Megaride/Flexon tongue mod question

I posted this at TGR too, but would love feedback form anyone who has anything to contribute.

I picked up a pair of Flexon 9.1's at Goodwill for $5. These are black with pink buckles and trim. On the back of the toungue reads, "L 7-8 1/2, Flexon-Pro". The outside of the all-black tongue reads, "Powerflex".
The tongues feel noticably stiffer than the stock Megaride tongue under hand flexing. The Flexon tongue has the metal bail attatching it to the boot which makes it appear to be an easy swap according to tetongravity.com/forums/showt...aride+dalbello .

My megarides are 27.5's and the two different tongues appear to be about the same size. I had a bootfitter install a nordica drive plate on inside of the Megaride's buckle cuff, but this didn't stiffen things up enough for me. I figured I'd leave this on.

Can any of you give me some feedback on whether this particular tongue will give me enough additional stiffness to start dismantling things? I'd really like them to ski pretty stiff but still be able to walk and climb (figured I can always loosen the buckles for this purpose).

Also, any obvious incongruities in my plan to swap? Size problems? Other things to look out for?

Thanks in advance.

I had a bootfitter install a nordica drive plate on inside of the Megaride's buckle cuff, but this didn't stiffen things up enough for me.

I too found my Megarides to be too soft. And speaking of Flexons, I still ski in my 9-year-old pair and love them. I just keep replacing the liner every 3 years with one of these: www.intuitionsports.com/

I also put Intuition Powerwrap liners in my Megarides. They tour the same as always, but now they ski like an Alpine boot. It's an amazing difference. The liners are pricey but worth every penny. Hope this helps.

The tongues on the megaride are super easy to take off. Use large flat head screwdriver to spread the plastic that hold the tongue on. If the flexon tongues do not fit just put the old tongues on. Let us know how they fit. I was, also, wondering how the flexon tongue would fit on scarpas. I had the early megaride and recently upgraded to the stiffer tongues that telemark pyrennees has on their website. Helped quite a bit.

The tongues on the megaride are super easy to take off. Use large flat head screwdriver to spread the plastic that hold the tongue on. If the flexon tongues do not fit just put the old tongues on. Let us know how they fit. I was, also, wondering how the flexon tongue would fit on scarpas. I had the early megaride and recently upgraded to the stiffer tongues that telemark pyrennees has on their website. Helped quite a bit.

It's even easier than that! Just invert the tongue and slide it off.

I attached them with the wire bail they came with. This is an easy method requiring no modification of the plastic. Infortunately it leaves a gap around the connection point which may prove leaky. I'l test them today. It's also kind of unsightly, so if they leak on me I'll dremel off the bail and attach them in the same way the stock tongues are attached. I also have a drive plate attached to the upper buckle cuff. The boots still fit and buckle, though the buckles needed to be loosened. The flex is noticeabe stiffer. We'll see how they do in the resort mank today.

There's a full scale article somewhere on wildsnow.com about doing the tonge conversion on scarpas here www.wildsnow.com/tips/lazer_mod.html .

Hey Oftpiste,

How did the Megas tour with the Flexon tongue? I've heard that it is significantly worse. I've been considering ways to stiffen my Megarides that won't alter their tourability, and what I've come up with is beefing up the liners by attaching stiff foam to the sides and adding a beefier rear spoiler. However, I've never heard of a Nordica drive plate. What is that and how does it work (both mechanical and results)? Any other ideas?

jason

Jason,

I haven't had the opportunity to tour them yet, though I'm just back from 5 days alpining in them and they were great on that count. When I walked in them they were fine, and my suspicion is they will be fine touring as well. The mods only affect their flex forward, and when set to 'walk' mode they seem to move in the same way they did before. I usually loosen the cuff buckles when not skiing. The good news is the old tongue will slip[ back in very easily if they don't tour well, and could even carry the stock tongues just in case.

The drive plate is a semi-oval shaped piece of black plastic riveted to the inner upper cuff. I did tour in them with this mod only, and noticed no difference. It didn't stiffen the boot enough for me when skiing which is why I made the additional changes. The reports I got from others who replaced the tongues stated no adverse effect when touring.