Apollo Vispo (2017)

Mid-range road bike, good frame, mostly good kit

Pros

- Full 105 drivetrain
- Asymmetric chainstays efficient

Cons

- High rotating weight
- Low-rent saddle

Review

Most bike reviews go over the positive aspects of the machine in question, then touch upon any negative points later on: with this bike, we’ll do it in reverse order.

The reason is this: jump online and do a search for “Apollo Vispo” and, apart from manufacturer and retailer sites, most of the posts that pop up are damning reports of the paint peeling off the frames only months after picking up the bike, and of Apollo refusing to honor any warranty claims by stating that the damage does not fall under any type of structural or mechanical warranty.

These are damaging assertions, but shouldn’t necessarily be taken at face value. To prove a negative is a difficult thing – I personally contacted as many Vispo owners as I could track down, and only one of them (from a sample size of 22) had any paint issues, and even then the owner was happy to admit it was a minor glitch and was not worth even making a warranty claim over. When contacted, Apollo stated that each claim would be treated on its own merits and reparations made wherever warranted.

Having got that out of the way, let’s look at the bike itself.

The Torsion Control Stays are an intriguing and well-thought feature; both chain stays are constructed differently to provide maximum power transfer. The drive side is thicker and taller, adding extra rigidity and strength where it is needed most for optimised power transfer.

The frame itself, constructed from high-modulus Mitsubishi carbon fiber, is slender and sparse-looking with a tapering top tube and straight blade fully-integrated carbon forks.

The groupset comes courtesy of Shimano in the form of their ultra-reliable 105 11-speed configuration. It’s not just a token Shimano derailleur or shifter then a mish-mash of cheaper parts – it’s all Shimano 105, from the shift levers to the freewheel, cassette and both derailleurs.

The Sun Ringle Venus wheelset is a touch heavy but solid and reliable, and is fully capable of handling a 700 x 27mm tire set rather than the Hutchison Nitro 25mm boots that come standard.

The Factor Road saddle is a bit softer than those attached to most bikes in this price range but is durable and not too heavy, and the Anatomic alloy handlebars are comfortable and nicely shaped, with widths ranging from 40cm for an XS frame to 44cm on the L and XL frame sizes.

The bike is available in Gloss White or Matte Nude Carbon – if any doubts regarding paint finish still linger, just go for the Matte Carbon and it’s no longer an issue.

Overall this is a good mid-range bike that offers decent value for money.