trek 920 mountain bike

Trek 920 Review – Is it Worth the Money?

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Touted as a ‘go-anywhere adventure bike’, my Trek 920 review is going to find out if this bike really is an all-rounder. If you are going to be paying out a couple of thousand dollars for a bike you’ll want it to at least perform comfortably in a variety of situations from standard commuting to going ‘off-road’ and onto some trails.

So, does the Trek 920 do this? Let’s find out.

Bottom Line Up Front: The Trek 920 is a quality bike for the price range it finds itself in. Ideal for long journeys on good surfaces and decent performance on gravel and uneven terrain, the 920 is an ‘all rounder’ to an extent. It performs well, even if it does need some tinkering to the stem and saddle.

920 is a go-anywhere adventure touring bike. It's built with drop-bars and 29er mountain bike wheels for balance and capability on any surface you'll encounter on a bikepacking expedition.

Table of Contents

Who is Trek?

If you have bought a mountain bike before or been interested in bikes at all, you’ll no doubt have come across the Trek brand at some stage.

They are one of the biggest bike manufacturers in the world. Founded away back in 1975, they’ve built up a truly global reach that spans across many countries. Their main base is in Wisconsin, USA, but you’ll find Trek bikes being used in Europe, Asia, South Africa, and pretty much everywhere that biking is popular.

They manufacture a variety of bikes for different purposes from adventure bikes to hardtail mountain bikes so there is something for all tastes and interests. (Here check some of them you might actually like: Trek Marlin 4 , Trek Marlin 5 , Trek Marlin 6 , Trek Marlin 7 ).

What kind of bike is the Trek 920?

The Trek 920 is marketed as a ‘ go-anywhere adventure bike ’ so it fits into the touring category.

This means that it is designed so it can handle a variety of different terrain from the daily commute to work across smoother roads to hit the trail where you’ll encounter bumps and difficult conditions. The nature of a touring bike is that it should be able to handle long distances with durability and comfort.

You’ll find out as you go through my Trek 920 review that the bike and its components have been designed to handle various types of adventures but do its features necessarily mean that this is an all-rounder?

The Main Features of the Trek 920

What is the Trek 920 frame made from?

The frame on the Trek 920 is a 100 Series Alpha aluminum frame.

Aluminum was really the default frame of choice for a long time before carbon came along and became more accessible to manufacturers. The advantage that an aluminum frame like the one on the Trek 920 has is that it’s less expensive than a carbon frame. If you’re looking to save some bucks on a new bike then choosing an aluminum frame is usually a good starting point.

That being said, aluminum frames and the 100 Series Alpha aluminum frame that is on this bike are durable. They should last a long time even if you are regularly going off-road with this bike. The frame also comes with thru-axles, internal cable routing, and a bent top tube.

What about the wheels?

The wheels that you’ll find on the Trek 920 are Bontrager Duster Elite, Tubeless Ready, and 100x15mm thru-axle on the front and Bontrager Duster Elite, Tubeless Ready, 142×12 thru-axle on the rear.

You can fit up to 29×2.25” tires on the 920 if you wish. With the scope for adding wider tires onto this bike, it should add to the overall comfort of your ride as well as increasing the type of terrain it can handle.

I’ve found the tires on the Trek 920 to be able to offer a smooth ride both on flat roads as well as gravel trails and if you want to add other mountain bike tires you can.

What brakes does the Trek 920 have?

The bike comes with TRP Hylex hydraulic disc brakes. They provide good stopping power in a variety of conditions from dry and sunny days to wet and muddy terrain.

Even with the extra weight that you’ll be carrying if using this as a touring bike, the brakes should perform very well. As far as mountain bike brakes go they’re certainly not the worst out there.

In fact, the hydraulic disc brakes don’t exactly require a ton of maintenance either – unlike the mechanical disc brakes – so that is an added bonus.

Does it have any other features?

There are a few other features of the Trek 920 that I need to go over with you. It has a SRAM S700, 2-speed Drivetrain, and SRAM S700, 10-speed shifters so you’ll be able to pick up decent speeds on this bike.

The range of gears also means that its designer for touring as well. The Bontrager Evoke saddle isn’t the most comfortable and you’ll find that many people tend to replace the stock version with something a bit better and more suited to long-distance rides.

The Trek 920 comes in a range of sizes too from 49cm to 61cm so you should be able to get a size to suit you. The default color is Matt Sandstorm which looks really sleek and definitely gives it an aesthetic edge over some other bikes in the same category. You can potentially get up to 6 water bottles on the bike which further enhances its reputation for long-distance journeys.

How does the Trek 920 perform?

The main purpose of the 920 is as a long-distance touring bike however it is also touted as being able to handle a variety of different terrain too.

It has what you need for a touring bike and you’ll get a comfortable ride over long distances. The gear range also helps to hit a good speed while the fact that it has a 136 KG maximum weight further enhances its reputation as an adventure bike that you can head off on for hours (if not longer) at a time.

The wide tire clearance helps with comfort and stability so it can perform fairly well on less than ideal roads and trails where you’re going to hit a lot of bumps and uneven ground.

The aluminum frame can contribute to a somewhat harsh ride at times and there is a preference towards steel on long-distance and carbon for off-road adventures however I felt the Trek 920 performed well across a variety of surfaces.

What are the specs of the Trek 920?

Find the main specs of the Trek 920 below.

Will I get a warranty with the Trek 920?

