Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - 1983 Trek 520 touring bike...

Hello,
I have a chance to buy a mint....and I mean MINT 1983 Trek 520 (the first year they were made) but the guy wants over $600 for it. I think they were approximately $400 back in 1983, and I think he has had it recently tuned up due to it sitting in a garage for so long. Is this price outrageous for an early Trek? It appears to be a size that would work for me.

Also.....another guy has a 1980 Trek 510 in mint condition that he wants $900 for. WOW! That seems REALLY high for a 510 Trek. I was going to lean more toward the 520 but thinking it still is high for the price.

What would a mint condition 520 be worth? Is it a good bike to buy and upgrade/live with? I've heard some good things about Trek in the early years, but haven't gotten as much info as I would like. Thank you for any input.

Especially when venturing into claims of "mint" condition, we need to see pictures. Mint = exactly as it looked on the showroom floor. Basically an unridden bike stored perfectly for the last ~30 years. Much less than 1% of used bikes fit this category.

Touring bikes pull a premium, but $600 is too high for the 520. $900 is definitely too high for the 510. $900 can buy all but the rarest and most valuable bikes in the vintage market, and a 1980 Trek 510 just isn't it. I'd be thinking $350 max.

Hello,
I have a chance to buy a mint....and I mean MINT 1983 Trek 520 (the first year they were made) but the guy wants over $600 for it. I think they were approximately $400 back in 1983, and I think he has had it recently tuned up due to it sitting in a garage for so long. Is this price outrageous for an early Trek? It appears to be a size that would work for me.

Also.....another guy has a 1980 Trek 510 in mint condition that he wants $900 for. WOW! That seems REALLY high for a 510 Trek. I was going to lean more toward the 520 but thinking it still is high for the price.

What would a mint condition 520 be worth? Is it a good bike to buy and upgrade/live with? I've heard some good things about Trek in the early years, but haven't gotten as much info as I would like. Thank you for any input.

The price on the 520 seems a bit high, what size is it? I have a MINT Trek 520 for sale as well for $275:)

Treks similar to this one seem fairely common on CL's for about $300 in good to very good condition often less. As said above there is basically no chance that the bike is actually mint which would mean it is in perfect condition and has never been used at all. Half the new bikes on the showroom floor of most bike shops wouldn't qualify as mint.

"Mint" is a completely overused and hence meaningless term. There are sellers who have a definition of mint that includes copious amounts of rust.

$600 is overpriced. For that price, I'd expect Campy and bling, or at least a 720 with Canti mounts. Maybe 400 tops on the 520, and it would need to be the right size and very clean. You might be able to get six on an ebay sale with some spectacular luck, but if this is a local sale, the price needs to go down.

Pics are really needed here.

This first year trek 520 doesn't have canti brakes. I'd look for a trek 500 - same frame w/o the triple for much less. I wouldn't pay over $250

I would consider this 1983 Trek 520 62cm as near mint, no rust of course or anything serious, extremely low miles if any, couple scratches from storage. True mint is never ridden, stored in climate control and wrapped in bubble wrap lol

http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/yy175/vanvanj2000/006-3.jpg