Tony,
It's been three years and I still love the heck out of this bike. My friends have been through two or three tri-bikes (that's right, a bike a year) trying to dial in the right ride and fit. They told me getting a custom bike was way too expensive. I guess the investiment has paid off from that standpoint. From a pure enjoyment standpoint, I already had them beat. I get the benefit of the B4C ride with a toughness their carbon bikes can't match. After a long ride in the saddle I'm just as fresh for the run. Plus, I don't fret about the bike during shipping to races or waiting in the transition area. It is a superior ride.
Gerald Fineman
REVIEW DATE: December 17, 2004
OVERALL RATING: 5 of 5
VALUE RATING: 5 of 5
PRODUCT USED FOR: 3 months
SOURCE: www.roadbikereview.com
Bike Setup
Griffen with Bontraqer Race Lite wheels, full Ultegra, FSA and Bontrager cockpit and Speedplay Zero peds.
Summary
I won this frame at a local triathlon. I was not sure about coming off my Carbon TREK 5200 to go to what I believed was an expensive aluminum. Man was I wrong!!! After switching the parts and adding some upgrades I was amazed at how smooth this bike road. Responsive is not accurate psychic is a better word. I will never be able to go back to traditional materials. I got mine in Ferrari red. The police registration reads COLOR: red !!!! I'd give it a value rating of 5 even if I had paid for it; Thanks to Tony at Griffen and Terry at Tri Running (www.strengthandendurance.com) .
Strengths
Smooth, stiff and responsive - all in one package.
Weaknesses
People keep staring.
Similiar Products Used
Giant OCR, Trek 5200, Trek mountain bikes.
REVIEW DATE: December 12, 2004
OVERALL RATING: 5 of 5
VALUE RATING: 5 of 5
PRODUCT USED FOR: 6 months
SOURCE: www.roadbikereview.com
Bike Setup
Dura Ace 10 speed, Easton components, Tufo tires, ALiante Saddle.
Summary
The griffen kompressor is the by far the most reponsive, stiff, and comfortable road bike that I have ridden. First ride out the bike took off my average speed increased and it is so stiff. But It also ride just like a full carbon, you dont get that jarring jackhammer feeling of a normal aluminum bike with Griffen and its Boron Carbide Aluminum Metal Matrix. There 3 kompressor frames. one has full aero tubing, one has just an sero down tube and the one i have is just traditional round tubes.
Strengths
Stiff like the 04 Spec Sworks Aluminum bike I had yet ride with the smoothness of Carbon and very responsive and stable at speeds over 45 mph. Cool fade pain jobs too.
Weaknesses
None.
Similiar Products Used
Specialized Sworks, Giant Carbon TCR and aluminum TCR.
REVIEW DATE: December 11, 2004
OVERALL RATING: 5 of 5
VALUE RATING: 5 of 5
PRODUCT USED FOR: 3 months
SOURCE: www.roadbikereview.com
Bike Setup
Full DA 10 speed, Easton carbon bars, EA70 stem, Pava seat post, Tufo tires
Summary
I love this frame! Rides like carbon but still like alloy. Great customer support
Strengths
It has a soft ride like carbon but boy is it stiff when putting the power down...
Weaknesses
None yet.
Similiar Products Used
I've owned over 20 road bikes and this is by far my fav...
SENT: Monday 2/20/2006 9:45 PM
SUBJECT: My Bike Review
SENT: Tuesday 8/30/2005 8:05 AM
SUBJECT: Accenture Triathlon
Hi! Just wanted to let you know that I am 35 and I had my best ride ever this weekend on my Griffen Vulcan. I had the 12th fastest bike split and i finished 21st out of over 3600 people. I am really surprised because I am in my 1st competitive season since my achilles tendon surgery. I have not been able train since 1997. I hope to get my run back down to wehere it was prior to the surgery and really kick some butt!
The difficult we do immediately
The impossible comes a little later.
Larry Stoegbauer
Kinetic Wellness
(847) 784-6558
stoegbal@newtrier.k12.il.us
385 Winnetka Ave
Winnetka, IL 60093
SENT: Thursday 7/28/2005 12:45 PM
SUBJECT: MY BIKE
Just wanted to drop you guys a line to tell you how much I love my bike and the fine craftsmanship that went into it. I've had my Griffen Vulcan for 18 months and put a ton of miles on it, riding it at Ironman Lake Placid, Ironman Brazil and a bunch of other races. I am now training for Ironman Florida in the fall and am glad to have the best tri bike out there = exceptionally stiff but totally comfortable for 100+ mile rides.
In short, this bike is my prized possession and everything I'd hoped it would be. Also, I must say that the customer service I have received from Griffen since the date of purchase has been absolutely top shelf.
