trek 520 wheel size

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2014 Trek 520

A steel frame gravel bike with upper mid-range components and rim brakes.

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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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Trek 520 Disc first ride review

BikeRadar gets world’s first test of Trek’s revamped steel tourer

Robert Smith / Immediate Media

Simon Withers

The Wisconsin-based company has been making its steel 520 bike since 1983 — making it a couple of years younger than Specialized’s Allez and a decade or so younger than the Dawes Galaxy, probably the standard bearer for steel touring bikes, at least in Britain — and started out as an all-round road bike. But in the years since 1983 the bike has flitted between all-rounder and full-on tourer.

The 2019 incarnation is very much the latter beast, having gained even more touring-friendly features than the 2018 model, and it now has some serious expedition chops to its name.

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Trek 520 Disc spec as tested

• Frame : TIG-welded butted chromoly steel
• Fork : Alloy disc touring with lowrider mounts
• Handlebar : Bontrager Comp VR-C
• Stem : Bontrager Elite ‘Blendr’ with computer and light mounts
• Seatpost : Bontrager 27.2mm alloy, 12mm offset
• Saddle : Bontrager Evoke 1.5
• Shifters : Shimano Sora
• Front derailleur : Shimano Sora
• Rear derailleur : Shimano Alivio rear
• Brakes : TRP Spyre C2.0 mechanical disc
• Brake levers : Shimano Sora
• Cassette : Shimano HG200, 11-36, 9-speed
• Chain : KMC X9
• Chainset : Shimano Alivio triple 48/38/26T
• Bottom bracket : Shimano external cartridge bearing
• Wheels : Bontrager Affinity TLR tubeless-ready 36-hole rims, Shimano M475 hubs
• Tyres : Bontrager H1 Hard-case Ultimate, 700x38mm with reflective sidewall
• Extras : Bontrager 15kg-max capacity front rack and 25kg-capacity rear rack
• Weight : 13.97kg (57cm including racks but not pedals)

Trek’s 520 ups its touring chops for 2019

Most notably for 2019 the 520 has gained a 15kg-capacity Bontrager front rack and a much lower bottom gear — the all-important one — compared with the 2018 model. It has also moved from bar-end shifters to more familiar Sora STI levers.

Trek’s original 520 was lugged, whereas today’s model has a neatly TIG-welded chromoly steel frame with an alloy thru-axled fork; the rear wheel has a standard quick-release.

There’s a peg at the rear of the head tube to fix a frame pump under the top tube and a chain peg on the driveside seatstay. There are three bottle bosses on the down tube, allowing you to fix the bottle cage at different points, and further fittings on the fork, so you can adjust the height of the rack or carry more bottle cages if you forego it altogether.

Triple the fun

Most significantly for 2019, and a sign of its more adventurous ambitions, is that the gearing has gone even lower than before. Make no mistake, this is a good thing.

If your bike is carrying a 70kg rider (okay, nearer 75kg in my case) and approaching 40kg of kit, and you reach the bottom of a long or/and steep hill, you can never have a bottom gear that’s too low. This is where the very-rarely-seen-on-a-road-bike triple chainset comes in.

Trek should also be praised for making it a 48/36/26t Alivio mountain bike chainset, with a teeny-tiny 26t inner chainring, rather than a Shimano 105 road bike 50/39/30 or similar.

Trek really makes the most of this with the saucer-sized 36t sprocket, which delivers a very low bottom gear (under 20in). The 48x11 top gear (around 120in) is more than adequate for powering down hills, and the Sora gear lever and Alivio rear derailleur pairing works well, even with the large jumps necessitated by the 9-speed 11-36 cassette.

Is that bailout/granny gear too small? Not if you find yourself on an unsurfaced road at the foot of a 2,000ft / 600m peak, which happened to me touring in New Zealand years ago.

The front thru-axles help you get the most from the TRP Spyre brakes, which are among the best mechanical disc brakes around with the advantage of being easier to fix and fettle than hydraulics when off the beaten track. Okay, they require more effort through the brake levers than even low-end hydraulic disc brakes, but they work in all weather conditions.

That said, the 36-spoke Bontrager Affinity rims give the impression they’d survive the apocalypse. The 38mm Bontrager Hard-Case tyres ride well on tarmac and were fine on the light gravel of my local canal towpath, and the rims will take wider rubber too, so you can fit more gravel-specific or off-road-flavoured tyres.

Go low, go slow, go long…

The geometry is touring leisurely, with long chainstays, a wheelbase well over a metre and a slack head-tube angle. This creates a very stable, comfortable, semi-upright riding position, ideal for both touring and commuting.

Contact points are good and you can rack up those miles comfortably, albeit slowly. Where it really comes into its own is in its ability to carry considerable quantities of kit, which is where the super-low gearing helps.

My 16-mile commute ends with a few hundred metres of climbing at 10–12 percent, which usually requires out-of-the-saddle honking or even zig-zagging on the steepest section.

Not with the Trek 520. Even with bulging panniers I could stay seated in the bottom gear and spin-spin-spin. On a tourer you want to twiddle and maintain a high cadence rather than crank a knee-crunching gear. If you are loading the 520 up to the gunwales, split the load between the 25kg capacity rear rack and 15kg front, which will balance the handling better.

Trek 520 Disc early verdict

The 2019 is £100 / $215 more expensive than last year’s model, but I think it justifies the extra cost (in the UK at least) if you fancy tackling some full-on, continent-traversing treks.

The front rack ups carrying capacity to the max, with more bosses for greater adaptability, and while Sora STI may nominally be a lower spec than 2018’s bar-end shifters, the move to a much lower bottom gear more than makes up for that.

Upping tyre spec from 32mm to 38mm adds weight, yes, but increases comfort, which can be further added to by going tubeless or to even chunkier rubber.

If you carry heavy loads you could use Trek’s 520 for tough commuter runs but the 520 is most at home on the wide-open road. Thirty-five years of history so far, and we reckon you could get a lifetime of trekking adventure on this well-specced, attractively priced bike.

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Road Test: Trek 520

If the Trek 520 were a person instead of a bicycle, it would be old enough to run for president.

Not to serve, mind you — not this term anyway. The Trek 520 is “only” 34 years old, a year short of the constitutional requirement for ascension to the presidency. Anyway, that position has been filled.

Hiring policies in the nation’s capital notwithstanding, the 520 remains the elder statesman of the Trek line, according to Eric Maves, curator of the Trek Historical Collection.

“Thirty-four consecutive years in the product line; no other Trek model comes close to that track record,” he said.

As you might expect, this venerable touring bike has seen a few changes since 1983, when Ronald Reagan was in the White House and I was in the newspaper business. The lugged Reynolds 501 tubeset has given way to welded 4130; chainstays and wheelbase have stretched a couple of centimeters; and the brakes have evolved from sidepulls through cantilevers to mechanical discs.

But, at rock bottom, the 520 remains stable, sturdy, and steel, available in six sizes from small to tall, and anyone who liked it in ’83 is liable to like it today.

Heck, if you were a fan 10 years ago, you’ll probably be one now because the 520 isn’t much different. Why mess with success?

You’ll find quite a few Shimano components on the 520 — 36-hole M475 hubs with quick-release skewers, Deore M590 triple crankset, Alivio and Deore derailers, Dura-Ace bar-end shifters, and a nine-cog HG50 cassette.

And, because this is a Trek, you’ll see a lot of Bontrager bits too, as in just about everything else. Stem, handlebar, tape, seatpost, saddle, rims, tires, rear rack — even the sealant in the inner tubes bears the B.

There are a few exceptions. The brakes are Hayes CX Expert mechanical discs, with levers from Tektro, just as on the comparably priced Kona Sutra, which I reviewed in May 2014. The chain is a KMC X9. And the pedals are Wellgos, with toe clips and straps. 

Gearing is what you’d expect from a touring bike with more than three decades on the road — a 48/36/26T triple up front and an 11–32T cassette in back. The Deore trekking crank even includes a chainguard to keep lube off your chinos, if you occasionally do your cycling in street clothes.

And the color is basic black, which is always in style.

A Little History

My first Trek was considerably less subtle. That 1985 560 was an eye-popping purple and yellow, like a bruise with wheels, which seemed oddly appropriate as my years spent working a series of copy desks had left me looking a bit puffy.

