Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - 1988 Trek 520 assessment

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anotherbrian
05-09-11, 02:26 PM
Hi all.

I have a 1988 Trek 520. Bought new, still mostly stock. I believe the frame size is a 24" based on top tube lengths and the 1988 catalog on vintage-trek.

What's changed:
+ 27" wheels replaced with hand-build 700c MA-40's on Bullseye hubs ~1990
+ downtube SIS shifters replaced with Shimano bar-ends, then more recently with 7spd brifters (Tiagra) [still have the bar-ends]
+ new (well, the last time I rode it mid-09) 7spd freewheels
+ crankset (with Biopace chainrings) replaced with a Shimano M730 (vintage ~1990) and recently new middle Salsa chainring (non-ramped/pinned)

I never toured on the bike, and I have a ~1995 Topeak front low-rider for it, and a set of four unused ~1990 Mountainsmith panniers.

Bike was mostly used for commuting over a number of years, and probably doesn't have more than 2000 miles on it. There is a slight ding in the TT and some wear to the paint (never lend a bike to someone who'll carry it on a trunk rack with other bikes!).

For selling as a touring bike, should I leave the brifters on or put the bar-ends back? When I put the brifters on I'd replaced the handlebars with a wide (46cm?) Nitto bar, and I'd like to recover that for another bike, so I do need to unwrap the bars anyways.

Thanks!

http://www.fourthreefive.com/pub/trek520/trek-520-side.jpg
http://www.fourthreefive.com/pub/trek520/trek-520-scratch-tt-1.jpg
http://www.fourthreefive.com/pub/trek520/trek-520-scratch-tt-2.jpg
http://www.fourthreefive.com/pub/trek520/trek-520-scratch-ss.jpg

anotherbrian
05-09-11, 02:34 PM
As a side note, I'd wanted a Trek 720 all through high school with daydreams of touring. It was discontinued in 1986, and as I recall, the 1988 520 was basically it's re-introduction (I even remember reading this article in Bicycle magazing at the time http://www.vintage-trek.com/images/trek/Bicycling520.pdf).

These days I have too many bikes, and kids young enough that I'm not likely to get off on a long distance tour (I do have a Surly Big Dummy I haul them around on, and potentially could use for overnighters with them).
toytech
05-09-11, 03:56 PM
That is in nice shape, the closer to original the higher the value from a collecting standpoint, for a rider though you have it set up pretty well indeed. I could see 5-650 range once you find the right buyer. I have recently sold a 728 on eBay for 875 and have a clean 720 for sale fro 750 for comparable sales. Being a large frame might take a little longer.