Priority Apollo Review - Gravel bike with a Gates Belt Drive and internal gears!
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- Опубликовано: 17 окт 2020
- Woof, this is the longest video I've ever put together. If you watch the whole thing I'll give you a dollar. And if you're lookin' to purchase a reliable gravel bike, then you may want to consider this Priority Apollo. It's a lot of fun to ride and the best part about is the low maintenance factor!
In case you're here just for the riding, here are some riding only time stamps:
4:15
6:52
Thanks for watching and if you're into content like this, please consider subscribing!
Oh yeah... I started an Instagram account that’s dedicated to surfin dirt on bicycles. Check it out here! / drtsrfn
Personal IG - / timallday
Huge thanks to my boy, Daniel for some of the camera work! / @danieldijo 
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Dude!! How did I miss this video?? Love it, you’re way better at reviewing than me;) Come to colorado and let’s ride!
Thanks home slice! What a solid reason to visit Colorado! I’ll definitely take you up on that... in 2025. Thanks for the support too 🙌🏼🙌🏼
@@thegravelist Long comment here, so grab a sandwich. First off, excellent review for us "common folk". I've been watching the Duzer for years, and have been intrigued by his Priority bike. After watching THIS video, I'm in the "take my money" frenzy I had not yet experienced. So, good on ya both! The things you mention are unusual in a bike review, but they're very relatable, and are the same things I think about. I even loved your puncture only in that I did a similar thing when I started riding my gravel bike with through-skewers and forgot to bring the right sized Allen key and couldn't take the wheel off to replace the tube....derrrrrrr. It's nice to see we're all human, right? Even the Duzer forgot to bring an extra belt on one of his mondo rides, and the guys from Priority gave him a hard time about how he broke it, and why he didn't bring another belt. Anyway, I want one now, and a big part of why is both this video, and all of Duzer's. You both rock! I'll be following you now too...I'm an American transplanted in Australia, I've got 5 bikes and have done tours in Asia (met the Aussie wife in Vietnam) , done a few in NZealand, and the Katy twice in MO, along with the GAP/C&O. We're thinking of going cross the U.S. in '23. THANK YOU!
@@denverman6161963 WOWWW!! This comment absolutely rules. Thank you so much for taking the time to write this out -- it really means the world to me. This comment is what fuels this channel. SERIOUSLY! All I'm hoping to do is help people make educated decisions on the bikes they're interested in and boom, you nailed it! ALSO to be in the same sentence as Duzer is an absolute HONOR on it's own. I look up to that guy and draw inspiration from him every time I make a video -- so thank you for that level of recognition. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the bike! Have fun out there!!
I am an avid cyclist who rides 100 miles/week both road and trail. I was tired of having to clean and lube my bikes every week and so decided to buy a belt-drive bike - before I saw this video. I bought an Apollo in October 2023 and rode it pretty much exclusively through the winter. The positive is that truly, it has been maintenance free so far and I absolutely love this aspect of the bike. However, there are a few negatives, including:
1) there is noticeable drive train resistance even after drastically reducing the belt tension. I think this is due to the oil-filled gear hub which makes it feel like you are riding a fluid-trainer. The belt on my bike was set so tight by the factory that the bike was almost un-ridable when I first got it. I lowered the tension a lot which helped significantly.
2) I got a flat tire, thankfully near the end of my ride so I was able to ride home. Repairing a flat on this bike is not fun, especially if you are from home when it happens. You will want to go tubeless, get slime-filled tubes, or use an insert - do this BEFORE you get a flat!
3) it is a heavy bike at almost 30lbs. Given the weight and the greater spinning resistance you will not be able to ride as fast as on your chain-drive bike. My rides are about 20% slower than if I am on my carbon road bike.
Buyers of this bike will need to watch several videos on how to maintain and adjust it. Not a problem, but riding a belt drive with an internally geared hub is a totally different paradigm than a chain drive. KEY TIP - don't shift while spinning!
Don't get me wrong, I have no regrets about buying the Apollo, but I think potential buyers should know what to expect.
Shout out to you Tim, thanks for the review man, there are so many gravel bikes at ridiculous price points and seeing you and Duzer give true reviews, I'm sold as I've done lots of research and it's just refreshing to have a non-sponsored person to give a solid review. Love the fact you flatted and didn't cut that portion of the video out because that's reality.
Hey Desiral - thanks so much for watching this video and for the positive feedback! It's awesome to hear that you found it helpful! Means a lot to me, for real. That flat was a mild bummer, but I really didn't mind because it was too nice out -- so it worked out! Anyway, enjoy the bike if you decide to get it and again, thanks for stopping by!
