Hi Lascauxcaveman, the sticker says: "Guaranteed built with 012 Hi Tension tubes and forks". Thanks for your interest in the bike. With Non-fixie's input, I have renewed enthusiasm for this bike and will start doing some modifications to get the weight reduced and to increase the functionality for me.

Hi Non-fixie, Wow ... thanks for your detailed input into what is possible ... You have renewed by enthusiasm for this bike! I have been an avid rider for most of my life, but just bought mid-range bikes and did basic maintenance. So did not really know what options I had that made sense to upgrade the Apollo. I am going to use your suggestions as a "blueprint" for upgrading the bike while at the same time maintaining it's stock appearance. I am also excited about your comment about using it as a touring rig. I have recently done a few tours on my 8 yr old Norco VFR, pulling a Bob trailer; however the bike is highly unstable on fast down hills, as well as while standing on the pedals going uphill. So, I've been looking around for a dedicated touring bike. The Apollo is now the answer to that question. I've started my internet search for some of the components you mention ... it will be a work in progress.
Re the Thun Coronado set you mentioned in #5 , would you be interested in selling and shipping that to me?
Regards, John

Glad to have been of service. :)

WRT the Coronado cranks: you're welcome to them at the cost of shipping. However, they're missing two chain ring bolts, and those are smaller than standard and may be difficult to find. And the cost of shipping may also prove to be prohibitive: something like C$50. :eek: For that kind of money you will probably be able to find a similar or better crank set locally.

Ya, good points re the Coronado. Clearly I'm on a steep learning curve. When I've moved forward I'll post some pictures and updates.

Looking for something else, I just came across Southpawboston's Raleigh Competition GS, which is darn close to what I described earlier and one of the best-looking machines on this forum, IMO:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4006/...849ce327_b.jpg

I came across a 1983 advert for some new bike-shop Apollos for sale in Chilliwack (near Vancouver), BC. Figured this might help for any with the listed models from around that year wondering about their relative place in the line-up and value at the time. They don't list the lower end models (Apollo Sport or Sport 12?) but have some of the mid to upper range on offer:

Apollo Gran Sport 12 - $420 (sale $350)
Apollo Gran Tour - $545 (sale $499)
Apollo Gran Tourist - $550 (Sale $500)
Apollo Imperial - $620 (sale $500)

See:
https://webcache.googleusercontent.c...&ct=clnk&gl=ca

Based on this inflation calculator - Inflation Calculator - Bank of Canada - that would put the 'today' prices for the non-sale prices at $940 for the Gran Sport, around $1200 for the Gran Tour & Gran Tourist, and $1400-ish for the Imperial.

Thanks for sharing "The Progress" ad from 1983. Chilliwack has gone from one LBS, to a third LBS (Vedder Mtn Bike Co) opened December 2015. This town is growing up fast. My "as new" condition, but lowest end '83 Sport 10 is till sitting in my garage waiting for me to decide to either jump into the C & V world (actually doing something other than reading all the cool threads here) and do some modifications to make this a bike I will ride often, (as per non-fixie's suggestions earlier), or sell. Lack of time (and priority) has been a factor this winter.

[MENTION=4706]Arrowhead Rider[/MENTION] - how funny, I hadn't even realized you were in Chilliwack! While it has been a bit rainy of late, the weeks of sunshine and late sunsets should soon be upon us - perfect for fitting in a few spins around the block to help you decide.

Apollo Custom Sport
 

Just picked up this Apollo Custom Sport for $140......

Hopefully it wasn't over priced, but i just loved the opportunity to clean this up and bring it back to its former glory. It appears to have most of its original hardware as follows :

Shimano Selecta crank set
Shimano 500 front and rear centre pull brakes
Shimano Altus-LT gears
Nitto Olympiade 113 bars

Does anyone have any idea on the age of this bike?

This will be my 1st project bike :)

Thanks

Most Apollo were built by Kuwahara who used an open format serial number, located on the lower, non-drive side of the seat tube. If the components are OEM, it should be circa 1978-1979.. as Altus and Selecta came out for the 1978 model year and 500 didn't survive into the 1980s.

Picked up this Apollo Prestege XL, serial 81-6-90919, which from what I read is a 1981 bike, it also has a Fred Deeley Cycles sticker which from what I read is pre 1976.... whats up with that?

Thanks for having a look.

Chad.

ChaD, welcome to the forums. We've seen lots of post 1975 Apollo with Deeley decals. In fact the initial post for this thread is a 1979 model with a Deeley decal. Whomever made the pre-1976 statement is incorrect. Hopefully, it wasn't me! Yours is definitely from June 1981.

