jpfooty11

Just picked up this old Apollo and don't really know much about it. It seems pretty good so far but was really dirty and needed a serious clean. I was hoping all you experienced folks could help me out with some info. Serial no is 84 5 06389. Has a 7 sprocket rear set which seems strange, has shimano deore derailleurs, and shimano brakes.

Before clean up, really grimy








This is after a few hours of taking things apart, shining them up and putting back together. Everything cleaned up really nice, even the brake levers, has some scratching all over and the ends of the pedals are pretty banged up, but it seems pretty good for an old girl.

Bianchigirll 

Looks nice but I don’t know much about the brand

ramzilla

Kuwahara

ramzilla

jpfooty11

Yeah it has that nut on the handle bar stem, should have put a pic of that in there too.
More looking for a model if anybody knows.

SurferRosa

Too nice for schrader valves.

ramzilla

Dude. It's an Apollo. An indestructable future beater bike.

garryg

The west coast of Canada is flooded with Apollos,most of them sporting a Fred Deeley sticker,the importer.Amazing to me how well those Kuwaharas hold up. They range from entry level to very nice.

jpfooty11

this one seems like maybe mid range, has the tange 900 double butted sticker, pretty light.

garryg

I would agree,here is one that passed through my hands recently, and yes i shortened those brake cables.

i think there is a Show Me Your Apollo thread of some sort

ramzilla

Made in Japan by Kuwahara. One of the finest bikes ever made. You're a lucky man.

zukahn1 

The bike is a 83/84 blue line edition based on component's very nice bike. This was a mid level model Kuwahara built one of the best Japanese makers sold in Canada and parts of the US under the Appolo import brand which was basically Kuwahara. . While lesser known and made only a couple of years the Blue Line Suntour stuff is very good. Great basic road bike .

jpfooty11

WOW! Now that's the kind of info I'm talking about! Thanks! One thing though, there isn't anything that says suntour on it, it has a 7 gear set on the rear and shimano shift stuff, they say deore on the levers and derailleurs, possible swap out parts?

zukahn1 

I might be wrong based on time frame this bike it could have had either early Shimano Deore or Suntour stuff which look a lot a like. the 7 speed freewheel is likely a replacment.

garryg

I believe that bike is sporting the same deore as the Custom Sport i posted.

jpfooty11

Yep those are the ones I have, except a bit more dinged up

BikeWonder

I recall reading somewhere in one of the Apollo threads that the first three serial numbers are the date it was manufactured. It may be false? Not too sure. Something along the lines of being a 1984 model build in May. Or just build in 1984 as indicated by the "84." This model looks to be a Custom Sport model from the Apollo lineup.

jpfooty11

I've read the same thing in a couple places. Matches up with what zukahn1 said about it being an 83 or 84. I think you're right about it being a custom sport, it is equipped the same as the blue one he posted. Today I noticed there is some tiny bits of sticker on the top tube, seem like they would have matched up with what is shown on that blue bike. Could it be a custom sport and a blue line edition?

T-Mar

Definitely May 1984 manufacture in Japan by Kuwahara based on the serial number. However, I don't see how this would be Blue Line based on the Deore rear derailleur, shift levers.and Shimano brakeset. I more inclined to Custom Sport per garryg, though a different year. As for the level, I'd place it around the crossover from entry level to mid-range based on the combination of era, Tange 900, 27" wheelset, components and frame cost reductions like clamp style shift levers and exposed brake nuts. I wouldn't be surprised if the fork and stays are carbon-manganese or even hi-tensile steel.