Great review Tim! I bought an Apollo (size XL) in Oct of 2021 based on review from you, Ryan Van Duzer and Buses Bike & Beer. Everything you've said is spot on. Pros are it is well built and oh so quiet when riding. Tires and saddle are great. A very comfortable bike! Biggest thing is its hassle free with no maintenance! I love I can just rinse the bike off with a garden hose when I'm done and put it up. No need for chain lube or cleaning off the dirty greasy mess from the chain after riding. Never have to buy new chains, cassettes, lube, etc. I like being able to shift gears while stopped (and as many gears as I want at one time). One the things I wish came standard on the bike is a 46/26 front/rear cog setup vs the 50/24T that was standard prior to the 2022 model. I swapped out my rear 24T cog for a 26T, but that's additional cost. To handle grades >4%, one will really want at least the 26T rear cog and a 46/26T standard setup would be ideal. Since it is a 1 x 11 speed setup (vs a 2x11), there is a large jump from one gear to the next (but a big overall range). If you are a cyclist that tends to average a certain cadence (80/85 rpm for me) then switching gears will cause your cadence to jump or drop a good bit. Just need to be aware of this. You might have to shift 2 gears at a time. I wish the Apollo had the 16-gear setup of the Priority 600, while keeping the Apollo overall range the same or tighter. Probably the biggest thing to get use to is that one needs to stop pedaling to shift gears (just a split second) which is totally different for those of us that ride conventional bikes where you pedal (with no/little load) when shifting gears as the derailleur moves the chain from one sprocket to another. This isn't a problem on the Apollo on descents, flats and at stops, but when climbing it takes some getting use to as one loses momentum to quit pedaling. I'd really like to be able to keep pedaling when I shift gears on climbs. The work around on climbs is to shift 2 or 3 gears at a time when you momentarily stop pedaling in order to maintain your momentum and your cadence. The last thing I noticed is that the single right shifter paddles are backwards from my road bike. On the Apollo the small forward paddle moves you to a harder gear and the larger rear paddle moves you to an easier gear (opposite of my Di2 road bike). The new 2022 model comes with the 26T rear cog and hydraulic brakes, which is an improvement. The manual brakes that came with my 2021 model are good but I would have loved the hydraulic brakes. I set my tires up tubeless, added a kickstand, SKS Speedrocker fenders, a Top Peak rear rack and bag to complete my build (along with lights and computer mounts). It's a great gravel bike, touring and bike packing bike. Speed isn't its strong point as with all my add-ons it comes in around 38 lbs. If you want a fast gravel bike consider another bike but if you want a rock solid, no maintenance, comfortable bike at a fair price point then this is the bike for you
Excellent write up! I agree with all your points! Glad the Apollo is working out for you and good call in the 26t cog. Bet that makes a perfect amount of difference!
I've had one of these for about a year. Here's what I found...
The good:
Comfortable ride, good handling
Quiet and smooth drive and OK shifting
Good, not great brakes
Surprisingly good saddle
Wheels seem strong
Tires (Goodyear, set up tubeless) are good
Quite light, especially for an internal geared hub
The not as good:
#1 WAY too high geared! I went from the stock 50/24 to 46/26 and it's still too tall. It's not a climber. The lowest possible gear would require a 46/28 and that's as far as you can go, and that puts it nowhere near the league of most gravel/fitness/adventure bikes with modern chain drives.
The hub isn't very fond of 6th gear. There can be hard sounding gear crunch and slipping while in 6th and I do NOT recommend putting much torque through the cranks when there.The other gears are fine.
The hub leaks. Just a tiny bit but you'll want to clean it very occasionally as it will drip oil on the ground and maybe get oil on the hub sprocket and/or belt.
The reach from the medium size frame was too long with the drop bars it came with for my 5'8" frame. Not only was it uncomfortable but gave very insecure feeling on steep descents as I felt way too far over the front wheel with a funky center of gravity. I put flat bars (curved bars actually) and it transformed the ride and confidence I have.
After the above changes, plus a few more, I really like the bike for getting around town and easy trail. It is low maintenance and fun to ride. But, it is no substitute for most other bikes it will compete with because of it's quite limited gearing. Instead of one bike to fit my requirements, I find myself looking for another bike to take on trails-camping-climbing and that's a bit of a bummer.
It has the same range as an 11-45t cassette. So, it's in the 1x drivetrain class like AdventX and Shimano 1x11. It's too bad that it's quirky, leaky, and complex. From what I understand, taking the rear wheel off is somewhat of a pain.
I also think that wheel bases are TOO short. I have an XL Giant, and always have that feeling of flying over the handle bars.
I know I'm a couple of years late to this. Liked the review and really appreciate you including the tire blowout and pointing out the one hitch with this bike. That is, having a specialty hub means changing that back tire on the fly is a lot trickier and requires tools to do so. Probably a good idea to budget for tubeless tires if getting this bike. Great job!
I have owned a Priority Ride - commuter bike for 4 years. Tim's description of how the ride feels is spot on!! The ride is so smooth it's like riding on a cloud. The rubber drive belt is responsive and does expand in feel like he shares when starting off. I was watching this video to help me decide on my next bike. Tim does a really fair and accurate description of how great you feel when riding a Priority bike.
Right on, Neil! Thanks for the comment and kind words. It’s cool to hear your priority ride is still going strong after 4 years! Good luck with your next purchase, and If it ends up being the Apollo, you’re gonna love it!
Well, I watched the whole thing, been out of bikes a long time, and ordered a new bike, but am looking all around, and really enjoyed an excellent "gravel review", something relatively new to my own mind. I've ordered an "L-train", and looking forward to it, next month. Kind of feening for it, if you know what I mean, living a bit vicariously, although I did build a bike, that I do ride, and I'm just learning to shift 20 speeds, well only about five in the middle, but it's a new experience to me. I had a hard time choosing, and figured if I wanted more later, I could trade up, or simply get another. You really displayed the capabilities of this bike well, I'd break if I crashed, too old to be jumping, but it was fun to watch. Thanks for a good show of the bike and some gravel.
