20 comments

1. Did you get to test ride one? I’m wondering about sizing. I’m 6’4 with a 34 inch inseam. My AWOL is XL and my Roubaix is 58. Wondering if I’d be a 58 or 61 in this model.

2. The launch was in the US, unfortunately! You’d definitely want the 61cm. It’s the same reach as your AWOL (409mm), but it sits 31mm lower (636mm vs 664mm) in the front end.

3. Where’s the Salsa Fargo on the list? I’d buy one in a NY minute if they would offer it as a frameset with a STEEL fork. Currently, you are forced to get the CARBON fork if you want the frameset. Where’s the logic in that?

4. Alee- You don’t know how (well) he fits on his AWOL, so isn’t it uncertain what size he should get?

5. Of course nothing is 100% certain, but based on Harley’s height, inseam and current bikes, I’m very confident the 61cm would be the best option.

6. I haven’t written about the Fargo yet – I’ve been waiting for the 2017 release! That sucks that it doesn’t come with the steel fork as an option, but I guess Salsa did their homework and realised that the majority of frameset purchasers wouldn’t want it.

   Have you checked out the Bombtrack Beyond? That’s another ‘tall’ off-road touring bike: https://www.cyclingabout.com/the-new-2016-bombtrack-beyond-touring-bike/ It’s also worth noting that you can run a huge amount of spacers… literally 20cm+ if you need on a steel steerer tube. That’s how many riders achieve high handlebars on short headtube bikes like Surly, Novara, Thorn, Genesis, Oxford etc.

   The Sequoia may well not work for you, but there’s a lot of people who aren’t after a dedicated touring bike for the majority of their riding, but still want to ride dirt roads.

7. You have it listed here, though! https://www.cyclingabout.com/list-of-xxl-touring-bikes-for-tall-cyclists/
   Regarding Salsa doing there homework, I’m not so sure. Why does Specialized offer the AWOL (and Sequoia) with a steel fork? Did they do their homework?

   Haven’t heard about the Bombtrack Beyond. Thanks! I’ll check that out. I guess if the steerer tube and fork length is long enough you could achieve a high handlebar position on any bike. I don’t like how the bike with all those spacers, but each to his/her own.

   I’m not looking for a dedicated touring bike either (I have an Atlantis for that), but i would like to find a 700c bike that can accommodate fat tires, get the handlebars up high, not scrunch my privates when I stand flat-footed, offer some compliance and have the geometry to handle off-road excursions.

   Sorry, I’ll never go for a carbon fork as long as MY life is on the line. Besides, they never seem to match the aethetics of the bike. Nothing exudes strength like a steel fork.

8. You say it can fit a 50mm tire, but later compare it to the AWOL and say it can only fit a 45C (you mean mm, right?). Which is it?

9. Let me clarify: the fork can fit a 700x50c tyre, the frame at the chainstay can fit 700x45c. The “c” (French standard) and “mm” (ISO standard) after the tyre size are interchangeable as they’re both metric based sizing systems.

10. Why does Specialized offer something that Salsa doesn’t? I’d only be speculating, but each brand could have customers with different bike preferences.

11. We have the 2015 Salsa Fargo 2, with carbon fork, Cane Creek ST seat post and 42/28 chainrings and a 11-36 cog set. We like the carbon form better than any steel fork we’ve ridden. The suspension seat post is well worth the small weight penalty, as you can stay seated and pedaling on bumpy roads. The gearing is perfect for our needs in the hilly west coast of the US. The Specialized Sequoia looks interesting, but the higher gearing is a minus for us. My question is whether the Specialized can be upgraded to 180 mm rotors front and back. I’m a big guy and had to go to 180 mm rotors on the Fargo, which were explicitly authorized for the Fargo by Salsa.

12. At this stage, I’m afraid not. The flat mount brake design is intended for 140/160mm rotors. That said, third party brands could potentially offer their own brake mount adapters soon.

13. I am a petite rider with a 28 inch inseam. Is there a Sequoia that will give me a safe stand over height on the toptube?
    Thanks!

14. The smallest Sequoia frame has a 29 inch standover. Standover is the vertical measurement of the central point of the top tube.

15. Thanks! I’m looking for a touring bike that will handle rear panniers (or front) to carry fairly light (no camping gear) loads. My Specialized Ruby 2011 is wonderful, but the carbon fiber frame won’t support racks. Any suggestions? Surfaces to ride would include pavement, bike trails, dirt roads.

    Thanks!

16. Check out any bikes that I describe as “light touring” bikes. Many of the bikes I overview on CyclingAbout fall into this category. If you’d like to read about them more in-depth, as well as compare them side-by-side, there’s lots of information in my book too.

17. For me the black base model is the best valued and best designed off the peg bike of 2016. Specialized have done the homework here and delivered an outstanding package.

    The tube profiles and geometry are sweet. The hover bar is very clever and the pinnacle of it all is the fork. The steel fork profiles have been well researched and designed. It was definitely designed by a person who knows his stuff.

    The whole stealth look is great. Good quality components. The new Sora is cheap and dependable and the gearing is fine for the purpose.

    Its just an excellent valued all round package. The saddle is great and the tyres are not an afterthought but fit in perfectly with the ideology of the genre.

    It looks sleek. My only niggle is the lack adjustable dropouts but you can bet your life on it next year the frameset comes with them. This Black version will shift quickly. The other two wont. Simply down to colour. Its simple. Buy the black version. Sell the Sora. Upgrade with 105 hydraulic groupset with a 40 tooth cassette out back and one of those dérailleur extenders. Put fenders on. This is a true bike to travel the world lightly.

18. How much lighter is the Sequoia when comparing it to the AWOL? I own an AWOL and would not mind having a second bike that is lighter enough to make a difference when riding with very small to no load.

19. The Sequoia Expert (US $3500) is around 11kg. Based on that figure, I’d guess the Sequoia Elite (US $2500) to be 11.7kg and the Sequoia (US $1300) to be 12.5kg+.

    You can expect the AWOL (US $1200) to be 14kg or more. The AWOL Expert (US $2500) with racks, fenders and dynamo lighting would be a touch under 16kg.

20. Thank you!

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