Keep making cool bikes!!
Jack Smith
Brooklyn, NY
SENT: Sun 11/16/2003 2:45 PM
SUBJECT: Griffen Tandem
Well, today we took out the Griffen and had a ball. This bike really does it all, acceleration, cornering, comfort and being able to stand and not have the bike shake is great. The Griffen added another entire level of fun to our regular rides.
We flatted going down Santa Susanna Pass today, going about 35 into a corner, rear tire blew. It was a pinch flat from a hole I hit 25 yards earlier. The bike handled great, a gentle pressure to the brakes kept it on line and came to a safe stop in a short distance.
Tony, you really make a great bike.
I am back in love with my Griffen.
Alan
SENT: Fri 10/10/2003 7:19 AM
SUBJECT: My new XTC
Tony,
WOW! That is still my reaction every time I walk in the garage and see my new Griffen XTC. I have to admit, I was very nervous about investing that much money into a frame that I had never ridden or even seen before! I had seen many Vulcans before, but never an XTC and what a difference those cut outs make. When I got the bike last Thursday, the shop put it together and I was ready to ride that evening - I rode 25 miles that day and another 101 on Sunday - I can't tell you in words how the bike exceeded my expectations! Going from a carbon frame to the XTC, I assumed that the ride would be a lot more harsh - to the contrary - I couldn't feel a noticeable difference and boy, can that thing sprint! It just begs the question, why aren't other bike companies using the metal matrix? Good for you, bad for them! Anyway, thanks for the quick turn around and helpful info when I spoke to you and your brother - I could not be more pleased!
Michael Moore
Tuscaloosa, Al
ps. I sent a photo of the bike - WOW!!!!
SENT: Sun 9/7/2003 1:51 PM
SUBJECT: My new Triton...
is absolutely tremendous! i can't say enough great things about it. my name is
marino gallo and i ordered a straight top tube triton in pearl white, this
letter was unasked for, but should you want another glowing testimonial, here
it is.
i'm 50 years old, an avid enthusiast and my mission was to find a frame that
could handle a 6' 4", 210 lb. rider with minimum flexing. after speaking with
tony and having him patiently answer my questions, i went ahead and ordered
it. never having ridden one, and only seeing them rarely, i was a bit
apprehensive.
when the frame came and was put together at my local bike shop, everyone
gawked around it and were impressed with the beauty of the frame. it's
finished off with zipp 404 deep dish wheels, campy record 10 groupset, selle
italia saddle, reynolds aero pro fork and Ritchie wcs stem and bars. if you
want, i'll take some digital pix and load them in another e-mail.
after riding it for a couple of weeks, i'm so glad this was the frame i
bought! i'm taking it out for a century next weekend and then it's coming with
us on vacation for two weeks up to cape cod, lots of nice hills and roads
there, a great workout for both bike and rider is guaranteed.
again, thanks so much for making such a great product, and although there was
some miscommunications about the logos, it's all good, really good. i wouldn't
change a thing.
thanks again, marino a. gallo.
Just wanted to let you guys know I have had 2 races so far on my new Vulcan and the bike is amazing. My run times have dropped way down and my bike splits are now just a few minutes off of the pros times. Just did Buffalo Springs 1/2 IM and felt great on the bike the entire time, then was so fresh on the run it really blew me away. In fact I think the ride was so good it ended up being detrimental as I pushed a little too hard on the bike (it just feels so good to go fast). Anyways no hype here just results, the bike is so comfortable it was almost a shame T2 came so quickly. Great product. Are you going to be selling any hats, shirts or other miscellaneous items we can wear or stick on our cars? Thanks Tony for an outstanding deal on my road geometry Vulcan, it fits like a glove.
Aaron Lockney
From: Russ Abbott
Subject: Great start
Sent: Wed 2/12/2003 2:58 PM
I just ordered a custom Dave Scott frame set from All American bikes - dumped my Litespeed Saber after trying a P-3, an Aegis and a Griffen - you win hands down - does your bike ever climb and what a ride!! I am looking forward to the 2003 race season!!
Hi Tony, Monica Caplan here. Hope you are well. I apologize for not being in better contact.
I want to drop you a note to let you know i just raced the half ironman in Utah.
It was my first half ironman as a professional and my first half ironman on my awesome griffin.
I lead the entire race until mile 10.5 on the run. I had the fastest swim time and the best news the fastest bike split!!!
I had a great ride and my bike felt like a rocket. I honestly felt so fast on that machine and am so lucky to have you as a sponsor. I ended up second overall with a very stacked field. Thank you Tony so much!!
Monica Caplan
www.monicacaplan.com