Tim Thank you for your through response.
I have been a fan of Belt drives and internal gear huns for many years.
This bike is looking more and more attractive
Paul
My pleasure Paul - happy to help! I hadn’t heard about that type of setup before this bike. Makes a lot of sense for a gravel bike and it’s super smooth to ride.
Excellent review. Because of this review, I just ordered one! Thanks, man!
Tim, what a well done review - congratulations!
Hey Steven, thanks for stopping by! I appreciate the kudos as well 🙌🏼🙌🏼
Got mine in late October. It's rides just as you described, very smoooooooth.
Yeahhh. Like buttuh! Enjoy the ride my friend 🙌🏼
Gr8 video. Like ur format/style. Just subscribed. Also just bought one of these the other day thanks to Ryan as my first gravel/dropbar bike. Eagerly waiting it's arrival. Looking forward to next video.
Hey Jeff!! Thanks for the kudos and for the sub. Ryan is awesome! Lots of videos planned for the future, see ya out there 🙌🏼
Cool, just ordered an Apollo .can't wait!
Thanks for the review. I just ordered mine, and I noted a comment on their site that it is geared a bit lower than the first ones. I hope it's less than 1:1 on the low end. I have 1:1 on my Domane AL3 and sometimes it's not enough "for my fitness level on the steep climbs. (even just in Wisconsin)
Great review. Perfect recommendation for type of bike it is. I was thinking commuter /fun adventure bike. Take it as serious as you want to get. Bike looks like it screams fun +comfort.
Thanks braddah! And thanks for the camera work and help!! I plugged ya in the description :D
Thanks for the review. Thanks for the heads up on it being so quiet and how that can startle people. Guess a bell would be good for that. $1600 is a great price for that type of mechanical technology that you don't find just anywhere. To some that may seem like a lot to spend on a bicycle but well worth it in the long run! Seems like Priority would at least give out a cheap bike tool for changing out a tube.
Drooling 🤤 right now. Was considering a Poseidon. Think I might hold off now.
Looks like a good bike for the trails we have in Florida.
Descending Petaluma's D St is loads of fun. Cool to see it featured in a review video
Heck yeah it is! It’s a gem for sure
Your review is fun to watch. Great job!! Subscribed instantly. I suppose your video came up on my suggestion list because I have been searching for internal gear hubs just recently. Great review!! Thank you. 🤣👍
Wuddup Alex! Thanks for stopping by and for the kudos! Much appreciated. I love hearing how peeps stumble upon my videos, so that's good to know. Good luck with your search! Have fun out there!
@@thegravelist one question though. What cable is that protruding from the right brifter? Is that the shifter cable? Can't it be tucked in/hidden like the brake cables? 🤔
Thank you.
Dude, I ordered the Apollo month ago and wont get shipped until June 30. So I watch your review over and over...can't wait!
Dang. Guess those ship times are becoming the norm! Nothing beats a new bike day though! Hang in there - it’ll be worth the wait 🙌🏼🙌🏼
Great review Tim, really well-done man.
Thank you! Just wait... I converted this bike to a flat bar ripper. Gonna post a video with a 6 month update and flat bar review 🤙🏼🤙🏼
I own a few Priority bikes. I also owned for six years a Spot Brand Acme with an Alfine 11. All have belts and internal hubs, from 3-11 speeds. I put ~5000 miles on my Spot and only changed the oil once a year. After living with belts/internal drives, everything else I've ridden feels and sounds old. Even some very expensive rigs. Just get on and ride. This looks great.
Nice! It's good to hear that the Alpine 11 last that long. Belt drive and internal gears are buttery smooth - that's for sure! Have fun out there, John!
Great review all around. Nice work!
Thank you! I appreciate you taking the time to watch the looooong review!
Good review. Maybe show us a follow-up on how to change an inner tube on that rig
awesome review thank you
Looking forward to my apollo
Thanks Russ!!! You’re gonna love it. Happy ripping 🙌🏼🙌🏼
I've been using belt drive for a number of years now & the only time I've experienced anything similar to the stretch feeling you mention when starting is if the non turn axle washers or hub nuts were loose. Maybe if the belt is loose you might feel something, but it shouldn't stretch like a rubber band. Having a second set of wheels would be costly having to purchase a second alfine hub, though I guess many second wheelsets are expensive
Excellent review
Thank you kindly
Waiting on delivery for mine. Great review. Maybe I'll see you on your priority in the bay area.
Same here. SoCal.
If you see a guy on the green version in the Palo Alto area....that'll be me.
I want this bike sooooo bad!
Looks like a great bike! I wish they'd make a follow up version with a Rohloff hub and levers that tuck the shifting cable underneath the bar tape
Totally agree with your suggestions!
Hi Tim, how would the Apollo do for gravel touring with a few heavy bags and water bottles on board? Excellent trustworthy review, thanks
Well thought out setup. Nice price too.
Yeah! It’s such a solid bike.
These are the kinds of real world reviews that real world people need. Greatly appreciated this 👍 One thing that I would love to hear from. Either yourself or anyone that has one is can this bike keep up with the higher end road/gravel bikes. Let’s say like a Trek Domane. Are you sacrificing on things that give you that ability to cruise long distances at a truly good pace ?
