Apollophiles - The Apollo Appreciation Thread

grantw · Postby **grantw** » Sun Aug 11, 2013 10:01 pm

Looks great except or the pie plate, remove it immediately!

rkelsen · Postby **rkelsen** » Mon Aug 12, 2013 9:59 am

Apollo3 wrote:

That is one awesome resto job. Very well done.

munga · Postby **munga** » Mon Aug 12, 2013 6:40 pm

+1. great job.

ldrcycles · Postby **ldrcycles** » Mon Aug 12, 2013 8:03 pm

grantw wrote:Looks great except or the pie plate, remove it immediately!

But it's so shiny!

Kermit TF · Postby **Kermit TF** » Mon Aug 12, 2013 8:39 pm

grantw wrote:Looks great except or the pie plate, remove it immediately!

Ohhh Great......Ive got a very small pie dish on mine also, more so from a small custard tart..
I thought it looked rather fashionable. Im too scared to post up pics now

Apollo3 · Postby **Apollo3** » Mon Aug 12, 2013 9:24 pm

But it's so shiny!

My thoughts exactly, plus its a Shimano pie plate

munga · Postby **munga** » Tue Aug 13, 2013 6:36 am

i think the pie plate and the foam grips are the two key components that make it so good!
i can almost taste the tab cola.

eraser215 · Postby **eraser215** » Tue Aug 13, 2013 11:51 am

Hi all,

I am brand new to the BNA forums. There are some amazing bikes in this thread, and it makes me feel a little better about my irrational love for my Apollo.

I own an early 90s Kosciusko 21 speed Mountain Bike, which is perhaps a little too original. Once I can take some decent pics here I will post them here and provide more info. Here's what I know off the top of my head:

- Early 90s build
- Fluoro green, white, and fluoro pink cro-mo frame
- Shimano 200GS derailleurs
- Shimano Rapidfire shifters
- Shimano bio-pace chain rings
- Shimano centre-pull cantilever brakes
- Adura seat and toe clips
- Hybridised with IRC Metro slick tyres
- In need of some TLC

I love riding it, and will be using it as my daily ride once I have moved into my new home this weekend. It certainly needs some decent maintenance though, and I am entertaining the idea of a total drive train refresh in the coming months!

Have a great Tuesday all!

grantw · Postby **grantw** » Tue Aug 13, 2013 3:34 pm

munga wrote:i think the pie plate and the foam grips are the two key components that make it so good!
i can almost taste the tab cola.

When I got mine in 1981 the first thing I did was get the pie plate off - tin snips were involved

Kermit TF · Postby **Kermit TF** » Sun Aug 18, 2013 7:03 pm

Kermit TF wrote:That horrific, rusty, basketcase black IV at the top of this page is now in my possession...many thanks to Aaron. I just had to rescue it.
I will call her black betty...
After a total rip down, she was taken to the guru of sandbasters at A&A sandblasting....the frame turned out to be in top nick much to my relief. Then she was driven down the road in Fyshwick to the regions best powdercoaters, Canfab Engineering for a "special" black coat and deep gloss, their workmanship is unreal.
Betty is on the stand and will receive her plastic surgery over the next few weeks..
Pics soon of the awesome job by Canfab.

About 70% complete..
Pics dont do that black coat on Betty any justice..
Im waiting on a barage of replies regarding the pie tin ....should I keep it or ditch it ?
Also the head quill is a 1980s NOS its factory powdercote , I kid you not...

ldrcycles · Postby **ldrcycles** » Sun Aug 18, 2013 7:23 pm

Kermit TF wrote: Im waiting on a barage of replies regarding the pie tin

Pfft never mind that, where did you get new decals?!

singlespeedscott · Postby **singlespeedscott** » Sun Aug 18, 2013 7:32 pm

Nice!

What size seat tube, C-T, is the frame.

LugNut · Postby **LugNut** » Mon Aug 19, 2013 1:59 pm

Whoa, nice! You've really done it justice. Did you have it re-sprayed or powder coated? It looks great.
*edit* Sorry, see you've answered that. It looks as good as paint.

