pcb 

SOLD - thanks to all!

Next up is an '83/'84 Specialized Sequoia frameset, $275 shipped via BikeFlights to the lower 48. Structurally solid, looks to have relatively low mileage but has some paint issues from sweat/storage. I built it up and rode it briefly, it rides nicely and fits me well, but as much as I'd like to keep the epitome of production sport-touring design & construction, I have too much other stuff and this puppy didn't make the cut.

I not sure how to crack the ser# code: M3D01049 I think means 4/83 production, so probably a late '83 or early '84 model-year frame. Don't know if this was still a Miyata build. Specs are:

'83/'84 Specialized Sequoia, ser#M3D01 049 (Miyata? 4/83); Spec'l Touring Cro-Moly tubing
ST 74.5-deg, HT 72.5-deg
ST 60.0cm c-c, 61.0cm c-t
TT: 57.5cm c-c
Chainstay: 43.0cm, wheelbase 104.5cm
BB drop 73mm; standover 86.0cm/33.8"
Rear spacing 126mm; Shimano ES horizontal drops w/single eyelets
Seatpost dia: 26.8mm
Calipers: std/long-reach, nutted

Paint overall is pretty good, but there are problem spots: spiderwebbing below the downtube and seat tube bottle cage mounts, below the shift lever mount and behind the front top tube brake housing guide. Should respond well to some oxalic acid or your rust remover of choice, with some post-treatment touchup. I removed the paint behind the top tube guide to make sure it was just surface rust. There's also a long scrape on the seat tube, and some chipping on the underside of the right seatstay cap (maybe from a stand clamp? hard to figure that one...). There's also some chrome pitting on the driveside chainstay.

Definitely good bones on this one, and if you're not super fussy it can be built and happily ridden as is. Or make it pretty.

Coupla pix attached, more viewable at my flickr album. I do have closeups of the paint issues, so there should be no surprises.
https://flic.kr/s/aHsk4wp4gu

Happy to answer questions.

icepick_trotsky 

Great looking frame. Slightly off topic question -- a lot of 80s touring frames seem to have a longer seat tube than top tube. What gives? Is it a lower bottom bracket, slacker angle, to encourage a french-er fit?

fender1

It was left to the shop that sold it to you or to the buyer to install a longer stem to increase the reach.

bikingshearer 

Also, at that size, the seat tube is almost always longer than the top tube. As a big boy who rides bigger frames than this one, I don't think I've ever seen a 60+cm frame, touring or otherwise, that had a longer top tube than seat tube, and precious few that had equal length top and seat tubes.

acoffin 

What I am surprised by are the angles, 74.5 seat and 72.5 head. I would really like to have a frame built with similar angles and measurements, but with room for 40mm tires & fenders.

I have read that Grant Peterson was in love with the early Sequoia, but the example shown here is in opposition to many of his trademarks (long top tube, steep head angle, relaxed seat angle). I wonder what the story is with that.

southpawboston

That's interesting. Some of the 1980s Schwinn Voyageurs had similar steep seat tube/relaxed head tube angles (74/72, respectively), which I always thought odd, but I suppose there was some logic to it if other touring bikes from the same era shared that geometry. By making the seat tube angle so steep, it increases the length of the down tube and increases the wheelbase (relative to a slack seat tube angle with the same length top tube)-- maybe the longer wheelbase was the goal (for stability and/or to decrease toe clip overlap)? The Voyageur wheelbase on bikes with that geo was 42.25", at least that's the measurement stated for the 23" size.

tarwheel 

Can anyone tell me what reach caliper brakes fit the 1980s era Sequoia frames if using 700c wheels? There seem to be two sizes for "long reach brakes," 47-57mm and 58-80ish. Alternatively, if using Paul Racer brakes, would you need the Standard size or the Medium? Thanks in advance.

bikemig 

Too big, very cool frame. This will move.