Griffin
This Griffin will definitely change the way you think about FireEye. We've wanted to make sure we got this frame right so we've spent the good part of 2 years designing, testing, redesigning, and testing (especially enjoyed A-line to ) to make sure we have the best geometry, strength, and overall quality of a bike, people other than ourselves, will love to ride.
So what makes the Griffin so special you may ask? One of the biggest differences is that the Griffin's front triangle is made from ultra-durable 4130 cromoly, same material as our hardtails, while the rear is made from heat-treated 6061-T6 aluminum. The reason for this special combination, to put it simply, is strength and functionality. By using cromoly instead of aluminum for the front triangle, we've cleared up the traditionally problematic weak point in most full suspension aluminum frames while also providing a soft but solid ride only steel can deliver. As for the rear triangle, aluminum has two big advantages over steel, weight and workability. It lightens up the frame and allowed us more freedom in a frame's design. The rear triangle's suspension points are more complicated and need intricate CNC work for proper fittings and smooth movement. So by utilizing each materials specific advantageous properties, we feel we've used the right material for the right job for the Griffin to create a very customized frame but without that customized price tag.
Other than the inherent material properties, we've designed this beast of a 6" and 7", 4-bar suspension frame a force to be reckoned with. We've added sealed bearings at each pivot for smooth actuation, a bent top tube for extra standover height, oversized gusseted plain-gauge downtube, and an extra thick uninterrupted seattube for superior suspension joint adherence and for longer seatpost clearance. The plush 7" travel setting provides a perfect suspension leverage ratio of 2.5:1, not too active from a big hit but also not too stiff not to soak up the small stuff. All this in a great long travel freerider or a short travel downhiller; the best of both worlds.