I rode the wheels off it, shedding weight and a nicotine habit, and I know 520 owners who have recouped similar value from their Treks. A friend’s wife still loves her ’09 model, which has been converted to a flat-bar bike, and a neighbor only recently sold his 520 after first transforming it into a singlespeed.

But when it comes to finding out what the bike is truly capable of, I tip my hat to the late great David Lamb. In 1994, the veteran Los Angeles Times correspondent rode his 520 more than 3,000 miles from the Potomac to the Pacific, eventually spinning the three-month journey into a book, Over the Hills: A Midlife Escape Across America by Bicycle.

In an excerpt reprinted in Adventure Cyclist, he wrote, “My American-made bike — a Trek 520 — proved as roadworthy as the most expensive Mercedes-Benz, and it strikes me as remarkable that such a simple contraption was capable of carrying me so far without extracting a single penny for fuel, oil, or mechanical repairs.”

Twenty-three years later, the descendant of Lamb’s bike seems equally well suited to adventures large and small.

Size and Carrying Capacity

With sizes ranging from 48cm to 63cm, fit shouldn’t be an issue for most customers. A 57cm fit me like an old slipper, with an assist from the short-reach, shallow-drop Bontrager VR-C bar. The Blendr-compatible stem lets you mount lights, computers, and accessories above or below the faceplate. And because pedals and a rear rack are included in the $1,360 price tag, you’ll be ready to roll as soon as the credit card clears.

That rack, a Bontrager BackRack Deluxe L, is rated for a maximum of 55 lbs. The company doesn’t offer a front rack for the 520, but I had a Tubus Ergo low-rider on hand; it needed a few spacers to clear the fork’s stout lower legs and disc-brake caliper.

Performance

Once on the road, the 520’s performance was just what you’d expect from a bike that was all about adventure before the concept became a category. The ride was relaxed but responsive — just the ticket for those impromptu coast-to-coast getaways — and the Bontrager AW1 Hard-Cases felt surprisingly plush for an all-weather, puncture-resistant 32mm tire. You can go bigger if you want, but I found the Hard-Cases well suited to my rides around Albuquerque.

Snapping through the gears was a breeze with the Dura-Ace bar-cons and Alivio/Deore derailers all meshing nicely. I do have an aesthetic problem with that Alivio front derailer — it looks boxy, cheap, and clunky, especially sitting next to that triple crank with its equally obtrusive chainguard — but the solution is to avoid looking down while riding. Trust me. After a while, I forgot that my ’85 560 looked like the upshot of a hard left to the ribs and just rode the bike.

Trust me. After a while, I forgot that my ’85 560 looked like the upshot of a hard left to the ribs and just rode the bike.

The Alivio derailer may not be sexy, “but it is functional, reliable, and easy to find an economical replacement for, should the need ever arise,” said David Studner, Trek’s assistant product manager for city bikes. “The low-clamp/top-swing format is also more durable by virtue of its tucked-away design.”

This was good to know because I found myself using that front derailer more than usual. I’m sloppy about shifting, generally slouching around in the middle ring until some emergency arises, but with the Trek I found I wanted to be in the little ring if using the 28T or 32T cog to keep a clean chainline and avoid the occasional auto-downshift from the middle ring.

Road Test: Co-op Cycles ADV 1.1

I don’t see the Hayes mechanicals as often as I do the Avids, but they impressed me on the Kona Sutra and I like them here too. This is another good thing because the rim-brake 520 has been discontinued effective this year. Thus, the disc-brake model is the only one you’ll see at your local dealer. When I picked up my review bike at the Albuquerque Trek Superstore, manager Mike Humphries had just one lonely V-brake 520 on the floor, which seemed to be where it would stay.

Oh, you can still have one if you must. Studner said both the disc- and rim-brake 520 framesets are stocked as service parts for $660, so if you break yours, or just want one to build to your own specifications, see your friendly neighborhood Trek dealer.

Or you could save yourself the time, hassle, and expense, and go with the instant gratification of the modern 520 to get started on your own midlife escape from the Potomac. The Pacific awaits.  

Patrick O’Grady has written and cartooned about cycling since 1989 for VeloNews, Bicycle Retailer & Industry News, and a variety of other publications. Read more from and about Patrick O’Grady   here .

• Price: $1,360
• Sizes available: 48cm, 51cm, 54cm, 57cm, 60cm, 63cm
• Size tested: 57cm
• Weight: 29.4 lbs with rear rack, stock pedals with toe clips and straps, and reflectors front and rear

Test Bike Measurements

• Stack: 587mm
• Reach: 383mm
• Head tube length: 160mm
• Head tube angle: 71.8°
• Seat tube: 543mm (center to top of seatpost clamp)
• Seat tube angle: 73.5°Top tube:557mm (effective)
• Chainstays: 450mm
• Bottom bracket drop: 70mm
• Fork offset: 52mm
• Fork trail: 59mm
• Wheelbase: 1052mm
• Standover: 794mm

Specification

• Frame: 4130 butted chromoly. Rack and fender mounts, disc mounts, pump peg, chain hanger, three sets of bottle bosses, down tube cable routing, down tube bosses for shifters/barrel adjusters
• Fork: Chromoly with rack and low-rider mounts, and fender and disc mounts
• Headset: VP Slimstak, sealed semi-cartridge bearings
• Rims: Bontrager tubeless ready
• Hubs: Shimano M475, 36-hole, QR
• Tires: Bontrager AW1 Hard-Case, 700c x 32mm
• Crankset: Shimano Trekking M590 with chainguard, 175mm, 48/36/26T
• Bottom bracket: Shimano sealed cartridge, threaded
• Cassette: Shimano HG, 11–32T, 9-speed
• Brake levers: Tektro RL340 aero
• Shift levers: Shimano Dura-Ace bar-cons
• Front derailer: Shimano Alivio
• Rear derailer: Shimano Deore
• Brakes: Hayes CX Expert mechanical disc, 160mm rotors
• Stem: Bontrager Elite, 100mm, 31.8mm four-bolt clamp, 7° +/-, Blendr compatible
• Handlebar: Bontrager Race VR-C, 440mm, 85mm reach, 125mm drop, 31.8mm clamp diameter
• Seatpost: Bontrager SSR, two-bolt head, 27.2mm, 12mm setback
• Saddle: Bontrager Evoke 1
• Rear rack: Bontrager Back Rack Deluxe L, 55 lbs
• Pedals: Wellgo R125 with toe clips and straps

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Trek 520 – Touring Bicycle Review

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Bicycle touring can be done on almost any kind of bike. After a few 100-mile days, however, having the right touring bike will determine whether your body can live up to the demands of life on the road.

That said, the Trek 520 caters to the touring bike scene with its chromoly steel frame that offers the perfect mix of flexibility, comfort and durability needed for long-distance bicycle touring. The stretched out geometry is just right for staying comfortable on the bike and at the same time allows you to get in a good aerodynamic stance for optimal speed. The 520 is perfect for long-distance bicycle tours or for the daily commute. Its classic touring geometry has stood the test of time and is considered a cult classic by many. Having been around since the 1970’s, The Trek 520 has earned its place in bicycle touring history.

Trek only offers one touring option – the Trek 520, which is altered each year with a new paint color and exterior design. While the paint may change, the components haven’t varied too much throughout the recent years.

The Trek 520 MSRP is set at $1,429.99 USD.

It comes in five different frame sizes: 48, 51, 54, 57, 60cm. I am 5’8” with a 30” inseam and the 54cm fits me perfect.

The included components are great for touring right out of the box. The Shimano Dura-Ace bar-end shifters are low maintenance and easy to fix on the go. If they do break, they’re also inexpensive to replace compared to other styles of shifters. (My friends shifter broke in a minor crash on his Cannondale T-1 and the cost to replace the broken part was almost $500. He was able to switch to bar-end shifters for under $100 USD – including labor.)

The wheel set on the Trek 520 is durable and able to take a heavy load even on mild trails, with Bontrager Race Lite Hard-Case 700x32c tires that are wide enough to add cushion yet able to keep good speed.

The bike also comes with a Bontrager Back Rack Deluxe (a rear rack) that is good for loads lighter than 20lbs.

The stock brakes hold their power and are able to stop your fully-loaded bicycle, even when traveling at high speeds and in downhill scenarios.

The Purchase

I went about purchasing this bike first by spending a good amount of time researching touring bikes online. After hours of research I had narrowed my choices to the Surly Long Haul Trucker and the Trek 520. My next step in purchasing the bike was trying to find a store that had one of these bikes in stock to test drive. I could not find any local stores that had the Surly Long Haul Trucker in stock. I quickly discovered that touring bicycles can be hard to find in many local bike shops.

