Apollophiles - The Apollo Appreciation Thread
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Re: Apollophiles - The Apollo Appreciation Thread
Postby gordowilso » Sat Nov 24, 2012 8:05 pm
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Re: Apollophiles - The Apollo Appreciation Thread
Postby sunho » Sat Nov 24, 2012 8:19 pm
It's weird, was talking to a vintage bike expert and he looked at it and said without a doubt, apollo kuwahara. I guess I'll never know....
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Re: Apollophiles - The Apollo Appreciation Thread
Postby sunho » Sat Nov 24, 2012 11:03 pm
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Re: Apollophiles - The Apollo Appreciation Thread
Postby rangersac » Sat Nov 24, 2012 11:04 pm
It has an interesting grab bag of components on it which indicate it had an upgrade/ rebuild somewhere along the line. Front wheel is Araya laced to a Sunshine hub, whilst rear is a Ukai rim laced to a Suzue hub. Rear mech is a Suntour LePree whilst front is a Shimano unit seemingly free of anything that identifies it. Suntour Power lever friction shifters, cranks are Sugino, whilst at least the bottom of the three chainrings (triple obviously fitted later as well) is a 28t biopace ring. I'm not too sure about the top two as I can't find anything identifiable. Brakes are diacompe, as are the levers which have the quick release flip out sections.
I got it with the idea of doing a modernisation on a retro frame job, partly because I think it would make a nice fast commuter/ light tourer, and also because I'd like the learning experience. However before I start ripping bits off, I thought I'd ask the question of those way more in the know than me whether it's worth preserving any of the components?
Thanks in advance
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Re: Apollophiles - The Apollo Appreciation Thread
Postby ldrcycles » Sat Nov 24, 2012 11:20 pm
Disraeli gears is pretty critical of the 3 pulley wheel SunTour stuff so maybe that would be better to replace with say a VX GT or an Honor. If it was me i would keep the SunTour friction shifters, i have them on one of my bikes along with Cyclone derailleurs and it works extraordinarily well, it's a pleasure to use.
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Re: Apollophiles - The Apollo Appreciation Thread
Postby sunho » Sat Nov 24, 2012 11:50 pm
Lol sorry provided the wrong number... I must be going mad...gordowilso wrote:I think it is a numbered apollo. I have Suntour Symmetric shifters on a 1983 Apollo IV. We need a serial no. Bottom of seat tube (non-drive side) or on bottom bracket shell.
M2J43041
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Re: Apollophiles - The Apollo Appreciation Thread
Postby rangersac » Sun Nov 25, 2012 8:21 am
Heheh, it seems Disraeli objects to the aesthetic rather than the functionality! Whilst it's an over engineered solution to the problem I have to say that it certainly does the job well, and you could wrap a stupid amount of chain with it! I also think the overall look is really cool in a retro mechanical sort of way. The two jockey wheel cage at the bottom looks rather elegant to my eyes.ldrcycles wrote: Disraeli gears is pretty critical of the 3 pulley wheel SunTour stuff
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Re: Apollophiles - The Apollo Appreciation Thread
Postby gordowilso » Sun Nov 25, 2012 9:53 am
Sunho the headsets on both my Kuwahara Apollos (1979 Apollo III Serial No. 79 07 33620 and 1980 Apollo III Serial No. 80 11 64122) are marked "Kuwahara Cycle".sunho wrote:The only other "clue" that i have is the headsets all say Tange Industries Ltd..
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Re: Apollophiles - The Apollo Appreciation Thread
Postby sunho » Sun Nov 25, 2012 9:58 am
i checked all my headset pieces again and note: Tange - Falcongordowilso wrote:Sunho the headsets on both my Kuwahara Apollos (1979 Apollo III Serial No. 79 07 33620 and 1980 Apollo III Serial No. 80 11 64122) are marked "Kuwahara Cycle".sunho wrote:The only other "clue" that i have is the headsets all say Tange Industries Ltd..
Looks like it's probably a falcon or something.. interesting.
Anyway thanks for the info, looks like i posted in the wrong thread lol...
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Re: Apollophiles - The Apollo Appreciation Thread
Postby gordowilso » Sun Nov 25, 2012 10:36 am
Sunho I have a Tange Falcon headset on my 1983 NON-Kuwahara Apollo IV Serial No. AKF 15433 A.sunho wrote:i checked all my headset pieces again and note: Tange - Falcongordowilso wrote:Sunho the headsets on both my Kuwahara Apollos (1979 Apollo III Serial No. 79 07 33620 and 1980 Apollo III Serial No. 80 11 64122) are marked "Kuwahara Cycle".sunho wrote:The only other "clue" that i have is the headsets all say Tange Industries Ltd..
Looks like it's probably a falcon or something.. interesting.
Anyway thanks for the info, looks like i posted in the wrong thread lol...
Please have one more look at that serial no. I am hoping for one less numeral in the serial no. I think you may have a Centurion.
