Edit: We figured out it wasn't a Specialized Sequoia, so this original post is a little moot other than the pictures.

Hey there, a while back I bought an unknown steel bike off of Craigslist to build a budget touring bike. The owner thought maybe it was a Norco, but they painted it over 17 years ago and definitely didn't remember the model. I thought for the last month it must be some kind of oddball Norco I might never ID. Then I ran into a Specialized Sequoia for sale that looked identical. Apparently the flat bullet markings by the seat post, the butted seat tube, and uneven seat post opening are pretty specific to the 91-93 years. This one would be specifically a 91 because it was the only year without a hole on the backside of the center tube to fit a generator for the lights. Does anyone have any more info on these hard to research years? Did I miraculously go to buy an old mountain bike for touring and end up with a touring bike? The only really noticeable difference is the height of the seat tube, but I'm wondering if since it's the smallest frame size if that would be why the tube is longer (kinda like how on the smaller frames the top and bottom tubes connect a lot closer on the headset than the larger frame sizes).

Thanks in advance for any help someone could offer!

Here's the 1991 Catalog, but it's only online in German.




ABOVE: I didn't notice until after I got the bike the Deore pedals in the listed pictures were replaced with black brandless mountain bike pedals.





ABOVE: No generator area, but it does have the attachment for an old school bike pump.

ABOVE: The only old photo the owner had of it prior to its new paint job. He had gifted it to his dad to be used as a hunting bike. Interesting history!

ABOVE: Here's the one for sale I ran into recently.

Here's the only thread I came to on here with a similar finding.

I don't believe you have a Sequoia because it is equipped with 700c wheels and the bike you've pictured has 26" MTB wheels.

Look at the spec pages (29 & 30) in the catalog. Try to match up the hubs, brakes, FD (the RD looks like a replacement but I could be mistaken), crankset and shifters. Those components appear to be original. None of you pictures show those very well. Also, see if you can find a serial number and post it. It could be a clue about the brand and year made.

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.

This is still likely true. maybe late 80's Norco, they made so many models that looked very much like your bike but no one seems to have the catalogues online. Yukon, Bush Pilot, Kokanee, BigFoot, Mountaineer were made in large numbers. Not a Sequoia.

Rear brake cable bridge/stop is totally different on the Sequoia - You have something else

8902761 is the number I pulled off the bottom bracket. My understanding is anything on it might be a replacement, as the guy I bought it off of said he got most of the components from a Cannondale so hardly anything is original and all Shimano STX replacements definitely aren't.

Hm. Good catch!

In the meantime here is a picture of its touring transformation so far (definitely needed to get rid of that quill stem/ flat bars).

If that fits you it will be an excellent touring bike.

Seems to fit well. Full length extension pedaling and stand a couple inches above the top tube. Reach to the handlebars is good since I changed the stem/ handlebars. Just upgraded the pedals, water bottle cages, and found a Topeak Explorer Rack.

Very similar to 1989 Trek 830 and 850, but the paint is wrong and the serial number is not the right format for these Treks.

Most Norco models had uni-stays during this period.

Given the frame features, that is very likely a Taiwanese format and may represent February 1989. KHS used this format at one time but I'm not sure if they were still using it this late. Is the Norco reference due to being located in Canada? If so, that could help to narrow things down.