After calling about 20 stores that carried Trek bicycles, I came across Helen’s Cycles in Santa Monica, CA that stocked the 520, and it just so happens they had my size! I took the bike for a test drive and loved the comfort and stability of the bike. I was sold! I was able to pick mine up in 2010 for just under $1,050 USD (including tax) due to some minor chips in the paint on the top tube.

The suggested retail price of the Trek 520 is a little steep in my opinion, because there are similar bikes of similar quality that sell for less. However, the 520 is specialty bicycle, which somewhat justifies its price.

Experience With The Bike & Upgrades for Long Distance Touring

I purchased my Trek 520 in the spring of 2010 with plans to use it as a touring bike, road bike and commuter. I had never owned a road bike before, as I was mainly an avid mountain biker at the time, so the Trek 520 had a completely different feel for me. After a few longer rides, however, I was hooked! I loved that I could cover 50-80 miles in a day without being exhausted.

After many long rides to train for my month-long Canada tour that I did in the summer of 2010, I invested in some upgrades. While the bike is set up for touring, I made some upgrades to meet my specific riding/touring needs. The biggest upgrade for comfort I have made was the saddle. The Trek 520 comes with a decent stock saddle, fine for 60-mile rides, but after doing a few 80-100 mile days in a row, I decided an upgrade was a worthy investment. After doing my research I decided on leather Selle An-Atomica . It is the best seat I have ever sat on! After proper adjustment and wear-in it feels like riding on air.

Soon after that I added Shimano 520 SPD pedals . Next, I installed a set of Kevlar lined Schwalbe Marathon Plus 700 x 35c tires . With the new tires I have only had one flat in 3,500 miles. My friend bought the same tires for his Cannondale touring bike and was able to ride over 6,000 miles on one set before replacing them. I also upgraded the stock fenders to SKS fenders . They give a lot better coverage for riding in the rain and dusty conditions.

The stock rear rack is good for carrying 20lbs or less. I carry my tent and all my gear on my bike while touring so I decided to upgrade to an Axiom rear rack and purchased Axiom Low-rider front racks to carry my 35-40 lbs worth of camping gear and clothes. To hold my gear I invested in the Axiom journey series panniers – front and back. Everything mounted very well, and the bike has sufficient braze-ons and welds for mounting heavy duty racks.

The one upgrade I have always thought about is lower crank gears. The stock gear ratio of 48/36/26 is a little high if you are using the bike to carry heavier loads on longer trips with mountains. My full load including the bike weighs in at close to 70lbs, while the bike itself weighs in at 27lbs. On long mountain passes, it sure would be nice to have a lower gear to switch into.

If I had to say one thing negative about the bike, I would say the paint job is not without its flaws. In 2010, when I purchased the bike, a rusty root-beer color was the only color option. For some, the color along might have been enough to turn them away from the bike. The brownish color of my bike has grown on me, however, and the metallic brownish/orange high gloss paint really stands out in the sun.

The problem that I have noticed, however, is that the metallic paint chips off easier than any other bike I have ever owned. An easily chipped paint job, of course, is not what you want in a touring bicycle that can be exposed to the elements for long periods of time. While the paint may be chipping, there isn’t a single spot or chip that has started to rust. You should also remember that the current models paint is different and I have not heard if it still suffers from paint chipping.

Would I Recommend The Trek 520 Touring Bike?

I would highly recommend this bike if you have the money to invest, and are serious about bike touring. You definitely get your moneys worth. The bikes durability, style and comfort definitely justify the price. I also get comments on the style of the bike frequently; a lot of people enjoy the classic look of it. This is the most comfortable bike I have ever ridden. The steel frame and geometry of the bike minimizes the bumpiest of roads and can take on some mild dirt trails – even when fully loaded.

Conclusion and Rating

Looking back I have had no regrets or any major technical issues with the Trek 520. I have also yet to come across any major complaints from fellow bikers that own this particular bicycle. On a Scale of 1 to 10, I would give this bike a 9. The durability of the paint and the fact that the bike is slightly overpriced when compared to similar bicycle models are the only things holding the 520 back from being a perfect 10. The Trek 520 is and will continue to remain a classic choice in the bicycle touring world.

About The Author: Justin Bernstein is a 23-year-old student at Cal State Channel Islands where he works part-time as a bicycle technician. Justin says he enjoys anything that has wheels and notes that bicycle touring has allowed him to see some amazing places and meet some great people. “I love touring by bike and plan to never stop riding!”

Justin Bernstein

40 thoughts on “ trek 520 – touring bicycle review ”.

I too have a 2003 520, has been an awsome bike…lots of miles touring with 0 problems. Great article!

I have someone telling me that a 30 year old trek 520 made in the USA is superior to a new one. What is your opinion?

ha. I don’t know about that.

I also love the 520, but there is or was for me toe wheel clip or what ever we call it when your shoe’s clip the front wheel…what do you think about using butterfly handle bars on the 520, with a 650 wheel you can add a little wider tire?

Rodney, I’m not quite sure I understand you. Are you saying that when you ride the Trek 520 that the front wheel clips the front of your toes when you turn? If so, that could indeed be the right of the bike… or it might just be the way you have the toe clips set up.

As for butterfly bars, this is a personal decision and it is quite a lot of work to change out the handlebars on a touring bicycle like this. If you want to make that change, then yes, it can be done. But the drop bars that come on the Trek 520 are great in my opinion and most people will be quite happy with them.

I had toe overlap….

I’d really like to get one of these for my own touring but they don’t seem to be available in the uk?

Yes, the Trek 520 is available in the UK. You will probably have to special order it, however. You just need to search for a Trek dealer in your area. You can do so by searching for a dealer on this page of the Trek website https://locator.trekbikes.com/locator/search?lang=en

It may be a good touring bike but as any Trek it is just ridiculously too short for tall people. I am 6.8″ and I would never buy Trek (except for Garry Fisher of course – shame they have a Trek label on it now…). So if you look closely you will see that the geometry of Trek bikes is really stupid where the tall people are concerned. They make some bikes up to size 25″ but still only about 10 cm longer then the 15″ version – what is that about. Plus you end up paying too much for the label, I’d rather go for Surly or something else.

I have enjoyed my 520 since 2010. I tour about 6,000 miles a tear and the 520 is very dependable and comfortable. The only negative has been the 3rd bottle holder. When you add the detachable fenders the 3rd bottle holder cannot be used because it hits the fender. I have recommended the 520 to others but it can be difficult to find in stock. Most bike stores want you to purchase before they order….without a test ride. If you do not like the bike you are stuck with it or you can return it but you are committed to buy something else.

Wow, thanks for your help there was actually a dealer 2 miles away. Going to make a trip down tomorrow.

The inability to use the third bottle cage is quite common. There just isn’t that much room under there. A normal 21 oz water bottle is too long. But the cage is still useful for other things. If you use a stove that feeds off of traditional liquid fuel bottles, you can fit a half-liter fuel bottle in the third cage. I have a half-liter storage bottle down there that holds a spare tube, rag, patches, and wrenches. It makes sense to put something heavy down there. It wouldn’t be a great place for an actual water bottle anyway–it’s difficult to access while riding and it tends to pick up a lot of road grit. This is the storage bottle that I use: https://www.amazon.com/Pro-Storage-Bottle-500cc/dp/B004MGICFS

“there are similar bikes of similar quality that sell for less” could you name some of them for us, the budget tourers? 🙂 I’m currently touring on an aluminum trek 7.3FX, is steel really much more suppler than alu?

Excellent review….I am in the process of looking around for a tourer, the top of my list was the Cannondale Touring but I understand these stopped being produced in 2010..Will be following your advise closely

Keep up the good work

Nice review. I picked up a 2010 520 (barely used) this March and put 1200 miles on it over the summer. Never a problem. I really like the metallic root beer color and haven’t had the chipping problems you experienced. The bike rides smooth and shifts smooth. I also put SKS fenders on mine as well as a Brooks B-17. I’m still on the Bontrager Hardcase Race Lite tires that came on it and have not had a flat yet. The updated gearing has the granny necessary for the steep 13-14% grades that we routinely face in our area. The longevity of this particular model speaks volumes. Maybe more have crossed the continent than any other single bike model.