You will get a lifetime warranty with the Trek 920 (for the original owner) and this covers the frame. There is between a 1 and 4-year warranty included on the other parts of the bike too.

What’s the price range of the Trek 920?

The Trek 920 comes in around $2,099.99 so ever so slightly over the $2000 mark.

There are cheaper options out there but the value for money is pretty strong with this bike. As a long-distance touring bike that also has the capability for gravel trails and off-road pursuits, the Trek 920 is set in a good price range for beginners and experienced mountain bikers .

If you are looking to spend a bit of money on a bike but don’t want to enter the really high end of the market, the Trek 920 fits the bill.

Trek 920 is suited for people who…

• Prefer a bike that uses an aluminum frame
• Need a bike for long-distance journeys with occasional off-road trails
• Want to carry a lot of water bottles with them
• Have a bit of money to spend without going into the high-end price bracket

Trek 920 is not suited for people who…

• Don’t like aluminum frames on long-distance biking
• Don’t want to make any alterations to the stock components
• Want a bike to use on gravel trails and tricky terrain all the time

What do users think of Trek 920?

The Trek 920 has received an abundance of positive feedback albeit with a few concerns mainly around the stock stem length and the saddle.

The stem length has been said to be too long for the average rider with the 58” version coming in at 110mm. A lot of people replace the stem with the smaller part which has helped with rider fatigue and overall control. The saddle is another part that is often replaced on the 920 for something a little bit more comfortable.

That being said, overall the Trek 920 has been praised for its all-round approach. Its tires, brakes, drivetrain, and potential for up to 6 water bottles, on sizes 56cm and above, means that it is ideal for long distances as well as shorter off-road pursuits.

The Pros and Cons of the Trek 920

• The high-quality bike is made from aluminum construction
• Provides good value for money
• Ideas as a touring bike that can handle some off-road pursuits
• Capacity for up to 6 water bottles on sizes 56cm and above
• Powerful stopping with hydraulic disc brakes
• Decent speeds and comfortable ride
• The saddle can be uncomfortable so is often replaced
• The stem is too long and will probably need to be changed
• Maneuverability is impeded due to the design of bar-end shifters

FAQs About Trek 920

This bike uses an aluminum frame.

The Trek 920 has tire clearance up to 2.0” rubber with fenders or you can fit up to 2.3” without fenders.

The Trek 920 can perform well on gravel and uneven trails. It is designed as an all-rounder touring bike.

As the original owner, you will get a lifetime warranty for the frame and other parts come with between a 1 and 4-year warranty.

The bike is available in 49, 52, 54, 56, 58 and 61cm sizes.

What are the best Trek 920 alternatives?

#1 trek 520.

The Trek 520 comes in a shade cheaper than the 920 – it costs $1,679.99 – and it commands some thought as an alternative to the 920.

If you are a steel frame fan then the 520 will suit you as it comes with a Chromoly steel frame that offers durability and a smooth ride over long distances. It is slightly heavier than the 920 comings in at 14.26 kg. It can handle loads of up to 125 kg.

The Trek 520 uses Bontrager H1 Hard-case Ultimate, 700x38c with reflective sidewall tires. They provide a good cushion against bumps and uneven surfaces while still allowing you to pick up speed.

Other Features

The Trek 520 has a Shimano Sora R3000, 9-speed drivetrain, and TRP Spyre C 2.0 mechanical disc, 160mm rotor brakes. The bike is ideal as a slightly cheaper alternative to the 920 and does come with a fairly similar spec although the 920 is able to handle more weight. If you are a fan of steel with a bike that can handle long distances while offering a comfortable ride then the Trek 520 is worth your consideration.

520 is a steel touring bike made for the open road. It's the longest-running model in our lineup, and it's built to carry you and your gear on your longest journeys.

#2 Giant Toughroad SLR 2

For another cheaper alternative to the Trek 920, the Toughroad SLR 2 from Giant is a dependable bike that can handle a variety of terrain too.

The Toughroad SLR 2 comes with a lightweight aluminum similar to the 920 and it also features a lightweight design which is great for touring. Its integrated rack mounts also help to load the bike over short trails or over a long distance.

The Toughroad SLR has Giant Sycamore S, 700×50, FlatGuard Deflect 2 tires, and the tubeless design means you’ll get a smooth ride and be able to handle most types of surfaces.

Other features

The bikes have Shimano BL-MT201 hydraulic discs which provide adequate stopping power in a range of different biking conditions from dry hard roads to soft muddy trails. There is a Shimano Acera 9-speed triple crankset too. The Toughroad SLR too is a bit cheaper as well than the 920 as it costs just over a thousand dollars at $1050 although it doesn’t offer the same performance as the Trek model.

Conclusion – Is that Trek 920 worth it?

The Trek 920 is a great bike for the cost – there is no denying that.

At just over $2000 you get a high-quality bike that is at home traveling long distances and comes with a variety of features and components to suit this type of riding. The fact that it can also handle itself on off-road trails and less than perfect conditions is a great bonus too. It isn’t a true trail bike but that isn’t its main function.

It performs great on typical touring routes that consist of smooth roads coupled with some uneven ground and gravel. If this is what you are planning on using it for then it is ideal for these kinds of situations.

There are some issues around how comfortable the saddle is and the stock stem length is one of the longest I’ve seen.

With a high load capacity, room for a number of water bottles, and a design that promotes speed, control, and ability to be a bit of an all-rounder across various roads, the Trek 920 is definitely worth your consideration as your new touring bike.

