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03 Rossignol Bandit XXX... good buy?

post #1 of 22
12/3/09 at 8:47pm
Thread Starter 

I recently picked up a pair of rossignol bandit xxx 193s off of ebay for 30 bucks. Theyre mounted up to marker m9.1 racing bindings and are a little torn up but the bases look great with some minor ptexing... my other boards are rossi roc zipsy's which seem to be exclusivley from sports authority... they sink like a cement block tied to a which in powder so i was looking for some flotation... from what ive read they float like no other on powder and we usually get some great powder days in wyo. But im wondering how they will do as an all around ski on groomers and some icepack. I might be able to hit the slopes this weekend but next weeks finals so ive got alot of cramming to do. Also does anyone know about the bindings... cant really find anything abouut them on the net.

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post #2 of 22
12/3/09 at 10:03pm
What is the color of the Top Sheet?  For 03, it should be white and black.  The 190+ size was 195.

if it is the 195 XXX, it was a big stiff ski.   They needed some speed for float in powder.    Even in their day, there were better pure powder ski options than a 195 XXX.   The 195 XXX was more of a big mtn ski good at crud and other funky  at high speed.     With sharp edges, the 195 was pretty good on hard snow.  But it likes allot of room to turn. 


Note:  the 185 XXX was a much softer ski (less or no metal) and better in powder IMHO.  I owned both the 195 and 185 XXX's.

If the top sheet are Red and black you have an earlier year than 03.  I think it did come in a 193.  I didn't ski it, but heard it was also a tank.

Since you already have it.  Another $20-30 bucks for a binding check and give the ski a try.

Many people didn't think highly of those bindings.  Make sure to get them checked by shop.  ymmv.
Edited by StormDay - 12/3/09 at 10:53pm
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post #3 of 22
12/3/09 at 11:25pm
Keep in mind, that if you're looking at reviews of a '93 skis, they're being compared to other skis of the same generation, so you're looking at a ski from before the fat skis explosion.  I doubt anybody would rate the Bandit as great powder ski today.

I have the '07 Bandits, 82mm waist, and they're a decent compromise if you're forced to have a one pair quiver, but it seems like there's always a better choice for the conditions you're in.  With all the +100mm waist skis available today, your Bandits will handle pow, but they won't be the best. Likewise on the hardpack, you'll make it down just fine, but there are skis which will let you have more fun.

Sorry if I'm raining on your parade, but I found my Bandits to be too much of a compromise.  As a consolation, I've paid for mine about 15 times as much as you did.

One time, we've had about 8" of powder overnight, with fresh snow coming down all day long.  The Bandits were a blast!  That day, I don't think I could've found a better ski.
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post #4 of 22
12/4/09 at 5:36am
 I skied the white and black Bandit XXX in 185 with a tele setup.  I liked it.  Pretty nice ski until it fell apart like all my other Rossi skis.  It wasn't as good as the skis I replaced it with.  For $30 I'd just go skiing and be happy.  I would get the bindings tested or replaced if they are too old.  Rossi is now making wood cored skis and I may change my mind about the brand.  I know a lot of really good skiers who love Rossi.  I'm planning on demoing a pair of Phantoms tomorrow.
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post #5 of 22
12/4/09 at 8:10am
As long as they match your $10 boots and your $2 jacket....they were a good buy.

SJ
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post #6 of 22
12/4/09 at 8:14am
As a skier on a budget, I resemble that remark.
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post #7 of 22
12/4/09 at 8:41am
The XXX was classic ski. I know about 10 people that had them (both alpine and tele) and they all loved'm, but I agree with StormDay, the 195s are a completely different ski than the shorter ones.   It was the pro model, and stiff as a rail road tie.  I am 215 lbs and demoed a pair of the black and white ones on a powder day.  They took me for ride, rather than the other way around.  They probably work great if you are going at least 30 m.p.h.
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post #8 of 22
12/4/09 at 6:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mudfoot View Post

 but I agree with StormDay, the 195s are a completely different ski than the shorter ones.   It was the pro model, and stiff as a rail road tie.  I am 215 lbs and demoed a pair of the black and white ones on a powder day.  They took me for ride, rather than the other way around.  They probably work great if you are going at least 30 m.p.h.
Mudfoot: I was saying the same thing.  (185 were softer than the 195) 