The Trek store sized me and sold me a 57cm Trek 520. They said I was borderline between the 57 and the 54. After 3 years I have to say the bike is too small. I’m 5’9″, and to get it to fit right the seat has to be way up, and Trek had to order a new uncut fork to get the handlebars way up – to get almost level with seat. It looks funny. Another local bike store, that does not sell Trek, told me it looks too small. REI put my wife, at 5’4″ on a “medium” Novara Randonee touring bike (often compared to the Trek 520). Her bike is bigger than mine!

I think Trek sizing works for guys with really short legs, and people who like that “seat post up in the sky” look you see with racers. The old Trek 520s, with less compact geometry, look far better to my eye.

I’ll probably swap the parts to another frame. Big $ loss.

Other than that, it’s a great., flawless bike.

Howdy. 🙂 Nice review, but I’m not sure what sort of rack your 520 had to have come with to only carry up to 20 lbs. o.O That seems really low. The current model of the 520, which you have pictured at the top, comes with the “deluxe” back rack from Bontrager, which is rated to hold up to 25 kgs, or about 55 lbs (and even their smaller rack is rated for the same weight). Anyway, I’ve had my eye on the 520 for a while now, dreaming about the day I finally manage to get myself set up for touring! 🙂

I just bought the 520 and I did a lot of research before I made the purchase. I will stay in touch with all and tell you my thoughts as soon as get the bike this sunday.

I bought the Trek 520 this year for a 3 day tour through the Rockie Mountains. The bike performed well and was able to carry my 20 lb. panniers with ease. The steel frame was heavier than my other bikes but did not feel heavy riding. The smaller frame size fit my short torso although I had to raise the seat quite a bit for my long legs. That being said the 520 is the most comfortable bike I have ever ridden.

I purchased my Trek 520 about 20 years ago and used it for many touring trips. I have always taken good care of it, and today it still remains to be one of my favorite bikes to take day rides on. I paid about $500 for it 20 years ago and has proven to be a great buy.

In Europe Idid use for self supporting tours mind condition Cannondale 1000X . My brother try it and he was also hooked … When return to Canada I did buy new Trek 520 . About 20000 miles fully loaded touring on my trusted and comfortable burgundy red Trek 520 was poore pleasure and I do not complain at all. Set up: Brooks , Shimano SPD , Satori stem and stem riser , AC Lowrider , Axiom rack just slightly modified , Voyager heavy duty paniers front and rear + Voyager handlebar bag , ( you do not buy those quality anymore). Czech made Pigeon framebag is superior quality also so by Bilenky Bicycle Work installed S&S couplings for reason . This Trek 520 is last series proudly build in Wisconsin USA .

Thanks for the great review and information. The Trek 520 is on my short-list of bikes and this is helping me make up my mind!

Wondered if you still have the 520 or gotten rid of it? I see the CoMotion now with S&S couplers. I am purchasing a 520, and building it with components equal to the Americano, along with S&S couplers, a SON28 hub and Luxos U headlight. Your thoughts on this set up?

This bicycle review was written by a BicycleTouringPro.com reader named Justin Bernstein. I don’t own a Trek 520 and I never have.

You are correct about me owning a Co-Motion Pangea , however. The Pangea is the touring bicycle I have been riding since May of 2012.

I’ve never heard of anyone buying a Trek 520 and totally transforming it the way you say you plan to do. It sounds like a lot of work and money. Why did you decided to do this rather than just keep the Trek 520 the way it is… or rather than just buying a touring bicycle with the parts/components that you want?

I’d be interested in hearing how that hub works out for you and what you end up charging with it (besides the headlight).

This review reads too much like a brochure from Trek, at least the first half. Today’s 520 is a relatively more compact geometry than the original. My 2002 is a completely different bike than the current model in both geometry and stock components. Trek has finally figured out what parts a touring bike should have, however, for years they were putting a standard road triple (52/42/30). While it’s a solid bike, I’m critical of the idea that it hasn’t changed over the years. Also, given this review was written two years ago, I should mention that Trek is adding disc brakes for 2015 (mentioning this for the sake of anyone reading the above review and considering the 520).

Where are you getting that the rack (Back Rack Deluxe) can only hold 20#? Trek lists it at 50#. I’ve upgraded to this newer version and I’ve had no issues fully loaded with somewhere in the area of 50# of gear. It’s a well made rack.

I purchased a 2013 Trek 520 earlier this year and enjoy riding it regularly. The bike rides smooth and steady and, while not necessarily built for speed, can sail down the road quickly. I chose to replace the stock Bontrager seat with a Brooks Flyer (springed) saddle which is almost broken in now – it works great to reduce road vibrations. I added a Light and Motion headlight for night-time daylight and a Bontrager pannier which easily mounts to and disconnects from the back rack. This is the second Trek touring bike I have owned – I love it!

My 520 has over 46k mile on it. It’s a fine bike but I have one beef; the SD-7 brakes that came with it were noisy crap. On a wet loaded downhill I had to reach round to the drops to get any stopping power at all. I replaced the front brake with a Single Digit Ultimate and replaced both brake levers with Tektro RS520 levers. Braking is much better now although I couldn’t launch myself over the bars if I tried, they still require effort but I can now brake from the hoods. If I replace it I’ll get the disc brake version.

I bought a new green 2015, without the disc brakes. Love the ride. Very stable. Digging the bar end shifters. I certainly am not doing well with the forward position. I added a Dimension stem extender that raised the bars about 3 inches and that had helped, but I still need a shorter stem. I ordered the Bontrager Elite in the much shorter 7 rise, 70mm. Hope it will take away the pain in the lower part of my neck in back. But if need be, I will add either the tried and true Nitto Albatross I have been using for sometime on a old GT Nomad hybrid, or a set of Jones bars since they are back and will pair well with the stem color. Otherwise, I do hope to make the drops work.. even consider some wider ones along with the shorter stem and any needed stacking like I see on many Surly LHT bikes. Planning a Fit at a bike shop to rule out my options.

I currently have a Trek 8000 mountain bike. For riding around town, neck pain is my main complain. I also have a trike that totally gets rid of any seat or neck pain but it is only good for perfect roads. I am considering Trek 520 and would be interested to know about the changes to the stem that you made to get remedy you neck pain.

I had similar neck and shoulder pain riding in a peloton with this bike, particularly on roads that are not great quality. The underlying cause was that the hoods don’t have much padding (like most bikes), but you need to rest your hands here to brake or use the drops the entire time. The solution was to install in-line brake levers so I could also brake from the padded handle bars while drafting. The levers were ~$30 and are cheap/easy to install when you are replacing your brake cables and bar tape at the same time.

I’ve ordered a 2015 disc model which I’m pickng up this week. Planning an epic tour from Ireland to Turkey and will enjoy training rides around N. Ireland. Slightly concerned about the “small” sizing of the bike but hopeful that the 57′ will fit my 5.10 height.

Hey Darren, im a huge fan

Im planning a long trip to South America, I preffer the less travel or off road path. Im from Colombia and here the obly two touring bikes avaliable are the Giant Thoughroad slr 1 and Specialized Sequoia. Im not sure about this bikes, because the giant have an aluminium frame and carbon fork and the Sequoia have a 48/32 crank. My dream bike is the Surly Troll but is out of my reach. What can I do?

It is possible to have a bicycle shipped to you from the United States or elsewhere in the world. It’s just more expensive when you do this, of course.

After getting my Surly LHT stolen two weeks before my XC trip… A friend of a friend got me a brand new Trek 520 for a good price. Along with the bike being stolen (I live in NYC), the racks went with it… so two comments I’d like to make.

1. During my 5,019 mile ride, I used the stock rear rack and only the rear rack the whole way to stow everything (panniers, tent, sleeping bag and sleeping mat). Per Adventure Cycling Association, my total weight (bike included) was 89lbs. The only issue I had with the rack was after getting off a rocky road, the rack started to squeak. I simply tightened the screws and no more squeak. So I’d hardly say that was a problem.

2. I believe this was the article that solidified my decision to go with the LHT and Trek 520 was my back up option while I price compared stores in the area. Having ridden both bikes, I would say they are just about the same, comfort wise. Jumping on the Trek 520 for the first time felt no different than the LHT. The difference may be the size and how Trek and Surly measure their frame size. I got them both in a 54 and for whatever reason the Trek felt just a little more comfortable. Whether it’s because it was bigger or smaller by a fraction I am not sure.

