Rider: 78 kg Freeriding, Surf, Weather: 12 to 30kn +
Build Quality: 9/10
Satisfaction: 9/10
Disclosure:independant and use many brands since the begining of kite time
My Comments:
I have been testing the 7 and 10.5 Griffin 2009 kites and all is good but only light wind so far but the improvement in the bar puts it up there with the best.
I would like to get the opions of others before forking out the dollars and going from another well proven kite to this now well supported Ausie kite
Rider: 80kg Mostly Surfboard waves strappless, sometimes twin tip when ovr 25knts Wind: 10-40knots
Build Quality: 10/10
Satisfation: 9/10
Have used/owned 2005 Monkey C 14sqm HAR, 2007 Griffin 12sqm, 2009 Griffin 10.5sqm current kite. Kiting since 2005.
The 2009 10.5 is heaps better than the older kites!!! I've only ever owned one kite at a time and used it in 10-40knots, the 2009 is good because I can use it in almost any wind range, all I do is change board.
Good things about it are:
It is strong, have dropped it in shoulder high waves about 5x and have no tears or bladder issues. Which is great as I had torn a C kite in 2005, and the 2007 popped a bladder. Very happy with it's strength!
turns quick and has nice depower, I surf strappless mostly and only use twin tip when over 25knots. The turning speed and depower mean I can carve the waves and turn around quick and don't need to wait for the kite to catch up to me when it turns. Also it has sufficient depower to go out over waves with out being pulled off.
Low bar pressure, is good, I can steer with one hand most of the time except in gusty wind or over 25knots
Powerful, The kite is designed about as well as it could be and has a good power to wind ratio. Also jumps are good but can't talk much about that as I have not done much jumping yet as only had it for 2months, and mostly ride surfboards unstrapped.
Replaceable bridal parts etc. The bridal is designed well, the thicker rope on pulleys is good as the pulleys don't cut into it. With smaller rope it would cut. Also when the thicker rope eventually needs to be replaced I can just takeout that little piece and replace it which is very easy.
Big Range, it flies very nicely in 13-30knots from 30- 40 I can still fly but the one time I have flown in this wind it was very gusty and I took the safe side by depowering it maybe a little to much incase when a gust came I did not get overpowered. due to the gusting from 25-40knots I had to to sheet much more than usual but it was still manageable and I could ride comfortably on my twin tip. Due to the extra depower when turning it would swing and have a much less direct feel. I imagine with constant breeze the airtime would be insane! I couldn't jump to high as i was over depowered to be safe.
One Pump, this is great!!! takes no time at all to get the kite ready. Packup is quick and compresses down real small because I can get all the air out! this is really handy for those quick kites after work when I have 30min of light left. can get out for a quick blast and spend most of the time on the water instead of pumping up, closing bladder valves and squeezing the air out of each individual strut so i can pack it away small.
Size, It is easy to fold, pack away and handle.
Look, it looks pretty good, not too concerned about looks though.
Bag, looks good but when kite is packed inside and bag is closed some of the kite is not covered at the edges, near where the flap closes. This is an issue as the kite could get torn, dirty or a bridal line could catch on something if it falls out of the opening. It's a little strange having a backpack where the main opening is not at the top. Bag seems strong though but have only had it for 2months.
Conclusion: It is strong, has a big wind range, flies well, quick turn, low bar pressure etc. This is a big step up in kites for Griffin as it competes directly with all of the latest kites. It is as good or better than other brand kites out there atm. The price is good. I am happy to be using this kite, confident in it's build quality and believe it will last for a long time. It is good to see that Griffin has made a kite that is easy to use and has no faults or wear issues.
I'm weighing in at about 70kg and use a 5'11" surfboard unstrapped and twintip if i have to.. I've been a slingshot rider from day dot using TD1's, Links, 08 Fuels, REV's. Also flown heaps of other brands. I sold my 7m REV as i simply didn't like it that much and was very disappointed in the new build quality of the SS kites for in the surf.
All I use now is a 9m Griffin. I get going easily in just under 15 knots and have done unhooked wave riding in gusty 25knots. above that I choose to stay hooked in.
I have thrashed this thing in the surf and its never had a problem. I had a problem with a few struts popping (3) and just left them flat, the kite still flys good without 3 struts. Griffin just gave me new struts for free when I mentioned it too them and they probably popped due to sand or stones in the struts from bashing it in the surf.
The depower is great, hang time and jump height scares the living daylights out of me (ask the locals at Jervis Bay), its stable, powerful, and does anything you want it too.
its got all the wizzy stuff of the big brands, the bars keep going from strength to strength in terms of kit, the build quality is up there if not better now than a lot of brands for a LOT LESS cash.
I'm happy with my 1 kite quiver, can't wait for the 2010 kites to turn up.
if you want to try it out just come to the beach and you can have a go.
Pete
77kg Unstrapped surfboard rider. twin tip > 20knts
Tried many generations of griffin/monkey and think they have really come up with a winner on the 09.
The 10.5 is something of a 1 kite quiver in sydney, and the build quality is definitely outstanding.
Ive recently tried the forward bridle attachment points which increased the bar pressure a bit but gave it even more depower, and made it possible to still ride a surfboard in stupidly gusty northerly conditions at Narra.
Thanks Guys for your input.
I am still waiting for some reasonable conditions but now we have extreme surf/mess ie no one going out.
I am sure what you say is true and from my reading other forums I have not found any negative comments but there must be some.
I guess I just need some wind over 20kn to find out for myself as no problems in less that 20kn.
yeah i tried it...not a bad kite... a bit heavy for light winds and a tad slow for onshore wave riding....good value though and good for everything else...
Shopping for a new 7m kite, Can anyone give some feedback on the 7m Griffin ?
Tried the 10.5 Griffin today in 9 knts ! Keen just to pump it up and see how they go, found it went surprisingly well in only 9knts (BOM), just downwind runs but delivered tight turns and very responsive. I'm 80kgs and on a 135 twintip.
Hopefully the wind will pick up later this week for a better session, but going on the way the 10.5 was in light wind it will be very nice powered up, i'm keen on the 7 for high winds.
cheers
I have tried the 7m in winds between 15 to 25kn and it performs well.
I am about the same weight as you and found at the bottom end it would get me out of trouble and with a little effort I was quickly on the plane as apparent wind developed.
At 25 kn it is an effortless smooth kite and I look froward to using it in much higher wind.
I recommend it as an excellent match with the 10.5m 
Col
I have tested both Revs and Griffin but not done a full test as you would like.
At this point I do not own either brand.
I have a Best Nem 10 2009 which is a very different kite and have had Best Kites for the last few years however have on loan a 10.5 and 7 Griffin to test just want more wind.
I have used 9 and 13 Revs plus 10.5 and 7 Griffin - if I was to go with Revs my preference in size possibly would be 11 and 7 as this covers 95% of my preferred wind range.
To me most kites now are very good and this applies to the above two brands.
Both the Griffin and Revs have similar bars and bridle designs resulting in a similar feel and response assuming the settings are similar. Both have similar one pump system. I have seen both brands take a beating in the surf and heard stories of damage but this seems to be the case for all kites and depends a bit on the owner.
All being equal from my experience either would do.
Some factual differences are:
Griffin has an Australian designer and is I think an Australia Company but as with all kites they are manufactured over seas.
Griffin claim to have the longest warranty on the market – 6 months I think
Griffin is significantly lower cost for both kite and bar
Griffin has optional line lengths
Of course there are always personal preferences.
At this point I am leaning towards the Griffin
