rgvg

Hi

I just got a bike off craigslist from an older gentleman who switched to a hybrid due to his age. Anybody know what year it is? The serial is M4H00247 so does that make it an 84? I'd also like to know who manufactured it. I did buy it to ride but I'd also like to know how much I should have paid for it?

I'll try to attach pictures but this is my first post and it won't let me put urls in so I don't know if this will work..

Thanks

zukahn1 

Very nice light touring bike based on the components it should be a 83-85 model someone here can likely give exact year based on serial #.

T-Mar

The frame was definitely built in 1984, however I wouldn't rule out the possibility of a 1985 model. There were two manufacturers with a very similar format. Miki (Japan) and Merida (Taiwan). Merida often uses a hyphen after the first numeral, but not consistently. They were also a known source for SBI. However, the best indicator of the actual source would be a country of origin sticker, if present.

The 2nd alpha character could be either a fortnight or month indicator. Miki was known to use a fortnight indicator but I'm not positive about Merida. A fortnight indicator would put it around April whuich is definitely 1984, but a month indicator would be August, which is around the time the new models start getting built.

rgvg

Thanks! It does have a Japan sticker on it, so if that is original, and I don't have any reason to believe otherwise, that would be Miki.

Most of the parts look like they're original as well. The handlebars, stem, headset, cranks, hubs all say specialized, the rims are saturae, derailleurs, brakes, brake levers are Suntour.

The seller probably took good care of the bike. The headset was a little loose but he hadn't been riding the bike for a couple of years now. He asked for 200 CAD for it and I gave him a little bit more because it seemed like a nice bike. Maybe I shouldn't have done that... but that's about bus fare or parking fees for two months so as long as take it to work I should come out ahead...

T-Mar

Then the frame was by Miki of Japan, during weeks 15-16 of 1984 and should be a 1984 model.

coolkat

You did fine on the price. They're too rare to really monitor the value, but I suspect with the newly-reintroduced Sequoia and the current "adventure" trend that it's becoming a lot more valuable.

zukahn1 

For the Canadian bigger city market I think you did very good on price i would consider anything under 350 CAD a Ok price for this bike.

Essentialsbikes

$300 seems about right based on the southern CA market

cdmurphy

There was a thread somewhere, either here or on classic rendezvous, where Jim Merz talked about Miki being one of the early suppliers of the Sequoias and Allez bikes, after 3Rensho. (Miki seems to have been kind of a boutique builder. Lots of low volume, high quality bikes came from their shop.)

I think a price of $400-$500 would be possible here in southern California. If you paid less than $200, you got a deal, and less than $400 is probably decent. It looks to be in great shape.

wrk101

$400 +/- once fully refurbished and ready to go.

dgilber

Hello, doing some research on my own Sequoia and found this thread. Confirmation of the Miki serial number string here was helpful, and mine rings 1983 (these bikes are Japanese made). Original poster's bike has a few other 1984 features: Specialized Crankset, as 1983's were spec'd with Sugino AT cranksets. The Specialized Touring crankset wasn't around until 1984. My 1983 does not have downtube shifter braze-ons like OP's. The 1984 spec had a Superbe Pro GT rear derailleur, while 1983 was Cyclone M2 GT. There may be slight other differences I am not aware of, but they are both Miki and almost identical. Cheers.

prathmann

I'd also go with 1984. Looks identical to the one a friend gave me before moving to Thailand. I've been using it as my touring and utility (grocery and other shopping) bike. Value is probably enhanced a bit by Grant Peterson once mentioning the '83 Sequoia as one of the best production bicycles.

Bike Rebel

The serial# on mine is M3J00472. I was told it was an 85 model. It has Suntour Cyclone II derailleurs and Superbe brake calipers. That matches the 1985 Specialized catalog. It appears to be the same Slate Blue Metallic color as yours. It is really a nice ride.