The plate and proper binding and SL ski are really dialed in for one another. They come relatively inexpensive as a group (from racers), but the separate binding parts do not, very often. A race ski, in whatever condition, w/o its plate and binding, I would not recommend someone get, unless they themselves or someone they know are dealing with race skis all the time and have or are likely to have the right plates and bindings off of other skis lying around and ready to go, either themselves or from those they know. Even a pair of SL skis with just a plate and no bindings is often not a great deal, since the bindings are likely to be a lot more expensive, and harder to come by on their own second hand. Look for the whole package, if possible.