Well, it’s been almost 50 years since we first set foot on the moon with Apollo 11. Growing up I have always been fascinated by the history of manned space travel, so the Apollo missions hold a very special place in my heart. Whenever I feel frustrated with technology I just remember that a bunch of guys went to the moon using calculations done on slide rules with a flight computer that was less powerful than a modern calculator. Luna has been refining the Apollo for almost 2 years now. Finally, they are releasing what they consider to be the finest ebike they have ever sold.
This article is about my experiences test riding an earlier version of the bike during a trip to LA in Oct of 2017.
I love the pumping oil well in the background of this high-tech electric beauty
The first thing I noticed about the Apollo was how light it was. The Apollo ebike I tested in Oct 2017 weighed in at exactly 59lbs, but it did not have the full-size production battery, I tested it with a 12Ah 30Q pack (the production bike has a 21Ah pack). I don’t know what the production bike weighs, but the Apollo felt much lighter than its larger cousin the Apex. I also reviewed the Apex which I was pleasantly surprised with the performance for a full suspension fatbike. Before I tried the Apex I had never tested a full suspension fatbike that I liked, and I have ridden at least 5 different full suspension fatties.
The carbon seat looks sexy but it’s a literal pain in the ass, the dropper post is so sweet
The Apollo didn’t feel like a fat bike with its 27.5 Plus tires that were only 3 inches wide. The bike easily goes over 40mph on the road and the suspension is stiff enough that it feels safe at 40mph. When riding around town I got pretty annoyed at how slow all the other cars are. Even in LA traffic, you can ride this ebike like a motorcycle on everything but the freeways and it’s fast enough that you don’t fear for your life, most of the time (hey, it is LA).
I loved that the bike I tested had the 4 bolt BCD chainring, most Ultra’s have the larger 5 bolt BCD
The bike performs well off-road with lots of travel in the front and the rear. The carbon fiber seat is awful and it doesn’t matter how thick your chamois diaper is, you will want to gorilla glue some minicell foam on the seat to save your ass.
The Manitou fork was perfect for the road and trail riding
When deciding between the Apex and Apollo you really have to decide what size tires you want. If you are not riding in the deep snow then the 27.5 Plus tires make sense for most applications. For snow riding or in soft sand the Apex will outperform the Apollo. I liked them both and it really came down to price and options. The Apex is available with a myriad of options, whereas the Apollos do not.
Pros:
- 2000W factory built torque sensing Ultra Max magnesium drive unit (3lbs lighter than normal Ultra Max)
- Normal Ultra Max motors bought from vendors that are not Lunacycle do not have the 2000W Ludicrous hardware modified controller and can only put out 1500W peak
- Custom built-in the USA
- Fun to ride, easily goes 40+ mph
- Large battery pack with lots of range 21Ah, 52v
- Good on the road, great on the trails
- Nice weight for a high power/long-range ebike
Cons:
- Torque sensing Ultra Max makes you feel like a superman, hard not to ride too fast
- Carbon seat is for hard asses
- Price
- Warranty costs extra
When testing the carbon frame they ran over the rear triangle with a 16 wheeled army truck and it didn’t break
Although the market for high power ebikes is heating up, I can’t see anyone who buys this bike being disappointed. The Apollo is available and shipping now for $5899 right here from Lunacycle. The torque sensing drive train makes the interface between man and machine feel seamless. For those who are commuting, it will allow you to get to your destination much faster and in style than other bikes. For trail riders, it will allow you to ride with the power and range of an eMoto like the Sur-Ron, but with the stealth of an ebike. Even with the large battery pack, the Apollo looks like a bike and not a motorcycle. If you’re pedaling along it will really add to the illusion that you’re doing what you’re supposed to be instead of riding a 2000 Watt sleeper.
Because it’s better to have the power and not use it than to need it and not have it.
Ride On.
You can see the pop lock for the seat post on the left and the version I tested had the DPC-18 color display
