Apollophiles - The Apollo Appreciation Thread

[gordowilso]

I have not been successful in IDing early 1980 Apollo III and Apollo IV NON-Kuwahara frames. I own four early 1980 Apollos. Two of the IIIs are Kurahawa frames with the serial no. stamped into the non-drive side of the seat tube. One III and the IV (very similar to TedDancin's recently acquired IV) have serial nos. stamped into the bottom bracket shell.
AKF15433 A (the III) and AKF16328 A (the IV). What is the origin of these AKF frames?

Again, what is the origin of these AKF frames?

[Paddles]

I only ever thought that Kuwahara made the early 80's Apollo frames and so was only familiar with that numbering system, very interesting. Hey Kermit, that's a good price for what looks like a complete and unmolested IV and it's well worth restoring.

[Kermit TF]

Paddles Yeah, that IV caught me off guard. The photo in gumtree was a shocker, so I couldnt make out what it was, emailed the lady and she messaged back to say it was a IV, bought it sight unseen from down the coast and a mate brought it back for me..Been cleaning the frame with 000 steelwool and lots of wd40, slowly getting there.
Had to sell 2 repcos and an apollo rz2000 last weekend to make some more room in the shed to accomodate this one and another noice apollo acquisition that will be arriving end of the month...

[The Fixer]

Oops, double. Sorry.

[The Fixer]

oops

[coldst]

I picked up this Apollo IV on eBay last week for what I think was a tidy price considering the parts and upgrades.

It's Kuwahara made, Tange 900 double butted Cro mo frame. The frame and forks are all original with decals(and minor surface rust).

- Dia Compe 500 brakes
- Cinelli Criterium bars
- Shimano 9 speed bar end shifters
- 12-27 9 speed cassette and 105 rear derailleur
- New 50/34 FSA Compact and 105 front derailleur, and new BB
- Older Shimano 105 levers and hoods
- Fizik Anatares saddle
- Mavic Cosmos wheels with 700x28 gatorskins, Could go up to 32c and still have loads of clearance through the brakes and frame.

[Kermit TF]

Looks the goods....just not sure about the kermit the frog green trimmings..

[samrobertprovost]

G'day BNA. I would like to share my finished Apollo rebuild.

Note quite sure what the model is. It is Kuwahara built 1986. I have had a couple of people tell me it is a V, while others have said it is not. It has a braze on race number mount on the top tube. The old guy i Bought it off told me that in the 80s Apollo may have had a shortage of bikes to fill an order and at this point some Kuwahara fames were thrown in which were branded as Apollo once they got here.

This frame seems to be a point of contention among Apollophiles. Nevertheless, she is now finished and rides like a dream!









Shimano 600 group set (bit of a mismatch between AX and standard 600)
Nitto Universiade 105 Bars
Nitto Dynamic Stem
Nitto Crystal Fellow Seatpost
Brooks B17 Saddle
Mavic Open Pro Rims
Sepim Spokes
Panaracer 700x28 RibMo Tyres
MKS Pedals & Cages
Newbaums Black Tape
Hemp Twine
Nitto Bar Ends
Shimano Inners & Outers

I still need to get a Nitto Bottle Cage but they are quite expensive haha!

Hope you like it. Sam.

[The Fixer]

Looking good, Sam.

I agree, I do love the 'ride' of an 80s Apollo.

Even their 'low-end' stuff seemed to be better-built, and 'rode' better
than many of their competitors.

[Ferrovelo]

No idea on the specific model but good looking bike

[singlespeedscott]

Looks great. It definitely looks like a V to me. Other than the size, the frame and colour is identical to the one I had.

[Kermit TF]

Family snaps...3.5, 4, 5 & 6.
I wanted to take the 4 & 5 to the show in Sydney , but she who most be obeyed put the foot down..

[The Fixer]

Nice 'family', Kermit!

[morini]

Wonderful. Now I want a V. I've just bought a VI frame and I'll post some pictures as it's reborn.

