bobotech

I have a couple of Trek 520s. One of them is my main bike and fits me perfectly. The other has a nicer frame and is in better shape but it is the smallest Trek 520 frame they made, I believe. This is the frame setup with a double crankset (has a triple now):



A friend at the bike coop got a Motobecane Ti bike recently. He and I ride similar frames, he is short about 5'8" and I am 5'11" but I have a short inseam.

The 520 frame was his a while back and gave it to me. Well yesterday he said that he would like the 520 frame back and he was saying that he would possibly trade me his Motobecane frame which is an inch or 2 taller and is just a bit too tall for him but would fit me fine.

I am not sure which Motobecane it is but it has a carbon fork and a titianium frame. Takes 700c wheels and is setup as a road bike.

The Trek is a classic frame but it is a bit too small for me. I would probably just move all my components over.

Should I pull the trigger or not?

fietsbob

Giving up on touring, much..?

bobotech

I don't really tour, I just like touring bikes bikes. I like being able to go to the store and load up on groceries and bring stuff home. I like the way they handle. I like being able to go to my bike co-op and fill up my bags full of crap and bring it home. I don't like wearing backpacks to carry stuff. I'm attracted to touring bikes in the same way that I love motorcycles like Honda Goldwings even though I would rarely ever travel more than 10-20 miles from my home.

I don't ride this 520 much at all because the frame is so short but the frame is so nice and clean that I hang on to it and I love the way the bike looks.

But I"m tempted by a modern ti/carbon frame. I would put a 9 speed triple frankenstein drive train on it. I just don't want to get burned by giving up a classic Trek frame for a Bikes Direct frame however I had heard good things about the motobecane frame.

cpach

Sounds like a good deal to me:you'll get a frame that fits, and is almost certainly worth more. You'll still have your other 520 for hauling. Light, sporty bikes are fun, too.

jerseyJim

He gave it to you? I'd just give it back.

bobotech

No, not really just gave to me, we trade bike parts all the the time. I also build his wheels if he wants. He and I end up swapping tons of parts. I will probably give him a set of older decent wheels with Mavic open pro in the rear and just a plain mavic in the front on Ultegra hubs as well just to sweeten the deal if he wants.

I'm drawn to the motobecane because its different than anything else I have.

cplager

It seems to me you've answered your own question. You have another 520 that fits you and this is something different that interests you.

RobertL

Seems like it's a win-win for both you and your buddy, I'd do it.

Mobile 155

What you haven't jumped at it already?

MetalPedaler

This is a no-brainer, Bobo! Take the Ti and run! Them Motobecane Ti's are NICE bikes- I hope to get one in the future. They are every bit a good as the much more expensive name-brand Ti frames! ....and it'll even fit you good!

Do it! NOW!

Really, you don't know how luck y you are.

And if it should be the Century Ti, you'll really love it, as it's they're kind of the best of both worlds, between a touring bike and a roadie. (I'm like you...no intentions of ever touring, but I'm being drawn to touring-type bikes....soon as my new-to-me Klein Quantum arrives, I'm gonna outfit my Mercier [relative of the Motobecanes, as it came from Bikesdirect, also] with fenders and a rack!)

dynaryder

Had a Motobecane Ti cross. Was awesome. Would still be my fav bike if it hadn't been stolen.

I'd make that trade in a heartbeat. Lighter frame,way tougher(and will never scratch),no rust issues.

bobotech

LOL Part of me just feels bad tearing apart the 520 back to its bare frame after getting it all done. But the 520 would then be getting the 10 speed drive train off of the Motobecane that my buddy would keep and then I would use some of my spare part 9speed stuff and build up the Motobecane.

I got a few pictures of it today and it is a Fantom Cross Team, has canti brakes and all the stuff I like. I wonder if the Fantom can take fenders?

I will talk to my friend and see if he really wants to do the deal, if he does, I shall pull the trigger.

dynaryder

It can take fenders,wide tires,and canti or disc brakes. Same frameset I had. The only issue I had with fender installation was on the left rear;the frame has a sort of 'ridge' at the seat/chain stay junction. Couldn't use the regular spacers I use for clearing discs,had to source one of the narrow ones like PB includes with their Cascadia fenders. My bike was running PB Hybrid fenders,without them it would fit 40mm knobbies no probs.

bobotech

Small update, we went and did the trade. He wanted my nice Mavic Askim rear/Xero front wheelset and the 520 frame. The frame was complete with matching fork, headset, seatpost. The Mavic wheel only has 24 spokes so I didn't feel comfortable riding it (I"m 350+ pounds) and it had a tiny flat spot where it hit a curb and the dent was pulled back out. I told him about the flat spot and he didn't mind it, I never noticed it when I rode on the wheel with 700x28c tire a few times.

He built up the 520 frame with the wheels I gave him and the 10 speed drivetrain off of the Motobecane Ti frame. Used a threaded to threadless adapter. Came out very nice and when we weighed it, it was about 23 pounds. Not bad for a chromoly frame/fork. He added a front rack and will be his commuter.

I built up the Mobobecane using spare parts bucket stuff. I had a pair of Ultegra (I think) 9 speed STI brake/shifters, black 105 front/rear derailleurs, nice cross wheelset with no stickers so I have no idea who made the rims. The only issue is the crankset, I don't have any modern pinned/ramped road cranksets so I had to use an older set that only has the cut low profile teeth for shifting assist. After I took it for a test drive, the front didn't shift as well as it could with a better crankset, but it works for now until I find something newer. I have to overshift a bit and shift not under power.

We are both happy and satisfied.

cplager

Well, I'm glad you two are satisfied...

The rest of us will be satisfied once you post pictures.