1 thought on “Trek 920 Review – Is it Worth the Money?”

Had my 920 for 3 years now and concur will all of the points above. If you van only own 1 bike, this is the one. Put on skinny tires and it is even faster!

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Trek 920 review

Trek’s hydraulic disc-braked take on the tourer

David Caudery / Immediate Media

Simon Withers

Comprehensive kit, quality components and an excellent, comfortable ride

No mudguards as standard but that’s about it if you’re happy with aluminium

With its aluminium frame, hydraulic disc brakes and thru-axles, it’s fair to say that the striking-looking Trek 920’s frameset is an outlier in the touring bike category.

It’s not only the frame and fork that are ploughing a unique furrow, though. Touring bikes are the last hangout of the triple chainset but Trek’s 920 has a double with small chainrings, emphasising the importance of lower gears.

But don’t be fooled: this Trek is every inch the full-on tourer that’s designed to carry you and nearly 40 kilos of your kit (a claimed 25kg at the back, 11.8kg at the front) – with a hefty overall weight limit of bike, rider and cargo at a claimed 136kg /300lb. In all my tours, I’ve never carried anything like 40kg.

• What is a touring bike?
• Road bike groupsets: everything you need to know

An aluminium frame instead of steel? One of the oft-repeated arguments in favour of steel is that if the frame fails in Uzbekistan or Uttar Pradesh all you need is to find a garage with a welder and your troubles are over.

There is an element of truth to this and I have met one cycle-tourist who did this. But, frankly, any ‘incident’ that writes off an aluminium frame is likely to do the same to its steel counterpart.

Years ago, my loaded aluminium tourer fell off a railway station platform onto the tracks. It came away with nothing more than a scratch. Fortunately, this was in rural New South Wales, one train a day in each direction. I also managed 3,000 miles in three months on that frame, some of it on poor roads.

The Trek 920 has a double chainset rather than a triple and it’s a move away from the Shimano hegemony with its 2x10-speed SRAM setup, which consists of SRAM S700 Double-Tap shifters (two) and GX derailleurs.

Crucially, while it may only have 20 gears compared with the 27 or 30 on the other bikes on test ( Fuji's Touring Disc , Cinelli's Hobootleg Easy Travel , Ridgeback's Panorama and Thorn's Club Tour MK5) this doesn’t compromise gears at the all-important lower end – the 28x36 is similar to the bottom gear on the other tourers.

The 42x11 top gear is actually the lowest top gear on test by a fair margin, though that’s rarely an issue when it’s fully laden.

Trek 920 ride impressions

The 920’s ride is a sumptuous, king-of-the-road experience. Loaded up – with most of the weight at the rear – it’s stable, comfortable and tackles poor roads, grit, gravel and towpaths with barely a murmur.

Unloaded, or carrying little kit, the 920 is only negligibly slower than a road bike and as plush as you’ll need.

I got on with the saddle but not everybody will, and for a bike of this size you might want a slightly shorter stem for adventures.

But those are minor quibbles on a bike that I dare you not to like, even if its looks might cause a raised eyebrow among touring traditionalists.

The highlight of the component package is the braking. The cable-actuated discs elsewhere are easily adequate for touring (I’ve toured on cantis and caliper rim brakes with no problems), but SRAM’s hydraulic discs are a level or two above with great braking with minimal effort from your hands and arms.

Gear shifting from the DoubleTap levers is equally efficient, and you’ll pick up the technique within minutes if you’re coming from a Shimano background.

• Road disc brakes: everything you need to know

Part of the ride quality comes from the Bontrager Duster 29er rims and wide 2in XR1 mountain bike tyres, and both the rims and tyres are tubeless ready.

The 920 doesn’t come with mudguards but has the fittings for them – and mounts for just about everything else that you could carry, including triple-bottle bosses.

The 920’s Blendr stem is compatible with a wide range of dedicated computers , lights and other accessories. Very neat.

Trek 920 overall

The Trek is perhaps the most versatile bike in my test, doubling up as a day-to-day machine and full-on tourer, expedition, adventure or bikepacking bike.

It comes in at just 12.4kg in a 54cm frame with two panniers, and if you whip these off and fit narrower, slicker tyres (or even change to road wheels ) you’ll have a bike nearer 10kg; although it won’t be a crit-racing flyer, it will be comfortable, stable, very well appointed and that little bit sharper.

Trek 920 geometry

• Size (* tested): 49, 52, 54*, 56, 58, 61cm
• Seat angle: 74 degrees
• Head angle: 71 degrees
• Chainstay: 46.4cm
• Seat tube: 43.1cm
• Top tube: 54cm
• Head tube: 12cm
• Fork offset: 5.25cm
• Bottom bracket drop: 8.5cm
• Bottom bracket height: 28.2cm
• Wheelbase: 1,084mm
• Stack: 58.3cm
• Reach: 39.2cm

How we tested

This bike was tested against four other top touring bikes that have been designed to let you unlock your inner adventurer.

Other bikes on test:

• Fuji Touring Disc
• Cinelli Hobootleg Easy Travel
• Ridgeback Panorama
• Thorn Club Tour MK5

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Zachary Kenney

Adventure Doesn't Find You

Trek 920 Ultimate Adventure Gravel Bike Review

Reviewing bikes is something I’ve always wanted to do, but reviewing a bike that’s already 3-4 years old by the time I get it usually doesn’t warrant an online review. This Trek 920 ; however, is my first new bike I’ve ever owned. And with it being the first new bike I’ve ever owned, I cannot even begin to tell you how much I enjoy riding this bike. I’d even go as far as to say as it made me fall back in love with riding bikes. The Trek 920, advertised as Trek’s go-anywhere adventure touring bike, lives up to its name.