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Re: Apollophiles - The Apollo Appreciation Thread
Postby jools » Sun Nov 25, 2012 10:55 am
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Re: Apollophiles - The Apollo Appreciation Thread
Postby gordowilso » Sun Nov 25, 2012 11:16 am
Jools no. I have a NON-Kuwahara 1983 Apollo IV Serial No. AKF 16328 A. The serial no. is on the bottom bracket shell. The frame is Champion No. 5 Seamless P.G. Tubes (Tange Industries Ltd). It was sold by Ashfield Cycles.jools wrote:I just checked the headset on my IV and it reads 'Best Fitting Headset - Nikyo Parts Co' - were all the IV's built by Kuwahara?
It is a very light frame. I intend to rebuild it with modern stuff.
I also have a NON-Kuwahara 1983 Apollo III Serial No. AKF 15433 A. This bike is as heavy as all get out (Tange Hi-Tensile).
I have for some time now been attempting to identify the manufacturer of these AKF serial numbered frames. Could you please provide the serial no. of your IV. If it is a Kuwahara it will be on the non-drive side of the seat tube (just above the bb) and will read XX YY ZZZZZ. Ta.
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Re: Apollophiles - The Apollo Appreciation Thread
Postby grantw » Sun Nov 25, 2012 12:20 pm
That's what I was thinking, I have a centurion frame which is very similar.gordowilso wrote:. I think you may have a Centurion.
and @rangersac, that's a sweet III, I had a friend who had set his up very similarly, he did a lot of touring on it and I often wished I had trippled mine. Give it a new saddle and take the pie plate off but leave the rest alone.
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Re: Apollophiles - The Apollo Appreciation Thread
Postby sunho » Sun Nov 25, 2012 12:48 pm
Well, it still is a nice frame and lightweight!
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Re: Apollophiles - The Apollo Appreciation Thread
Postby gordowilso » Sun Nov 25, 2012 12:55 pm
Sunho if it is a Centurion (and I need you to check the serial no. again) the tubing may be Tange Champion No.1 or Tange Champion No.2. If so you have quality frame. Even Tange Infinity or Tange Champion No.5 would be ok. My 83 Apollo IV frame is No.5 and it is as light as.sunho wrote:Quite sad that I don't have a kuwahara frame...
Well, it still is a nice frame and lightweight!
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Re: Apollophiles - The Apollo Appreciation Thread
Postby jools » Sun Nov 25, 2012 3:49 pm
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Re: Apollophiles - The Apollo Appreciation Thread
Postby gordowilso » Sun Nov 25, 2012 4:15 pm
Yep. Kuwahara frame No. 58410 manufactured in March 1981. The Kuwahara serial no. formats are pretty straightforward. Thanks Jools.jools wrote:Gordo, I've had a look for the serial number and it is very faint but I'm pretty sure the numbers are 81 - 03 - 58410 - does that give you any clues?
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Re: Apollophiles - The Apollo Appreciation Thread
Postby jools » Sun Nov 25, 2012 4:21 pm
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Re: Apollophiles - The Apollo Appreciation Thread
Postby gordowilso » Sun Nov 25, 2012 4:33 pm
Good question but no I think coincidence. My 1979 Apollo III is frame no. 33620 and my 1980 Apollo III frame no. is 64122.jools wrote:That's good to know! Does the 58 in the 58410 refer to frame size or is that just coincidence?
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Re: Apollophiles - The Apollo Appreciation Thread
Postby TedDancin » Sat Dec 01, 2012 1:17 pm
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Re: Apollophiles - The Apollo Appreciation Thread
Postby sunho » Mon Dec 10, 2012 2:51 pm
Picked up an Apollo III the other day on fleabay...
The serial number on the left side of the seat tube says 78 -04- XXXXX
Did Apollo III's come out in 1978? seems a little odd.
Kuwahara headset
Shimano 600 arabesque cranks,
Shimano Tourney Centrepull brakes.
Altus shifters
so bloody heavy ii'm sure it's more hiten than anything.
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Re: Apollophiles - The Apollo Appreciation Thread
Postby gordowilso » Tue Dec 11, 2012 9:34 am
Yep that is a Kuwahara Apollo. I have a 1979 Kuwahara Apollo III. At an earlier stage the Apollos were badged "Mk I" "Mk II" "Mk III" "Mk IV".
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Re: Apollophiles - The Apollo Appreciation Thread
Postby sunho » Tue Dec 11, 2012 10:51 am
ill photo it up once i get it all scrubbed down.
the previous owned tidied it up quite well
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Re: Apollophiles - The Apollo Appreciation Thread
Postby sunho » Tue Dec 11, 2012 11:07 pm
78-4-XXXXX
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Re: Apollophiles - The Apollo Appreciation Thread
Postby singlespeedscott » Tue Dec 11, 2012 11:11 pm
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