Robvolz 

I thought the Merz era brought in 3Rensho.

where would the Neeman been built?

Robvolz 

Yes, I know. Voice to text liked Noonan better and I can’t fix it in edit.

but, here are the bb numbers if that helps

Insidious C. 

Yours looks like an 83 (where's that s/n?). I think those are Miki. 82s are a mystery. 81s with fastback stays are thought to be 3Rensho. All say Tim N.

FrejusFlyer

Hey Rob!
I believe the Merz era bikes were after 3Rensho's involvement.

Robvolz 

Not sure why pic didn’t post…

Robvolz 

Also, I thought this was an 82 based on only one set of water bottle cage bosses, or maybe that rule is only for the expedition

rgvg

There's two sets on there. Looks like a Miki serial to me, 82 manufacture.
Also that's too small for you. Send it to me.

Insidious C. 

What I refer to as an '82 is as pictured in Bicycling Magazine road test (posted here by SpeedofLite). Both the bike pictured in the road test and the adjacent advertizement look like this. Your Sequoia was built in 82 by Miki is likely a 83 model year. It is all a bit fuzzy (to me anyway) tho, since there are not many "82" examples out there. Aside from graphics, the 82s have under BB cable routing (same as 81) and different s/n format.

Robvolz 

too small for me!!

it’s at the NW Hub co-op

im starting a fun newsletter with some history.

this will be sold, with accurate info thanks to all.

Andy_K 

This may be a little early in the history of Specialized bikes to expect concepts like "model year" to have any meaning. Note that the "Road Test" that @SpeedofLite shared is from March 1982. I tend to think of the models with those early graphics as the 1981 model, but as I say, that doesn't necessarily have any meaning.

The serial number does match the Miki format in @T-Mar's Asian Serial Number Guide with the character in the third position representing either a fortnight or possibly a month. @Portlandjim confirmed in a previous thread that Miki produced many of the Specialized frames from this period. I've read claims that other manufacturers were also used, but 3Rensho is the only other one I have confidence in. My understanding is that the 3Rensho frames intermixed chronologically with the Miki models. I have a 3Rensho-built Allez that I'm told is from 1983 (though it has no serial number, so dating is based on the frame features), and a Miki-built Sequoia that was made in 1982. I've read that Tim Neenan even built a few (literally, a few) of the very early Sequoias.

Here's my Sequoia for reference (serial number M2F00147). It matches the characteristics of the one above.

repechage

It is Tim Neenan.

last known to live near Santa Ynez Ca. Most recently made Lighthouse Cycles. Semi retired as of 2019.
should not be too hard to contact him and ask the source.

Ditch voice to text. my wife tried repeatedly, I have learned to divine garbage.

rgvg

There's a 52cm 1985 on seattle's cl, not mine, I'm not from seattle. Advertised as NOS and it does look pretty clean. Too much $$$ for me though.

Insidious C. 

Here is an example of an "82" Sequoia. Scrolling down in that thread to post #9 Lighthousecycle (Tim Neenan) states he thinks it is not made by 3Rensho. However the s/n of this bike and other "82s" have the the same format seen on some 3Rensho bikes, xxxx+three digit seat tube length in mm. This is why I say it is a mystery who made the "82" Sequoias.

Vintage_Cyclist

My 1982 Sequoia is a Miki built frame.



The 1983 catalog cites 3 cage mounts in the specs, although they put a picture of a bike without one on the seat tube. It's possible there might have been some murkiness about the presence of absence of that third cage in 82 and 83 frames.