A little background on my riding style. Grew up riding BMX, like most teens. Transitioned to road riding while in college (2010) in Pennsylvania and began to take it seriously when living in New England (2014). Picked up mountain biking in 2017 while riding the rooted, hilly trails of Connecticut. Moved to Utah in 2019 and currently live in Park City, UT where rides consistently involve 2,000 vertical feet of climbing and technical/fast descents. I like to go fast both uphill and even faster downhill.

First off, this rig comes standard with 29″x2.00″ tires. For reference, your burly mountain bike is probably running tire widths of 2.20″-2.40″. So right away you’ll notice how much traction and gnarly trail you can cover with these beefy tires. Sure, they won’t roll as well as a skinny tire or a gravel tire, but those tires won’t get you into half as much adventure as these will.

Second, the drivetrain. Equipped with SRAM S7000 Shifters up front, SRAM X5 front derailleur in the middle, paired with SRAM GX rear derailleur in the back. Tied in with a 11-36 10-speed cassette, this drivetrain runs surprisingly well with minimal maintenance needed. At first, the SRAM DoubleTap shifters were hard to get used to, but after a year on the bike, I really like the technology. Plus the range on this drivetrain is pretty astounding, and much needed when you have a fully loaded bike on a tour.

Last, the frame & setup of the Trek 920. This bike was designed and built to haul your gear into the backcountry and not only survive, but thrive. Sure, you can strap anything to a bike, but if it’s not designed to carry that load, you’ll feel like the bike is going to collapse under the weight. Or worse, get weighed down by the bike before you even load it up with anything. The spec weight of this bike is a super light 28.41 lbs. Sure, heavy compared to a road bike, but it’s not that, it’s an adventure bike. And you’re road bike would snap under the impact I’ve put this thing through.

The Ride Experience

I’ll be the first to tell you that there is no such thing as a one bike quiver, but the Trek 920 being designed as the go-anywhere adventure touring bike, it comes pretty damn close. So I actually won this bike in a contest held by Outside TV Campfire Contest in October 2018 . Since winning the bike, I’ve ridden it all over Park City. At first, it was just my commuter bike and used to go get groceries. But that was only because I didn’t know it’s full capabilities.

Treating this bike like a mountain bike, I’ve taken this bike on the Glenwild, Round Valley, and Utah Olympic Park singletrack, where it not only handled well, but rode surprisingly well. I’ve never climbed technical sections with such ease before due to how efficient a rigid frame bike rides. Long traversing sections were so much fun, with the monster tires eating up all of the smaller bumps allowing you to just cruise at the high altitude. Then come the descents. I’ll be the first to tell you that it’s sketchy. Without front suspension, and with those drop bars, your center of gravity is really forward on the bike. Little drops and features, that you wouldn’t even notice on a mountain bike, tend to throw you for a whirl and get exciting. This is also the part where biking became fun for me again, having to really pay attention to all the line choices instead of letting my suspension eat it up. With that being said, I tend to stick to blue trails for my descents so that I don’t get into anything over my head (or go over the bars).

Riding this bike like a gravel bike, well obviously it was born for that. Just last week I rode a gravel rail trail section where this thing rolled superb and kept the tire side down in some of the looser gravel sections. The dirt felt hard to me, but I don’t think a skinny tire bike could make it very far on the trail, not without a few spills and punctures. Having the option to cruise on a gravel trail, at 15mph, chewing up miles is a unique experience and one that you simply cannot get on a road bike or mountain bike. Plus, it’s just fun to knock out your Strava climb times on gravel climbs that you normally ride with your mountain bike.

The touring capability of this bike was unparalleled to anything I’ve loaded up and ridden. Having toured around the White Mountain National park on a bike that was inefficient and weight 95 lbs fully loaded, was a nightmare to say the least. This bike was the exact opposite. I loaded it up for a bike-ski-tour micro-adventure in Park City during the early spring, and it couldn’t have ridden any better. The added weight, albeit awkward, of my ski setup was barely noticeable as I climbed the bike path trails from my home to the ski area. Even with the snow and rain that was falling, the bike braked perfectly, kept the tire side down, and didn’t have me exhausted by the time I had to click into my skis. I’ve yet to do a full bike tour with this bike, but after everything I’ve ridden on it, I can’t wait.

As I mentioned before, I’m a firm believer that there is no such thing as a one quiver bike, but the Trek 920 gets damn close. If you’re looking to get a bike that you’ll spend most of your time riding roads, dirt roads, gravel trails, and light mountain biking; well this bike is your perfect fit. Looking for adventure workhorse bike that will get you into some serious fun in the farthest sections of the backcountry, I’d go with this bike. It really has made riding fun again, because now I get excited to go fast through rocky and dirt trails that my full suspension mountain bike wouldn’t even notice the features. And even riding this thing to and from work, I can just zone out and ride without worrying about cracks, holes, or dirt sections that I’d panic if I hit on my road bike.

This is my first bike review, I hope you enjoyed it. I’ll leave the real technical reviews to the guys at PinkBike.com and the other professionals. This was just my experience on the bike.

