These bikes are not really comparable to one another-but....I am looking at buying a new 520 and upgrading to XT and Ultegra components. By the time that is done, I might as well pay an extra grand and get the Americano brand new. However, an 8 month old Americano comes along that is one size smaller than the 520 I was going to get. More specifically, on the Americano- chainstays are the same, top tube smaller by 1.5cm, seat tube (CT) 6.5 cm smaller, head angle is the same, head tube length is 1.5 cm smaller, seat tube angle is .5 different, standover height is 1.8 cm shorter, and the wheel base is is 2.5 cm smaller. Now the Americano is not available locally, so I can't test ride it. It also has S&S couplers which I wanted, and was considering having done to the 520. To me everything points to the Americano, but I am just really concerned that the fit might be just a shade cramped? So then it just doesn't make sense to buy a beautiful, very expensive bike that doesn't fit right. Thoughts?

Without knowing how and how perfectly the Trek fits, or would fit, and without knowing your dimensions, it's impossible to say much of anything here. My feeling, however, is that 15-20mm shorter at the TT and HT is within component adjustment range provided the longer numbers weren't workable because of maxed out components (e.g. 140mm stem, long reach bars, extended setback post), and presuming the .5° ST variance is steepness for the shorter bike. Fitting it up for general riding, then, probably isn't a problem, but beyond that...you'll get different ride characteristics that may or may not be acceptable, particularly depending on how you have to set it up and how you ride. More info is needed to make an educated guess on this one.

yes silly me. I am 5'11 and 195 lbs. The current owner is 5'9" and it fits her perfectly as she says. The 57 cm Trek I am looking at, I thought fit me really well. I had considered an offset seatpost, but wonder if the height of the handlebars maybe being too low. Still up in the air.

Want something Different from off the peg? Co-Motion of Oregon, offers custom options .. to the frame Build itself.

Trek, Imported to keep production costs down, Changes are just component parts swaps done at the Dealer level.