Toccata

Have you ever rode/owned a Griffen? If so, what was your impression, both pro and con?

Thanks.

thehammerdog

get the new triathlete mag they have writ up on Griffens and many other bikes. I never rode but never heard a bad thing.

merlinextraligh

I have a Griffen Vulcan TT bike. On the whole I like it. It's very stiff, which is good and bad in that its not the most comfortable bike to ride.

IMHO, I think the metal matrix frame material is an idea who's time has passed. For $3,675, (the current retail) you can get an awfully nice CF frame that will be lighter, more aero, and more comfortable to ride. (for example a Cervelo P3.)

I got my frame used in excellent condition for $650. At that price, I'm very happy. However I would not even consider paying anything close to retail.

Toccata

Thanks for the information. I'm kinda shying away from CF. I have yet to ride one (road bike is aluminum frame); and don't have any reason to doubt people when they say once you ride one, you'll never go back.

I'll check out that magazine. Merlin - anything you noticed unique about the frame, from a build standpoint? Seat-post size, etc?

merlinextraligh

The seat post diameter on mine (circa 2004) is small. I forget the measurement, but my lbs had trouble finding a seat post to fit it. I'm thinking it's 25mm IIRC.

Toccata

Well - I now have a used frame - purchased at a fairly low price. I rode with a guy over the weekend who just bought one (road frame) and he said he really likes it. I also found out that another local rider has a Vulcan (again - recent purchase). I'm pretty excited about building it up - interested in seeing how the more aero position will feel in comparison to riding on the drops of the road bike.

If money was no issue - I'd be in a Cervello P2C or P3, or maybe an Orbea Ordu. But, it did not seem worth dropping the big bucks for something that is more of a whim.

I'm curious about the seatpost - that (25mm) seems an unusual diameter.

Thanks for any input from other Griffen owners.

Odd1586

I am truly baffled by the fact that they can manage to get away with charging 3k+ just for the frameset. Heck, you can get the new carbon specialized transition--complete bike with some pretty solid components (zipp vuka clips, a solid mavic wheelset, etc) for 3k. Plus, you still have a really wide range of adjustability. Heck, if you want the new transition frameset, it's only $2,340 and it at least comes with a stem, and brakes. Given the accessibility of many of these carbon bikes, I don't understand why anybody willing to spend over 2,500-3k wouldn't opt for one of the reputable carbon frameset (Giant Trinity, Specilialized transition, Cervelo P2C, Cannondale Slice, Orbea Ora).

No, I don't ride a carbon frame, but I also got a solid aero bike (complete, and brand new) for $1350 (granted...I get REALLY good deals from the shop I go to b/c I have developed a relationship with them over the last 9 years--from the days when I raced BMX in middle school). You can get a look at it in the bike post thread now that I finally posted pics.

That said, why not look into one of the year or two old aluminum Specialized transitions?

Toccata

I don't know why the price for a new frame is so high. I would tend to agree that carbon would be the way to go for someone wanting to spend in that range. If this material is as good as, or better than, carbon, they are not marketing it very well.

I monitored virtually every brand frame out there for a couple of months - the best deal ended up being this Griffen frame. If nothing else, it looks pretty cool. I hope it rides like they say it does.

I'll end up not spending much more than you did, except for now that I'm looking at wheels. Zipps - WOW! Love their look, hate the price!

Treefox

That's what I did - got a great deal on a 2006 S-Works Transition in February. Very happy with it.

merlinextraligh

Boron Carbide Ceramic Metal Matrix.

I'm sure its costly to do limited production bikes with a unique material.

I don't see, however, how they can continue to compete with CF bikes, unless they lower their prices.

I guess there will always be a niche market for something "different" however.

RacerX99

IMHO
There will always be people that want to spend $$$$ on bikes, just to say that they can. The same reason people buy Farraries to sit on the freeway.

Odd1586

Ok, you monitored every brand frame out there for a couple months, and the best deal was the Griffen. What exactly were your critera? Couldn't be fit, because as far as I know, you have never ridden one, correct?

Odd1586

btw, Toccata, I'll be sporting zipp disc and 1080 front for Ironman CDA this year :-P (clinchers, of course). I'm pretty excited.

Toccata

Correct - I am basing the fit on needing to be slightly smaller than my road-bikes. No fitting being done - this is all being accomplished on a half-$##ed whim.

Main criteria was price for 'perceived' quality of frame for the price. Over the period the frames I had monitored were the Transition, the Ordu, the P2C and P3, the Project PR, Blue T-14, and a few others. Some were simply more than I wanted to pay, even at a good price.

We'll see how this goes - could be a bust, could work out great.....

Odd1586

Well...that's triathlon for ya!

Good luck with the purchase, and I do hope it pans out to be just what you need! Nothing worse than dumping your money into a bike only to have your whole game-plan fall apart. I should know--I'm a college student training for an Ironman :-P

Toccata

Odd - good luck on the Ironman training and classes. Tough mix. I had some friends that did the Gulf-Coast half last year - first one and they loved it.

Prices are staying manageable enough in my purchases for this that it won't be a big $$ dump. Until wheels, that is. But, those can work on any frameset!