Classic & Vintage - Trek 520, no down tube braze-ons?

I have a 1983 Trek 520 that has no braze-ons for downtube shifters. When I got the bike it had Suntour barcons and a downtube clamp for a cable stop.

Just about every picture I can find on the interwebs of this bike include downtube shifters. Vintage Trek lists the serial number as a 1983 Trek 520 so I don't think I am crazy...or am I?

While the bike originally came with DT shifters, the catalog clearly shows it to have clamp on DT shifters. So apparently, the PO swapped them out for barcons, a pretty common move on that bike. And of course, replaced the DT shifter clamp, with a similar cable stop clamp.

I had a 1983 520 last year, but it has moved on.

This guy: http://raleigh.craigslist.org/bik/1798875394.html
has been trying to sell his 520 here for that insane price for several months now, he's come down maybe $50 since he first posted it. He seems to think his ad copy will sell the bike, several CL price police have called him out but he's pretty oblivious. You can see the clamp-ons on his bike:
http://images.craigslist.org/3n33m23o75Y15Q25S1a6i31fba99ff35110fc.jpg

Wow. $700 for a 1983 Trek 520. Is there a crack epidemic in Raleigh??

Apparently. Now we have a serial spam flipper that always has the same 6-8 low end bikes re-listed on CL daily, always photographed on his porch, with glowing descriptions and unrealistic pricing.
Here's one example...of many:http://raleigh.craigslist.org/bik/1801108363.html

if your going to stay with friction a trip to your bike shop, or even the 'trade' thread, should turn up a pair shifters with a clamp. suprisingly most of the Suntour stuff on ebay is pricy. this would make a great addition to the bike. they are only $60 on ebay.



http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/coronadelmar/Suntour_Top-Mount_Downtube_Shifters_01.JPG

Oh I don't want to get into a whole CL thing, but wasn't that free spirit about $99 new?

The Free Spirit is overpriced for what it is, but I'm pretty certain it would get the seller's asking price here, clean bikes sell easily.

Getting back on-topic, here's another example of a mid-80's 520 without the braze ons...

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_TIeBxBH6dXI/TB4lJooXfrI/AAAAAAAAAjs/Mong46eOTg8/s800/520_01.jpg

In the early 80s we were still using clamp-on shifters on everything except the high-end Treks. There should be a little heart shaped braze-on under the downtube to prevent the clamp from sliding on the frame.

This guy: http://raleigh.craigslist.org/bik/1798875394.html
has been trying to sell his 520 here for that insane price for several months now, he's come down maybe $50 since he first posted it. He seems to think his ad copy will sell the bike, several CL price police have called him out but he's pretty oblivious. You can see the clamp-ons on his bike:

With fenders, rack, panniers and trainer included, I don't think that is that outrageous of a price. I paid $200 for my 1988 520, 2 years ago. By the time I got through putting on fenders, rack, Brooks saddle, mtb crankset, new tires and cables, I spent more than $700. Throw in a trainer and my cost was around $1000. 2 years ago, this would have sold in a day around Austin.

Ebay says no, unless it's a more recent model. One '83 model just went for ~$120. It was a big size though (25in).

Ebay says no, unless it's a more recent model. One '83 model just went for ~$120. It was a big size though (25in).
Which is $220 with shipping. How does that prove me wrong? It wound need:
1. a new triple crankset $100
2. tires $50
3. rack $50
4. panniers $120
5. saddle $50
6. computer $20
Throw in:
2 pumps $40
trainer $100
Total $750

okay. I guess somebody has been missing out on a great CL deal posted here for the last 6 months.
The problem with your addition is you are adding up new parts and comparing that cost with used parts on the CL bike.
I think the CL seller would do better to sell the trainer separately, and reduce his asking price on the bike.

okay. I guess somebody has been missing out on a great CL deal posted here for the last 6 months.
The problem with your addition is you are adding up new parts and comparing that cost with used parts on the CL bike.
I think the CL seller would do better to sell the trainer separately, and reduce his asking price on the bike.

I agree with the last thing you said. So we can end this thread hijack there.

My 1983 Trek 720 does not have brazeons for the shiftlevers. I used Suntour clampons.
My 1985 Trek 720 has brazeons that can be used for levers or cable stops. This one has Suntour barend levers.
Have you tried the barends? I really like them on a touring bike.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1414/4726136504_509520c596_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1062/4726136560_9417a91443_o.jpg

My '83 has no shifter braze-ons, just makes it easier to change it to bar-ends.