Help ID Trek 520.
03-31-24 | 05:45 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 570
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From: Central Illinois
Bikes: 1985 Cannondale SR500, 1990 Cannondale ST600, 1993 Cannondale M700
Help ID Trek 520.
Can anyone identify this bike? Seller says it’s black and possibly from the 1990s. I don’t see any black 520s in the Trek timeline. Thanks!
03-31-24 | 06:01 PM
#2
Cantilever believer
Joined: Nov 2021
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From: Phoenix, AZ
I'll go out on a limb and say it's a Trek 520. 
If it has Shimano components, one way to get a rough date on the bike is to look up the date code on the parts. It's a two-letter code stamped on the part showing year and month of manufacture, typically separate from other information. For example, on the rear derailleur, the date code is usually on the back of the derailleur parallelogram. You then look it up on a chart like this:
If it has Shimano components, one way to get a rough date on the bike is to look up the date code on the parts. It's a two-letter code stamped on the part showing year and month of manufacture, typically separate from other information. For example, on the rear derailleur, the date code is usually on the back of the derailleur parallelogram. You then look it up on a chart like this:
__________________
Richard C. Moeur, PE - Phoenix AZ, USA
https://www.richardcmoeur.com/bikestuf.html
Richard C. Moeur, PE - Phoenix AZ, USA
https://www.richardcmoeur.com/bikestuf.html
03-31-24 | 07:14 PM
#4
Full Member
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: Tucson, AZ
Bikes: Trek 720, Miyata 1000, Specialized Expedition & RockCombo, Schwinn Voyageur SP, Raleigh Competition GS, Freschi Supreme, Marin Pine Mountain, Soma, Surly, Black Mountain Cycles
Trek switched to non-lugged frame and unicrown forks for the 520 sometime in the 90s. V-brakes were introduced in 99, so if this one has original components it's safe to say it's a 99 or later.
03-31-24 | 08:30 PM
#5
Happy banana slug
Joined: Sep 2015
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From: Arcata, California, U.S., North America, Earth, Saggitarius Arm, Milky Way
Bikes: 1984 Araya MB 26L, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper Sport, 1993 Hard Rock Ultra, 1994 Trek Multitrack 750, 1995 Trek Singletrack 930
From what I can find, it's likely somewhere between 2007 after Vintage Trek leaves off and 2009, before Trek's archives pick up. 2010 didn't have a 520, but 2011 had a gorgeous root beer with V-brakes. HTH.
04-01-24 | 09:25 AM
#8
Happy banana slug
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 4,574
Likes: 2,531
From: Arcata, California, U.S., North America, Earth, Saggitarius Arm, Milky Way
Bikes: 1984 Araya MB 26L, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper Sport, 1993 Hard Rock Ultra, 1994 Trek Multitrack 750, 1995 Trek Singletrack 930
John D is right; 2008. It appears to be the only time they made the 520 in black.