Anyway, Darren your resources were an incredible help to making me feel comfortable before leaving for my first touring trip. I am not the person to just jump on a bike and leave, so I can’t thank you enough!!!

I purchased a 54cm Trek 520 in September of 2015 and have put over 1500 miles on it to date. I ride on my days off and have done two over night trips. The second trip I took was around 110 mile round trip and about 20 miles was gravel roads. I do wish Trek would design the lower water bottle holder so it would clear with fenders. I recently replaced the the tires after four flats on the original tires. Little things I am changing to fit my riding styles to make the bike more comfortable for me. Over all I am very pleased with the bike and am happy with my purchase. I will be using this bicycle on my New Mexico trip in September of 2018. I know this is along way off but I have other obligations that come first. I am however doing small trips here in Mo. and one trip to my uncles in Oklahoma. I am also getting ready to do the entire Katy Trail in Missouri. Other than the flats I have had zero issues with my 520 but I am only 5’8″ and quite stocky . I would recommend this bike to anyone in my size range.

I considered the 520 because it was a light touring bicycle and a Trek – however, I opted for a Jamis Aurora (more bang for the buck) and have not been disappointed. I added a front Surly rack and clipless pedals – the bike came with fenders, good 9-speed triple crank gearing, bar end shifters, and a rear rack. When shopping, I noticed many shops in the Baltimore area did not stock steel frame touring bicycles. After riding my touring bike around – I seem to prefer the ride of steel frame bicycles.

Hello. I’m looking into purchasing a 2018 Trek 520 for bike touring. I have a Specialized CrossTrail that I use for touring and it is very limited for what I can haul. I took this bike for a road test and it was wonderful. It was very responsive and comfortable, indeed. I liked the fact that it was a 27 speed. The multiple, lower gears, are a plus for heavy load climbing. The bike dealer is asking 1100.00 dollars for this Trek. Am I getting a good deal, thanks!

I have a Trek 520. Bought in 2004, upgraded to Rohloff rear gear hub and schmidt generating front hub in 2010. Repainted at the same time. Does about 6000km pa. Brilliant.

Had mine for 7 years now, best bike I ever owned 🙂

It seems you can buy a good used steel frame and build up the bike to your choosing just fine. Just check out a bike shop which sells used bikes of on CL for old steel, many with classic lugs.

I have a 1984 Miyata 210 which I bought new and it is in fine shape, albeit ridden very infrequently as I have a number of bikes. It still has the original Araya wheels and are still perfect after all these years, original brake pads too! I have thought of adding a Rohloff internal gearing and taking it for an extended tour.

As for the Trek 520, they are good, them and Surly LHT’s are everywhere, can’t go wrong with either.

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Your Bicycle Size Guide

Trek Bike Size Chart By Height In CM & Inches (Road Bike/MTB)

A Trek bike size guide is all you need when the search for the correct bicycle size is still on. Known to be the number 1 performance bike brand all over the globe, Trek has been stacked with powerful engineering and classy bikes.

There are many questions revolving around passionate fans of the brand with one of them being, what size Trek bike do I need?

Well, the answer is very simple. You will need to go through the charts below for a particular bike type and model you are looking for.

Trek size charts

Trek bike sizes can vary, and that can lead to more confusion among potential buyers. The below charts will help in choosing the right model according to your height and inseam.

Trek mountain bike size chart

Trek mountain bikes come in different categories and offer sizes for every individual, starting from extra small to extra large. Take a look at the tables below and select the ideal fit for yourself.

Category – Full suspension, Hardtails, Electric, Cross Country, Trail, Enduro, Downhill, Fat Bikes, and Fuel EXe (E-MTB)

Models/Series – Supercaliber, Top Fuel, X-Caliber, Procaliber, Farley, Roscoe, Marlin, Powerfly, Service, 820, Slash, Remedy, Fuel EX, and Session

Trek MTB Cross Country (820)

Trek e-mountain bike.

Models/Series – Powerfly, E-Caliber, and Rail

Trek road bike size chart

Road bikes are an essential part of the brand that caters to a wide range of audience, thanks to its diverse range of models. These Trek road bike size charts shall help you pick the right bicycle that can go a long way for an adventurous ride.

Category – Performance/Gravel

Models/Series – Madone, Emonda, and Domane

Category – Bikepacking/Cyclocross

Model/Series – 520 and 520 Grando

Models/Series – Checkpoint and Boone 6

Model Series – 1120

Trek electric road bike sizing

Models/Series – FX+, DUAL SPORT+, vEREVE+, and Allant+

Trek alpha sizing for MTB – what is it?

The old-school approach of measuring the frame size of Trek bikes is a thing of the past. With newer inventions and modern bike geometry, alpha sizing is used in place of numeric sizing on Trek mountain bikes.

Why is alpha sizing important?

1. Easier approach

Instead of using size numbers like 19.5, the sizes can be classified into S, M, ML, L, XL, and XXL. So, someone with a 17.5 size can go for the medium and a 19.5 is a large size. You don’t have to keep a tab on numbers; instead, the alphabet makes it easier.

2. Measurement based on reach

In earlier times the frame size measurement of Trek bikes was solely based on seat tube length. Things have changed, and modern mountain bike geometry focuses more on reach as of now. Hence, alpha sizing measures what matters and is a more simplified way of measuring bike size.

Trek sizing – virtual vs actual

This can puzzle you a bit as they both are somewhat similar yet there is a subtle difference. Actual size can be termed as the overall length of the seat tube from the center of the bottom bracket to the center of the top tube intersection with the centerline of the seat tube.

On the other hand, virtual sizing is the overall length of the seat tube ranging from the center of the bottom bracket to the mid-point of the imaginary horizontal top tube in which it connects with the seat tube.

If I had to give you an example, a bike might have a virtual size of 18.5 and an actual size of 17.5. This means that the bike size feels like 18.5, but in actual sense, the frame size is 17.5. It doesn’t make much of a difference as it is there only to let you know what it is (actual size) and what it looks like in size (virtual size).

People also ask

Trek 17.5 frame size – what does it mean.

A 17.5 frame size is considered an M size (Medium) in terms of alpha sizing. Any individual who is 161-172 cm or a height of 5’3.4”-5’7.7” . If you are within this height range, going for a medium size shall be the right choice.

Trek medium frame size is for what height?

A medium size frame size (17.5) is ideal for a person with a height between 5’3.4”-5’7.7 ”. In centimeters, it is ideal for those around 161 to 172 cm in height.

Trek 24-inch bike is for what age?

When it comes to children, their bikes are measured in terms of wheel size instead of the standard frame size. These kid’s bikes have a size range between 12-26 inches, depending upon the height of the kid.

As far as a 24-inch wheel size is concerned, any kid between the ages of 8-11 can go for a fun ride with it. Some of the popular 24-inch bike models are Trek Roscoe 25, Wahoo 24, Trek Precaliber 24 , etc.

Trek 26-inch bike is for what height?

A 26-inch wheel-size bike is for kids with a height of 4’9”-5’3” (146-160 cm) . Wahoo 26 is a prime example of a bike in this category.

Trek 20-inch bike is for what age?

Trek 20-inch bikes are for children between 5 to 8 years of age. Additionally, if they are within the height of 3’9”-4’6” , it should be suitable for them.

Are Trek bikes good?

Trek bikes are considered to be extremely good and solid in build. It is known to be the number 1 performance bike brand all over the globe. Having its humble beginning in the year 1976 in Waterloo, Wisconsin, it has turned into the largest bicycle manufacturer all over the world. With an array of bikes ranging from, mountain, road, electric, and kids bikes, there is a lot to choose from a mammoth list.

How much is a used Trek bike worth?

It depends on a lot of factors in terms of how old the bike is, the year of production, which model, and a lot more. However, it can be within $1000-10,000 (depending on the model and other factors) .

Where are Trek bikes made?

The majority of their bikes are manufactured in Taiwan, China, Netherlands, and Germany too.

Why are Trek bikes so expensive?

Usually, the bike brand prefers top-tier components, suspensions, and frames that are ahead of its competitors. This results in additional costs that can be seen in the price tag and also many top-end Trek bikes are custom-made with less production, leading to being more expensive.

Trek bikes are a class apart in many ways with a range of bikes on offer for its fans across the world. Choosing the right size for you can be tricky, but this is where the Trek frame size chart comes to the rescue.