Hi there, my name is Zachary Kenney and I’m an adventure filmmaker & photographer.  My passion is to tell stories that will hopefully motivate you to go live a more adventurous life. Whether that is to experience the view from the summit of a mountain, or wandering through a new town on a road trip. Currently based out of Park City, UT.

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Nice review! Thanks! This bike has my attention, I will read a few more reviews and decide after that.

Thx for review of a bike am put my eye on for cummuter and touring road and little gravel here and There. Have You try little thinner tyres on the bike, and how the bike feels now after couple if months use? Safe journy. M

I have put 40c tires on it, and it is awesome! It rides almost as well as a road bike on pavement and still can hold a corner and make it through chunky sections on mellow mountain bike trail. But obviously, it shines on dirt roads and gravel. Love the setup now.

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Review: Trek 920 Disc

• Price: $2,090
• Weight: 24.8 pounds (without racks), 27.5 pounds (with racks)
• Sizes: 49, 52, 54, 56, 58 (tested) and 61 cm
• More: trekbikes.com

Posted in Best Of Bicycle Times Bikepacking Bikes Gear Gravel Bike Review Bike Touring Bikepacking Commuter Bike Gravel Bike Touring Bike Trek Trek 920

• ALL MOUNTAIN
• ACCESSORIES
• ALL (130 Forums)
• WHEELS & TIRES

Trek 920 Bike 1998 or Older

• USER REVIEWS

Bought in mid 90's with minimal usage Now considering whether or not suitable for an ebike conversion.

No know weaknesses

Old bike, still all original and working fine

Nice bike, bought it for € 30,00. Had a few hours work to get it all working good again. I think it stood still for about 10 years. Just had to put some air in the tires, and I could mount it :)

Similar Products Used:

Frame! Light, durable. Some fine system1 and system2 TREK components. For those days. I just like it the way it is. It is a fine bike for the weekend as well as for commuting to work. I've used it for MTB touring, up- and down-hill. It still works.

Brakes. Good thing you can replace them with V-brakes. Alivio crankset. Heavy. Wears out fast. The damn anti chain suck plate. Remove that one immediately or it will damage the chain and/or frame. Those funny reflectors in the wheels, back and front :-)

Best bike I have owned. If maintained well it goes on forever. You can attach fenders and other stuff easily.

None. In fact I've bought a second one in 2011 which is original and great condition. I did enjoy other bikes but never bought them. No need for suspension. And another Trek : the 930 version. Dated 1996 based on the serial number in the frame. Alas, this frame is not that good looking nor responsive. The 930 had a better drivetrain but the other components are less compared to the older 920. So that one will go soon.

strong TRUE TEMPER OX COMP frame,size S

frame too small for rear V brake

fast and lovely ride,dreaming about new 920...

SUNN URGE 999

Perfect single track geometry, strong frame and fork, stable wheels, lovely ride.

Cheap and heavy bottom bracket (even lasted ten years), plastic pedals.

I am the first owner of this bike purchased in 1995. Jumped to Shimano SPD pedals and Selle Italia saddle after few years. I have cycled about 10.000 km on the road, mountains, dirt and no complaint at all. I changed the bottom bracket, the cassette and the crankset with a new Deore last year and the headset with Deore XT (1994) last month, first time. I think the new mass production aluminium Treks cannot measure swords with this old boy. It is the bike that takes you where you want to go; moreover you can race on it with some modifications, e.g. a light suspension fork. It is a long touring bike with appropriate tires, which has suitable braze-ons. If I had one bike only it would be a Trek 920.

Look KG171 and Motobecane Mirage road racing bikes.

Man, this bike ruled. I had the 94' model 920 (completely rigid), and I still managed to keep up with my friend on his front suspended Schwinn. Rock solid frame, decent geometry, and the lovely feel of steel!

Uhm, the parts were pretty low quality for the riding that they got, but what do you expect on a little entry leveler like this? The quill stem, which is still on the bike is kinda sketchy. I'm turning this bike into a single-speed, and while trying to keep as much original equipment as possible, I thing the stem is going to have to go :(

If you could even find one of these bikes around anymore, I would snatch it up. A reliable bike, the 920 did what it was designed to do...get people on a bike and give them a good enough experience so that they continued biking. While parts weren't the greatest, the bike is a great bike. So many chances to upgrade, but still maintaining the sturdy CrMo construction, the 920 will be able to take you places that any other bike could. Wanna see one beadblasted and turned into a single speed? just ask!

Schwinn Mesa, Huffy, TREK Bruiser ;)

It's incredibly lightweight and durable as well as adaptive and multi-purpose. Quick and easy size adjustment also goes a long way.

It's a maintain bike and needs some serious road tires to get around town at a decent speed and level of ease. It is difficult to properly install the rear mudguard, etc, due to the non-standard threaded hole location - I found the front one easier to install, though.

I haven't yet figured out what's been updated and what hasn't on my particular bike. I have an excellent, cushy seat, and it looks like the wheelset has been replaced. I have noticed that it operates best when kept in a single gear, surprise surprise. It's lightweight enough that is can easily be thrown onto a bus bike rack in a hurry, carried up a flight of stairs after a long ride, or hung without fear. It's also not so lightweight that one would be afraid of banging it up. I've read that it makesa great touring bike, and so far I would have to agree. The handlebars and seat adjust quickly and easily to suit a variety of body types and sizes. In essence, if you're a little guy (like me) or gal looking for a sturdy bike that you can carry up the stairs with one hand, it's perfect. It is definitely a great beginner's bike, and I think that it could be customized to suit a pro also.

