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11-23-2015, 01:06 PM
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#1 |
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 54
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Bars done
Took the KTM out and let my girlfriends sister ride on the apollo. It was her first time on a dirt bike and it was a mudbath day in the woods. Cruel punishment but she took it like a champ. On the way there in the car I told her to expect to crash/fall and try to "Walk off the bike" whenever it was a slow tip over. The bike may be new, but I do not care about seeing her injured in the woods.
She tipped it over 8+ times, picked it up the first 3 times by herself. It was slick as snot and I was trying to explain that going a bit faster clears the lugs on the tires, she eventually picked up on it and became fast enough to keep her momentum up steep hills and over obstacles. Came back and swapped the bars the next day, trying to attach pictures now. The stock bars ended up slightly bent from dropping it so many times so it was perfect timing to upgrade. I also took the forks out and drained them, put in just 3. ounces of fork oil and capped them. The next thing is to lower the shock or just put the rear upgrade on. I need it to be about three inches lower for her height because she can just tippy toe the bike while standing. I cannot explain how impressed I was that she toughed it out for over 2 hours in the mud. My KTM was the nuts. $1200 of shear screaming monster. I have the same bike out in Denver, but here at sea level third gear blip the throttle and my front end makes the the fastest unicycle in the woods. Not my style, but happy to learn the bike and float over jumps... More pictures to post. |
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11-26-2015, 01:23 AM
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#4 |
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sardis, BC, Canada
Posts: 25,977
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Yep, I can see that it would be difficult to make a 530 chain wrap around a 428 sprocket.
__________________
Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer |
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11-26-2015, 10:34 AM
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#5 |
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 54
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Glad parts are cheap!
Anyone else notice in the picture that the rear shock does NOT have a forked tab on one end? Yep, another bad purchase. Thank god this stuff is super cheap. Located and ordered a rear adjustable Fork tabbed on one end shock...along with a proper sprocket. Should be here by the time I get back from Turkey Holiday and then I can ride the following weekend.
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12-07-2015, 09:24 AM
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#6 |
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 54
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Update on changes to Apollo 250cc
Sprocket came in Thursday, slapped it on Friday night by hand, took less than 5 minutes. Rolled it into the trailer and went riding Saturday (after I yanked the rear tire back and adjusted the cheap chain tensioners). Spent the day on the KTM for the most part and Lauri spent the day on her quad, but we each took the Apollo out for a ride to feel what the upgrades were like. Let me just say, the 12T is an outstanding difference. Lots of low end grunt and third gear trail riding is perfect for the most part. The handle bars feel SO much better and you can tell the flex helps reduce fatigue and the bike feels snappier. I have yet to take it over any substantial jump to see if the front shocks are going to bottom out, but I will the next time I go out riding.
It is Noticeably heavier than the KTM which will require more work to shift weight around in the trees but I am excited to spend a little more time on the bike and really put it through some paces. I am interested in getting a better rear shock and front shocks, but honestly the way it sits now seems perfect for some medium aggressive trail riding. I wonder if I can get better rims and tires for it to lighten up the rotational mass. Once I wear the rear out, I will look into it. Fun bike so far! |
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01-13-2016, 03:43 PM
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#7 |
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 54
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Suspension questions
Just wondering if anyone has taken Honda front forks and subbed them onto the Apollo 250? I have the 2015 frame, not sure that means anything, but I was thinking of picking up some 2004 CR250 front forks and seeing if it would match the caliper mounting holes for the brake?
Anyone have any experience here? Also same for the rear, has anyone subbed a rear adjustable shock in the back? I would love to get riders sag and some adjustability on the bike. Any brand, any suggestions? Thank you for any input. |
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01-25-2016, 10:35 AM
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#8 |
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 54
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Experiment part one
Well I made a purchase to replace the rear of the bike. I want to be able to set rear sag, and basically adjust to my riding style. This should come in next week, I targeted the entire linkage set up not really knowing what to expect to find when I start putting it together. A front fork replacement is next, but I am worried that the front caliper wont line up. Who knows? One step at a time. Flying blind, but I do not mind. Between this, my retro 1968 Magnavox cabinet stereo console remod and my 3.5 year old daughter....I stay busy enough lol.
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01-25-2016, 10:52 AM
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#9 |
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sardis, BC, Canada
Posts: 25,977
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What is that shock and link designed for?
__________________
Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer |
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04-04-2016, 02:39 PM
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#11 |
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 54
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pictures of rear suspension
Added the rear shock a while ago, posting pics now. Front suspension next and carburetor then done.
It sits MUCH higher in the rear and I have yet to adjust for riders sag, but it is close as it stands now. Barely clears the exhaust pipe, but after welding the tabs on for the top side of the suspension it fit in nicely. I am excited to get out and ride this on the trails again... |
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Hybrid Mode