I thought the 185 XXX were fine in powder and tighter trees.  Of course at 220-230 lbs when I had the skis,  the 185 XXX were noodles after 60 days on them.
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post #9 of 22
12/8/09 at 9:07pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for all of your replies... skied em last weekend for a half day, yea they take alot of room to do anything.. theyre tanks... red and white topsheets so older than 03. Hit some crud and some corn powder and i was pleasantly suprised with theyre performance in it. However my local hill does more harm than good when grooming leaving ice chunks and patches, and very very rough terrain... found that these skis are a beast to handle and wont flick like my other rossis... dont hold an edge on ice and dont carve too well but i can actually ski crud on them, alot more than i can say for my other pair. Went and got the bindings set and checked out at the local shop and everything checked out fine. Just waitin on a good powder day now
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post #10 of 22
1/30/10 at 3:42pm
Hey SnowyPhil have you skied the XXX since your last post in some decent snow?  I picked up a pair for dirt cheap myself.  They are indeed tanks but was suprised at how nice they turned (nothing too agressive like a Slalom ski) when there was some fresh snow on the ground.  Also ran through some man made crud her in Wisconsin and thought they did well.  Terrible on the bumps. On icy hardpack they go straight back to the car where the old faithfuls are waiting never to let me down Rossi 4S Kevlars 203's perfect ski for the midwest when it hasn't snowed in weeks. 
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post #11 of 22
1/31/10 at 3:32pm
Thread Starter 
Yea I got them in some tracked powder one day and they did alright when I got them up to speed, havnt even dared to take them into the bumps, they do turn very smoothly on good snow but whenever it gets a tad icy i ditch em for my rossi roc z's, and the grooming at my local hill has been terrible lately so ive barely used the bandits.
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post #12 of 22
3/8/10 at 5:22pm
Thread Starter 
Took them out again today, in small amounts of fresh snow they come alive, turn quickly and ride smooth as glass. Havn't had crap for deep snow yet and when we did i missed it. Deepest ive had them in is 8", not great and too wet to have fun. Took them down some slightly slushy runs and some icy runs, and went way way too fast. They were built for speed, and lots of it, they carve pretty well at 30+ mph and are really really fun on the fly.
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post #13 of 22
3/16/10 at 11:21am
My Bandit XXX's are going to be put to the test at Snowbird this week, will let you know how it turns out!  I have a 160 slalom ski and a 188 GS ski that I would love to take but if it snows the Bandits seems like the logical choice!
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post #14 of 22
3/28/10 at 4:41pm
Thread Starter 
Finally got mine in some endless yesterday, they skied real nice and the conditions were more like january than spring with nice champagne powder, still a handfull but a blast
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post #15 of 22
3/29/10 at 5:15pm
I hear you when you say they are a handful!  I skied them last tuesday at Snowbird and though they plowed through everything nice enough they are just way too heavy for my taste.  Heard some great stories about them from some locals I met, they were the ski to get back in the day and they were called the Red Sleds! 
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post #16 of 22
3/29/10 at 9:04pm
Thread Starter 
Red sled is spot on, had a good time straightlining a few runs on them too, (nobody on the runs since its a small ski area) the speed they can get compared to my 170's is insane, and that damp metal core really smooths the ride out
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post #17 of 22
11/10/11 at 10:14pm
Thread Starter 

Thought id bump the thread and put an update in there since my skiing improved dramatically since this post (about 160% more days last year than the year before). These skis are actually not bad in big powder bumps, pretty fun, really damp. As far as crud and chopped up goes, these are the ski (in 2002 anyway), as long as you ski fast anyway. I had an incredible time last year blasting piles of chopped up pow with ease. In powder you better be hauling to get them up, once theyre there though, they are a blast, as long as you dont have to make any really quick turns. These skis are demanding, my weight (215) doesn't hurt but it takes leg strength to flex them, they can be skied almost anywhere, not great in the trees, but they will do it. Long tails can really help in questionable landings, but worry me a little bit with my reconstructed acl. As far as carving goes, lots of speed and maximum flexion will get them around the corner, its fun, but my hills not steep enough or long enough to really open them up. Hit lower valley view in steamboat on them, that was a blast. These skis are big, demanding, and if your good enough, an absolute joy for an older ski.