[Kermit TF]

Arrrrrr I was wondering who bought that frame I assume your going to strip it right back, as the rust looked a bit iffy ?
I noticed an hour before the auction ended for the one you bought, that the silver NOS apollo IV frame in canberra also fetched high dollar.
Cant wait to see it come together Morini...

[morini]

It didn't sell for some reason. I contacted the owner and it's still for sale but he wants $220 delivered.

I'll definitely strip mine back and build it up with a mix of Superbe and Pro. Are the VI stickers around or do you have to make them yourself?

[PatrickB]

Hi everyone!

I purchased this Apollo Peleton last week for $100. It is my first road bike and I am having a great time on it (did 80 kms yesterday afternoon after work).

The Shimano RSX shifters needed some attention. Left one was completely seized and the right one wasn't springing back like it should. Thanks to a youtube how-to they are running perfectly now.

Does anyone have any idea what age it would be?

[alrsv1]

Does anyone know where to get vintage/retro Apollo decals?

I'd love to get ones that match the originals from the Apollo Everest I'm restoring but I'll happily take anything from around the same era that
says "Apollo".

I sent a message to Ryan at Esigns and Lix on the BMX forums but no joy so far.




Anyone?

Cheers....

Al.

[munga]

Hi everyone!
...
Does anyone have any idea what age it would be?

check for a two-letter date code on the crank arms and refer to this:
http://www.vintage-trek.com/component_dates.htm

that will give you a clse approximation. I'm guessing 1995.

[PatrickB]

check for a two-letter date code on the crank arms and refer to this:
http://www.vintage-trek.com/component_dates.htm

that will give you a clse approximation. I'm guessing 1995.

Thanks mate checked the crank arm and the front derailleur and both are 1992. Not far off.

[munga]

so 92 or more likely, 93 model. do some googling and see what you find. (i have a raceline peleton from 2000 - it's younger, more aero brother)

[morini]

me too, A Giro version, what ever that is.

[morini]

Who jagged the Apollo 6 with an almost complete Superbe gruppo and a spare set of Mavic/Superbe Pro wheels for $265. No money, damn.

[The Fixer]

Picture, if you will, a recent very wet weekend. Riding was out of the question, and it was one of those all-too-common
weekends when TV may as well never have been invented. So, I was looking for something to do to pass the time.

Enter a very tired and hard-ridden 1996 Apollo 'Aspen' MTB. It was complete, and (just) rideable, but just about worn-out
and worth maybe $10 for parts. If that.

Refurbishment was the object, not restoration or modification (the bike was not mine, it belonged to my local Men's Shed).

It was stripped to the last nut and bolt, everything was cleaned, inspected, then either re-used or replaced (bearings, cables
brake pads etc). As far as possible, the original Apollo parts were used. Work commenced around 10am on the Saturday, and
was completed by the Sunday evening.

Here are some 'before-and-after' pics. On completion, it looked and rode like a completely different bike, in fact a couple of
my neighbours thought it WAS a different bike, as did the fellas at the Men's Shed. Total monetary cost - $0.00. Total time -
around 10 hours, including cleaning, polishing, and ratting through my shed for spares/parts.

I was quite pleased with the end result, as were the guys at the Men's Shed. What do others think???


BEFORE: This pic doesn't do justice to just how dirty, worn and rusty it was.





AFTER: The Shed priced it at $60.00, and it was snapped-up almost immediately. New owner is very happy with it.

[jools]

Who jagged the Apollo 6 with an almost complete Superbe gruppo and a spare set of Mavic/Superbe Pro wheels for $265. No money, damn.

I was watching that with envy! I was about to bid $150 when it was $130 but it jumped to $175 and then on from there... It looked a bit small for me so I'm not too broken up over it, but I'm hoping someone on the forum picked that one up!

Did you see the crack in the frame that the seller was referring to? Looked like it just needed a bit of brazing around the dropout, hopefully nothing too major.