Solid upgradable frame

No Ahead set.

My wife bought this bike about 3 months ago. So far its been a great bike for the money. The ridgid fork is 1st in line for an upgrade to shocks. Any other owners got any advice on wear and tear and maintenance?

Awsome biginner bike, i f you are a parent and your kids wants a nice bike give them the tre 920 or 930

STX or lower

solid for begginers, but now i break it every week, i dont think a bike could hold up to me though i kill them, mud snow hill's it has well over 30,000 miles on it, and i just put it in the garage for retirment, now i will have to spen real money on a bike. i rate 5 stars only for begginers only if you are good then 1 star

Price/Performance great.

Some low-end components.

Bought in April 1998. Ridden 875 miles since. I think for the money, I got a very good bike. I had no problems for the 1st year. Got me in the game. I did break the chain after only 450 miles. My ignorance left a stiff link become a failure.I put an Answer Manitou SX-R fork, WTB GreaseGuard headset and generic stem on it this year ('99) and I'm more than satisfied.I started racing & beating guys on $1000+ bikes.

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Trek 920 Rugged Touring Bike – An Excellent Adventure Partner

The Trek 920 blurs the line between “gravel” bikes and loaded touring bikes.

The whole concept of bicycle touring has been turned on its ear in the past few years. For a generation the idea was loading up a stalwart Trek 520 and following the pavement wherever it took you. Today many folks don’t even start their tour until they find where the pavement ends. Rides like the Tour Divide or the Oregon Outback have made back roads the new main street for bike touring, and Trek has designed the new 920 model for exploring on dirt, gravel and beyond. (Trek also debuted a new 720 light touring model.)

The parts spec uses a traditional touring layout but swaps in some high-tech mountain bike components.

The all-new aluminum frame and fork are more reminiscent of a mountain bike than a traditional, steel touring rig. The massive tubes keep things from twisting when loaded or traversing rough terrain. The distinctive kink in the top tube adds room for a second bottle cage on the down tube, meaning there is room for four bottle cages on the main triangle, as well as one on each fork leg.

Thru-axles front and rear add stiffness and security.

The 920 can be stripped down for events like the Dirty Kanza 200 or run with its included front and rear aluminum racks, giving you all the carrying capacity you could want. And while it may look a bit like a traditional touring bike with this set up, the details make it anything but. The Bontrager Duster wheels and knobby 29×2.0 Bontrager XR1 tires are straight from the brand’s mountain bike line, as are the inclusion of thru-axles front and rear.

Braking – Trek 920

Braking is handled by the excellent TRP Hylex hydraulic system.

The drivetrain is a curious mix as well, with traditional-looking bar end shifters paired with a SRAM S1000 42/28 mountain bike crankset and 11-36 cassette. Keeping your loaded rig under control is made much easier with the TRP Hylex hydraulic disc brakes. After using these for a few weeks it’s impossible to imagine going back to cantilevers.

The frame can also fit fenders for double duty as a commuter, something that should normally be essential here in Oregon.

I’ve been riding the Trek 920 on back roads all over Oregon in the past few weeks (aided by an alarming lack of snowpack) and thus far it has been an excellent adventure partner. Watch for an in-depth review soon.

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Vital stats Trek 920

• Price: $2,090
• Weight: 28.13 pounds, w/racks
• Sizes: 49, 52, 54, 56, 58 (tested), 61cm
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Reader’s Rig: Nick’s Trek 920

Previous Dispatch From Fri Mar 26, 2021

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Our Reader’s Rig of the week comes from Nick Brown in Edinburgh, Scotland, who shares the Trek 920 he’s been slowly transforming from a more traditional tourer to an off-road bikepacking rig as he seeks out ever-rougher tracks and trails. See more here…

Words and photos by Nick Brown ( @nickbroon )

Hello, I’m Nick, and I live in Edinburgh, Scotland. While Scotland may be small, it’s rightly known for its dramatically varied wild landscapes (and its equally varied weather).

I love spending time exploring the multitude of estate, forest, and coastal tracks crisscrossing the country that our public responsible access laws open up to us. While the pandemic lockdown has somewhat restricted these adventures recently, there has still been plenty of scope to get out in the local hills and tracks just a few miles from Edinburgh. There is always something new to see and an overnight camp spot to be discovered!

I’m using a modified Trek 920. While originally sold as a relatively traditional touring bike with racks, it makes a capable bikepacking setup. It’s evolved from its stock setup over a couple of iterations to deal better with venturing onto rougher trails. Fitting wider 29×2.4 tubeless MTB tyres, when combined with its longer/lower wheelbase, makes it very sure-footed.

From its stock 42/28 11-36T gearing, I changed the cassette to an 11-42T and added a couple of chain links to increase its range, but eventually settled on replacing the crankset with a 38/24 and returning to an 11-36T cassette, which seems smoother changing and doesn’t stretching the rear derailleur too far. It’s pretty low-end for easy spinning on steep, rough climbs with loaded packs, but that suits my riding style.