Ayyy, thank you! These types of comments are the best. Gratifying hearing someone appreciate the in-depth reviews! As for keeping up with high end gravel and road... I'm sure it can as long as the rider is able to put down the watts. The bike is probably heavier than some of the higher end offerings you mentioned, so that's one thing to consider. And the Alpine hub may not spin as freely as a traditional hub/cassette, so that might slow things down a hair.
@@thegravelist interesting point about the Alpine Hub…haven’t seen anyone make mention of that. I was lucky enough to quickly try this bike out around the block and I was surprised how easily I was able to pick up speed as well as how well it absorbed some heavy duty bumps. But even a fridge can go fast if you shove enough energy behind it and the one thing I wasn’t able to gauge was the effort needed to maintain it over 30+ miles. Sure you can do that on a knobby heavy mountain bike, but you also might be contemplating your life choices in regret after mile 15 and while slugging your way up hills. Would you give this bike your blessing as a road only machine with the hope of easily maintaining 15mph+ over miles and miles ? Or would that be asking the wrong thing for it.
Btw, pretty cool to see you actually reply. I appreciate that
Howdy Tim. I had no idea you were a RUclips bike review dude! Very nice work. I stumbled upon this vid while researching the Priority 600X. Can you get one of those (or the regular 600) to review? I actually just put down a deposit on one, but I have never ridden, or even seen a Pinion gearbox bike.
I’ve been looking at the 600x also, what made you pick that over the Apollo?
Fantastic job 👍👏
Many thanks
Jealous of your weather (it was 50 during today’s East Coast ride), and syncing with the feeling of the Apollo. Got mine last week and a few rides in, can mostly agree with your review here. Front brake was initially “spongy” to my tastes, but otherwise, yep, these are solid.
And the quiet... wooooo the quiet. My eBike convinced me that I didn’t want a chain anymore. The Apollo solidified that. There is really a nice “zen” which hits when you realize you aren’t “ignoring” the sound of the bike to hear the surroundings. You just... ride. It’s sooo peaceful.
To echo... anyone looking at the Apollo, it’s definitely recommended. Shoot... I’m not even sure that I’d recommend more than the stem change as an upgrade. It’s just that solid of a product.
Great! Still waiting for mine. It's shipped yet to be delivered by velofix. Regret it. Got a medium. I'm anticipating a stem change too.
@@shabbirahmed84 I’m gonna stick with the default stem for a little while longer; I do think it’s a touch too long, but I’m also into stretching a little bit more these days, so it might actually be just fine. If I do go smaller, I don’t think it’s gonna go any smaller than maybe 70 or 80 mm, any shorter than that and would feel too much like my Brompton, LOL
@@ARJWright Thanks for the info! Can't wait!
Great points! I agree with them all. Enjoy the bike dudes!
More belt drives!!!
Loving this bike for real. ..
same same. It's such a beast!
Looks like it, now I gotta sell something. ..
Awesome review and format! More!!! What’s the bike weight btw?
Thanks for the kudos!! Glad you liked the format! With pedals and air in the tubes it was at 23 pounds according to my buddies scale.
Thanks for your review.
You’re welcome!
Hey! Great Video and I'm also loving my Apollo gravel bike! I know you mentioned a shorter stem and I was wondering if you have the link to it. I'm new in biking and am not sure on a particular brand to buy from.
Hey coleton! Thanks for the comment. It’s a 60mm FSA gravity light stem. You can find it on eBay for sure. Makes a big difference in comfort and makes the ride a tad more twitchy which is nice for the off road stuff, imo. Enjoy the bike!!
this is the bike i am striving for. thanks for the review! sub'd
Awesome! Thanks for the love 🙌🏼🙌🏼
Damn. I need one now...
Wow, great review. You definitely have a new subscriber now, I’m sure I’ll be going thru some of your old videos. Especially since you’re out here in the bay too, I’m out in Berkeley and have been riding to Sf with both bridges on my Brompton.
Were you able to ride it on mount Tam? I noticed you at least did hawk hill. Well done. I guess my big question is what hills could you do with it? Or what hill was the toughest hill you’ve encountered so far on the bike?
What’s up David! Hope to see you out there! I’ve only tackled hawk hill for now, but am going to hit rail road grade over the weekend. Can’t wait!!
Thanks for subscribing and for the kudos 🙌🏼🙌🏼
Have fun out there homie!
As of July 15, 2021 the price went up 25% to $2,000. I like the bike, but my Cannondale Topstone 1 has every feature I want including concealed cables, hydraulic brakes, and a 2X GRX drive train for about the same price.
Hi Tim, thanks making this video! I’m so glad this bike exists because I think it is just the bike I’m looking for. Btw, what kind of sunglasses are you wearing in the video? I am looking for a good pair of sunglasses to wear while riding. Thanks!
What's up Jesse! Thanks for watching and for the video kudos! Much appreciated. It's a great bike and so fun to ride, I hope this video helps make your decision easier. As for the glasses they are the Delta by Alba Optics. Have fun out there!
Thanks!
You are a good reviewer to the point? I noticed that even though the tires are a bit large there wasstill some vibration on your arms, and how is the vibration on the seat post? You mentioned the price of the bike at the time of this video was $1600 dollars well now it went up to $2000 dollars? Maybe supply and demand reasons? I felt that if the bike sells at $2000 now they should have included some accessorier, like fenders and possibly a rear rack? The hub and belt drive are the main attraction for me on this bike and I would like to see more competition from other manufacturers. lastly built of aluminium is a great combination, if onlt the frame had more of a square look would be a great option. With a squarish frame any accessory stays put than a round frame. Cheers.
