Vasyl

What size are you looking for?

Need 54 size ( Best option for me)
Do you have any idea where it might be available?

veganbikes

Nope, mine is a 56. If you were looking for a 56 I would potentially work something out since I don't have plans to build the bike anytime soon and really would rather have a bit of money towards another project (or save up or probably just buy tools)

Vasyl

Ehhh that shame but its only one size up
Could you pleass s wg nd me your offer price.

70sSanO

[/size]

Congrats on your new bike. You did good. Going with the 52cm sounds like a good way to go for you. Enjoy your re-start!

John

JBjunior

Fyxation just got back to me (very quick response/support from them) and they confirmed the odd 1 3/8" lower race on the Sequoia. He looked for a potential adapter and couldn't find one. He said they would update their compatibility chart to reflect the Sparta fork not fitting.

PDKL45

To Specialized's credit, they have done an admirable job of replacing frames. There was one person who had a cracked AWOL, who then had a cracked replacement Sequoia frame, which was replaced with a carbon Crux frame. Mostly people are having frames replaced with Diverge frames, though, but I think it depends on the local Specialized companies in various countries. If you join the Specialized AWOL and Sequoia Owners Group on Facebook you can see the carnage. Every time the admin would post a frame crack thread over there, some person would go away, check the chainstays of their bike and come back to the group to report another cracked frame.

One theory is that Specialized--or whichever Taiwanese OEM company was making the steel AWOL and Sequoia frames for Specialized--bought a bad batch of tubing for year model 2017 bikes and onward, or that they changed some step in the manufacturing process, because early production AWOLs don't crack with anything like the regularity of later AWOLS and Sequoias. They all crack in the same place--in the chainstays by the wheel clearance dimples and occasionally in the thin bit of steel above the derailleur hanger on AWOL frames--and it's just too regular for it to be coincidence.

veganbikes

Huh? Welp that sucks.

Specialized does well replacing frames.

I am surprised by this as we have yet to file a warranty on a cracked chain stay or any part on an AWOL or Sequoia except a wheel set once. I did try and get that switch on the AWOLs for the dynamo but they never sold those separately even as a replacement part on their service page.
I am not on Facebooks but the internet is a popular place to complain and maybe it was an issue with a batch of them for possibly another market and that is why we haven't seen them?

PDKL45

The AWOL wheelset was little better than trash after a few thousand kms, due to the rims. The Hi-Lo hubs and spokes were fine, but the rims were awful. Universally they seemed to develop cracks around every spoke hole; it's something Jones SWB Complete owners are also dealing with right now as well, by the looks of things. It's a consequence, in both cases, of cheaping out on certain OEM components to meet a bike price point, IMO.

The oak green AWOLs from 2017 on crack frequently, but maybe the Sequoias don't crack as often? I am only going on the photographic evidence that the members of that group have posted, and they are from all over.

You don't often seem to see the satin and orange, white and blue, black or red AWOLs cracking, just as you don't often seem to see black base model or black and white frameset Sequoias cracking. The later model green AWOLs and those light sage green Sequoia Elites from 2017 or so seem to be particularly prone to it, though.

veganbikes

Most stock wheels are trash. I am all for handbuilt wheels especially on a touring bike. Hitting a price point is all well and good for some but I don't want wheel issues on tour or riding around in general. I want reliable wheels and when I put control into a trusted builder with trusted parts I know it is much less likely to fail.

PDKL45

Sure, I bought my AWOL fully intending to replace the wheels with a hand built set, but it's the cycling civilians, the non bike freaks, who I feel for in that scenario. They buy themselves "a good bike," have their spokes start to pull through the rim and go back to the dealer with a valid complaint, only to be told that there's no warranty on OEM wheels because they're not Bontrager.

Specialized adventure had so much promise back when they were releasing the Sequoia. The two cromolly adventure bikes, the Burra Burra backpacking bags, the pizza rack and a general attitude of cycling for recreation, instead of wall to wall S-Works racing. Hell, they even sponsored Ultraromance and were making cool videos with fatbike rafting trips and stuff, until the "give me carbon or give me death" faction seemingly struck back hard.

Still, even without Specialized support, I really hope someone finds a carbon fork that will work, or at least an adapter, for the Sequoia.

