That’s because Tri-color looks good on any late 80’s, early 90’s bike - it was second only to Dura Ace in sexiness. And you’re right, she’s a looker!

Nice work! How do you like the DTH tires?

Thanks for the report. There’s a time for the best and a time for good enough. And sometimes slicks just aren’t the right tire. I love my Compass (now René Herse) tires too, but can’t afford them on everything.

You’ll read about this period- Trek didn’t make low end bikes- their “entry level” bike was mid level for most other makes.

While there were hi-ten frames for a little while in the early early days- and some early 80s bikes had hi-ten forks and/or stays- Trek always made a good bike, with good components and great tube sets; from the late 70s to the end of the 80s.

I was reading about the Ishiwata “death forks” but couldn’t figure out which ones or if all of them. Have a new lugged fork for it getting matching powder coat. Also, picked up a nice Chromed Tange fork from the C&V Classifieds as an option. BTW...saw your posts of your powder coated frame! Super nice! Have you built it up yet?

CMIIW but I think even the hi-tension frames were butted?

Left to right that's an '83 720 an '84 620 and an '84 520 😁

This one 🤪
The '84 610, and I'll tell you why. It's the comfortable all-rounder. You could do a rando or a credit tour on it, it'll fit 27 1 1/4 if I want fatter rubber, it's comfortable all day and still nimble without being twitchy.

But for the the straight up tourers I bought them all last fall as the weather turned nasty and I really only have vague first impressions. The '84 520 is REAL sleeper. ONLY in 1984 did itcombine the traditional seat cluster lugs with the 45.5cm chainstay length. Thats only 1.5cm shoerter than the fabled 720, and the ride reflects it, it is solid and stable. The frame is 501 with mangaloy (Tange 2001?) and the tubing is WELL matched for touring. Back to back with the 720, there isn’t a ton of difference in ride quality, at least in my short commuter jaunts which are under ten miles and unladen. The 520 is also “light enough” with the lift test. when you pick it up it feels like “a nice lightish steel road bike”. The 720, I saw it discribed as riding a unicorn on pillows made of rainbows or something near to that. And it is... but can I for sure say it hasn’t anything to do with the hype? I bought the hype, and then I bought the bike after all!

you do ntice the chain stay length and the long wheelbase (the ‘82 728 frame and the ‘83 frame are the same and are longer wheelbased than the ‘84/‘85 model) So yes, she’s stretch limo. And remeber to that these are all in 24” sized, which has me with juust a fist of seatpost and bars level with the saddle. I’m 5’10’ with an 88.25 PBH so these are all French Fit as I think befits a touring bike (or any bike you are going to compete on). What I’m getting at is these are long bikes, and they are on the larger side of what I fit correctly, so the long wheel base is emphasized by that on all of the bikes. The 620 I’ve barely ridden yet :-( I know for shame. But I plan on posting some better reviews or shoot outs. I think they are all VERY close in ride quality though, If anyone is thinking about a Trek Tourer of this period and you find a 520 (specifically ‘84, in ‘83 it has a short wheelbase and caliper brakes, same with ‘85 and ‘86) You have found a ligit nice vintage touring bike.

Also factor in that the ‘84 came with Suntour Cyclone Long Cage rear derailler and you can make a strong argument that it was better equiped than the 620!

I’m gushing about the 520 because it’s SO close in quality to the 620 and 720. Those bikes DO qualitativly ride nicer but the 520 is just a hairs bredth behind them, thats why I like it. It surprisingly closer to the grail status bikes than I would have imagined. It does lack low rider brazes, and both it and the 620 have only one rear eyelet, and IIRC the 520 has one bottle basement, and the 620 and even the 720 only have two each. The bikes all have very little clearence for tires plus fenders, they’re pretty strictly road tourers, I’d take something else for dirt roads, but there are work arounds. So they’re all awesome, its more about which bike is an A+ an A or an A- than which is an A a B or a C.

Purchased worn out and rusty from original owner. 531 frame was blasted and then powder coated in satin black. I created and applied the decals based on modern, current designs and used the current logo badging. Drivetrain is all vintage 8 speed Dura Ace but had to go with a longer rear brake for 700 conversion. Fork is Kinesis carbon with sleeper 531 decals. Wheels are Ksyriums with GP4000sII in 23. Finished weight is 22lbs-6oz. Love the way this thing turned out and seems like every time I ride it somebody wants to buy it.

That is hawt. 😎