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TREK 520 Fan Club

Old 08-31-14, 09:42 PM
  #151  
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Originally Posted by TrekCommuter
Does anyone know what year the frames stopped being manufactured in the US? I would really like to find a USA made Trek 520 at some point.
Originally Posted by DVC45
2003, I think.
Yes and no... I have a 2002. The frame itself is WI made but the fork (Spinner) is an import. I think the last 100% USA built 520 was mid '90s.

Originally Posted by TrekCommuter
Thanks! Now to find one...seems hard to do. Especially in 54 or 56 CM.
Found mine a couple of years ago on CL. The seller initially listed it for $350 and got such an overwhelming response that he relisted it for $450. Lucky for me, since I missed the original posting. He also happened to live ten minutes up the road, which was fortunate. Bike must have had less than 1000 miles on it when I purchased it and had been stored indoors, reasonable for $450, certainly. I was lucky to be living in the Chicago burbs at the time (very active craigslist); 53.5 not sure if they make a 54.

Last edited by headloss; 08-31-14 at 09:46 PM.
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Old 08-31-14, 09:53 PM
  #152  
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Originally Posted by MAK
You opinions please.
Thank you.
There are still some Sugino Alpina cranks floating around NOS that are octalink and a direct swap... down side is that they are 165mm crank arms (only). It's a 50-36 double set up but you can add the granny of your choice to this particular crank. That would be my choice.

If you are set on the newer mtb crank, I'd go 770. It's just a better made ring (by the looks of it, forged aluminum as opposed to cast). I think the $100 is reasonable for the better quality rings.

I think a 22t ring is too small, but to each his own (might not even be an option, depending on what FD you are using).
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Old 09-01-14, 02:25 AM
  #153  
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Originally Posted by ricohman
Behold my still new 1989 520.
I don't yet know what will become of this time "time machine". I may sell it and buy that vintage Miyata 1000 or put it in a museum.
What would you do?

Nice bike--I have this same model year in nearly the same condition.
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Old 09-02-14, 09:21 AM
  #154  
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Thanks for the compliment on the bike.The measurements are as follows,C-T=19 C-C=18.5 and the top tube is 22.If anyone is interested in the bike it is for sale,can send more pictures if needed.
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Old 09-09-14, 09:05 AM
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FWIW .. new Trek catalog adds a Disc brake & a cantilever brake model 520
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Old 09-09-14, 06:35 PM
  #156  
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This is my 2013 Trek 520. This is the second morning of Bike MS in New Bern, NC. I have a bit over 1600 miles logged so far. Mostly for fitness and training for Bike MS and some commutes. I hope to really start putting some miles on and maybe try some touring. Thinking I might like to find a suitable front rack to help with the commuting load(lunchbox/cooler). It is a great bike and I am fortunate to have a great LBS to take care of anything that might come up. Nothing so far though.
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Old 10-11-14, 02:06 PM
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Anyone see the 2015 520 in the Evergreen color yet? I like the crystal white on the 14, but would like to see the new color before purchase time. I do like the color of the 14 Base CrossRip, I wonder is the "dark evergreen" consistent year to year?
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Old 10-11-14, 08:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Spanky58ggpt


This is my 2013 Trek 520. This is the second morning of Bike MS in New Bern, NC. I have a bit over 1600 miles logged so far. Mostly for fitness and training for Bike MS and some commutes. I hope to really start putting some miles on and maybe try some touring. Thinking I might like to find a suitable front rack to help with the commuting load(lunchbox/cooler). It is a great bike and I am fortunate to have a great LBS to take care of anything that might come up. Nothing so far though.
Hey Spanky-is that a US Navy flag on the tail? And a USMC flag too? Whats up with those?
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Old 10-11-14, 08:57 PM
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I served in the Marine Corps (79-91) and my youngest son is a midshipman at the Naval Academy.
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Old 10-12-14, 09:12 AM
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Yea , 2015 will have both a Rim and a Disc Brake 520 to choose between.
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Old 10-12-14, 04:47 PM
  #161  
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Originally Posted by Spanky58ggpt
I served in the Marine Corps (79-91) and my youngest son is a midshipman at the Naval Academy.
I served USN 83-90, then again 94-97. Dad served USMC 57-63.
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Old 10-12-14, 07:44 PM
  #162  
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Originally Posted by LuckySailor
I served USN 83-90, then again 94-97. Dad served USMC 57-63.
Trek 520. Machine of choice for former sailors. (2001-2008)
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Old 10-16-14, 06:20 AM
  #163  
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'94 Trek 520 "Mountain Touring Bike"

My '94 Trek 520 has been my only road bike for the last 21 years. I never liked drop downs so I put on straight handle bars. I run 42mm or 37mm Conti Top Contact tires, Deore XT groupset, Shimano SPD pedals, "Miracle" mirrors on both sides, a Fluxient 1600 headlight, an LG Gpad 7" tablet that I run apps like "Urban Biker", Google Maps & "Weatherbug" on, as well as play mp3s & my cellphone through the JBL Flip2 speaker I have mounted on the handlebars. A solar panel over the back panniers keeps all my electronics charged. Makes a great bike for local commuting as well as centuries through the Adirondacks, Vermont & NH, The Catskills & to Delaware Water Gap PA. Next summer, I'll be taking her on a 611 mile trek across upstate NY, southern Ontario and to my daughter's home in central Michigan.
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Old 10-27-14, 07:38 AM
  #164  
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Crashed over the weekend and broke the frame on my 2004 model in two places. Bike shop says it cannot be fixed. I built the bike up using only the Trek frame. Would like to find a replacement and swap my components over.

