Garmin 520+ on sale
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member


Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 8,631
Likes: 3,543
From: South shore, L.I., NY
Bikes: Trek Emonda SL7, Cannondale Topstone, Miyata City Liner, Specialized Chisel, Specialized Epic Evo
Garmin 520+ on sale
Got a flyer from REI, they’re running a sale starting 5/17.
520+ will be 25% off. Normal for them is $280, so that sees it at $210.
520+ will be 25% off. Normal for them is $280, so that sees it at $210.
#5
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 9,694
Likes: 2,617
From: northern Deep South
Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee
I was curious enough to compare the 520+ and the 530 on Garmin's web site. After re-ordering the blurbs so you can do a comparison, I didn't see any differences that mattered to me. YMMV.
#6
Banned
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,585
Likes: 6,538
From: TN
You might want to check DC Rainmaker's review of the new 530. He explains the improvements as well as the deficiencies of the 520+.https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2019/04/...th-review.html
#7

Do they have a brick and mortar store nearby? I'd talk to someone in customer service.
#10
Thread Starter
Senior Member


Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 8,631
Likes: 3,543
From: South shore, L.I., NY
Bikes: Trek Emonda SL7, Cannondale Topstone, Miyata City Liner, Specialized Chisel, Specialized Epic Evo
#12
Occam's Rotor
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,248
Likes: 2,334
I'll try to buy the 520+ in person and with my REI card and then have them straighten out the other mess while I am there.
Last edited by Cyclist0108; 05-16-19 at 02:12 PM. Reason: s:/510/520/g
#13
Occam's Rotor
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,248
Likes: 2,334
The 520+ is now on sale, for $209 at REI. The 130 is $200.
DC Rainmaker isn't impressed with the 520+. (He didn't do a full review on it, but makes references to it being problematic in his review fo the 530). But for almost the same price as the 130, would it be worth it?
Currently I have an Edge 25, and appreciate the minimalism but not the battery life. The only feature I "need" is the ability to link to my Viara radar.
DC Rainmaker isn't impressed with the 520+. (He didn't do a full review on it, but makes references to it being problematic in his review fo the 530). But for almost the same price as the 130, would it be worth it?
Currently I have an Edge 25, and appreciate the minimalism but not the battery life. The only feature I "need" is the ability to link to my Viara radar.
#15
Is the 20% sale going on? 
If the only issue you need is a display for your Varia and The minimalism worked for you except for the battery, I'd go for it. The nothing but a Varia display they name is $100. You get some other stuff with it.

If the only issue you need is a display for your Varia and The minimalism worked for you except for the battery, I'd go for it. The nothing but a Varia display they name is $100. You get some other stuff with it.
#17
Occam's Rotor
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,248
Likes: 2,334
#18
Slacker

Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,297
Likes: 7
From: North Orange County, in Southern California
Bikes: 1987 Trek 560 Pro, 1983 SR Semi Pro, 2010 Motobecane Le Champion Titanium, 2011 Trek Fuel EX8
Tempting, except that my powermeter is a Powertap G3 hub and I wonder if it would play well with something newer than my Edge 510.
#19
Senior Member


Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 15,336
Likes: 1,789
From: Far beyond the pale horizon.
(There might be some issue with calories being reported instead of joules but that might have been fixed.)
https://www.thisisant.com/directory/powertap-g3-hub
https://forum.bikeradar.com/viewtopic.php?t=13075569
#20
Randomhead
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 25,930
Likes: 4,825
From: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
I would expect the 820 to be on sale soon too, given the imminent(?) availability of the 830. Might be worth checking out the difference between the 530 and the 520. You will probably be living with it for a while.
#22
Occam's Rotor
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,248
Likes: 2,334
No reason it shouldn't.
(There might be some issue with calories being reported instead of joules but that might have been fixed.)
https://www.thisisant.com/directory/powertap-g3-hub
https://forum.bikeradar.com/viewtopic.php?t=13075569
(There might be some issue with calories being reported instead of joules but that might have been fixed.)
https://www.thisisant.com/directory/powertap-g3-hub
https://forum.bikeradar.com/viewtopic.php?t=13075569
Did they get that wrong?
#23
Full Member


Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 436
Likes: 124
From: Northern NJ
Bikes: 1987 Pinarello Montello, 1996 Litespeed Classic, 1996 Colnago Master Light, 1997 Litespeed Ultimate, 2006 Opera Leonardo FP, 2006 Pinarello Paris FP, 1984 Pinarello Record, 89-ish Cornelo Profilo, '86 DeRosa Professional SLX, '87 Merckx Corsa Extra
Newer isnt always better - I'll stick with my 520 until it dies. My only minor faults with it are that it sometimes does not communicate nicely with my Wahoo Kickr, but that probably has to do with the fact that the Kickr is also talking to an iPad, and the Garmin is talking to my phone, so it's like Grand Central station for e-waves in my basement at ridetime.
If you don't have a GOS computer, I recommend them highly. What I do need to figure out one of these days is whether my 520 can import a GPS breadcrumb track and show it on the map as I ride so I can at least try to follow it. Someday I'll buy something fancy that can do turn by turn. This year isnt that day.
As for REI, I cant say enough good things about them. I've never found them to not make good or work things out. They even let me use my 20% coupon last year on a Wahoo Kickr, and my wife's coupon on a Climb, even though I'm not sure they were supposed to. Then, when the Core did what some have done, and died completely one day a month later, they swapped it for one off their shelf (it still didnt have the ESD fix, and Wahoo sent me another one that did, so they've been fantastic too).
If you don't have a GOS computer, I recommend them highly. What I do need to figure out one of these days is whether my 520 can import a GPS breadcrumb track and show it on the map as I ride so I can at least try to follow it. Someday I'll buy something fancy that can do turn by turn. This year isnt that day.
As for REI, I cant say enough good things about them. I've never found them to not make good or work things out. They even let me use my 20% coupon last year on a Wahoo Kickr, and my wife's coupon on a Climb, even though I'm not sure they were supposed to. Then, when the Core did what some have done, and died completely one day a month later, they swapped it for one off their shelf (it still didnt have the ESD fix, and Wahoo sent me another one that did, so they've been fantastic too).
#24
Randomhead
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 25,930
Likes: 4,825
From: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
newer isn't always better, but the 830 is reportedly much faster, and that is one of the complaints that I have about my 800 that I never complain about because it wouldn't be fair.
I wonder if the 530 scrollback issue is a screen calibration issue? If not, I 'm sure they will fix it in firmware right away.
Hahahahahaha
I wonder if the 530 scrollback issue is a screen calibration issue? If not, I 'm sure they will fix it in firmware right away.
Hahahahahaha
#25
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 158
Likes: 12





