I am wondering if Fender1 is confusing a '70s Gran Sport with another model. There was another "Gran" model in the mid-1970s which I sold. We didn't sell a lot of them compared to the Sekine so my memory is less distinct about them. I believe the model name was Gran Tour. It also had chrome stays and fork ends and it came in silver or mink blue (same color as the Raleigh Pro). The frame was hi-tensile steel. It had a Sugino Maxy crank, Dia-Compe center-pull brakes and SunTour V derailleurs. It was priced slightly higher than the Sekine SHC but less than the SHS.

BTW, I recall the Deeley house brand as being DeeLite, as opposed to DeeleyLite.

apollo
 

you'r totally right t-mar, DeeLite. I still see the odd one around here.

apollo
 

i knew i had a picture of my Gran Sport :

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...2/DSCN2815.jpg

flip flop rear, 16t fixed 16t free

I've got an Apollo Prestige set up as a fixed. I bought the frameset and it was missing most of the decals. It's got forged kuwahara dropouts and fork ends. I was wondering if you guys knew anything about what type of tubing it is made out of.

most of the ones, gran sport, are tange #5. i'm not sure what the tubes are on the prestige but leigh30 will know his girlfriend has one. :) I don't think it was Tange prestige though, maybe #2.

It will depend on whether it is a Prestige or a Prestige XL. Pretty much all the Prestiges I've seen (including the one that my girlfriend used to have) were some kind of a high tensile steel. Interestingly enough though, they are fairly light for a lower grade tubing, at least in comparison to some of the other "bike boom" roadies I've dealt with. The Prestige XLs had the forged drops and better chromoly tubesets, most likely Tange 5 main triangle with straight gauge stays. They most definitely did not sport Tange Prestige, which was the top of the line Tange tubing...

Any way of distinguishing an XL?

It's got the stock fork on it as well. Is the fork hi-ten or also chro-mo?

Nice.
I like the chrome fork crown.

My Triathlon is made with butted Kuwahara 4130 Chromoly tubing. Which is nothing special.
But you guys are right about it being light. This bike weighs only ounces less than my Marinoni.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b4...pollo008-1.jpg

The fork is hi-tensile, as are the stays.

The later Apollos like yours seem to have had their own tubing decals, whereas the earlier ones in the same place in the model lineup, used Tange tubes. Whether or not the tubing actually was Kuwahara's own is something I can't answer.
Furthermore, it is interesting that the better Apollos of the late '70s / early '80s used Kuwahara dropouts even though the tubing was Tange.

Damn, I was hoping for a better answer. I guess it's time for a new fork then.

Thanks for the info guys!

Which Model?
 

Hey Guys, brand new to the forum. I don't really consider myself a vintage bike guy (raced MTB for 3 years in my teens, and now when I do ride it's only BMX, and a real funny mix of flatland, trials, and dirt)

Anyways I was helping a friend move his mother, and she knew I was into bikes, so she gave me her ex-husband's old road bike. She said it was quite good when they bought brand new back in the day. I could tell quality wise it was above the department store junk so I kept it, but I didn't think much about it at first and it hung in my garage untouched for 2 years. Well after my wife bugging me to get a road or hybrid bike to ride with her (she rides a Trek 1000c and a GT MTB) I said fine, I don't like road riding all that much, so I'll just clean up that old bike in the garage. (new cork grip, tires, etc).

But after riding it more and more, I actually love it, and I got curious about it. What model is it, when was it made. I'm not familiar with the Apollo name. I have 3 LBS in my city and none carry Apollo. Googling brought me here.

What I do know:
Made in Japan by Kuwahara, from the 80's (possibly 1980) Steel framed, looks like it was sold at Calgary Cycle.

Ok enough blah blah, lots of pics time. Any info on it would be great.
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/1199/1009344.jpg

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/3803/1009295.jpg

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/5850/1009294.jpg

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/6885/1009303.jpg

Serial Number 80 02 47940
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/3184/1009333.jpg

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/8881/1009323.jpg

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/406/1009306.jpg

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/4431/1009304.jpg

mis-matched wheels
http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/6336/1009314.jpg

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/1872/1009339.jpg

I'm pretty sure it's a Prestige model.
The year is definitely 1980, going by the serial number (first two numbers are the year of manufacture).
The Rigida rim (can't tell from your photos if it's front or rear) is a replacement.
I am surprised that it is missing all the decals.

