Classic & Vintage - Pics of my (1989?) Trek 520 touring bike

This is the Trek 520 I brought home on the weekend. It appears completely original right down to the tires and I believe it's an 89' although the frame looks newer.
Can anybody explain the super long rear brake cable? Can I just cut it to fit? I don't have any bikes with areo brakes so I'm not sure how its supposed to look.
Biopace! I have never ridden any biopace bikes but I do know some riders who swear by them on their MTB's for traction on climbs. Can I swap out these rings and will standard rings fit on the Deore arms?
It has the stock 7 speed cassette with a 28 tooth low gear. I would also like to swap that out for something in the 32 tooth range.
And the 27 inch tires on an 1989 seem out of place when most bikes had 700c by this time. But then Cannondale hung 27 inch tires on their touring bikes until 1990 or so.

That is beautiful... it looks like the bike was bought and then simply parked.

If you don't want the BP rings I'll send you my mailing address... :)

Those Matrix wheels were only so so in quality... my son has a mid eighties Trek touring bike (still needs some positive id) and it is similarly equipped.

Sweet ride and a geat deal!!!! FWIW I sold that exact model 520 on ebay (in much worse shape) for a little over $250.

This is the Trek 520 I brought home on the weekend. It appears completely original right down to the tires and I believe it's an 89' although the frame looks newer.
Can anybody explain the super long rear brake cable? Can I just cut it to fit? I don't have any bikes with areo brakes so I'm not sure how its supposed to look.
Biopace! I have never ridden any biopace bikes but I do know some riders who swear by them on their MTB's for traction on climbs. Can I swap out these rings and will standard rings fit on the Deore arms?
It has the stock 7 speed cassette with a 28 tooth low gear. I would also like to swap that out for something in the 32 tooth range.
And the 27 inch tires on an 1989 seem out of place when most bikes had 700c by this time. But then Cannondale hung 27 inch tires on their touring bikes until 1990 or so.
I paid $75 for this bike and it seems like a pretty good deal.

Okay, I for one, am getting pretty sick and tired of your $50-$100 deals!...:) Can't you send some to Victoria? Where did you get this thing from? A friggin' liquidation museum?
Now, yes you can cut the rear cable and housing to the proper length. But if you intend on keeping the original cables and housing AND changing the stem out to a higher one such as a Technomic, then it may be wise to keep them as they are until you know exactly how long they have to be. Length is in the eye of the beholder, but basically the bars should be able to turn freely the whole way through their travel without pulling on the cables (i.e. - making the brakes come on, or close to coming on).
Yes, standard 110bcd rings will fit the Deore arms and a change to a 32 teeth cassette is fine. The Deore rear derailleur, which is a fantastic derailleur I might add, will handle that size with ease.
Yes, you can try the swap to 700c - only issue you may encounter is brake adjustability, because of having to move the pads 4mm downwards, but I'm sure it will be fine, maybe not absolutely ideal, but still serviceable. The other issue with the wheelset is that they are black anodised, and don't make for the best braking surface, but this will eventually wear off....after they've squealed like hell!...hahaha....

I could start posting some of my sub 100.00 deals... :)

Or even better...the free ones.

:D

Sweet ride. I love the old Treks.

86 400 Elance
84 Trek 660
88 Trek 360
86 Trek 700 Tri Series

Seeking a Trek 770, or better yet a 170.

You don't even wanna know... :)

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/Trek750z.jpg

You found another 25" touring bike? Must be a lot of tall people around there.

Congrats..

grumble.....

Ricoh - The crank spider is standard and the BP rings don't have an usual bhc so any rings you want (with the right bhc) will fit.

Looks as if that bike is straight out of a time capsule! Beautiful....

East Hill

Oh yeah, one more thing: Now that you've found yet another complete touring bike in what is probably your size, would you hurry up and send your Continental to either Cyclotoine or myself!?

Wow, what a great deal! That bike looks like it did when it was new.

What an amazing find, Beautiful bike!

