They don't choose to use bar-end shifter to keep the cost down. To QBP/Surly, it's only a small difference for a cheap set of brifters. They uses bar-end shifters, because its a touring bike, and that is the traditionally preferred style of shifters do to there reliability and function.


To the main topic,

I have a Surly LHT my self and will say it is totally worth it. I just looked up the Trek's build, they share a lot of the same parts, if not the same level of parts. So you would pay more for nothing better, if anything the Trek 520 is lacking some nice details the surly has.

(These are details not to die for features)
Pump peg
spoke holder
eyelits on the fork crown(only on the this years forks, it's for a different rack mounting option)
26in wheels on all sizes(this is one of the biggest reasons I like it.)
Choose of 700c wheels on 56-64cm frames.

I don't care for the Fargo, it's not really a comparable bike I think. It's a 29er off-road adventure bike with disc brakes. I better one to think about or compare would be the Surly Orger if you want a 29er touring bike that takes Canti or Disc, or URL="http://surlybikes.com/bikes/troll"]Troll[/URL] if you want a 26" canti or disc bike.

Don't for get about the Disc Trucker.