Lots of Apollo bicycles in my area...
 

Over the years, I have stumbled upon quite a few Apollo bicycles, from entry level to pretty decent. The most memorable of the group was an Apollo GT touring bike(gray with a blue head tube). Most of the bikes are either Sport 10 or Sport 12 models, probably the company's entry level offering. I do have an Apollo Custom Sport, a triple butted chrome moly offering but is sits as a frame set waiting for who knows what.

Thanks for the info. I just noticed that ricohman who started this thread is also from Saskatchewan. Well from the sounds of it, a lot of Apollo's are in Western Canada. But judging by the screen name, I'd guess he's also into photography. (Or he repairs photo copiers for a living :p )

I shoot with a Canon 30D, (but I took all the photos above with a cheap Kodak P&S)

my brand new apollo! really, its still brand new, i was the first one to ride it, was in an old guys basement
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=138009http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=138010http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=138011http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=138012http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=138013http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=138014

I'm new to the vintage forum. I just recently rescued an Apollo Deelite (sp?) from our local recycle center. Am just in the process of restoring it. I'll have photos to share tonight.

84 Imperial. Its made of Tange 2. Its an Okay bike, but it just doesn't feel as good as I wish it did. At least it looks good!
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3...s/DSC_0035.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3...s/DSC_0037.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3...s/DSC_0039.jpg

I picked up an old Apollo "Gran Sport" (I think) today. The bicycle has seen a lot of the planet, touching soil in China, Japan, other parts of Asia, Europe, Canada and the US. The fellow who owned the bicycle, purchased it new and rode it for many years. Now, at 84 years of age, his arthritis prevents him from enjoying the two wheeled love of his life.

Attachment 172546

Finished rebuilding the Apollo Deelite

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=173824
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=173823
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=173822
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=173821

I just bought a mystery Apollo road bike today. 1975, grey/silver frame, half chrome front fork, Suntour VG-T Luxe derailer, centre pull brakes (suspect that they're dia compe). I'll post pictures when I get a chance to take some. I took it for a brief spin and am doing a long ride tomorrow. It definitely rides smoothly.

Sounds like a Gran Tour.

Can anyone help me identify this bike?

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/1...1012061532.jpg

All I know is the owner claims it to be an Apollo Sprint 12 - I can not find any information whatsoever on this bike, and unfortunately this is the only pictures I have of it. Just wondering if its worth picking up and if so at what price?

Thanks a tonne

I have run across many Apollo bicycles, and still have a few hanging in The Old Shed.

Your bicycle is an entry level model and successor to the Apollo Sport 10, which had five cogs, as opposed to the six on the Sport 12. The frame set is high tensile steel and straight gauge.

These bicycles were fairly well made and finished. They offer a ride typical of a recreational road bicycle. They are, as a rule, quite attractive with their two color paint jobs and that wonderful old headbadge.

I have an Apollo Gran Sport that I am thinking of restoring someday and it is a really nice bike. I also have an Apollo Mark III, another fairly high ender. And, sadly, I sold my Apollo "Gran Touriste".

Here is a picture of a Sport 10, which is very similar to your bicycle...

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=181298 http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=181299

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=181300 http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=181301

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=181302

Man, that Deeley fella was a Canadian bike magnate!

And he was even bigger in the motorcycle field.

Thanks!

The Ultimate Apollo?
 

Just bought this little number. It was ridden one season then stored. Still has original tubular tires on it. It was originally bought at Oak Bay Bikes, Victoria BC in 1983. Dura-Ace EVERYTHING. The person I bought if from said it weighs 19.3 lbs. I still have to verify that myself but its amazingly light. I know from the cereal number its an 81, made by kuwahara, Osaka Japan. From the research iv done my best guess is its an Imperial.

Any info or comments would be much appreciated

Some Photos.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61083644@N03/

Speaking of Deely motorcycles, there is an outstanding Deely museum of motorcycles from around the world and their 100+ year history. If you're going to be visiting Vancouver and you're into motorbikes at all, it's worth a look. The museum is just across the river in Richmond, minutes from the airport.