Trek as a bicycle brand might be on the costly side, but they punch above its weight to provide top-class bikes for the masses. I am always someone who roots for quality, and Trek provides what I need.

One comment

Thanks for your informative post. I really like the Trek alpha sizing for MTB because Trek frame sizes use alpha sizing rather than the usual inches or centimeters (cm), and they usually have a certain range of measurements.

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Miles’ Flat Bar Trek 520: Little Red Corvette

The stock Trek 520, the quintessential steel touring bike in the brand’s lineup, wasn’t quite doing it for Miles. Here is his take on a classic, complete with a flat bar conversion, 1×11 drivetrain, and the absolute biggest tires he could fit. Find details, lots of photos, and a complete build kit here…

I’ve been slowly moving away from drop-bar bikes over the last year, at least when it comes to my personal bikes. I recognize their importance and benefit, but I’m beginning to think that I’d rather have a nice big tire and a flat bar for the majority of terrain I encounter. So I set out to take a perfectly reasonable drop-bar touring bike—steel, of course—and convert it over to something better suited to my current tastes. Enter the Trek 520.

First offered in 1983, the 520 is Trek Bicycles’ longest running model, and for good reason. Just take this description of the 520 from the April 1985 edition of Bicycling Magazine , “Many people who buy loaded touring bikes built to slog half their worldly possessions over the Continental Divide never haul more than a couple of bananas, a rain cape, and a patch kit. Trek hopes its new $499 ‘credit card touring bike,’ the 520, will appeal to these folks who want a hill-leveling triple crankset but don’t need the extra weight and slow handling of a typical touring frame.” Whoever wrote this deserves a high-five.

Its chromoly steel frame, various mounts, and vintage graphics had me scheming. I envisioned a flat bar 520, 29″ tires, and a wide range 1×11 drivetrain: a steel rambler perfect for commuting to work, exploring gravel pathways, and some loaded bikepacking. With the help from some friends’ parts bins, a few kind shop owners, and Dorset, UK-based Sven Cycles; who found a Nitto handlebar in his shop that wasn’t in use, I made it happen. It’s not a particularly expensive or over the top build, but has the look of something boutique that you might spot at your local coffee outside ride. More importantly, it’s really fun to ride.

Trek 520 Build Kit

In hindsight, I could have saved some time spent trading parts around by simply purchasing a frameset, instead of a complete 520 build. As you can see below, not many of the stock components are being used. The main goal was to convert the 520 to a flat bar build, so I needed a long stem and a setback seatpost for a comfortable distance between my saddle and bars. The nominal ‘stem’ length on the Nitto B906 bull moose bars is 125mm, with a 7 degree rise and 685mm width. That’s a little narrow for my liking, but still very comfortable. I went with a durable and affordable 11-speed XT drivetrain, paired with some parts bin components from friends, including the crankset, shifter, and derailleur. I removed the rear rack and swapped the larger touring-style front rack for my Tumbleweed T-Rack, but I’m holding onto the stock front rack as it’s not that heavy and might be useful.

For bags, my Porcelain Rocket Microwave Panniers have come along on nearly every ride. I haven’t had a front pannier setup in a while, but I love having a clear visual of the panniers, rather than running them on a rear rack. This way I can quickly decide whether or not I can squeeze through an obstacle, be it a tight median in town or a narrow section of trail. I’ve also been experimenting with Porcelain Rocket’s 52Hz Road frame bag, and have some slick new bags from UK-based Wizard Works in for review that compliment the 520’s aesthetics quite well. More on that soon.

• Frame: Trek butted chromoly steel
• Fork: Alloy disc touring fork
• Crankset: SRAM S2210 Carbon
• Chainring: Garbaruk 40T
• Bottom Bracket: Wheels Manufacturing BSA 30
• Chain: Shimano HG701 11-Speed
• Cassette: Shimano XT M8000 11-46T
• Derailleur: Shimano XT M8000 11-Speed, Long Cage
• Shifter: Shimano XT M8000 11-Speed
• Brake Calipers: TRP Spyre C 2.0 mechanical disc
• Brake Rotors: TRP 160mm
• Brake Levers: Tektro Mechanical
• Headset: 1-1/8″ threadless, sealed cartridge bearings
• Handlebar: Nitto B906 Bullmoose
• Seatpost: Thomson Elite Setback
• Grips: Wolftooth Karv
• Saddle: Brooks Cambium Carved C17
• Hubs: Shimano M475 100x5mm QR (front), 135x5mm QR (rear)
• Rims: Bontrager Affinity Disc, 21mm internal width
• Tires: WTB Nano 29×2.1″

So far, I’ve mostly been commuting to work on the 520, which is a 60km round trip on paved bike paths, gravel trails, and road. It performs exactly how I envisioned. The flat bar conversion puts me in an upright position, the high volume 29″ tires keep me rolling quickly, and the steel frame is comfortable yet still handles loads fine.

Outside of commuting, I’ve tackled tame singletrack and successfully navigated my way through shorter sections of the chunky horse trails that are littered throughout Maple Ridge. I don’t want to throw the stock Trek 520 build under the bus, but I’m willing to bet I wouldn’t be riding this type of terrain on drop-bars. With that said, my take on the 520 is very far from the stock version, which is a traditional touring bike. Imagine if Trek stocked a flat bar, big tired 520.. now that’d be something.

From Touring to Cruising

Although I’ve been quite happy with the conversion as a whole, I’ve noticed a few quirks that might answer some questions for those interested in pursuing a similar project. Traditional touring bikes are typically designed with seated pedalling in mind, which translates to slack seat tube angles. Personally, I enjoy the upright position; I have a good visual of what’s going on around me, and I’ve noticed I have less pressure in my hands, but there’s been a clear tradeoff. When paired with my setback seatpost and flat bars, I feel a pretty significant lack of power. I’m sure I could comfortably spin all day long, but I’m not getting anywhere that quickly.

There’s likely a lot more at play here, but it’s a good first step in learning more about flat bar conversions and whether or not they make sense. And it’s something I hope to pursue in great depth and eventually report back on. Maybe deep down I really just want a 1986 Specialized Rockhopper, which isn’t really too far off from my 2020 Trek 520.

I’ve actually been so impressed with the Trek 520 that it will be assisting in a few upcoming gear reviews, including some bags and wheels. It’s not perfect, though. I would have preferred thru-axles, the rear brake caliper lacks adjustment due to its position, and the fork is aluminum, not steel. The complete build comes with segmented housing, so lacks the necessary cable guides for a clean setup.

I’m impressed that the 520 can fit 29 x 2.1″ WTB Nano tires, which work great for a wide mix of riding. I was also able to size up to a 60cm frame, since the flat bar conversion required some extra length, which gives me a massive main triangle to work with. The large Porcelain Rocket 52hz Road frame bag fits like a glove. Of course the 520 is outfitted with all the necessary mounts, including rack, fender, and bottles bosses. And the complete 520 ships with some pretty decent racks, both front and rear.

My first ride on the 520 didn’t go as planned. I imagined myself racing along my usual route to work, the Golden Ears mountains to the north, cranberry bogs rushing by as I navigate my way through the seemingly endless network of gravel dyke paths that link Maple Ridge and Port Coquitlam together. Instead, I got a flat, my first non-tubeless flat in several years, and had to fix that on the side of a busy highway. It is now set up tubeless.

Although I opted to build up the latest Trek 520 frame, a similar setup could easily be created by finding a 90s mountain bike in good condition and swapping a few bits around. Purchasing a new bike just made it that much easier to include modern components with little to no fuss. I’ve been enjoying my commute more now that I’m not hauling 27.5+ tires around, and I expect lots more casual urban exploration rides in the near future.

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What Makes The Trek 520 Such A Powerful Gravel Road Bike

Table of Contents

• Price: $1829
• Frame: Steel
• Wheels: 700c
• Drivetrain: 3 × 9
• Groupset: Alivio, Sora
• Brakes: Mechanical Disc

What we like about it: Trek’s 520 is a high-performance, comfortable, versatile bike that balances performance, comfort, and versatility effectively. My Trek 520 accompanied me on numerous statewide touring expeditions and came home fully loaded.

What we do not like about it: Disc brakes would be a much better choice for the Trek 520 in wet weather and on long, steep descents.

Trek is continuing the legendary style with the release of the Trek 520. According to Trek, the Trek 520 is a long-distance touring bike.

The company has centered its research and development around that selling point and has continued to develop it for the masses.

