Newbie needs to make a decision...
 

I have a chance to pick up a Trek 520 for $150... is that too much for a bike this old?

Ride the Jamis...

If it fits that's a fine price.

Photo's would help.

Unless there is something WRONG with it - that is a very good price.

Need to know the year, components list and the condition, but $150 is a great price for a ready to ride touring bike, like the 520

If it's the Trek touring bike 520, then $150 is a great price. Also believe they made a mtb/hybrid also called the 520 at some point in the late 80's or early 90's. And while that bike is also probably worth $150 in sound mechanical condition it's not quite the "sreaming deal" that the touring rig would be at that price.

OK, first lesson. If you're asking here, it's either "classic" or it's "vintage," it's never "this old."

Er, right. Around here, reasonable price is not necessarily negatively correlated with age. For a good bike, it's the opposite. Except for BIN/asking prices on E-bay and Craigslist, where there is an interaction between quality and age, such that a 1982 Huffy ("VINTAGE RARE CLASSIC ONE-OF-A-KIND HUFFY SCHWINN COLNAGO OMFG!!!!!1") will cost three times that of a 1971 Schwinn Superior with original Brooks saddle and TA crankset ("biek 4 sale cheep").

Different bike and different purpose... the 520 is a true touring bike... I spend a lot of time in the Gulf Shores area of south Alabama during the summers... it would be nice to have a longer distance bike... I thought the 520 MIGHT be a good buy despite its age if it fits me... the Jamis would stay home... the 520 at my mother's.

True... I was thinking of the components when I typed that... sorry!!

Forgot to quote the original on this... "Ride the Jamis"

If it's the touring 520 then I would say yes. As someone else has indicated, make sure it's not Trek's 520 mountain bike. I had one of those and sold it a few years back. Great bike, but not what I think your looking for.

There seems to be some confusion here:

The 520 has always been a touring bike. There is no such thing as a Trek 520 "mountain bike" or anything but a Touring road bike
The 720 was a touring bike for a couple of years and then that designation was used for a hybrid bike the 720 Multitrack.

Thats a lota bike for 150...Hell the frame is good. Get it, upgrade it, fine tune it, ride it.

seconding EjustE.

any vintage trek is worth $150 if it is in good condition.

Unless the person looking at one has never ridden one. Advisable that the OP take it on an extended test ride to see whether he likes the ride of it or not. Some riders, including myself, are not keen on the ride of Treks.

-Kurt

Even in average condition it is well worth it. Clean, pristine, vintage touring bikes like the 520 can bring about $350 around here. So one in so-so condition, that needs some work, would still be worth $150, probably more than that.

Now if the question is whether it is the "right bike" for you, I probably would give a totally different answer. Does it fit, what do you plan to do with it, do you like/want a vintage bike? etc....

It might not be the bike for you at all.