Strengths: Frame quality is great, wheels have stayed true, geometry is comfortably designed, but still aerodynamic. Deore DX gruppo is excellent. As a commuter who carries upward of 30# at times, this bike can handle whatever I do with it.
Weaknesses: The 520 is no speed demon so don't look to it to run w/the racers.
Bottom Line:
I have the '93 lugged steel 520. I was lucky to find it, especially because it is in excellent condition.
I have used my 520 mainly for commuting and it is tough, smooth riding and comfortable. I am taking it on my first big tour this coming summer and will be putting about 400 miles in. This is an excellent "all-arounder" as far as utilitarian needs go. It is a little unpredictable at high speeds and I have had the experience of the back wheel sliding out from under me on a few occasions--have not wiped out, but have had to learn to go into turns a little slower. I imagine this would happen due to the long wheel base. Otherwise, its all good, I have done centuries, group rides, commuting and bike paths on this bike and it is overall outstanding. I have taken it on trails a few times and tho it is not ideal it handled very well. Before buying a custom steel rig I would definitely recommend looking for a 520.
Similar Products Used: Peugeot steel 10 speed rondonneur.
Bike Setup: Mostly stock, but have added Nitto moustache handlebars & stem, Pasela 32c tires, Brooks Flyer saddle(has springs for extra comfort), and standard platform pedals. Beautiful.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Gary Jean
a Recreational Rider
from Heidelberg, Germany
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2002
Strengths: Strong, strong, strong. Relaxed geometry comes into it's own when loaded down. Quality drive train.
Weaknesses: Throw the stock rack away. Saddle is cheap. Gearing is too high. Thin sidewall tires are suitable for smooth roads only.
Bottom Line:
I have the '93 or '94 model and this beast has survived many loaded tours without a complaint from it or me. I immediately replaced the worthless rack with a Blackburn to hold my monster Jandd panniers. I had to drill some new holes in the bags to move the mounting hooks in order to get heel clearance. Now you can get a rack specifically designed for the big Jandd bags. The gearing is a little high, but it builds character as long as you don't blow out your knees. I also replaced the thin stock tires with some bullet-proof Schwalbe Marathons (700x32). These tires are heavy, but indestructable. The other change was Shimano pedals with SPD on one side and flat pedal on the other. My first big trip with the 520 was across the Pyrenees from France to Spain, then across Spain to the Atlantic coast (Santiago de Campostela), then southeast to Salamanca. 2100KM in 21 days, with some rough pavement and some no pavement. The bike handles better loaded than unloaded. It is perfectly stable when ripping down passes in the Alps. Unloaded, the steering is a bit floppy and it's hard to ride with no hands. This old model has cantilever brakes, and they are very strong and easy to modulate. The bar end shifters are a delight for touring. Still running the original wheels, with no broken spokes. Even the paint and decals still look good. I'm a lightweight (145 lbs), but I usually carry at least 30 lbs on the back, preferring camp comfort and real food to going light. I'd buy another one.
Similar Products Used: This is the only touring bike I've owned. It's the bike equivalent of my Volvo wagon. My other bike is a Ciöcc SL with 6 speed Campy SR (19 years old). It is the bike equivalent of my Miata.
Strengths: Frame is excellent for what it's meant to do. Very stable, easy to cover lots of ground on. I ride an average of 25 miles a week, mostly suburban commuting. The bike will handle a pretty ample load. Vbrakes are much better than the cantilevers they replaced. LX/Tiagra deraillers and 105 triple are sturdy and reliable. Can fit a 700x40 cyclocross tire for winter riding with clearance to spare.
Weaknesses: Replace the Matrix wheelset right away. If you're carrying any kind of load it will fold out from under you. I weigh 180 lbs, no I'm not the lightest rider out there but wheels that cannot take a modest low-speed impact from a pothole are pretty sad. I have since replaced the wheels with a Mavic 36h/Tiagra wheelset I built up myself. The stock rack is also terrible. Your feet will hit the panniers while you pedal. The original owner mounted a Blackburn rack to replace the OEM item for this reason. The saddle is far too uncomfortable. I solved that problem with a LookIn gel saddle. The OEM stem isn't long enough either. I put a 120 mm Icon stem and now all's well.
