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BUILDING THE APOLLO GRAN TOURISTE
  I found the Gran Touriste frame set to be a work of art.
The finish was superb. The color combination and art work, offered a classy
look, that seemed to emphasize the vintage appearance and appeal. Long
pointed lugs, all but perfectly gold outlined, with-in the confines of the head
tube, suit the bicycle to a tee. The seat stays terminate in concave ends,
at the saddle lug suggesting, a cut above the ordinary. The cantilevered
brakes improve brake function and adds even more
 vintage appeal, in my opinion.
For a bicycle like the Apollo, it is almost a given that the drops will be
quality forged items and they are. The rear drops are a bit spidery
looking but simple and pleasing in design. Fender and luggage rack
threaded eyelets are present on both the front and rear drops.
The balance of the bicycle is, of course, all
components and rider. Though little can be said of rider quality, the
components were top notch. The Suntour Cyclone
 transmission
shifted,
 through
the fifteen gears with a light, but positive feel, thanks primarily to the
Suntour Power Shifters, which are always a joy to use. I tend to like the
Suntour product and always keep in mind that the company is no more.
Suntour components are destined to increase in value, as time passes.
 Sugino supplied the triple crank set, this one being a model AT.
The cranks, themselves, are very attractive and a long ride will bring
appreciation for the small gear, making it both possible, and comfortable, to
conquer just about any hill that has the nerve, to rise up, in front of the
bicycle.
 There are a number, of little features, that speak to the quality
of this nice old road bike, the brake set being first on the list, to step up to
the podium. The cantilevered style calliper is about the best you can get,
next to the modern disc brake. And little features, like the yoke pulleys,
add so much, not only to the appearance of quality, but also to the function of the
bicycle. I should add that it is because of these pulleys that I started
to see this bicycle as a competitor to the
Miyata 1000, the only other bicycle
I had previously seen them on.
About the only thing that did not appeal to me, on the Apollo
Gran Touriste, was the original owner's choice in tires. I would have
much preferred, to go with regular road tires, and skipped the aggressive tire
tread look. But that is just me.
NEXT - RIDING THE APOLLO GRAN
TOURISTE
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