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post #18 of 22
11/20/11 at 10:46am

This is the potential problem with a ski which is too long or too stiff for someone, the danger of injuring  yourself because, mainly, you took advantage of the good price. Let's see, saved 200 on the skis, dropped 8 to 40K on the surgery. not such a deal after all. If I had had knee surgery, I'd be cheating my lengths toward short, not long, as it's easier on the knees.

 

(understand you're a big skier, but if the ski feels ornery and hard to maneuver, there is danger there)

 


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by snowyphil65 View Post

Thought id bump the thread and put an update in there since my skiing improved dramatically since this post (about 160% more days last year than the year before). These skis are actually not bad in big powder bumps, pretty fun, really damp. As far as crud and chopped up goes, these are the ski (in 2002 anyway), as long as you ski fast anyway. I had an incredible time last year blasting piles of chopped up pow with ease. In powder you better be hauling to get them up, once theyre there though, they are a blast, as long as you dont have to make any really quick turns. These skis are demanding, my weight (215) doesn't hurt but it takes leg strength to flex them, they can be skied almost anywhere, not great in the trees, but they will do it. Long tails can really help in questionable landings, but worry me a little bit with my reconstructed acl. As far as carving goes, lots of speed and maximum flexion will get them around the corner, its fun, but my hills not steep enough or long enough to really open them up. Hit lower valley view in steamboat on them, that was a blast. These skis are big, demanding, and if your good enough, an absolute joy for an older ski.


 

 

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post #19 of 22
11/20/11 at 11:30pm
Thread Starter 

Don't worry dav, ive got them under control, I shouldnt have been skiing them when I first bought them, but ive improved greatly from then to now. I also swapped out the markers for a set of rossignol bindings, which took the weight down by 5-6 lbs, those markers were heavy, but built like crap. I believe my knee is just as strong if not stronger than it was before reconstruction, I had a great ortho and a great physical therapist, and have been strengthening my knees this fall. Im definitely not recommending this ski to ANYONE below the advanced level, but if your a broke college student like me that can ski well, theyre not bad. This whole thread comes off gaper doesn't it...

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post #20 of 22
11/21/11 at 12:29pm

The V1.0 (white, black & red) are/where great skis! Skied the 193 (The longest length has two sheets of metal, shorter have one. Same with the other B-series Rossi's) teley in everything from overhead to mank. They were very heavy, so the touring choice was different, but one thing that really strikes me is how soft the shovel of the XXX is. It's almost rocker like in function. It climbs up and float over or crush anything in it's path. Sure, there are better skis out there these days, but the XXX was a game changer and deserves a spot in the ski hall of fame next to the Strato 102. I still take mine out a couple days a year and still enjoy them... well, maybe it's more about thinking all the places they've taken me when both the skis and myself were in our prime. As a small fun project, I'm making a nice bracket for them to live on the wall in the house as a collector's item. smile.gif

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post #21 of 22
11/27/11 at 1:16pm

I love the fact that this thread is still going!  My Bandit XXX's are spending the winter at Solitude (and I wish I was there with them).  Two buddies are working there this winter and I sent them as backup.  On the 7th day of skiing a huge coreshot ended my one friends Solomon Czar's so he is skiing the Bandits until he gets a replacement!  I am heading out for 10 days in December and will definately take them out for a day. 

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post #22 of 22
2/27/12 at 8:45pm
Thread Starter 

Hey Cheese head, did you take them out in december?

I think mine have finally reached the end of their life, which saddens me greatly. I replaced the marker bindings which were shot with rossi 10 din bindings, and the rossi bindings broke on me at steamboat in January. Ive got a new set of Coreupts now, which are good skis (not great but still a blast) but just cant do what the bandits would do in crud or on groomers. I did have some great runs with them this year, one of the most memorable runs I will ever have on them was with my buddy who raced all the way through college, and was riding his rossi wc gs skis. Took a run down our steepest groomer that had a nice 40+ft roller at the bottom, then carved out some massive turns on the way out. He just lauged at the gigantic tracks I left on the ride back up the lift. Great ski, they deserves proper placement on the wall.

They took me from an intermediate to an upper advanced level skier. Took me through a couple days of powder bumps at Mary Jane, Took me off some great hucks here and there, and even made a trip to the top of medicine bow peak. I dont think I will ever get my money out of a ski like I did on the Bandits.

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