This looks like such an awesome bike! Wanted to ask you what your views are on having a child seat on a gravel bike? My main concern is getting my leg over the top bar and not whipping it behind the seat and round housing my daughters head
It would be cool to see an update on how you feel about the bike after a year plus of riding it.
Great idea! That would be fun. I’ll add it to the queue.
Hey Tim, great review. Thanks to you and Duzer I've just taken receipt of my Apollo! In the video you mentioned changing the stem. What size did you go for? I'm thinking of changing my stem as well feel a bit overstretched with the 90mm that came with the bike.
Aw snap! Thanks for watching and for commenting. I appreciate the kudos and congratulations on your new Apollo! That bike is so fun.
As for the stem... I think it’s a 60 or 70? It definitely made it more comfortable to me and lends itself to be more snappy when I’m off road.
Enjoy the bike and thanks again!!
@@thegravelist Thanks Tim!
Hi mate, thanks the video! What sort of climb grades do you do under or over 10%? I'm tossing between this or the new Gemini Pinion 12.
What's the name of the stem you put on it? I have short arms myself.
Whats the gear range compared to a Trek Checkpoint or Specialized Diverge?
My dream bike, because of duzer. Haha, cheers from the ph, I wish they could ship it here!
Hey hey Melong! Thanks for stopping by! Hopefully you get your hands on one somehow 🤞
They ship worldwide
@@bowenwu8287 woaaah, i didnt see Philippines in the list, i'll check again!!!
Would love to get that bike or the 600x but it's lower weight limit makes it not a candidate for my touring bike needs. I'm 244 and my gear is 45lbs so over the limit.
This looks like a great bike. I'm trying to get back into cycling after 30 years (!), and want a no maintenance bike and so I really like the drive belt tech. But I've got a bad back and can't take being bent over. Is it possible to get a part that will raise the handlebars of this bike 6 or 8 inches?
You'd probably be better off with one of the other Priority brand bikes, like the 600. It is intended for a more upright position. I'm undecided as to which model would be best for me.
01:00 Curious….what stem did you switch the standard out with? I’m pretty much the same as you and have equally found the stem a little long. Just not sure what/how long a stem to get instead of the standard.
I totally like your videos thanks for excellent content.😎🚲🌬☔️🇨🇦
Thanks Barrie! I appreciate you taking the time to comment and for the support!
Are Gates Carbon belt drives allowed in gravel races?
What shoes are you wearing at 3:50 and did you put special petals on the bike?
Hi Tim quick question. I was looking for Priority Apollo content and came across your chanel and noticed from your other uploads you have several bikes, Since owning the Apollo which is your go to bike now and where does the Apollo rank... By the way nice content
Nevermind
@@bdoubleu4393 thank you! I hope you found an answer to your question. Each bike I have has it's place... or at least that's the reasoning I tell myself. If I had to narrow it down I'd say I rip on my All City the most for my current gravel rides. Apollo is the runner up, but I need to switch up the sprockets to give myself some easier climbing ratios.
Thanks for this video, whats your thoughts on this ride for a bikepacking or touring rig?
Hey Jeff! Thanks for watching and the for the comment. I bet the Apollo can handle some light backpacking. It's definitely bomb proof in regards to the belt drive and internal gearing. But the gearing might be high if you're loaded down and needing to climb with all that extra weight. Unless you're super fit. So I'd say a mild weekend trip, staying on the lighter side of minimalistic packing would work!
@@thegravelist I think they offer lower gears, being a noob, trying to decide what to get that will work for gravel and some bike packing or touring
It would have been cool for you to change the tire. Nice, I just bought one.
Thanks for the review! I have one on order and can't wait. So did you find removing the rear wheel to fix the flat easy? Have you set it up tubeless? And it would seem that swapping out wheel sets would be a bit difficult, as you'd have to get the rear wheel built to the hub or buy another Alfine hub and wheelset altogether, right?
Right on, thanks for watching and commenting! Yes, it’s super easy to remove. It was a little tricky at first removing the gear cable, but once I looked that up, super easy. I have not set it up tubeless yet, but am going to and will post a video about that too! And yes, you’re right, you’d have to have a second wheel set that had the alfine hub in it... extra cost for sure. I think if you run the max tire size on the 700c wheels it comes with, tubeless with a PSI then it would be plenty cushy
@@thegravelist Cool, thanks for the reply. You've got a new subscriber!
@@thegravelist Sorry, one more question - when you shift gears, do you have to stop pedaling or can you continue like a regular derailleur?
@@dvms2010 No sweat! Just keep on pedaling like a regular derailleur. Smoov as butttuhhh
@@thegravelist It would have been good to see you take the wheel off when you got back from your flat tire ride. A little more info there would have made this VG review an EX review. Nice video though.
I would love to have an Apollo, but I feel like the gear range (as you mentioned) is a little limiting if you hit steeper hills or want to do some bike-packing. I know it would be more expensive, but I would love to see a version of this with a Rohloff 14 speed hub.
Yeah for sure... they can set it up with a larger front ring so that would help. But also it would get easier with more riding! So it’s a nice nudge to get more into shape, haha.