Overall comfort, Trek 520 is not easy to cause fatigue, especially in the shoulders and neck, lumbar spine, prostate, and other key areas.

As a Trek 520, you’ll receive substantial, durable, easy-to-maintain, universally compatible parts that will serve your needs without too much servicing, and without having to spend a lot of money on tuned the bike or replacement parts.

When it breaks, it can be repaired easily or replaced easily (especially in remote locations).

Under high load conditions, the Trek 520 handles smoothly. All-road adaptability is primarily reflected in the frame’s high strength, the wide selection of gear ratios, strong traction, easy glide tires, and certain vibration dampening properties.

I’m sure you’re eager to learn more about the Trek 520 after reading all these compliments, so let’s follow our testers and find out more.

Learn more: How A Bike With Ambitions Did It – Trek 720 Review

Main features

Frame (4.5/5).

A lot of people aren’t aware of why the Trek 520’s frame is made of Chromoly steel. The reason for this is that a true fully loaded touring bike is very different from a normal bike (no-load capacity).

Your Trek 520 bike frame is more likely to deform if you put too much weight on it. This leads to some unsettling factors such as more wobbly and unstable riding. And sometimes it can be dangerous.

Therefore, a Trek 520 touring bike frame needs to be stronger and sturdier than normal to cope with the pressure when carrying a load.

It’s because of this reason that the Trek 520 uses super hard Chromoly steel as the frame material.

So, the core of the Trek 520 is the Trek butted Chromoly disc touring, and our testers suggested that the other parts could be replaced, but not the frame.

You might get the impression that the Trek 520 looks a bit rough under no weight, but once it’s underweight, the Trek 520 looks very well-coordinated, especially on climbs. This is where the strong frame comes into play.

Geometry (4.4/5)

Frame geometry is a very complex subject. As someone who has reviewed so many bikes, I’m sure you understand that there is a huge difference between “Comfort” and “Aggressive” frames.

The former frame geometry is designed for a comfortable, relaxed ride, i.e. designed for touring.

“Aggressive” geometry has been designed for racing, and it offers greater acceleration and agility, but not much comfort.

Trek has spent many years refining the 520 geometry for heavy duty and long distance touring needs.

In the Trek 520’s frame geometry, the head tube has been made taller for a more upright riding position.

The lowered height of the bottom bracket and longer wheelbase provide better stability.

Thus, the design logic of the Trek 520 can also be seen in its geometry changes.

Components and Specifications

Drivetrain (4.7/5).

The Trek 520 pointer uses Shimano Sora R3000, 9 speed, and R3030, 3 speed.

Shimano Sora is targeted at entry-level riders & high-level sports fitness and is the highest level of Shimano road kit.

The Shimano Sora R3000 and R3030 have STI dual control, meaning they can be used for 9 and 3-speed shifting and braking.

They also come with internal cable routing, making the Trek 520 driver’s seat neat and tidy.

With Shimano’s Optislick cable, the cable runs through the seat tube and connects to the handlebar-mounted lever, ensuring superior performance in dusty and muddy conditions.

The improved Super SLR technology ensures an optimal transition from joystick travel to braking power. SLR refers to Shimano’s linear response.

In Shimano Sora R3000 and R3030, this braking system is designed for maximum friction reduction in the brake caliper, brake lever, and inner cable. This improves the brake’s responsiveness and dosage.

Front and rear derailleurs

In our tester’s tests, the Trek 520 was found to be equipped with a Shimano Alivio M4000 rear derailleur and a Shimano Sora R3030 front derailleur.

In Shimano’s Sora R3030 front derailleur, wide pivot links increase rigidity while decreasing flex, improving shift response, and ensuring relatively precise shifting.

Aluminum links and straps reduce weight and increase rigidity.

Shimano Sora R3030 wraps around the Trek 520 seat tube. The item comes with two extra shims for seat tubes with smaller diameters, as well as a clamp on down pull.

The Shimano Alivio M4000 rear derailleur provides crisp on- and off-road performance for a 9-speed drivetrain.

The concealed rear derailleur design with a smooth skid plate surface has an ultra-low profile design that reduces the risk of encountering a mountain side endangering the Shimano Alivio M4000 with damage.

A wide link design increases rigidity and longevity.

The alloy body and external links result in lower weight without sacrificing strength and durability.

Shimano Alivio M4000 has 11-tooth pulleys to reduce pulley wear and chain noise.

Our recommendation is that if you intend to buy a real mountain bike that will allow you to start enjoying trails, the kit should at least include the Alivio.

Specifically, the Alivio is the first level of Shimano mountain bike kits to include a two-piece crank system (two-piece crankset) with a separate center shaft for increased crank strength.

The Trek 520 crankset uses Shimano Alivio T4060 at an affordable price.

Shimano Alivio T4060 crank rigidity, durability, and lubrication, the testers feel good after testing.

HYPERGLIDE sprockets are designed with specially positioned shift ramps and tooth profiles for better chain control during shifting.

In this way, indexed shifting becomes fast and responsive.

Shimano Alivio T4060 is a two-piece crank system. With an integrated crank arm and bottom bracket, rigidity is increased while weight is reduced.

A wider bearing position enhances rigidity and efficiently transmits pedaling force.

Its cassette range is 11-36T, and the gear cassettes are positioned precisely relative to each other so that the chain moves smoothly.

Trek 520 has a Shimano HG200 9-speed cassette, a gear ratio combination that provides smooth and comfortable pedaling.

Our testers found the Shimano HG200 flywheel’s clever angled chamfer and fast, smooth shifting to be the biggest advantages of the Trek 520. Even under high pedaling loads, smoother shifts are possible, both up and down.

Riders can put all their power into pedaling and achieve faster shifting for smoother and better speed translation.

Fork (4.5/5)

The corrosion resistance of aluminum alloy makes its own longevity and durable strength more convincing compared to other forks, more robust, durable, and smooth, making the whole ride full of excitement.

Trek 520 fork is using Alloy disc touring.

In order to improve comfort and reliability, Trek has improved and upgraded the frame + fork.

The main body of the frame is as described above, but the fork material has been changed from steel to aluminum, and the weight has been reduced as a result.

The frame is also equipped with Trek’s newly developed ThruSkew quick release technology.

Trek claims this technology is the result of the combination of a barrel axle and quick release, which allows riders to take off the front wheel without removing the front rack.

Another point that our testers happened to mention, I feel the need to say. You can make a reference.

Congratulations, if you bought a Trek 520 fork that hasn’t been cut yet. You can fit the handlebars to your needs instead of adapting to them.

You can find the height you feel most comfortable with (and cut it to your own requirements if necessary).

However, if the Trek 520 has been cut by the dealer before you get it, then it may not reach the height you want to adjust (in this case, the dealer cut the steering tube too short).

Although this is not very important, it should at least be a factor to consider.

Headset (4.4/5)

The headset is a bearing assembly located at the head tube that connects the handlebars to the top tube of the fork and is used to steer and control balance.

Threadless designs are now more common, and the Trek 520 uses a 1-1/8” threadless design with sealed bearings.

This threadless design is simpler and arguably superior. It is faster and easier to repair and can be done with standard tools.

Wheels (4.3/5)

The Trek 520 rims feature the Bontrager Affinity Disc, which can be paired with vacuum tires.

The Trek 520 can ride heavily loaded thanks to the Bontrager Affinity Disc’s highly robust 36-hole rim and 14g premium carbon steel spokes.

Notably, the rim is 21mm wide and features a presta valve.

The Presta valve is currently used mainly on the more mid-to-high-end models.

Manual locking valve, high-pressure resistance, smoother air leakage linearity, a thin base of the valve, light weight, air closure is also very good, the diameter of the valve is small, so the rim’s valve hole opening can be smaller, the natural impact on the strength of the rim is less.

In the eyes of our testers, the rim is important, and the Trek 520 is better off with a double-layer rim.

The Trek 520 front and rear hubs are Shimano M475.

The hubs are the core of the wheelset, and when you decide to build a wheelset, basically everyone starts with the hubs to choose.

Shimano’s hubs are well made, reliable, and smoothly rotating, and the Shimano M475 is strong and refuses to break an axle. 100mm in length for the Trek 520 front hub and 135mm for the rear hub.

The Trek 520 uses the Bontrager H1, 700x38c tire with a super strong nylon casing, 700mm outside diameter, and 38mm width.

