Griffen Bikes - Anyone?
05-04-05, 04:15 PM
#1
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Griffen Bikes - Anyone?
www.griffenbike.com
I road one of these the other day. I wasn't sure I liked then, but after thinking about it some more I need to re-ride it. I was comparing it to all carbon framed bikes and there was something good about it I can't pin down. I got on it and in the first few minutes it felt like an old friend. Wierd. Anyway, does anyone have any experience with these? - Thanks
I road one of these the other day. I wasn't sure I liked then, but after thinking about it some more I need to re-ride it. I was comparing it to all carbon framed bikes and there was something good about it I can't pin down. I got on it and in the first few minutes it felt like an old friend. Wierd. Anyway, does anyone have any experience with these? - Thanks
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12-06-05, 02:26 PM
#2
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I understand that it rides alot like steel, but weigh like CF.
Lasts as long as Titanium from what I have heard, but doesn't flex like titanium.
I have a Softride and even though is super comfy, I have been looking at the Griffen for the hills.
I'm so use to the steel Peugeot that I have grown up with that CF and Aluminum have felt alien to me.
I like to hear from others that have this bike.
Lasts as long as Titanium from what I have heard, but doesn't flex like titanium.
I have a Softride and even though is super comfy, I have been looking at the Griffen for the hills.
I'm so use to the steel Peugeot that I have grown up with that CF and Aluminum have felt alien to me.
I like to hear from others that have this bike.
12-06-05, 03:50 PM
#3
Sore saddle cyclist
I rode a demo last spring, I was on the classic Kompressor frame with Dura-Ace 10. My impressions were OK until I pointed it up a long 11% grade hill. It was really fast on that hill, either sitting or standing it was stiff and sure.
Other impressions, very exotic material, it's a sintered metal, and the guy who builds them is doing pretty well on getting strong welds, but they look like crap. You are paying a premium for the material since it is not a high volume product, he is getting close to the point of being over priced. Fit is great, and the paint is really sweet on the one's I seen.
Other impressions, very exotic material, it's a sintered metal, and the guy who builds them is doing pretty well on getting strong welds, but they look like crap. You are paying a premium for the material since it is not a high volume product, he is getting close to the point of being over priced. Fit is great, and the paint is really sweet on the one's I seen.
12-06-05, 03:58 PM
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what about durability? Probably too early in the game, but I read about brittleness in other articles about metal matrix. Maybe we can get an engineer to pipe in on this.
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12-06-05, 04:44 PM
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Cannot really add much regarding Griffin, I have only ridden one once a while ago but here's a thought. Not sure which model you rode, but a couple of those appear to be Cervelo-like, but the Griffens seem to cost a lot more. Take my opinion with a grain of salt as I am definitely a Cervelo fanatic, but I would recommend to check these bikes out, if you are looking at the aero-tube models.
Road:
https://www.cervelo.com/bikes.aspx?bike=SLT2006
TT/Tri:
https://www.cervelo.com/bikes.aspx?bike=P2SL2006
Road:
https://www.cervelo.com/bikes.aspx?bike=SLT2006
TT/Tri:
https://www.cervelo.com/bikes.aspx?bike=P2SL2006
12-07-05, 12:42 PM
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Apparently the salad mix of materials in the Griffen frame is not even melted, but rather fine dust squeezed together. From what I heard, the microscopic structure is like a honey comb, which absorbs shock and vibration while maintaining a rigid structure.
Pretty interesting stuff.
Pretty interesting stuff.
12-07-05, 01:31 PM
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I have a Griffen Vulcan, a TT bike. It's an ok bike. To me it seems very rigid and a fairly harsh ride. Actually reminds me of older C'dales in that regard.
This may not be an entirely fair observation on my part because my major source of comparison is a Merlin Extralight, and it's not exactly apples to apples comparing a Ti road bike to an aluminum, (albeit a fancy aluminum alloy) TT bike.
It is a fast bike, but I can't say whether its more aero or faster than other comparably priced TT bikes.
I think the Boron Carbide ceramic metal matrix frame is an idea who's time may have past. In part due to limited production, the frame costs $3500 retail. You can make a very nice CF frame for that or less (e.g. Cervelo P3, Quintaroo Lucero). I don't have the weight on my frame, but built up with D/A and Zipp 404's it weighs right at 19lbs with peddles, not really heavy for a very aero TT bike, but also not a featherweight.
The comment above about Griffen's being on the edge of over priced, I think may be an understatement. Not that Griffen is gouging, given their costs and limited production, it's just that comparable CF is now cheaper.
I bought my frame on Ebay, 2 years old, in virtually new condition for $695. I think its better than just about any TT frame you could get in that price range, but I wouldn't pay more than $1000 to $1500 for one new.
All that being said, its a pretty bike (I posted a pic in one of the TT threads) and I like the cache of having something different.
This may not be an entirely fair observation on my part because my major source of comparison is a Merlin Extralight, and it's not exactly apples to apples comparing a Ti road bike to an aluminum, (albeit a fancy aluminum alloy) TT bike.
It is a fast bike, but I can't say whether its more aero or faster than other comparably priced TT bikes.
I think the Boron Carbide ceramic metal matrix frame is an idea who's time may have past. In part due to limited production, the frame costs $3500 retail. You can make a very nice CF frame for that or less (e.g. Cervelo P3, Quintaroo Lucero). I don't have the weight on my frame, but built up with D/A and Zipp 404's it weighs right at 19lbs with peddles, not really heavy for a very aero TT bike, but also not a featherweight.
The comment above about Griffen's being on the edge of over priced, I think may be an understatement. Not that Griffen is gouging, given their costs and limited production, it's just that comparable CF is now cheaper.
I bought my frame on Ebay, 2 years old, in virtually new condition for $695. I think its better than just about any TT frame you could get in that price range, but I wouldn't pay more than $1000 to $1500 for one new.
All that being said, its a pretty bike (I posted a pic in one of the TT threads) and I like the cache of having something different.
12-07-05, 01:58 PM
#8
Sore saddle cyclist
Originally Posted by BATMANs
Apparently the salad mix of materials in the Griffen frame is not even melted, but rather fine dust squeezed together. From what I heard, the microscopic structure is like a honey comb, which absorbs shock and vibration while maintaining a rigid structure.
Pretty interesting stuff.
Pretty interesting stuff.
12-07-05, 04:52 PM
#9
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aPic of my Griffen
12-08-05, 11:33 AM
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OH, that's a sexy bike.
Not my color choice.
Offtopic, what aloy wheels have the tallest sidewall for aerodynamics out there?
Not my color choice.
Offtopic, what aloy wheels have the tallest sidewall for aerodynamics out there?