@@thegravelist Yeah, good point! I am tempted by that low maintenance belt/IGH combo..
Rohloff SPEEDHUB $1100 To $1500 ,will double the price of the bike
Was looking at a Rohloff build from Shane, and came close to pulling the trigger *right* before the Apollo launched. In my riding so far, the gearing is certainly solid for the steepest areas I ride. Haven’t done any bike packing yet with it, but that’s the plan.
Apparently you can ask Priority to send you a slightly different sized cog to put on the back wheel that helps if you're doing a lot of steep climbing.
Hi Tim, How was your experience with tube change at the rear wheel. Do we need to adjust the gear cable and adjust chain tension each time when we replace or fix the punture ?
Thanks.
Yeah it was a bit tricky at first because I didn’t know what the process looked like taking the wheel off. But I looked up another RUclips video that explained it. Once I did that it was real easy. Just detach the shifter cable, remove the bolts/lock nuts and the tire comes off easy. No need to tension each time as the horizontal drop outs have, and I don’t know the technical term, but are held in place with Allen bolts that are separate from the wheel bolts. Hopefully that makes sense...
@@thegravelist Thank you Tim!
@@shabbirahmed84 no problem!
ok where's my dollar ,lol..
nice bike, do those internal gear can shift while pedaling and when stopping? or oposite of external gear when we need to stop the crank first to make the gear shift?.
can we use external shifter for internal gear?
Haha. That’s a looooong video to sit through - but thank you so much for sticking it out.
As for shifting, you can shift whenever since they’re internal gears there’s not outside Mech that is being moved around. It all happens seamlessly and without the need of forward movement when shifting. It’s pretty sweet.
Is the lowest gear at least 1 to 1?
Great review.. Thank you! I signed up with the AIDS/LifeCycle ride (from SF to LA) and wondered what your thoughts were about the Apollo for such an event. It involves 50-100 mile rides each day for seven days. I already own another Priority bike and love the products. Your thoughts?
Thanks for the kudos!! That’s such a cool ride, my buddy and I almost signed up for that a few years back. Would love to hear more about it when you’re done!
As for the Apollo… are you going to be loaded down with much gear? If so, the gear range, loaded down, might be a little steep when it comes to climbs. I’m not sure what the elevation change looks like for that ride, but it would be worth investing in a smaller front chain ring. You’ll have to buy that second hand as priority doesn’t supply it, but it would be worth it!
Other than that I think the bike would be perfect for that long of a haul. The internal gears alone would be worth it, imo.
Good luck!!
@@thegravelist We don't have much gear at all-- just to the obvious. The AIDS/Life Cycle roadies take care of most if it. Another quick question: In the video, you got flat tire. I wondered how difficult it is to replace a back tire because of the carbon drive belt. Thoughts?
@@basindtla Nice! Then you'll be fine. I would look at getting some proper slicks for it then! Sounds like most of the ride is on pavement? As for the tire, it's quite different than what you may be used to. But doable. I would watch Priority's video on how to change the tire, you can also check my tubeless install video. Just make sure to have handy a 15mm wrench!
what did you do with the bike after the review? Returned it?
Need to change the front chain gear to smaller one and increase the rear cog to increase the gear range of the bike for serious hill climbing in the mountains.
I agree!
Whats the max tire clearance for a 700c?
Hi Tim. I still have a while before my Apollo delivers but wanted to know what stem angle/length did you choose for the Apollo? I’m same height/inseam as you.
Congrats on the bike! Shipping times are insane these days, but understandably so. I ordered a Hardtail mtb, in April with a July delivery, that’s now pushed back to the end of the year! So I get it :(
Anyway, the stem I had installed in this video was a short gravity stem @30 or 40mm, i can’t fully remember. It was taken off my cross bike. The angle was around the 7 degree mark. Which completely changed the handling of the bike. It made it feel twitchy, for me in a good way as I like to ride more technical gravel routes on it. The stock 90mm stem was a bit too long for me. So if you don’t want a twitchy feeling bike and don’t want to feel too stretched out, then it might be worth checking out a 60-80mm stem.
Hope this helps!
Do you have stop pedaling momentarily to shift on the alfine hub?
Nope!
Great content. I have a L Train and loves the smoothness. I love the easy maintenance of priority bikes and i was wondering if this Apollo would be suited for road riding only. I m not worry about the speed range, i want to go back to road riding (3 yrs removed) with friends, and my fitness should be sufficient. I don’t want to struggle to follow rhythm on a 30-50 miles outing with friends riding pure road bikes in the 19-20 lbs range.
Thanks Laurent! That L Train looks super nice. Love single speeds and that combined with a smooth, silent belt drive - absolute butter I’m sure.
I think Apollo would work given that you sound fit and speed isn’t your main concern. Its longer wheel base and longer chain stays definitely favor off road descending. On road only, that may translate to some sluggishness. I went on a 20 mile ride with 2 road warriors, kitted out and with road specific bikes and was wayyyy behind them. That also has a lot to do with my level of fitness. That said, slap some pure slicks on the Apollo and pump them up hard and that may change things quite a bit.
All in all I’d say if speed isn’t your concern and you’re cruising at a chatting pace, then the Apollo will suit ya just fine.
Hope that helps!