Bottom Line:
Overall this is a great bike. For a entry-level touring machine there are few things worth changing. It's sturdy, it's smooth, and it can handle a 15-20 lb load with ease once you replace the stock rack and wheels. I bought this bike second-hand from a guy who was expecting a different kind of bike other than a tourer. He didn't like it. Guess what? I do!
Similar Products Used: No other touring bikes. My other bike is a Mongoose Hardluck MTB--not even close to comparable. I have tried other road bikes but they were more of a racing persuasion than for touring purposes.
Bike Setup: 53 cm, with a new stem, rack, saddle and wheels.
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Submitted by
James J. Kennedy
a Recreational Rider
from Evergreen Park, IL 60805
Date Reviewed: December 25, 2000
Strengths: The great frame and fork give good handling and a comfortable, all-day ride. The LX components are better than good enough for touring use.
Weaknesses: The supplied Matrix-rimmed wheelset is trash, completely unsuitable for loaded touring, especially for heavier riders. (I'm 200 lbs and carry 20 in my panniers). The handlebar stem is so short you'll be chewing your front tire most of the day and developing a crick in your neck. I replaced it with a high Ergonomic stem. The gearing is wrong for a touring bike, so I put a 14-32 on the new wheelset I built with Sun tandem rims (36 hole), premium DT spokes, and a second set of LX hubs. I kept the original wheelset for lightly loaded club rides. As delivered, the bike had every conceivable adjustment wrong, making it unrideable in a short time. I had to re-assemble it properly, piece-by-piece. The supplied rack is totally useless for carrying panniers. Its design is such that you cannot place your panniers sufficiently rearward and your heels will be kicking them off constantly. But it's great for riding your kid sister around the neighborhood. I replaced it with a Blackburn and no problems. Don't blame the chainstays; they're long enough---it's the poorly designed rack that's the problem. Summary: very poor factory assembly and poor choice of rims, stem, and rack. Unsuitable for loaded touring as supplied. A friend had the same model and year with identical problems.
Bottom Line:
Buy this bike for the very nice frame, but only if you can rebuild it properly. Expect to replace the wheelset with a sturdier one with better-geared cogs.And, you will need a higher stem. Otherwise, buy a Buce Gordon if you can afford one. If you can't afford a Brucie, then look at other bikes. I wouldn't recommend the 520 unless you can get it very cheap.
Similar Products Used: Bruce Gordon Rock & Road, but its quality level is 'way higher than the Trek 520's.
Bike Setup: The 520 supplied to me as new needed a complete re-assembly and adjustment of everything. It needed a much better wheelset, so I built it one.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Sean
a Recreational Rider
from Danville, California
Date Reviewed: November 11, 2000
Strengths: Strong, reliable touing bike. Good selection of components and all the required braze-ons.
Weaknesses: The saddle lasts only 40 miles per ride. The rear rack is too weak for heavy loads and large panniers. Tires could be bigger.
Bottom Line:
This bike feels perfect when loaded and will not shimmy, even at 50 mph. For loaded touring, I would replace the stock rack. The stock saddle lasted only 40 miles on each ride before it became incredibly uncomfortable. I am very picky when it comes to saddles, but I have had no problems with my Brooks leather saddle. The new models have V-brakes and that is a good thing because the old cantilever brakes were barely adequate to stop a fully-loaded bike heading downhill at high speed. Other people have complained that the gearing is high, but I have had no problems with it.
I bought this bike to ride the Trans-America trail, which I did in 1998. It has a natural of speed of 15 mph which is great for touring because the scenery changes, but you can still see everything. It loves weight and the more that it carriers, the better the ride. There are better bikes if you are carrying minimal gear, but nothing is significantly better with a full load. Every time I get a free week, I head out with this bike. I can not imagine a more comfortable bike to ride all day. It has all the function of a custom touring bike bike, but is less than half the price. A great bike to cross the country on. It is not the fastest and it is not the slowest. It's strong and durable. The bike can manage on smooth trails and unpaved roads. Components will come and go as you put miles on this bike, but the frame itself will keep going.
