We all know about Chinese products. We’ve all used them at some point in our life. While these affordable products are more and more embedded in our daily life, are we ready to use Chinese recreational vehicles?
What’s more, most people don’t have that much knowledge about these brands, Apollo being one of them. That said, are Apollo dirt bikes good?
Apollo dirt bikes have decent performance and build quality with exceptionally affordable price tags, which helped them gain traction in the industry. With proper maintenance, these dirt bikes have enough potential to become everyday rides for average bikers.
However, the story doesn’t end there. Apollo didn’t reach this stage within a short time. They took small steps and slowly expanded their field.
Anyway, let’s not spill all the beans here-
What Is An Apollo Dirt Bike?
Apollo dirt bikes are a newcomer in the well-saturated dirt bike industry. But in their 16 years of experience, they’ve managed to secure their spot with affordability and decent build quality.
Instead of making the best products in the market, they’ve gone for a specific niche. Not everyone looks for the fastest or most well-built dirt bike. Some want an affordable bike that lets them feel the rush of riding again. But keep in mind, they’re not interested to spend thousands of dollars for that adrenaline rush.
Are Apollo Dirt Bikes Reliable?
It’s a Chinese product. The build quality must be horrible. That’s kind of like the only reason some people don’t think Apollo dirt bikes aren’t reliable. But China didn’t become the greatest manufacturing giant by producing cheap products.
Apollo is not that big of a brand but you’d still find people talking about it in different forums. In most cases, people who are against its products have neither handled nor seen the bikes. The only reason they have is it’s a Chinese product.
Be that as it may, the ones who have experience with the bikes stand up for the brand. I mean it’s not like Apollo has the most durable and well-built dirt bike in the market.
Take care of the bike and it might last many years(I’ll talk about maintenance in a second). Now that brings us to the most important question, who is this bike for?
- People are a little short on budget.
- Someone who doesn’t want to go overboard with the bike just for some adrenaline rush.
- Kids who are starting out dirt biking
- Families who want to go dirt biking every once in a while
What Country Makes Apollo Dirt Bikes?
Apollo started out as a plastic manufacturing company in 2003. In 2004, they started making electric scooters and skateboards. It was in 2006 when they started developing dirt bikes after a Honda rider inspired them to carry on. After a few years, they took over a good market share of China and started distributing their products worldwide, 69 countries to be exact.
Currently, Apollo has their global distribution hub in Quebec, Canada from where they manage the operational side. But why am I giving you this boring technical information?
It’s to let you know Apollo wants to hear their customer’s opinions. If it were a rebranded bike brand, they wouldn’t even bother going through all that. But that’s not the case.
Based on customer opinion, Apollo has been introducing new line-ups of dirt bikes along with bringing significant changes to their existing models. That said, there’s no reason to think it’s a cheap Chinese brand making low-quality dirt bikes.
The quality is decent enough for an average dirt bike rider. With proper maintenance and everything, it’ll last for years to come.
Are Apollo 125cc dirt bikes unsafe/dangerous for teenagers or young adults?
125cc dirt bikes are completely safe for teenagers or young adults who want to start out. Parents are always worried about whether their kids will be able to handle the weight and speed of the bike. But bikes with a 125cc 4-stroke engine don’t pack in excessive power. Ride with proper safety measures and you won’t get injured.
However, you should keep in mind, a higher displacement engine isn’t necessarily a bad thing. A higher cc means the engine will have an improved braking system along with better acceleration.
Most people think higher cc means more speed. But that’s not always the case. This is why you should keep a balance between speed and engine displacement when choosing a dirt bike for your kid.
How to Maintain Apollo 125cc Dirt Bike?
No matter how fast it goes or how reliable it is, at the end of the day, it’s a machine. Without proper maintenance, it won’t last for long.
Even though there’s no extraordinary maintenance for Apollo dirt bikes, make sure to follow these. Remember the placement of these factors is based on their importance. For example, you wouldn’t need to use grease every day but you do need to clean your bike considering you ride it every day. Anyway, let’s start-
Remember to Wash After Every Ride
No matter how tired you feel, wash your bike after a ride. It’ll prevent dirt and rust build-up, maintaining the body in the long run.
Take Care of Chain Regularly
It’s a dirt bike. It’s supposed to get dirty. The chain in particular faces more dirt and mud. You might clean it when it’s dried out but don’t leave it like that for days.
Check the Chain Tension
There should be a balance. Too tight and it might break, too loose and the bike won’t go fast enough. Make sure the chain free-play stays between ½-inch or 13 mm and you’ll be good to go.
Inspect the Control and Other Cables
Check whether the throttle and clutch cables have enough free play or not. Also, inspect their overall condition and see if those need any replacement. The handle free-play, engine response, remember to thoroughly check all these factors.
Clean the Air Filter
A clean air filter will save you money in the long run. Moreover, you’ll get consistent better performance. But don’t forget to use an air-filter oil after you’re done.
Change Motor and Brake Oil
To keep your engine in top-notch condition, time-to-time oil changes are a must. You don’t have to change brake oil that often but don’t overlook it.
Use Grease Whenever Necessary
After rounds of washes and rides in dirt-filled lands, the grease loses its capabilities. But greasing up isn’t that complicated so don’t worry.
Why Are Apollo Dirt Bikes So Cheap?
You get what you pay for. Sometimes we take this too seriously. We forget that the economy in the US and Asian countries is not the same. So, when we happen to come across an affordable product, we immediately think it’s a cheaply-made product with no value.
Is that the same case for Apollo? Well, obviously not. You already know that. But how do they make it so cheap?
Cheap labor, low raw material cost, rudimentary safety, and health compliance standards in China are what make it possible to produce affordable dirt bikes. The marketing and promotional costs aren’t that high because of the target group so it stays in the average person’s buying range.
On top of that, Apollo isn’t only focused on making dirt bikes. From ATVs to dirt bikes they manufacture a whole army of recreational products. Needless to say, they can cut down the cost of R&D without having to outsource it.
Fastest Apollo Dirt Bike – Which One Is It?
The Apollo DB-36 RX250cc is the strongest bike Apollo has ever made. This bad boy with its 4-stroke air-cooled 250cc engine takes off-road riding into a whole nother level. The manual clutch with upgraded tires gives you the feeling of a premium full-size dirt bike without having to break the bank.
A 5-speed manual transmission combined with the powerful 250cc engine reaches an amazing 90 mph. Fast, reliable, and sporty, all while keeping the price tag under the radar. What more could you ask for?
Final Verdict
Don’t judge a book by its cover. The next time someone asks you, are Apollo dirt bikes good? Make sure you tell them that. After all, there’s no denying Apollo some of the best affordable dirt bikes in the market.
Just because it’s got a lower price, doesn’t mean it’s not worth it. The sooner you realize it, the better it is for you.
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