I am 5' 6" what size is fine to me small or medium
Nice review. Ordered the bike last month and just checking up on any new content, pictures online coz its my first bike!!
Quick question: I have been suggested medium size. I'm 5'6 with around 30.5 to 31 inseam. I'm hoping the reach is not too far stretched out. When you mentioned ur height I was a little concerned. Any thoughts? Thanks for the review.
Awesome! Congrats on the new bike - you’re gonna love it!! I know priority sizes based off of inseam, so the bike will fit in that regard. If you have proportionate arms you should be good to go. I have shorter arms and the back of a 90 year old, so a shorter stem works out in my favor across all my bikes. Either way, you can always put a shorter stem on there if you feel it’s too long!
@@thegravelist Thanks for prompt reply and suggestion. My wingspan is equal to my height.
Hi Shabbir - Did the medium size fit you well or did you have to make any adjustments? I was thinking for your measurements you would lean more towards a size small, but it's hard to tell without getting on the bike.
@@goldwarrior9562 Hello, I haven't made any changes get. But I would definitely go with a size small or change to a shorter stem. Still deciding between the two. It's a slighter longer reach for more than 5 miles ride. I haven't doing longer rides beacuse of it. Awesome bike. Would buy it again.
@@shabbirahmed84 thanks for the response! Yeah, I’m having trouble deciding if I want to go for the Apollo. My friend has the 7 speed L Train and I tried that and I like that it is more of an upright position because it’s less stress on my lower back, but it’s hard if there are hills because it only has 7 speeds. I rode the L Train on a more flatter terrain and was able to ride 20 miles. If the L Train had more gears like the Apollo is an 11 speed, I would definitely buy it.
Thanks for such informative video...Much appreciated...My inseam is 32 inch and height is 173cm - Priority suggests to get medium size frame....I wanna be very comfortable and be in more upright position .... Any recommendations? Thoughts?
Thanks in advance...
how about get the bike, try out the stock position and see how you feel. Then switch to a riser/shorter stem if necessary
I'd roll with their sizing recommendation. I'm 5'9 with a 30ish cycling inseam and the bike almost feels a hair too big. I think I'm. I like Qui's recommendation too on the riser and shorter stem combo, that'll get you more upright. I think a large would be too large though, but a medium with those bar adjustments would fit just right.
Finally I got bike and I love it but I think that I will benefit from changing to a riser/shorter stem just like you did...
Is there a way you can send me a link to a product or maybe part number? What exactly should I mention in my email to Priority? Many Thanks in advance !
Transmission/drop bars?
Hey Tim I’m desperate for a Priority bike but they are pricy (at least for me) is there 1 you would go for if you could only get one?
Hey Bennett - thanks for your comment! Good question. Since the only experience I have with Priority is with the Apollo, I'd say that would be my go to bike. It depends on what kind of riding you do, but drop bar gravel bikes, in general, are super versatile. Good for Road riding, off road ripping and everything in between. So yeah... the Apollo would be a solid choice if you had to pick just one, based on it's versatility. Take care!
The smoothness of the Gates carbon drive is amazing. It might feel like there is some stretch, but there is NONE. In fact, these belts have less stretch than any chain. That is why the belt outlasts 4 to 5 chains.
This, or the DSX-1? Great reviews on both!
Where in San Francisco is this?
dude you're 5'9"....30inch inseam. so i'm ..5'7"...28"inseam....so would you recommend...A 'Small' Size for me? is THIS PRIORITY just 'Direct purchase'? no bike 'dealers in Canada 'Sell them'?? cheers ...from Toronto..'Area'...
Awesome bike but I think they should put the SHIMANO Alfine 11-Speed in black ,that way it’ll match the rest of the bike
I had the same thought initially, but it also blends in nicely with the spokes.
A black hub (and black spokes) would be a very, very nice tweak to this
Hey! Do you know would this bike be good for bikepacking or touring?
Howdy - thanks for your comment! Yeah, I'd say it can hang as a bike packing machine! It's got the mounting points for it and the frame feels tough as nails. The longer wheel base would be favorable on those off road depends when packed down too, would feel stable I imagine. The gearing might get ya a little, especially on a steeper climb. If you order one, I'd ask to have them install a different front ring to accommodate steeper climbs.
@@thegravelist thanks for the insight!
Hey bro, konichiwa. Can you do a review of the Priority Continuum Onyx, or give me your opinion on it?
I'm obviously not Tim, but I have a continuum onxy and I'm pretty sure he does not so I may be able to help. IMO the continuum is a great bike. The components work great and it is a super smooth bike to ride with the cvt. I'm very happy with the brakes and it has fenders and lights stock so you can ride at night or in the rain. Lmk if there is anything else you want to know.
@@burton158c Thanks man. In your opinion how does this bike compare to the Trek FX4?
How did you find the stiffness of the ride?
I'm leery of aluminum frames and their excessive rigidity, especially on longer rides over 3 hours.
Hey Paul, thanks for stopping by. I didn’t find the ride stiff in a bad way. Having the larger 40c tires helped soak up any road chatter and certainly helped off road too. When pedaling the Gates belt drive also had that tiny bit of forgiveness which also helped soften up the stiffness you may be referencing. The saddle also has enough cushion to it without being too plush. Basically the overall ride felt balanced. Hopefully that helps!
