I have had this bike 12 years, over that time it has taken some abuse. I have replaced brake levers with Clarks metal short leavers so you can break with 1-2 fingers. Suspension is terrible, it is like a pogo stick although now the front forks don't really work that well anymore and the back coil had worn out and couldn't be replaced. I went to Halfords and they were really helpful and just took one off a cheap bike as generally the bike isn't supposed to last that long. I have had a new back wheel, three bottom brackets and new tyres but it refuses to die. I have done 30 miles in one go many times on this bike and often that is off road, very light trails but for a laugh I have taken it on red routes and definitely just falls to bits, so don't try! I also use this bike for short 1-2 mile trips to the shops and pull a childrens trailer with it. I must of spent £70-80 fixing it over 12 years on top of the £89 it cost new so I would call that good value. Some of these cheaper bikes are actually have fairly strong frames. I would get a cheap rigid and upgrade wheels, bottom bracket and brakes and you actually have a good work horse on the cheap.

I ordered one of their bikes, and it is having the same problems. I return to the store to be fixed, and after a few days fixed, the bike still breaks! Same thing always, same problem. Honestly, dont waste you money buying it!

I bought an Apollo FS.26s in a carboot sale in Spring 2011, for £41.My dad thought it is expensive, but I think it is a great value for money. The first thing I noticed about this bike is that the suspension is soft, compared to the other bikes I have ridden. The attempt of cycling it over a small flight of stairs was proved successful, and it absorbd large bumps well, but there is a minimum damage to one of the axles. The rider should take precaution of the suspension's limits. The 'Innova' tyres it came with provide excellent grip to both road and off-road. Extreme riding may wear them out faster than normal off-road tyres. The 'Shimano Tourney' gearbox, and the 'SRAM' twist grip, provide a smooth gear change. Also the 'Shimano' HG40 chain and the 7-speed freewheel provide a sharp response. However, the whole set must be properly maintained, ideally with an expert. There is a front disc brake, and a rear V-Type brake. The front is the 'Tektro' IO with a 160mm disc brake creates a powerful, but stable stopping power. The rear V-Type brake main components are made of metal. One of the most important points of the Apollo FS.26s is that the bike is well made. There is no feeling of any loose components or bike parts. The bike's framework is made of aluminium. It may be weaker than steel, but it would last longer. The bad points of the FS.26s is that the whole bike is heavy. It may be difficult to ride on a steep hill. The second point is that the pedals are low to the ground, and it may scrape the ground when the rider is turning. Overall, the Apollo FS.26s is a tough, smooth, well-made and beautiful bike.My final notification is that the bik must be properly maintained, to work at it's best.

I bought this bike for my son and it has been nothing but trouble. In the time of ownership it has had 2 back wheels bearing failure not warping, complete front braking components, twist grips broken on 1-7, the main spindle in the rear wheel snapped in half, the brakes need constant adjustments, 2 new brake cables. Now some of these are to be expected but this bike is in the shed and has only had light use. I will never purchase any bike through Halfords ever again.

I have had bike/apollo fs26 for a 18 months now going to and from work, I purchased the bike from halfords,The good points are it's a tough bike on/off road,I have read the reviews of others I did have problem with the chain slipping off but that was due to my lack of knowledge applying oil on to the chain, so now I just simply use WD40(problem solved bike shop told me so),I also found changing gears tricky ,I found you've got to change gear at the correct speed and also turning the gear selector GENTLY!!(just as you would raising the clucth pedal on a car when changing gear),e.g going from 5th gear to 4th gear or 3rd to 2nd gear. Changing from 4-5-6th gear down you can change the gear selector rapidly. I have manged to fit a pannier rack on the front fork, the only bad points are the bike is heavy and seat is uncomfortable, so may upgrade front forks & seat soon.enjoy cycling everyone

I got my Apollo second hand for £50 so I could try commuter cycling without shelling out £100's. I've ridden it to and from work for the last 8 months through all weather, covering 50 miles a week on road and cycle path.

I've had a few problems (chain snapped, bottom bracket broke after about 1500 miles, re-tuned gears, replaced tyres it came with) but for the money this continues to be a great bike. Spent about £74 to keep it running but it's saving me over £100/month in petrol...and I'm never stuck in traffic!

It is what it is - a decent cheap bike, but I've found it a joy to ride. Especially since I changed the tyres for some Schwalbe Land Cruisers ;)

i got this bike to goto and from work on, after a couple of days the gears nedded adjusting, as kept getting jammed and slipping.
i have had the bike 8 months and had 2 brake cables snap, bottom bracket bearing replaced, seat replaced front forks replaced ( was told they cant get my forks anymore so i ended up with sr suntour.)after 6 weeks the rear brakes worn out.
so all in all it is a pretty bad bike. it is very heaving like trying to cycle a block of flats uphill.

i know alot of people have put this bike down but i think if you want a bike that lasts and extremely cheap get this i use it mostly for bike rides but some off road i have to say it copes well on both the suspension makes it extremely comfortable but it is very heavy i am getting a road bike soon but if you want off road and a strong bike this is the one for you :D

I have owned my 'Apollo FS26s' for two years now and i am still very pleased with it. I have not used it everyday but it has seen its fair share of road. I have recently changed the brake levers as the old ones were damaged in a fall and i have changed the pedals out of choice. Halfords were very good when i asked them how i should fix it and they talked me through it nicely. The bike does need work from time to time and i have spent just under £40 on it in two years, this is incredibly good value for money as i know people who have spent £200 in a few months on bike repairs. It is heavy but i don't mind it too much as i see it as an extra workout. Gears are temperamental and need to be used properly or else they will jump but proper use . I find bike maintenance fun so i do not mind tinkering with this bike. It is incredibly very fun to ride.

Having read all the other reviews I was surprised no one has mentioned the weight of this bike. It may have an aluminium frame but I suspect the tubing has been filled with lead!! The forks are steel as are the suspension arms. This makes the bike too heavy for any serious cycling on or off road. The brake calipers seized after 2 months, although Halfords did replace them. If you intend to do more than cycle to work and back I would suggest a lighter model. I have just purchased a Scott and its less than half the weight and is a similar price although I notice halfords are knocking the apollos out at a much reduced price now. Never worth the full price anyway.

To start with i wrote a review for the Halfords website giving it 1/5 stars and they did not publish it!

Had this bike for 3 months and nothing but problems: front fork begin to squeak and gears would slip out randomly when going up hill.

Also you are very limited with accessories that fit the bike.

Not to mention very poor customer service from Halfords with regards sorting the faults.In fact to directly quote the sales man in the Cribbs Causeway Bristol store:

'What. You cant expect such a cheap bike to be perfect?'

Hope this is of help in any decision making.