1, 2021 Ivan at icarve suggested those Virus plates to me, see photos.......similar price. I'll wait for a review......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted February 1, 2021 Report Share Posted February 1, 2021 Has anyone tried the F2 S-flex absorber plate? ...or the vist duo? 5 hours ago, slapos said: Have a look here, will do the same and cost you much less http://xpe-plate.com ^^^Have you used the xpe plate?^^^ Looks similar to the K plate. Is it more for power transmission or vibration reduction, or both? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barryj Posted February 1, 2021 Report Share Posted February 1, 2021 2 hours ago, lonbordin said: BP3 SWs standard on plate mount baseplates. Hey LB..........did you mean TD3 SW's on BP bases ?? Got some photos of this setup ............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted February 1, 2021 Report Share Posted February 1, 2021 11 minutes ago, barryj said: Hey LB..........did you mean TD3 SW's on BP bases ?? Got some photos of this setup ............. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tddragon Posted February 1, 2021 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2021 40 minutes ago, barryj said: Ivan at icarve suggested those Virus plates to me, see photos.......similar price. I'll wait for a review......... Those are the new virus plates. I have some coming and will write review as soon as I get them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonbordin Posted February 1, 2021 Report Share Posted February 1, 2021 (edited) I had forgot that thread @bigwavedave! Here ya' go @barryj (there's a black and white board theme going on) Edited February 1, 2021 by lonbordin less binding carnage this time tho'! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tddragon Posted February 2, 2021 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2021 1 hour ago, lonbordin said: I had forgot that thread @bigwavedave! Here ya' go @barryj (there's a black and white board theme going on) Beautiful setup:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonbordin Posted February 2, 2021 Report Share Posted February 2, 2021 (edited) 2 hours ago, Tddragon said: Beautiful setup:) Thanks. It's funny... all of the setup, except the Gecko's, is stuff I picked up off the forum. I've got custom boards, newer bindings... I like this one the best, more than any I've ever owned. Go figure. I should take better care of it. Edited February 2, 2021 by lonbordin gratuitous vent porn for Kurt. ;-) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack M Posted February 2, 2021 Report Share Posted February 2, 2021 Geckos were cool looking. But I think the design could have been refined and simplified. So I'm surprised to see Virus copy it with little innovation. 10 fasteners and 10 urethane pads per foot? I think the XPE plates or even the Kessler K plates are on a better track. If you must have carbon fiber, I'd like to see it with a laminated urethane (or something squishy) pad under the whole thing. I still disagree with asym placement. I think it introduces a twist into the board under load. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonbordin Posted February 2, 2021 Report Share Posted February 2, 2021 (edited) 9 minutes ago, Jack M said: I still disagree with asym placement. I think it introduces a twist into the board under load. I've found I like to run them in a symmetrical setup. That said I do have the bumpers setup quasi asym with hard bumpers (red) under my toes and heels and orange (softer) everywhere else. I've only had a bumper come loose once... so while it looks complex it's surprisingly low maintenance. I'm a raving fan of the Gecko's for riding when everyone with an iota of common sense has packed it up to go home. Edited February 2, 2021 by lonbordin ...I'm still out making turns... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slapos Posted February 2, 2021 Report Share Posted February 2, 2021 (edited) 8 hours ago, bigwavedave said: Has anyone tried the F2 S-flex absorber plate? ...or the vist duo? ^^^Have you used the xpe plate?^^^ Looks similar to the K plate. Is it more for power transmission or vibration reduction, or both? I did use them. I also used quite a few risers out there including Geckos. They do dampen the board a little, just like the geckos and they give you a tiny bit more leverage. however you have to get yourself 20mm screws to get them up and running on the board. I have the XPE plates with alu inside panel on my Donek Proteus and I am pretty happy with them. posted a vid here : Virus plate is not a wheel invented anew. There has been so many plates like that : - K plate - Gecko - Soulwaterman - XPE - Goltes - palmer and probably many more that I have not even come across. I am really suprised that virus is making this. Edited February 2, 2021 by slapos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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