I violently AGREE! The 520 was a great touring bike and TREK lost its roots when it discontinued it. I put 48,000 on mine and I wish I still had it. The fork on the Checkpoint is not rated to take panniers and the shorter chain stays shift the load too far to the rear, making it too light in the front and hard on the rear tire. Stock Checkpoints can't get below about 27 gear inches. I love the REI ADV1.1 - it too is a touring specific machine with touring specific components.

I just looked up the REI ADV1.1, it's currently 40% off at $1019, with good looking front and rear racks, bar end shifters for reliability far away from home, Deore triple and hydraulic discs. That's a deal. Says "Discontinued. Shop now for best selection." YEP.

My new checkpoint is carbon, not aluminum. Between running tubeless at 38psi (vs 520 tubed at 65) and IsoSpeed, the ride on the Ceckpoint is better. I will be doing credit card touring so the Checkpoint will work fine

That's a really good deal, and similar to how I first built up my Soma Saga. The TRP hydraulic brake levers are excellent. I am tempted to buy one but I don't need two touring bikes. 30 lbs is a bit hefty.

Congratulations. I am glad to hear it worked out.

I don't have the space or I would be tempted too, bikes like that are going to be much more scarce new and if so, a lot more expensive. But I'm also sold on folding bikes, especially for touring, and encouraged that, once loaded up, a 20" wheel folder handles close to a 700c bike unladen. Also, I don't know if that ADV1.1 will fit fat tires, it comes with 37s.

Okay, so Trek sold out the touring community. No problem. I know fully loaded touring and have many decades of experience. In 1983 I chose a Specialized Expedition (frame by Miyata) over the Trek 520. It was very, very similar in that it was built for long distance heavily loaded touring. 40 spoke dishless rear wheel, braze-ons everywhere you needed them, wiring for a dynamo, etc, etc.. I finally retired my trusty steed and replaced it with a Surly Bridge Club a couple of years ago. The big change I made was getting 40-spoke wheels with Velocity sealed bearing hubs back and front. And Velo-Orange "Crazy Bars" (trimmed 5 inches of width). I've ridden many, many fully loaded miles on this bike on roads and rail trails, paved and not. Since I have a vacation home and cannot also transport my bike there, I also bought a Surly Ogre (just for something slightly different) and did the same with the wheels. IMHO, both of those Surlys are even more suitable to fully loaded touring than the classic touring bikes like the 520. Also, while others will disagree, larger tire sizes have revolutionized my riding for the better, even when riding with my buddy who is still running. 700C x 38mm. I have Schwalbe 2.1 inch tires WITH FULL FENDERS (Planet Bike) on both bikes (and could go larger) , and of course pannier-worthy racks front and rear. 27.5 inch wheels on the Bridge Club and 29 inch tires on the Ogre. Nirvana. You might just consider such a setup if you are replacing your classic 520-like touring bike.

I am in my local REI all the time when cycling. It's on my route. Remember if you buy the one time fee lifetime membership you have a year to return the bike even if used.......

(I don't think I have $1800 in the 200 bikes I have flipped over the years including the ones I currently still have...)

For those that want to know. The Mountain Works Bicycle and Ski Shop in La Grande, Oregon has a couple of 520 Grandos in stock still. One of the frames is a 60.

I appreciate all the experience shared in this thread regarding the issue with Trek's 520. I've wanted one since I first saw one on my first RAGBRAI in 1983, and I finally got one when I retired. A 2018 and last of the all steel frame/fork models. Mine has a little over 7800 easy, non-loaded miles on it and recently I discovered the dreaded seat post crack. Major bummer!

My local bike shop is a major Trek dealer so I initiated a claim but had little hope Trek still had any replacement frames available and in my size. After reading mstateglfr's posts I contacted REI and found an ADV 1.1 on clearance in my size for a little over $1k, so I had that as a backup.

Trek actually came through and located a red frame in my size with the aluminum fork. They were great to work with and they sent some components along to offset some of the labor moving all my stuff over to the new frame. I picked it up today and it looks awesome although the color screams mid-life crisis ;-) My LBS did an excellent job setting everything up and new new bike fits perfectly. I'm thrilled to still have the 520 and since I'm a caveman...my bar-end shifters and triple crank.

I confess to being really paranoid the seat post issue is going to rear it's head again. It feels like something changed with how they made/designed the later model frames since there are several examples out there of that failure mode. It'd be nice to get more than 5yrs/7800mi out of the replacement frame!

I'll try to attach the frame crack and new bike pics below.