Touring - Choosing a Touring Bike: Trek 520 or Opus Legato

Hi Folks,

I've been researching and hunting for a touring bike, and hope to make a final decision ASAP. In the city I'm living in, I've narrowed it down to two bikes that are available: the Trek 520 and the Opus Legato. (Links are below for specs).

I haven't done a major tour before, but want this bike to last me for quite a while. The two bikes are similarly priced, with the Trek being a bit more expensive (and the Opus comes with clipless pedals already, which keeps it even cheaper). However, a few hundred dollars doesn't really matter when compared to thousands of miles on a bike.

The biggest differences are the shifters and the drivetrain. I've reconciled myself to the shifters - I'll be fine with the STI's or with the bar-ends. The drivetrain, however, confuses me a little. The Trek seems to have mostly mountain bike components (derailleurs, chainring, and cogs), and is 9-speed. The Opus is 10-speed, with road components. I can't figure out who to believe; some say the 10-speed stuff is more fragile, others say it's fine, and will eventually replace 9-speed stuff completely, making it the better choice. Some say the mountain bike components offer potentially lower gears (and the gearing is a bit better on the Trek), while others say the 1:1 gear ratio on the Opus is fine and still has the potential for bigger cogs in the back if I swap out the derailleur, even if the small chainring is limited to a 30 tooth.

Any thoughts? Might be a long shot, but any experience with the Opus? The Trek seems to have a great reputation, but Opus is a smaller company.

I figure either bike will end up being great, but these details feel like little things that could come back to haunt you later on down the road.

Links to the bikes specs:

Opus Legato: http://opusbike.com/en/bikes/road/touring/legato
Trek 520: http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/touring/520/520/#/us/en/model/details?url=us/en/bikes/road/touring/520/520

If you are going to tour loaded, with significant amounts of weight (>15lbs) of luggage on the bike, then I would suggest that the gearing on the Trek is much to be preferred. Loaded touring in mountainous terrain is so much more pleasurable if one has the gears available, and having a 27" gear as your lowest, which is what is offered on the Opus, is a bit high. Of course, putting a smaller chainring on the Opus would be a cheap fix. Personally I'm not keen on bar-end shifters, but many here really like them.

Don't worry about the 9-speed cassette. Five and six-speed chains and freewheels are still readily available. Nine-speed chains will still be obtainable twenty or thirty years from now.

MTB components in the drive train are more suitable with a touring load of self contained kit.

I find friction shifting the Front derailleur favorable ,
as trimming the position aftermaking the rear shift, will be the most direct way
to not hear the chain drag on the edge of the FD cage..

in reality components are parts you can change.

stems seats pedals are all personal choiced things.

ride them both ,talk to the dealer .. you still have a bunch of stuff to add , see what they make available.
It is typical to knock 10% off accessory purchase at point of sale.

For half the price of either one, you can get a Nashbar Touring bike or a Windsor Tourist, which to me is similar to the Opus frame with better components and worse wheels. The Nashbar Touring, Fuji Touring, Motobecane or Windsor from BikesDirect are all clones, same frame with different branding and parts.

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_522412_-1___202339

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/tourist.htm

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/gran_turismo.htm

The T520 is superior frame-wise with properly long CSs (450-470mm).

For a little more more (or less depending on you) you can buy a Surly LHT frameset and build it to your own liking. Also there are always used ones listed on Craigslist. The LHT has the best designed frame of all these bikes, although your fitting requirements may make it less suited for you.

Make sure you buy a well-fitted frame or bike. It is really worthwhile to research this topic and understand bike fitting before you begin narrowing your focus to actual bike purchase. The only thing worse than getting a bad deal on a bike is getting a good deal on a bike that doesn't fit you well. Most LBS are going to find a bike that "fits" you (within their inventory). I personally believe many road-type bikes are fitted in too small a size, the frequent result being cyclists riding uncomfortably and inefficiently on bars that are too low.

My vote is for the Trek 520 for the reasons given above (better gear range, bar end shifters, good reputation etc) plus I like that it has Avid Single Digit 5 brakes. The Opus seems to a "touring frame" with road mechanics, i.e., maybe not a great understanding of touring and just trying to gain a few extra sales.

Andrew

The Trek 520 is the only bike in Trek's lineup that was also part of it's late 1980's lineup. That it has survived so long tells us something. it's a good bike.

Out of the box the gearing on the trek is closer to what you need. While swapping out parts is alway's an option prices add up quickly. As well, swapping drivetrain components can get tricky. having a chain that won't stay on or having other problems gets old fast out on the road. And, while these problems are all fixable, best option is to avoid them in the first place.

Thanks all for the help! Ended up going with the Trek - the components seemed to make much more sense in the long term. I figured I'd rather buy a bike that was essentially good out of the box, instead of buying something that I really expected to need to replace components to do what I want to do.

Happy with the choice.

Thanks all for the help! Ended up going with the Trek - the components seemed to make much more sense in the long term. I figured I'd rather buy a bike that was essentially good out of the box, instead of buying something that I really expected to need to replace components to do what I want to do.

Happy with the choice.

Enjoy.

Andrew

Congrats. I hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine.

Great choice!!! Put some miles on that puppy!!!!!

The Trek 520 is the only bike in Trek's lineup that was also part of it's late 1980's lineup. That it has survived so long tells us something. it's a good bike.

Out of the box the gearing on the trek is closer to what you need. While swapping out parts is alway's an option prices add up quickly. As well, swapping drivetrain components can get tricky. having a chain that won't stay on or having other problems gets old fast out on the road. And, while these problems are all fixable, best option is to avoid them in the first place.

Good choice. I just finished a 1,700 mi tour down the Pacific Coast on a 1985 Trek 520 that I bought on Craigslist for $240. LOL! The bike is now a part of me. I'm not sure I'll ever let it go! It treated me so well on the tour. Other than a few flats here and there I had no other real issues with the bike. Good luck on your tour!