• Frame/Fork Trek 920 (61cm)
• Rims Bontrager Duster Elite TLR 29
• Hubs Shimano
• Tires Bontrager XR3 29 x 2.4″
• Handlebars Easton EC70 AX (46cm)
• Headset Bontrager
• Crankset SRAM GX-1000 GXP 38/24T 10S 175mm
• Pedals Shimano PD-T8000 Deore XT
• Cassette SRAM PG-1030 11-36 10-speed
• Derailleur SRAM X5 (front) / SRAM GX long cage (rear)
• Brakes SRAM S700 hydraulic
• Shifter(s) SRAM S700
• Saddle Bontrager Evoke 1.5
• Seatpost Bontrager
• Stem Bontrager Elite
• Front bags Ortlieb Handlebar-Pack 9L
• Frame bags Ortlieb Frame-Pack TopTube 4L
• Rear bags Ortlieb Seat-Pack 16L
• Accessory bags Apidura Racing Top Tube Pack, Apidura Backcountry Food Pouch
• Other accessories Zefal Z Box, 3D printed Garmin eTrex to Edge mount converter

Adding some wider flared bars has increased control and allowed for easier use of a front pack. Using a 3D printed Garmin Etrex to Edge converter combined with Bontrager’s Blendr stem system keeps the cockpit from getting too crowded. It’s now something of a Monstercross drop bar mountain bike that copes well with pootling along miles of rough tracks.

You can find Nick on Instagram @nickbroon .

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The New 2016 Trek 920, 720, 520 and Crossrip Touring Bikes

Table of Contents

The 2016 trek 920 adventure touring bike, the trek 720 light touring bike, the trek crossrip light touring bike, the trek 520 long distance touring bike, want to compare these touring bikes with dozens of others, helpful resources, touring & bikepacking bike overview.

Trek have recently been busy building one of the most comprehensive adventure and touring bike line ups around. There are now SEVEN  different bikes, including the 2016 Trek 920, which are suited to everything from road touring right through to adventure off-road. I’ve put this resource together to guide you through the different models and help determine what might best suit you.

The 2016 Trek 920 is a tweaked mountain bike with a drop handlebar. It’s designed around wide, knobby mountain bike tyres which can take you to more places than slicks. It uses a mountain bike drivetrain and wheels, in combination with drop handlebars and bar-end shifters.

Although the 2016 Trek 920 is best suited to off-road riding, a swap-out to slick tyres would make it an exceptional long-distance touring bike. The geometry is actually prime for heavy-loaded touring with it’s high ‘fork trail’, long chainstay/wheelbase and tall front end. That said, the gearing is optimised around lower speeds, so the 42t front chainring may have you spinning a bit on road descents.

The bike price including front and rear racks is US $1989 .

The 720 is one of Trek’s lightweight touring options. It uses an alloy frame and carbon fibre fork to keep the weight down (11kg or so), making it a great multi-purpose bike like the Cannondale Touring. It comes with Shimano 105 11-spd gearing, TRP Hydro/Cable disc brakes and some front side-mount racks and dry bags.

The 720 is best suited to smooth roads with a lightweight load, although it’s a really sturdy bike and will handle front and rear panniers if you needed. It’s smallest gear is 29 gear inches, which is a little large for really steep hills including a load, but will be fine for most touring. There are eyelets for racks and fenders.

The price is US $1889 including the front dry bags.

The CrossRip is almost identical to the 720 in every way – it even uses the same aluminium frame tubing and carbon fibre fork. The geometry is ever so slightly different between the bikes; you’d be pretty hard pressed to notice the subtle differences. The most noticeable difference may be the 5mm taller and longer front end of the CrossRip. The likely reason for Trek having these two near-identical bikes is so they can market the bikes in two separate bike categories (fitness and touring).

Like the 720, CrossRips are most at home on a smooth road with a light load but will handle four panniers well. The bikes use either compact or road triple cranksets, working with wide-range cassettes to achieve a lowish drive gear (close to 1:1 / 29 gear inches). The bikes have eyelets for racks and fenders.

The CrossRip is available in three different builds. The LTD comes with Shimano 105 11-spd gearing and TRP Hydro/Cable disc brakes and is priced at US $1679 . Next up, the Elite uses Shimano Sora 9-spd gearing and cable disc brakes and is US $1199 . For a bit less money again, you can get the Comp with Shimano Claris 8-spd gearing at US $1099 . If you’re tossing up between the CrossRip LTD and 720, go the CrossRip as it has a US $200 price advantage!

The 520 has been in the Trek line-up for 33 years! It’s actually the longest running model in Trek’s bike range. As you can imagine, the geometry of the 520 has been refined a lot over this period. The bottom bracket is low, the chainstays are long and the steering pretty slow. All good things for touring.

The 520 uses 4130 steel for both the frame and fork. The spec is super simple, solid and reliable with 36 spoke wheels, cable brakes and bar-end shifters. The gear range is exceptional, spanning from 22 to 118 gear inches. This should be enough to climb almost anything with all four panniers, but if you wanted even more low gears you could switch the cassette to a 34t (21 gear inches).

The price is US $1259 with v-brakes and US $1359 with disc brakes. My pick would be the disc model!

Check out the  Touring Bicycle Buyer’s Guide  which compares touring bike steering, sizing, gear ratios, specification, pricing and more. The Bikepacking Bike Buyer’s Guide does the same thing, however, with a focus on lighter bikes and models with more off-road capability. Both of these guides are updated annually with the latest models at no extra cost!

All About Touring Bike Brakes Frame Materials for Bicycle Touring How to Select Touring Bike Gearing Understand Bicycle Frame Geometry What’s the Difference between Cyclocross and Touring Bikes?

