Graf G Series

[sdomm 0]

What's the deal with the G series? Not the ultras just the regular supra G3, G5 and G9's. I see them on hockey monkey under clearance items, and i haven't heard much if anything about them in the forums or online. Were they a bust? I actually bought a pair a few months ago for $320 in a new jersey pro shop which i thought was really cheap for grafs and they seem to be really light and well made. I'm most likely going to turn them into roller hockey skates but i figure you guys would be a better forum to ask? So were they poorly made, i heard some things about the graphite outsoles not holding up, were they redundant for graf's product line seeing that they have the texalites and the ultras which both seem to being doing well, it seems like they have so many skates that are basically the same exact thing, i know it's hard for pro shops to stock them so this would make sense. Are they just ugly? I think they are a lot better looking than the ultas and I like the look of my g5's better than than the 705's, though i still think the 703 is the best looking skate out there. Any insight would help, if they are pieces of crap in terms of construction, which i doubt, i might consider throwing them on ebay. thanks

[wetwilly17 6]

i think they are a great skate and good looking. they're only on clearance because the new models are out. i did some research before i purchased my supra g3's and i learned that the problem with the graphite outsoles was only on skates manufactured very early in the production run. and the problem was a manufacturing defect (not a design problem). i don't think they hold up as well as the 700 series from what others have said, but i think they are still a good and durable skate. i bought them over the 703's because the g3 is lighter and stiffer.

[Bryan Czajka 0]

i think they are a great skate and good looking. they're only on clearance because the new models are out. i did some research before i purchased my supra g3's and i learned that the problem with the graphite outsoles was only on skates manufactured very early in the production run. and the problem was a manufacturing defect (not a design problem). i don't think they hold up as well as the 700 series from what others have said, but i think they are still a good and durable skate. i bought them over the 703's because the g3 is lighter and stiffer.

I definitely agree that they don't hold up as well as the 700 series. I used my 709's for well over a year and they were still in great shape, even after skating almost every day on them. I've had the G9's for almost a year and they are falling apart. The graphite outsole has pieces missing from it, and the boot itself is really broken down. The G9 definitely was a stiffer boot and better looking than the 709.

[sdomm 0]

cool, is there anyway possible to check if my skates were one on the early production lines (they were on clearance at the store, and the last pair). also i will most likely be riveting a chassis in there and may not use the same holes, so this in itself could cause some structural weakening regardless. Maybe a serial number located on the skate or box i could call in? If not and I ever do have a problem do you think graf would give a replacement if they do in fact break, not sure of their customer service reputation. When you say new models are you referring to new Supra G's or the texalites and ultras? thanks

[wetwilly17 6]

cool, is there anyway possible to check if my skates were one on the early production lines (they were on clearance at the store, and the last pair). also i will most likely be riveting a chassis in there and may not use the same holes, so this in itself could cause some structural weakening regardless. Maybe a serial number located on the skate or box i could call in? If not and I ever do have a problem do you think graf would give a replacement if they do in fact break, not sure of their customer service reputation. When you say new models are you referring to new Supra G's or the texalites and ultras? thanks

i'm pretty sure Graf would not give you a warranty if you mounted new holders on and used different holes.

when did you buy the skates? if recently, i don't think you have much to worry about.

[sdomm 0]

that's true i didn't figure that, and i wouldn't expect them to replace them if i do. i bought themin early september. When were these first introduced?

[wetwilly17 6]

if i remember correctly, it was in 2005 when they corrected the manufacturing process. and it wasn't like all of the first batch had the manufacturing flaw, just some of them. so its highly unlikely that your skates from late 2007 would have been a bad pair from the first batch. but i don't know any of this information first hand, just from the research i did before i purchased mine.

[sdomm 0]

thanls a lot man.

[tsanga 0]

sdomm,

see this post

[duch 0]

Chances are the skates you bought are fine. The stores are just probably clearing out the old models to make room for new stock. The price you payed for them is very good. Picking up a pair of Grafs in that series for under $400 is a great deal. They should hold out for at least a couple of years skating on them two to three times a week.