2009 Trek 520
 

Check it out



http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/520/520/

hey, thanks for the pic! nice color, something you don't see often. Wish LHT had that color :o)

Looks great and they even got the crank right, amazing. It appears as though they may have cut the effective top tube back as well. Did they cut out the third water bottle cage?

Finally, a sloping top tube.
Looks like Trek is following some of the others now.

Looks nice but i don't understand why it comes with fenders and clipless pedals. Those two "extras" i would throw away, the fenders aren't even full coverage, and i would prefer touring platforms with cages.
Other than that it seems ready to go!

Definitely flip it.

I'm glad they dumped the road crankset in favor of a touring crankset. They could have left off the fenders, and I'm not sure about the rack. If it's not a very sturdy rack, they could save the buyer some money. That might get the price down closer to the Surly LHT, which seems to be what they're competing against. I considered the Trek 520 before buying my LHT, but the road crankset steer me away from the 520. The new model is a welcome change.

How small would ones feet need to be to avoid overlap with the front fender?
Looks like the pedal (sans foot) will hit the front fender

Looks like the same fenders as the portland. Where is the "hand made in the USA" decal ?

That bike is so much sexier than the '08 model.

heh... metallic root beer indeed.

Made in China
 

Just bought and returned Trek 7.5FX, bar grips way small...I saw on the frame MIC...maybe its a trend

Looking into 520 I am 240, is this a good short and long commuter?

Oh yeah. That's another reason I opted for the LHT. For my size (54cm), I got 26" wheels. No toe overlap for me.

I'm right at the same weight, and use my 520 as my all purpose bike.

520
 

thanks for the info, ordered a new 520 tonite, new one with Cro-Moly, looking forward to first ride

I see what looks like bolt holes for a third bottle cage, but no bolts in them. I will be disappointed if the frame is not made in the USA.

Trek 520 wait time
 

How long until the 2009s will be delivered?

Is that a pragmatic ("US-made frames are better") or ideological ("I prefer supporting the US economy") point of view?

Steve

I don't like those fenders. I haven't ridden a bike with those mini fenders but I've been told that without the forward jutting fender part over the front wheel, at high speed moisture can fly up in front of the steering tube and blow back into your face. And it certainly looks like some spray will hit the seat tube and splatter onto your calves.

Why does it have to be one or the other? I don't know for certain that USA-made frames are better-made than what may come from China, but people seem pleased well enough with their USA-made Trek 520 frames; why fix that which is not broken? I hate to see U.S. jobs outsourced, and ships are not known for using clean-burning fuels. I do like to support the U.S. economy, too. OK, that is four reasons I would rather see these new frames made in the USA.

If you look at the angled shot and zoom you can see the bottle bosses in the underside of the tube - albeit no screws. I think it's sexy personally. I'll buy it :-)

-R

I've seen loads of nicely made Taiwanese frames and wouldn't hesitate to buy/ride one. I've owned 7 frames made in Canada or the US. I can't say they were specifically better than the others I've owned, but they were quite nice and I'd happily preferentially support a North American made product if it's good.

Fixing the crank is progress for sure, but they really should pricepoint it more aggressively. Others have already brought up the unsuitability of the rack, fenders, and pedals, all of which I second, and now add one: the brake levers. The Dia Compe 287v is no longer the only option in a V-compatible drop bar lever; the Tektro RL520 is available for half the price. And despite being cheaper, the Tektro may even be the better product. It's a close cousin of their Campy knockoff levers which have been very well received, whereas for the Dia Compes I've read griping about cable friction and shifting, uncomfortable hoods. Why spend more money to get less?

I've heard from Trek and my LBS that the new 520 won't enter production until November, with delivery in December. What's up with the tease, Trek? Or are they actually coming out sooner?