Too bad about the dork disc...

Only kidding, I actually don't mind 'em at all. That one is quite nice, Campagnolo Sheriff Star-esque.

Apollo3 · Postby **Apollo3** » Mon Aug 19, 2013 2:55 pm

Kermit TF wrote:That horrific, rusty, basketcase black IV at the top of this page is now in my possession...many thanks to Aaron. I just had to rescue it.

Looking good, NOS Araya wheels? or just a sticker from Brent?

NOS brake hoods? Can't remember what brand levers that black bike had, I'm looking for some Shimano 600 6207 hoods myself.

This stuff helps with the shine http://www.autoglym.com/products/produc ... protection

Paddles · Postby **Paddles** » Mon Aug 19, 2013 4:40 pm

It should have gummies on the hoods, but they're sometimes hard to find. i tracked down a set for my IV when i refurbed it but it took a while. those black ones look ok though.

grantw · Postby **grantw** » Mon Aug 19, 2013 6:58 pm

Looks Great Kermit, and that's more of a flan tin so you're excused

Kermit TF · Postby **Kermit TF** » Mon Aug 19, 2013 7:10 pm

Aaron, the wheels where donated by a loving period correct repco, the araya decals are original and in perfect cond...the original levers as well as the groupset was/is golden arrow...the hoods I always wanted to be black, the cane creek gummies just didnt look right.
Thanks for the comments fellas...

Flan tin.....pffffffft !

samrobertprovost · Postby **samrobertprovost** » Thu Aug 22, 2013 3:34 pm

Hey guys this is my first post on here.

I recently picked up an Apollo frame but I am having a hard time identifying it because it doesn't have any model decals. Its a Kuwahara made Apollo with pretty nice geometry. What is interesting is it has a braze-on for a racing number. I am putting it together with a Shimano Arabesque groupset that I have. I want to replace the decals but not knowing what sort of a frameset it is I'm not sure which decals to look for. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Decal at the BB says KUWAHARA MADE IN JAPAN

The SN: 85 08 86091

P.S. The black Apollo IV above is fantastic.

Dan · Postby **Dan** » Thu Aug 22, 2013 5:03 pm

I'd leave it as is - looks in super condition. Great group choice, btw.

singlespeedscott · Postby **singlespeedscott** » Thu Aug 22, 2013 6:18 pm

I say it's an Apollo V. Not the top of the range but close to it.

grantw · Postby **grantw** » Thu Aug 22, 2013 6:25 pm

The proverbial unicorn. Nice score

Kermit TF · Postby **Kermit TF** » Thu Aug 22, 2013 8:29 pm

Nice...
Hehe, bought in Canberra new...I remember the shop.
Its an 85 model, and Im 99.4% sure its a IV. The model number was hand painted on the top tube but always wore off..
I have 2x 1985 III's in non metallic yellow waiting for the love treatment, but my favourite apollos where always the 1984s, (Last of the early series) and available in some beautiful metallic paints...in 1985 they narrowed it down to pretty much one choice of colour per model, hence the IV was only made in grey. Funny enough my 1984 3.5 is also grey.
I also have a couple of unicorns

To restore that bike should take you....what, an hour , it looks immaculate already.

singlespeedscott · Postby **singlespeedscott** » Thu Aug 22, 2013 9:27 pm

The Apollo V I had was Metallic Grey.

Kermit TF · Postby **Kermit TF** » Thu Aug 22, 2013 10:37 pm

Really?? Id kill for a pic..
Was it similar spec to the pics posted above ? The only 3 V's Ive seen are grecian gold and have a few better goodies than the grey one above..
I'd give a right arm for someone to post a pic of a pearl white aero V. In the early 80s nothing Italian came close to the aero V.

singlespeedscott · Postby **singlespeedscott** » Thu Aug 22, 2013 11:18 pm

I thought the pearl white ones were the elusive VI? They were fitted out with Suntour Superbe.

Here's a piccie from earlier on in this thread.

Ill see if I can find some piccies of the bike and frame. From memory it had full Shimano 600 6200 series parts. The post was an SR laprade. Nitto stem and bars.