Fuji Touring or Trek 520 ????
 

Here in Australia any would be "tourer" has very little choice when it comes to a touring bike. I have only been able to find bike shops that sell either a TREK 520 or Fuji Touring and nothing else. There is the Cannondale T2000, but at $2,899.00AUD and being aluminium I'm not really interested.

Later this year the Fuji touring 06 will be retail $1,299.00AUD as opposed to the TREK 520 which
retails for $2,299.00AUD.

Being a very significant $1,000.00 difference in price is this really indicative of the difference in quality between the two?

I have to admit I'm leaning towards the Fuji as I still need to buy everything needed for touring i.e panniers, sleeping bag,tent etc etc and this will allow me to do it for less outlay and quicker.

I would appreciate any advice that could be provided.

Which ever fits better.
I dunno the spec of the fuji. It also depends on how remote you'll be going. The more remote you go, the less I'd gamble with lower end parts (below LX/105). Also, 36 hole rims are a must, though the bontranger mavrick's are not the best on the 520, though the rear wheel now has DT spokes.
In the end though, you could have the best bike in the world and it wouldn't be work $1 if it didn't fit right, esp on tour.

I just bought the Windsor Tourist from Bikes Direct... which IS a Fuji Touring. I have tried both the 520 and the Fuji and there is no way I would spend the extra money on a 520.

I leave in 12 days for a 3000 mile tour on my Fuji/Touring and have nothing but good things to say about it so far. I seriously think the 520 is overrated for its price.... /ducks and hides from the 520 owners.

You can find a test of the Fuji here.

Hi Subigo,

Are you keeping an online journal for your trip. I would really like to know how things work out with
your bike over 3000 miles. I won't be buying a bike for at least five months and your experience will in no doubt be very helpful.

It is. . . .which is why you don't pay retail. Only fools and x-mas shoppers pay retail.
I've never paid retail on a bike.

nm+ is right on the money......

Never pay full retail for a bike.

And I'd add, if price is importiant to you....Never buy and build up a frame. This always costs more than just buying a ready made bike (although it's not nearly as FUN!)


If a touring bike has a quality frame that fits you and it's on sale, buy it even if you don't like 100% of the components. You can always change out the few parts you don't want... even selling or trading them for the parts you really want.


StuckInMud---

I don't know how much you know about bikes, so an internet bike maybe isn't the way to go for you. Fuji touring bikes have been a super value forever--- I'm sure somebody reading this owns a nice 80's Fuji Touring bike and will post about how nice it is.... and other than a new threadless headset and STI shifting, Fuji hasn't changed a heck of a lot over the years.

So buy the Fuji and don't look back.

Yep. I will be at http://subigo.crazyguyonabike.com

I doubt it will be updated daily. In fact, it will probably be weekly.