Specialized revives the Sequoia road bike

Legacy touring rig reborn for bikepacking adventures

Beth Welliver / Specialized

Published: July 9, 2016 at 11:01 pm

Specialized has revived the Sequoia, a heritage model from the early years of the company. The new Sequoia is designed to carry riders over mixed terrain with the versatility to run 700c or 650b wheels along with a multitude of rack and cargo options.

Sequoia highlights

  • Steel frame with size-specific tubing
  • Compatible with up to 700cx45 or 650bx47 tyres
  • Front and rear thru-axles
  • Available in six frame sizes
  • Three complete bikes and a frameset option
  • Available mid-August

A different take on touring

Specialized is releasing a line of frame packs with the Sequoia: - Beth Welliver / Specialized

The Specialized Sequoia was introduced in 1981. This latest version may cater to the same rider yearning for adventure, but the technology and capabilities of the new bike quite different and more in-line with modern bikepacking rigs designed to cover road, gravel and even singletrack.

The Sequoia has relaxed geometry and ample clearance for large tyres. It’s compatible with both 700c and 650b wheels and tyres. Complete bikes will come with Specialized's new 700x42 Sawtooth tyres. Specialized will also offer 650b wheels and tyres as an aftermarket options.

The Sequoia features a steel frameset with custom-drawn tubing to maintain ride consistency across all six sizes. While steel is a very traditional frame material, this bike has thoroughly modern features.

The chromoly frame sports an array of braze-ons for fenders, racks, two bottle cage mounts in the main triangle along with mounts for a third bottle on the bottom of the downtube.

The Sequoia has a tapered head tube designed around a matching full carbon fork with a 1.125 to 1.25in tapered steerer. Both the frame and fork feature thru-axles — 100x12mm in the case of the fork and 142x12mm for the frame.

Specialized opted to go with the increasingly popular direct-mount brake standard for the Sequoia.

Last but not least on the roster of frame tech is Di2 compatibility.

Pricing and availability

The Sequoia comes in three trim levels as well as a frame with fork, which will retail for $1,200. (UK and Australian pricing for the frameset has yet to be announced.)

All models will be available in mid-August.

The Sequoia Expert will retail for $3,500 / ££2,500 / AUS TBC: - Specialized
Sequoia Elite will retail for $2,000 / £1,500 / AUS TBC: - Specialized
The entry-level Sequoia will retail for $1,300 / £950 / AUS TBC: - Specialized
Stay tuned for a First Ride Review of the Sequoia Expert: - Beth Welliver / Specialized