I have the bike and its comfortable on long rides. I think it mostly has to do with the tires. I agree with the guy who made this video, the first thing that strikes you about the bike is how smooth and quiet it is.
I've heard that when you're going slow, round town or pedestrian areas, belt bikes are more difficult to pedal than chain ones. They're only good when your going medium + speeds.
Do you agree?
I haven't heard that before -- interesting! No, I don't agree with that. The engagement the hub has is pretty instant and super smooth, even in slowwwww scenarios.
Good to know. I read it on a couple of different review sites, so I thought it may be true. Maybe on cheaper bikes, perhaps?
@@doomguy5406 perhaps. Or different belt drive systems. The gates system on the Apollo is great. No hints of difficult pedaling in slower conditions at all.
I have the cheap belt drive from Priority (Brilliant Cooper). Yes, you are right about inefficiency but it's not the speed that determines the inefficiency, it's how hard you pedal. There is a study somewhere between a chain vs belt and at below ~220W power, belt is less efficient than a chain but beyond 220W, belt is more efficient. In real world, it doesn't feel bad at all, probably 1 to 3W of energy wasted.
do you know the weight of the bike and what size it is?
Hey there! Thanks for stopping by. With pedals and a bottle cage it weighed in at 25 pounds. It's a medium. I'm 5'9 with a 30" inseam with shorter arms and it fits great, standover is spot on and with the shorter stem I added, it fits great.
Putting a bigger sprocket like 23t at the back will allow you to climb much easier.
great idea! I definitely need that...
isn't the stock rear sprocket 24t? That's what it is on Priority website
I’ve been looking at this bike vs a Poseidon X. Do you have any experience with that bike or any comparisons?
Great information in this vid. Subscribed!
Hey jason - thanks for the comment and sub! I don’t have hands on experience with the Poseidon X, but the review Lockedin put up is great. Hard to beat the price of the X, but I do love the belt drive and internal gears the Apollo offers. Smooth as buttahhh
@@thegravelist thank you for the reply. I do have a concern/question about the gearing. Website shows lowest gear at .88 ratio. My giant MTB has lowest gears starting at .55 ratio. Give me full transparency, is the gearing to tall? Will I be able to climb hills comfortably with this bike?
Just to keep with the transparency, my MTB also has 3+ ratio in the highest gears. Alphine hub website shows 2.15 ratio in highest gear. .88/2.15~409%. My MTB has 430% total. I’m not in the highest gears very often but I do love my low gears on the steep steep. New to cycling. Love a good ride.
Thank you for your time,
J
@@jasonyoungokc i think you’d be fine climbing hills. It more had to do with my level of fitness at the time, which is a nice reminder that I should get out and push myself more, haha. You can also have them set you up with a larger front ring to help make those steep climbs a bit easier. But give it a shot first because you’re probably in better shape than me, ha
@@thegravelist 2 points to make:
1. i gave the wrong gearing numbers. delfine11 lowest gear is .527 and highest is 2.153. 2.153/.527 = 408.5%. the lowest gear on my MTB is .824 (28 chain ring / 34 on cassette) and highest gear is 3.429. so according to that math the apollo will have some LOWER gearing than my MTB. i am happy to see that correctly now that i am home.
2. i'm not in shape!! i rode my longest ever ride last week of 41 miles. i thought it was gonna kill me.
have a good one,
j
@@jasonyoungokc Check the other review of this. Ryan is in Colorado and mentioned a sprocket swap to handle the hills. Priority themselves can probably answer your question.
If you switch the 700c wheels to 650b wheels, don't you have to worry about pedal strike?
Good question! Not sure, but I hope they would have factored in pedal strike with a 650b wheel set when they designed the frame.
700 c to 650 b wheels are not much difference ...... if your worried about pedal strikes if riding 650b wheelset then just install a shorter Crank arm on bicycle if factory crank is a 170 mm install a 165 mm crank arms
"If you watch the whole thing I'll give you a dollar."
I think you owe me like ten bucks because I've watched this at least that many times. But don't pay me yet. I'm going to rack up enough points to buy my own Apollo. :)
Haaaa. Send me your Venmo!
I am not a fan of the hub, I had an 8 speed on a Giant Seek and it was fantastic for 5 years then it broke. Zero parts support here in Western Australia.
Can you put road bike wheels on this?
yes, rim width is 23mm so you can put any 700c tires with width 30mm up to 44mm ( I think 44mm is max clearance for this Apollo, not sure)
What's the estimated life and price of the belt? I ask because it looks like a rubber/carbon composite, and rubber definitely wears.
Life expectation is over 10,000 km for CDX belt drive, which this bike has. And the belt is probably $100 but by the time you need to replace the belt, you should also change both sprockets which are quite costly $150+ each? Maybe you can get discounts from Priority.
@@qui11 $150 each for the sprockets? Ouch!
@@MrFragManiac I'm wrong about the above post. I looked more into this and the high-end CDX version of the belt is $70 and sprocket is $80 for the rear and $100 for the front. So totally $250 for at least over 10,000km of riding which is not bad at all
@@qui11 Thanks for the heads up. Yeah $150 less is far more reasonable. I guess these parts are more like car maintenance, where you pay a bigger amount every so often, but get far more mileage.
Awesome review but the flat tire has always been a problem for me with gravel bikes. They need to make Mtb thick tires for gravel. I'm really looking at their touring bikes.