So I jus picked up my first roadie project, it’s an apollo IV serial 820269859 with full shimano 600 ‘arabesque’ groupset, tried various google searches and haven’t managed to pull up much info, can anyone point me in the right direction and any advice etc… Maybe you might know something about it dead legs??..
sounds like one of the Kuwahara built, Apollo branded bikes
Have a go on BNA, they have a Retro bike section with a thread devoted to Appllo’s.
BNA - Australian Cycling Forums • View topic - Apollophiles - The Apollo Appreciation Thread
I have one of the same frames, which had the the same groupset. Apparently they was an Apollo V at the time (early 80’s?) but very few were sold, so these were Apollo’s best road bike at the time
Nice frames, though the downtube shifter bosses are a strange thread diameter 4.something in metric terms so upgrading to another groupset - even indexed downtube shifters is a pain, mine has become a SS road bike.
Origianally 27" but mine has 700c wheels which means you can run a 30c tyre (maybe a 32c) nicely which is handy, though you will need medium reach brakes, Tektro R359’s or something similar with a 57m reach if you want to run 700c wheels.
I like mine.
Around that time, I had the III, the cheaper sport touring model. The IV was the racing bike and the V had squashed aero tubes for a couple of years. I think the unusual downtube bosses were Shimano’s proprietary type. I vaguely recall a conversion kit but most just filed flats on the round bosses and retapped.
Only just found this thread Burzum.
The Apollo 4 is a Kuwahara like other people have said, made with either Tange 2 or Ishiwata 022 (I think) depending on its year of manufacture. There was a 5 and 6 model above it, both which are very rare and sought after by fanatics. I’ve seen 2 of each on ebay over the last year.
I’ll tell you the same story, plus the eyelets allow for easy fender mounting. I have mine set up SS, 700c wheels( 26c tyres) with full fenders and townie bars. I also really like mine.