Originally Posted by
oldskoolwrench
Bike fit and other proportions aside, if you're going to make substantial changes to the bike (components, etc.) and have to also procure the upgrades then it might not be worth it in the long run.
It sounds like you had specific reasons for leaning with the LHT in addition to wheel size (26" vs. 700c)... look at your 'mission'; what kind of touring and where you'll be riding. Perhaps the LHT is better suited for the type of riding you want to do as compared to the 520.
As mentioned previously... some photos of the 520 would help in assessing its value.
After I finished my last long tour, I decided that my next touring bike would have 26 inch wheels. I rode a 1984 trek 720 across the US; it can't take very fat tires (no wider than 700 by 35c) and it can't take much of a tire (no wider than 700 by 32c) and fenders. That, to me, is a downer on a touring bike. Plus bike shops in small towns don't carry 700 by 35c or 32c tires in my experience. So I need to replace the bike. Other than that, my old Trek bike rode like a champ; I bought the bike in college and have gotten a lot of use out of it. I have it set up now as a single speed beater bike since the paint job is in bad shape. So I know I want something that takes fat tires. Everything else being equal, I'd prefer a modern drive train but that is not a deal breaker. I think the price is. On an older bikes, parts need to be repaired which is why I don't want to pay $500 for a Trek 520. I appreciate the advice because I wasn't sure whether I was just being hard headed or not. I"ll keep looking.