Hi Arrowhead Rider,

I have found the same bike, Sport 10, in red, from CAPS in the Vancouver area.

The serial number is not Kuwahara standard format. From other serial numbers that I have seen, I would suggest that the serial number on your Sport 10 might be "S0 8 319". If so, the 0 indicates the year of frame manufacture as 1980 and the 8 indicates the month as August.

Hello jcmac, I have almost the identical bike as you. My Classic was purchased in 86 though I haven't looked at the serial number to determine the build year. I was wondering if you've found any more info on it such as where it falls in the Kuwahara line up? Also, would this be classed as more of a touring bike geometry?

Hey guys, I'm fairly new to biking. And I know th is said classics and vintage... But I was looking at a private sellers Apollo to purchase and am just a little stuck on the quality and pricing claimed by him compared to that if the actual bike... He doesn't have an exact model name with the ad, could I lost it and have someone (or many) have a peek?

He is selling it for 900$ and looks like a great bike.
Here are the specs:

* Superlite butted 6061 alloy, integrated head tube and replaceable derailleur hanger
* Alloy 1-1/8 straight blades with alloy steerer, fully integrated. HI VIZ reflective decals
* A-head integrated 1-1/8 cartridge bearings with 15mm cone spacer
* Factor butted alloy Anatomic shallow drop 31.8mm alloy
* PU performance tape
* Factor 1-1/8" 3D forged alloy 4 bolt stem.
* Shimano FC-R500 compact 50 x 34T 2 piece crank
* Shimano integrated sealed
* Shimano 105 band clamp
* Shimano 105 11 speed
* Shimano 105 STI 22 speed shifters
* Shimano 11 speed cassette 11-28T
* KMC 11 speed
* Hayes CX Comp mechanical disc brakes with 160mm rotors
* 700c DT Swiss R-545D double wall disc specific rims, 32 hole 11 speed disc hubs with stainless spokes
* Veetire Roadrunner 700 x 28c, 27TPI
* Factor alloy 27.2mm post, twin bolt with alloy seat clamp

Sadly I can't post pictures yet because I haven't posted 10 entries Into the forum

If I'm not mistaken, the bike you're listing specs for shares a name with the 'Apollo' marque marketed by the Deeley's in Vancouver, BC - but is from an unrelated company that holds current rights to the name. This bike has no relationship that I am aware of to the Apollos that are the subject of this thread.

I've only seen a few of the 'new' Apollos, but I don't have the impression that they're terribly special.

Cheers, thank you for the once over. Would I be better off pursing a different brand then? Or is the value for that price still worth it you think?

Dating an Apollo bicycle based on serial number
 

Hello all,
I have read on many different websites that for many companies, the serial number can show the date of manufacture of the bicycle.
Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find any websites for Apollo bicycles.
I Just got a vintage Apollo bike and the serial number on the bottom bracket is:

S4 5 106

Does this tell me anything about when the bike was made (or any other info at all)?

I read on this thread about a similar case, where the serial number was S0 8 XXX. In that case it was identified that it meant Aug 1980.
Following that logic, this would mean that my bike was manufactured in May 1984.
However, I'm don't understand how he came to the conclusion that it was an 80s bicycle. Was it based on other components?

Thank you very much in advance.

(Ps: this might be a silly question sorry I'm new to this.)

I have read that Fred Deeley started importing Kuwahara frames and branding them as Apollo in 1964.

Here is a Deelite Apollo from 1967, as dated from Shimano and Takagi components.

After replacing the BB spindle and cottered crankset it still weighs in at 30 lbs.

Just to conclude this conversation, for readers of this thread . This question was answered in another post:

http://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...l#post19795503

Apollo Model Question
 

A friend found this abandoned bike for my son. I am trying to figure out the model.

It is a 27 inch frame. It is pretty banged up and scratched. It is an Apolllo. Serial number 800453198. So from this forum, I found out that it was manufactured in 1980. It does say "Made in Japan". It has "Custom Sport" painted on. Then there are decals. One says, "Mammut". One says, "Fred Deeley Cycles". One says, "Local Motion Abbotsford B.C".

Any information anyone can tell me would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Hello las30,

Custom Sport is the model. Probably Built with 012 Hi-Tension Tubes and Forks.

Thank you. I feel a bit silly that I didn't search for Custom Sport as the model. I see now that is what we have. It is a very large frame. The seat is almost as low as it can go and my 6'2" son is able to ride it. He is fourteen so he is not done growing yet. He is really happy with this bike so far.