Does anyone have a 520 frame is size 54 for sale. Have a tour planned the week before Thanksgiving and don't want to cancel.
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Old 11-03-14, 10:09 PM
  #165  
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Originally Posted by Trek Al
Crashed over the weekend and broke the frame on my 2004 model in two places. Bike shop says it cannot be fixed. I built the bike up using only the Trek frame. Would like to find a replacement and swap my components over.

Does anyone have a 520 frame is size 54 for sale. Have a tour planned the week before Thanksgiving and don't want to cancel.
Does your bike shop sell Trek bikes? Have the manufacturers rep get you a replacement frame. Trek has replacement frames kicking around for warranty issues-so a frame only can be had. When I built my 520 last year, the rep got me a frame only, and we built the bike according to my specs. Are you the original owner of the frame? Why wouldn't it be covered if you are? They are lifetime warranted, I thought, to the original owner, and providing that the frame hasn't been altered. So mine doesn't qualify as I added S&S couplers.
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Old 11-03-14, 10:23 PM
  #166  
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Why would a frame, broken as the result of a crash, be a warranty item?
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Old 11-03-14, 11:32 PM
  #167  
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Originally Posted by Davet
Why would a frame, broken as the result of a crash, be a warranty item?
My thought process is flawed I'm sure- without asking where the frame broke, I envisioned (assumed) that the tubes let go from their welds. I then construed this to be a manufacturer defect. A warranty item. It would be a pretty horrific crash to break a tube Most certainly part of my thinking is flawed. However the OP can/should get a new frame from Trek even if he has to pay for it. Just good business for them.
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Old 11-04-14, 05:58 AM
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Originally Posted by Trek Al
Crashed over the weekend and broke the frame on my 2004 model in two places. Bike shop says it cannot be fixed. I built the bike up using only the Trek frame. Would like to find a replacement and swap my components over.

Does anyone have a 520 frame is size 54 for sale. Have a tour planned the week before Thanksgiving and don't want to cancel.
My dealer told me the frame was guaranteed for life, Id check with a local Trek dealer.
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Old 11-04-14, 06:48 AM
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Originally Posted by jargo432
My dealer told me the frame was guaranteed for life, Id check with a local Trek dealer.
Read your warranty. Trek doesn't cover a muck up by the consumer, like crashing their bike. Their lifetime warranty covers against defects in workmanship and materials.
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Old 11-04-14, 10:53 AM
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Thanks for the replies. I was crowded off a narrow country road by a passing car onto the dirt alongside the asphalt going about 15mph. The roadside dropped down by seven to eight inches so I couldn't get back onto the road quickly. Was scanning the road ahead looking for a place to reenter and didn't notice a hole about four feet deep and three feet wide just ahead. The bike dropped straight down into the hole and I was thrown over the handlebars onto the roadside.

The toptube was cracked about halfway around and the bottom tube cracked and rolled back where they go into the headtube. The headtube was moved back an inch or so. The Mavic A317 wheel appears to be undamaged, it spins true.


I'll post some pics tonight.
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Old 11-04-14, 07:21 PM
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Oh my! This is horrible! How bad are your injuries? Hope you heal fast if you want to take that tour at Thanksgiving! So glad to hear it wasn't worse.
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Old 11-04-14, 08:06 PM
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Here is the late 1984/ early 1985 Trek 520 I just restored and sold on eBay. My first experience with organized biking was a century in Wisconsin. My brother organized the ride and got Trek to sponsor it. They donated one bike and loaned two more for the ride. I was given a Trek 410 to ride for the day because my aging Raleigh would not have made the trip. I was instantly hooked and worked for months to buy my own 1986 520. I rode that bike until I joined the Navy but I've always missed it. I bought this bike to feel that ride again but didn't have room in the stable to keep it. It sold 2 days after I listed it and I was sad. None of my bikes sell that fast.



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Old 11-06-14, 07:23 PM
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No injuries at all. Just a sore palm of my right hand where I put it out to ease the landing. My wife says I have a great guardian angle. I've punted on the trip, don't want to be pushed into buying a frame in a rush. Here are the pictures, sorry for the poor quality. With daylight savings time, I don't get home from work until after dark
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Trek 012.jpg (95.8 KB, 378 views)
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trek 1 001.jpg (71.7 KB, 736 views)
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trek 1 002.jpg (97.2 KB, 735 views)

Last edited by Trek Al; 11-06-14 at 07:35 PM.
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Old 11-16-14, 01:04 PM
  #174  
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So I already started my own thread to hopefully answer some more specific questions, but I'm looking to build up my first touring specific frame with either a sram wifli drivetrain with rival or a x/9 mtb drivetrain.

My two biggest farm contenders are the trek 520 disc and the Salsa Vaya 3

Just wanting to get some feedback on what riders with a lot of experience on the 520 had to say in the argument?

Thanks in advance
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Old 11-23-14, 09:17 PM
  #175  
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Just picked up my first Trek 520, a used but nearly mint 1989 model with all original equipment. I came across it while searching for a used 420, which I did find the same day. It was a pretty amazing day for finding great vintage Treks. I plan on using the 520 as a dedicated touring bike and the 420 as more of an around town bike (might eventually convert the 420 to more of an on/off road touring bike).

After going through the 520 and giving it a quick tune up, replacing the seat and bar tape with the Brooks B17 and leather bar tape that I had on my Schwinn, I went for my first ride on the 520 on Saturday, did about 10 miles and I must say that it is one of the most comfortable bikes I have ever ridden. I especially love the indexed shifting... Thanks for all of the info. on this thread.
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