JBjunior

Final answer: the Facebook group came through. The crown race actually removes from the steel fork and can be used on a carbon fork with a 1 1/8" steerer tube. The bearings will remain their oddball size but there is a path to a carbon fork.

Vasyl

What size are you looking for?

Hi Veganbikes,

You sent me priv msg but I can't open it because:

The administrator has restricted use of the private message system to members with less than 10 posts.

so I have to be more active but don't worry I need 3 posts and will be ok

Vasyl

In my opinion all carbon fork with straight sterrer pipe 1 1/8 will fit for this frame.

JBjunior

Post count increase. Yes, I agree. As long as you are able to remove the crown race from the existing fork any 1 1/8" steerer tube fork will work. The problem is then you are still left with a crappy bearing. There is a plastic spacer at the bottom that can be removed which may help to add in another bearing type. Looking online it looks like the Specialized Roublaix uses a 1 3/8" bearing so maybe something out of there will work?

JBjunior

My biggest problem, now that the fork issue seems to be addressed, is that the Sequoia is touted as an adventure bike but has a headset that can't be purchased off the shelf. I want to install a sealed bearing system for longevity. Mine is the base level black and I haven't had any issues that I can tell with the chain stays. I also have better wheels for it already so that isn't a problem. Other than the intrigue of figuring out the fork and making the bike better there are tons of other cheaper ways to end up a with a better (better components/more reliable) bike than going with a Sequoia.

JBjunior

Looking on the Facebook page someone has been waiting since May for a frame replacement; seems to be a long time to wait.

PDKL45

Everything's unavailable right now, with the pandemic. Bikes are booming, and they're being snapped up the second they become available; they're even selling out in pre-order in some places. It's not just that guy waiting at the moment.

Still, good news about the bearing race being removable.

JBjunior

I understand, it possibly shows they are prioritizing new purchases over warranty claims which wouldn't be good either though.

It gets better, I just replaced the upper part of the headset tonight with FSA No. 11 AGY (the lower part will just sit on my shelf). The lower part can be replaced with an EC49/40 to convert everything to a "real" 1 1/8" to 1 1/2" taper and then everyone can use whatever carbon fork they want to. You can't go back to the stock fork but it makes it a much more reliable touring machine that can get parts off the shelf.

Vasyl

Guys,
Any idea where I could find in U. S ritchey adventure fork or whisky no 9 cx all with straight pipe?

JBjunior

A quick search showed the Ritchey website being out of stock. Have you settled on one of those two? I realized that most of the "high end" American companies were having them produced in China so I decided to go with a Carbonda at about 1/3 of the price and rave reviews. It requires converting the headset but that is a minor issue and opens up the opportunity for many other forks in a more standard size.

Vasyl

This tapered fork from Carbonda will works with Sequoia ? this is it: CFO606 - Fork - Carbonda Sports Equipment Co., Ltd. ?
For top headset you used FSA AGY no.11 ? what about for lower steers (which model ?) ?
Previously I tried use fork from Diverge but didn't fit.

JBjunior

I mentioned it up above, EC49/40. To be clear, the top part already in place on the Sequoia is the FSA AGY No. 1, so don't replace it unless it is broken. I replaced mine to make sure it worked, and because I thought it was different, only to realize mid swap it was the exact same part just unbranded from FSA. I have the EC49/40 in hand but I haven't installed it yet.

Yes, that is the fork I ordered and I am just waiting for it to arrive. If you search Carbonda there are tons of good reviews.

Vasyl

I know they have good stuff but Im not sure if it will fit.

JBjunior

The fork? 100% it will fit. It is a 1 1/8 x 1 1/2 tapered tube which is what you will have after the headset swap.

ayo1212

Apologies for bringing up an old thread... But I referenced this thread to get a carbon fork on my Sequoia. I bought the Carbonda fork mentioned and I bought the following headset:

Cane Creek 40 ZS44/28.6 / EC49/40 Tapered Headset

I didn't have all the tools for the swap so I took it to a LBS. The first thing they mentioned was that it was the wrong headset and they would have to order the correct headset, but after a couple weeks of waiting they finally said they couldn't locate a headset that would work and gave the bike back to me.

I'm curious if you were able to make the carbonda fork work and if the above headset is correct?

Thanks