You don't even wanna know... :)

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/Trek750z.jpg

I think I already know, you want $450 for it, and it has the same crankset as my Raleigh Criterium.
http://edmonton.craigslist.ca/bik/599285434.html

Okay, I for one, am getting pretty sick and tired of your $50-$100 deals!...:) Can't you send some to Victoria? Where did you get this thing from? A friggin' liquidation museum?
Now, yes you can cut the rear cable and housing to the proper length. But if you intend on keeping the original cables and housing AND changing the stem out to a higher one such as a Technomic, then it may be wise to keep them as they are until you know exactly how long they have to be. Length is in the eye of the beholder, but basically the bars should be able to turn freely the whole way through their travel without pulling on the cables (i.e. - making the brakes come on, or close to coming on).
Yes, standard 110bcd rings will fit the Deore arms and a change to a 32 teeth cassette is fine. The Deore rear derailleur, which is a fantastic derailleur I might add, will handle that size with ease.
Yes, you can try the swap to 700c - only issue you may encounter is brake adjustability, because of having to move the pads 4mm downwards, but I'm sure it will be fine, maybe not absolutely ideal, but still serviceable. The other issue with the wheelset is that they are black anodised, and don't make for the best braking surface, but this will eventually wear off....after they've squealed like hell!...hahaha....


I bought this out of the local on-line classifieds an not out of the local NOS Liquidation Museum!
And maybe I will keep the cable for now as I think the stem will be swapped out for something higher and shorter.
Are all Shimano cassettes compatible? Or just the ones from this year?
Here is another look at the rear brake cable. It really seems to long.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/fj40/DSC02312.jpg

No way, this has to be one of those old classic revised brought back into production.

Its spankin clean!

I got a Trek 750 I got for free from a neighbor who bought it long time ago having no idea it was two sizes smaller.

Mine kept me in shape during the winter time.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l70/psiturbo/misfotos/Trek3.jpg?t=1205262011

The chrome frame is nice on mine, although it does not "seem" cool, the bike is an excellent ride. I am pretty sure you are going to enjoy yours, great find!!

Oh yeah, one more thing: Now that you've found yet another complete touring bike in what is probably your size, would you hurry up and send your Continental to either Cyclotoine or myself!?

Or another 6'2" guy, like maybe me?:D

And the 27 inch tires on an 1989 seem out of place when most bikes had 700c by this time. But then Cannondale hung 27 inch tires on their touring bikes until 1990 or so.


Yeah, Schwinn did that too, Voyageurs had 27" wheels until at least 1990.

Great Find!!!! I have a smaller version of the same bike (pics at link below). I like mine a lot. Enjoy.

http://www.cyclofiend.com/cc/2006/cc211-chrisjoyce1206.html

oh my, look at the braking surface. What a find!

Sweet ride. I love the old Treks.

86 400 Elance
84 Trek 660
88 Trek 360
86 Trek 700 Tri Series

Seeking a Trek 770, or better yet a 170.

I just built up an 84 760 with campy centaur as an all weather training bike/bad weather racer. It's an amazing ride. Same frame as the 770 you're seeking. I love mine.

Possibly going to get a carbon fork for it if I REALLY feel the need to drop a few lbs on the bike (new fork+stem+headset+bars will easily drop 2-3 lbs), but for now the bike is fast, comfortable, and a total blast to ride.

Absolutely beautiful!

You did good. Upgrade the wheels to 700C and you should be a happy camper, or use the stock wheels with gatorskin tires. Regular rings will work but why not wear out the rings first. Add a new cassette and chain and you will be good to go.

You did good. Upgrade the wheels to 700C and you should be a happy camper, or use the stock wheels with gatorskin tires. Regular rings will work but why not wear out the rings first. Add a new cassette and chain and you will be good to go.

Could I use the present chain with a new cassette?
I was going to since the bike has very few miles.

If the bike has as few miles on it as you think, and it looks never ridden, the chain might not even be showing any wear.

If it measures out as such, use it.

Beautiful bike.

Please note that, even though I am dazzled by the excellence of your find, I also know how to read. Yes. Your rear brake cable is a bit long. Take the cable out (carefully so it doesn't come undone), pull the cable housing a little bit more snug, trim it, re-run the cable (again, very carefully when you are threading it into any narrow openings), adjust the brakes, trim the excess and finish off the end of the cable.

That might sound like a lot of steps, but it's easily done in 30 minutes without rushing.

Make sure to ride that bike all over the place. It's been waiting for almost 20 years to get a proper workout - and receive admiring compliments.

Trek 360 rules =) 8-)

That is one pretty bike man. The only TREK I have ever ridden, and presently have, is a 720 Multitrack I bought used pretty cheap. All I had to do is tune up the rear deralieur and as it turns out, it is the nicest climbing bike I have. I love to ride the hilly roads around my home. And let me tell you they are steeeeeeeep! I've heard some bad things about this TREK 720 Multitrack, but really, it's been absolutely good to me!