2016 Advocate Lorax 2018 All City Gorilla Monsoon 2016 Basso Ulisse 2016 Bianchi Volpe and Lupo 2016 2016 Bombtrack Beyond 2017 Bombtrack Beyond 2018 Bombtrack Beyond 2018 Bombtrack Arise Tour 2019 Bombtrack Beyond 2016 Brodie Elan Vital 2016 Cannondale Touring 2019 Cannondale Topstone 2020 Cannondale Topstone 2016 Cinelli Hobootleg Geo 2018 Co-Op ADV 4.2 2017 Curve Grovel V2 2017 Diamondback Haanjo EXP Carbon 2016 Fuji Touring 2017 Fuji Touring 2018 Fuji Touring 2018 Fuji Touring Disc 2016 Genesis Tour de Fer 2016 Giant ToughRoad 2017 Giant ToughRoad 2018 Giant ToughRoad and ToughRoad GX 2016 Jamis Aurora and Aurora Elite 2019 Jones Plus SWB 2020 KOGA WorldTraveller-S 2016 Kona Big Rove 2016 Kona Roadhouse and Sutra LTD 2016 Kona Sutra 2017 Kona Sutra 2018 Kona Sutra 2018 Kona Sutra LTD 2019 Kona Sutra and Sutra LTD 2020 Kona Sutra and Sutra LTD 2020 Kona Unit X 2016 Marin Four Corners 2017 Marin Four Corners 2018 Marin Four Corners 2016 Masi Giramondo 2018 Masi Giramondo 2016 Niner RLT9 2016 Rawland Ulv and Ravn 2016 Salsa Deadwood 2017 Salsa Fargo 2018 Salsa Fargo Ti Frameset 2018 Salsa Journeyman 2016 Salsa Marrakesh 2017 Salsa Marrakesh 2018 Salsa Marrakesh 2020 Salsa Marrakesh 2017 Salsa Vaya 2019 Salsa Warbird 2016 Specialized AWOL 2017 Specialized AWOL 2017 Specialized Diverge 2018 Specialized Diverge 2019 Specialized Diverge 2017 Specialized Sequoia 2018 Specialized Sequoia 2019 Specialized Sequoia 2018 Surly Bridge Club 2017 Surly Troll 2016 Traitor Wander 2019 Trek 520 2016 Trek 920, 720, 520 & CrossRip 2017 Trek CrossRip 2018 Trek 920 2018 Trek 1120

• trek crossrip

Hi Alee. I just got the 920 on Friday and took it riding on the weekend!

It had about 15 kgs on it, about 75% rear loaded (until the front panniers arrive; also to give the rear wheel a bit of settling in before I head on a bigger trip). At first I thought it was not handling too good with the weight, but then I got the rear panniers forward and the weight properly L/R balanced …amazing difference 🙂 I’m new to this.

I did about 60 kms on tarmac undulating country roads around Tatong and then I’m not sure maybe about 60kms without much load (~7kg on rear) on state park clay road, gravel track, and variously more difficult track. I had lots of fun finding the boundaries (mainly mine), not being used to that type of bike or tyres. It felt well behaved and definitely good for a bit of fun with my limited off road experience. As I practiced picking lines and committing, ignoring obstacles etc, my confidence in what the bike was doing was rewarded.

I was running Schwalbe Marathons, as recommended elsewhere in your blog (pumped hard on the tarmac, soft off). The hums along the tarmac and tracks straight.

Really happy with the choice…found some things for me to learn about riding with weight and off sealed roads, got my body worn out in the sun, dust and hills, had heaps if fun. Successful foray into trekking with panniers 🙂

Sounds like you’ve made a great choice!

Hey Alee Given the 720 is cheaper than the crossrip at my local dealer? Which one would be the better option? I’ve more or less settled on the 720 since it to me looks lighter and with better specs. 🙂

They really are almost identical in spec and geometry. Go with the 720 if you like that better!

I had the Trek 728 back in 1982 and it was perfect. Unfortunately, I sold it in 1986. I am getting ready for a TransAmerican Bike Trail 4,000 mile trip. Which TREK is the right one for this kind of trip with four panniers all around? The 520? What year?

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• Rider Notes

2018 Trek 920

An aluminum frame touring bike with upper mid-range components and hydraulic disc brakes.

For This Bike

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Based on frame geometry and build specs.

A bike with lower gearing will be easier to ride up steep hills, while a higher top end means it will pedal faster down hills.

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Sep 2016 · Jordan Gibbons

The Trek 920 Disc blurs the lines between road bike and mountain bike but theres no doubting it's an adventure bike.

Read Review

Aug 2016 · Skyler Des Roches

Joining the ranks of the 'adventure bike', the Trek 920 aims to rewrite the classic touring rulebook. Skyler takes one to B.C. to find out what this means.

Value for the price – impressive package for sub-$2000

Comes with good quality front and rear racks

Finally, a gear range on a touring bike that’s not too tall

Tire clearance for 2.0” rubber with fenders, or up to 2.3” without

Bottle bosses for 6 bottles in size 56cm and up, and 5 bottles below

Hydraulic disc brakes provide plenty of power for stopping a loaded bike

Surprisingly good tire spec

Lightweight – 26lb without racks or pedals in size 58cm, 29lbs with racks and pedals.

Wants to go fast.

Stock stem length way, way too long for average build

Bar-end shifters are vulnerable to damage, and impede maneuvering obstacles or climbing out of the saddle

Stock saddle designed without any reflection on human anatomy

Long rear end/high-trail fork gives away too much maneuverability for touring stability

Last updated February 15 Not listed for 2,254 days

• 920 Frameset

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