Price Paid:  $750.00 at Plaistow NH

Model Year:
1999 or older

Favorite Ride:
Athens, Greece to London, England

Bike Setup:
Stock, new brooks saddle

Summary:
Have 2 520's. My wife's and mine. She stopped riding after our honeymoon, 1200 miles in 1993. I keep on riding and have got to guess another 5K on mine. Keep hers hung in garage, I it keep tuned and replace tires every year just incase I need parts or she wants to ride. Never happened. No buckles, annual tune up keeps mine in fine shape. Keep expecting to but never have had to replace chain. What a work horse! After initial cross Europe trip, I ride in urban and country setting on a daily basis, unloaded to and from work.

Strengths:
The whole package.

Weaknesses:
Wish it was lighter, but still have not changed due to overall satisfaction

Similar Products Used:
None, why would I?

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Free from a dumpster

Model Year:
1999 or older

Favorite Ride:
dirt roads

Bike Setup:
1984 520 frame set, cross tires, sdg saddle, platform pedals, shimano components. The bike is basically a Franken-tourer.

Summary:
I found the bike on garbage day outside of a Frat at Penn State. I thought the bike had too much life left in it to see get thrown into the dump so i fixed 'er up. After a little work the bike was fully operational. I had to replace the wheels, cables, derailer, tires and re-tape the bars. she rides like a dream now.

Strengths:
Solid well built lugged frame. great geometry. smooth ride.

Weaknesses:
none besides the 27" single wall wheels.

Similar Products Used:
most 1980s and 90's road bikes.

Price Paid:  $1100.00 at LBS

Model Year:
2002

Favorite Ride:
Cross Country

Bike Setup:
Stock with Brooks B17 Saddle, Profile Designs Airstryke Aerobars, Crank Brothers Egg Beaters, Topeak front and rear racks, Vittoria Randonneur 700x35 tires (do not recommend)

Summary:
My 520 has over 7000 loaded miles and it is still going strong. Over the trips, I have come across several problems, but nothing that I couldn't fix with a little bit of know how. The stock rack is not as bad as people say, it lasted me about 5000 loaded miles before the aluminum supports snapped (luckily down the street from a bike shop), but should be replaced if used for touring. When first purchased, the seat was terrible, but that is preference for my bum and have never been a fan of Shimano pedals. The drive train has held up very well as I am still using original parts, only replacing the chain once. The bottom line comes down to this, if you take care of it, it will last you for all of your needs for years to come.

Strengths:
I never feel any flex from the frame.
Wheels are perfectly true after two cross USA trips.
Drive train keeps on spinning.

Weaknesses:
Rack supports do not stand up to loaded touring.
Stock seat is entirely uncomfortable (I recommend Brooks)
Gear ratio is not perfect, but it works with a bit of effort

Similar Products Used:
Short rides on Cannondale T2000, Surly LHT, and 2007 Trek 520

Price Paid:  $1099.00 at International Bikes

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
anything quiet and rural

Bike Setup:
stock from Trek except I added fenders and panniers and a little gel under the handlebar tape.

Summary:
Great bike for touring and exercise. I bought the Trek 520 for loaded touring and have been very happy with it. Over the past year, I have taken a few longish trips and have been pleased with the simplicity and comfort of the bike. The nine-speed Dura-Ace shifters have a simple friction mode for the rear derailleur and the SRAM 11-32 cassette has been fine for hills with moderately loaded panniers.
At first I liked the bike but longed for something more custom. I experimented with many types of components on other frames, but eventually have come to appreciate the choices made for the 520. The Dia-Compe 287 brake levers are very comfortable and the Bontrager handlebars fit the hands well. I have a Brooks B17 on another bike, but I am finding the RaceLux saddle to be just fine. On the whole, even after trying several other configuations, I am very much enjoying the Trek 520.

Strengths:
comfortable. stable. Very good components for the money. comes with pedals and a rack so you don't have to spend extra money when you buy the bike.

Weaknesses:
a few of the water-bottle bolts have slight rust after 1 year, though I haven't seen any rust at all on any vital components.

Similar Products Used:
I commute on a modified mountain bike and dabbled with a fixed-gear.

Price Paid:  $799.00 at Village Cyclesport

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
2006 Trek 520

Summary:
I am getting back into biking after a several year absense. I had enough bikes already; however, I wanted to go for longer rides.

I simply can't get my doubles up the steep bluffs that line the Mississippi. That left me with a Lemond Alp Duez which is an awesome bike. However, this bike won't let me haul as much as I need.

Similar to the Lemond this bike is made of steel. There is no doubt that my two steel bikes are the most comfortable that I own - the fastest no.

Here is where the Trek 520 stands out. It's components are very good at the price I paid. 105 road and LX dirt in the back. Durace shifters and 35 Botranger tires.

The roads in Iowa are simply horrible. The width of the touring tires are ideal here. If I used 23s, I would be changing tires every 30 miles because of flats.

Going to an LBS was smart. This bike fits like a glove. It rides super smooth and feels very stable. If you can get one on closeout for $799 I grab it, as many trek dealers are only going to special order these.

Strengths:
Excellent componentry for price. Extremely smooth ride. Very comfortable. Frame has extensive brazeons - The third water bottle braze-ons is very nice.

Weaknesses:
The saddle is okay, but I am going to replace with a brooks b17 champion.

Similar Products Used:
Lemond Alp Duez, Fuji Robaix, Jack Kane Custom, Iron Horse Hollowpoint, Specialized Stumpjumper FS