The tire’s engineered tread design provides confidence in wet or dry conditions. the Bontrager H1 tread uses a durable compound for longer life.

Trek 520 Spece

Accessories.

1. How much weight can the rack support?

2. When mounting the kickstand, what bolt size is used?

3. This frame uses what type of rear brake mount?

The 520 has an IS mount brake.

Comparison table

Trek 520 grando vs trek 520.

Next, comes our comparison of the Trek 520 and Trek 520 Grando, and after reading it you will know which is the better final verdict.

So which is better? Well, the main difference between the Trek 520 and the Trek 520 Grando is their shifters.

For its rear derailleur, Trek 250 uses the Shimano Alivio, while its front derailleur uses the Shimano Sora. In contrast, the Trek 520 Grando uses a Shimano Tiagra front derailleur and Shimano GRX rear derailleur.

The rear derailleur, which is Shimano GRX RX400, will help you achieve better chain tension and smooth, highly reliable shifting, especially on rough terrain.

As part of the Trek 520 Grando, you will also get two-piece ProWheel alloy cranks.

However, both bikes use the 1136 cassette, even though the Trek 520 Grando is faster.

The Trek 520 has a more range than the Trek 520 Grando since it has three chain links instead of the Trek 520 Grando’s two chain links.

Unlike the 520 Grando, the Trek 520 has a backpack rack. The Trek 520 is equipped with a Bontrager backpack rack at the front and rear ends that can hold about 55 pounds or 25 kilograms.

Sleeping bags, food, tents, and other essentials can be stowed on the front and rear racks.

During your travels, the racks are made of durable materials that can support the weight of your gear.

However, the Trek 520 Grando only has a front rack, which means you won’t have enough room to store any luggage if you’re taking a road trip through the woods.

Both bikes are fitted with different tires, but the Trek 520 Grando has more versatile tires.

Bontrager H1 Hard-case Ultimate tires are fitted to the Trek 520, and they are 700×38c wide.

Nevertheless, the Trek Grando comes with 700×40c tires that are made by Bontrager.

There’s no way to compare the two tires to know which is better since they’re different. The Trek 520 tire, however, has a thinner casing, but it has a harder casing, so rocks, thorns, and other road debris are less likely to penetrate the tire.

Its wide and nimble tires provide more traction on dirt roads and gravel roads, making the Trek 520 Grando a more versatile bike.

Regarding the Trek 520 Grando tires. They’re wide and nimble, so they offer better traction on dirt and gravel roads, which makes the Trek 520 Grando a more versatile bicycle.

However, you can equip both bikes with 29.2-inch wheels to improve their traction and adaptability.

With the wide fat rolling tires, you will have enough traction on both pavement and gravel roads, so you can ride with confidence.

In comparison to the Trek 520, the Trek 520 Grando is lighter. Including the weight of the rider and bike cargo, the maximum total weight capacity of each bike is 275 pounds.

Although it might not seem significant, the Trek 520 Grando weighs 2 pounds less than the Trek 520.

In analyzing the differences between the two bikes, you should take this into account.

Salsa Marrakesh Alivio vs Trek 520

Unlike the Trek 520, the Salsa Marrakesh Alivio frame and fork are made of triple-butted Chromoly steel, which remains strong and durable even under wear and tear.

The Shimano Deore 3×9 drivetrain shifts with precision, and the 26x34t (21 gear inches) low-speed gears allow fully loaded travelers to climb rugged trails on the Salsa Marrakesh Alivio.

The 36-hole WTB ST i19 rims remained true to form after our testers struggled to ride 400km under heavy loads.

When it comes to Gear Range, these two bikes are almost identical! So what else is the difference?

The Salsa Marrakesh Alivio comes with Shimano M475 QR 36h, WTB ST i19 TCS 2.0 rims, and Teravail Rampart 700c x 42mm durable, tubeless tires.

The Salsa Marrakesh Alivio is equipped with a WTB Volt Sport saddle, while the Trek 520 uses a Bontrager Evoke saddle.

The WTB Volt is our testers’ favorite mountain saddle, and the WTB Volt Sport is shaped with speed and comfort in mind. The medium-thickness padding and wonderful curves make the WTB Volt Sport saddle the most popular of the WTBs as well.

Looking at the shape, the WTB Volt Sport’s upward curved tail and slightly sloping nose make for propulsion during pedaling.

Trek 920 vs Trek 520

When it comes to price you’ll find that the Trek 520 costs $1829, which is $270 less than the Trek 920.

Trek’s 920 is positioned as an adventure touring bike in its own right, featuring an all-aluminum frame and fork construction that weighs just 28.4 lbs/12.9 kg.

With the Trek 920, you get hydraulic disc brakes, 29′′ wheels with Bontrager XR1 tires, and 29 x 2.00′′ tires.

The Trek 920 comes with a Bontrager Duster Elite, Tubeless Ready, 100x15mm thru-axle rim, while the Trek 520 has a Bontrager Affinity Disc, Tubeless Ready, 36-hole, 21mm width rim.

The Trek 520 has clearance for up to accommodate 29 x 2.0” 700c x 50 mm tires. And the Trek 920 can also fit, 2.3″ fenderless or 2″ with fenders.

Some of the Trek 920’s dimensions match the Trek 520’s classic touring geometry, with the same 1.49 stack/stretch ratio, making it a fairly upright riding position.

Trail refers to the horizontal distance of the front tire’s point of contact with the ground from the steering axis. A high trail value provides more stability at speed and a tendency to self-correct, which is good for rough terrain where it is important to maintain a line over roots and rocky roads.

The Trek 920 trails fairly similarly to the Trek 520 with only a 3mm difference. The Trek 920 has 68mm which makes it more stable, but it is still not sluggish.

Learn more ： Is Trek 1120 A Good Bike? [Trek 1120 Review]

Fuji Touring Disc vs Trek 520

The Fuji Touring model dates back to the 1990s and in 2018 it achieves a twenty-first century breakthrough.

This Fuji Touring Disc update comes with some nice spec Shimano Deore 10-speed cassette 11-46T to your Deore triple crank.

Microshift bar-end shifters and TRP break levers, Oval Concepts brands supplies handlebar, 3D-forged 6061stem, Selle Royal Vivo saddle, and 6061 alloy seat post.

Riders can easily handle both flats and hills thanks to the Shimano drivetrain’s ultra-wide 3×10 gearing ranges. Featuring a heavy-duty rear rack, dual eyelets for mounting additional racks, and low-rider mounting points for securing front panniers.

The Fuji Touring Disc frame is made of double-butted, heat-treated Reynolds 520 Chromoly steel, the Trek 520 uses Trek butted Chromoly disc touring.

They offer equal durability and similar mechanical properties. However, the Fuji Touring Disc frame offers a degree of flexibility that suppresses more pit vibrations during the ride.

Fuji Touring Disc is Shimano Deore for the entire drivetrain except for the KMC chain. it is a great value, reliable and durable. The rear shifter is indexed and the front shifter is friction.

Our testers did a lot of fine-tuning, and the shifting wasn’t as crisp and clean as the Trek 520 Shimano Sora shifting, but it was also 100% reliable in testing.

Comprehensive evaluation (4.6/5)

The Trek 520 is a great gravel bike with a medium price among the 4 bikes compared and good quality overall frame and components. The Trek 520 is the perfect choice when you are adventuring on your own or with family and friends. He can help you carry heavy loads, is stable and solid. Of course, we accidentally found many of our buddies also use it for commuting to and from work, which is also a comfortable experience. You’ll be happy with it!

Learn more: Top 8 Best Gravel Bikes Under $2000

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31.900.000 VND

It's right for you if...

You measure the success of a ride in the number of beautiful views, and when you're not riding you're likely to be found planning your next escape. You hear the call of the open road, and want a stable touring bike that's just as capable of carrying a heavy load on multi-day trips as it is on everyday rides.

The tech you get

A road-smoothing chromoly steel frame, alloy disc touring fork with a ThruSkew captured quick release skewer, wide-range 27-speed drivetrain that's great for hauling a heavy load up hills, Shimano Sora brake/shift levers, Bontrager Tubeless Ready wheels with puncture-resistant tires, included front and rear racks, and all-weather mechanical disc brakes.

The final word

520 is a comfortable steel workhorse that's capable of everything from daily rides to expedition tours. It's ready for adventure right out of the box, with an included front and rear rack and a drivetrain that's ideal for hauling a heavy load.

1 – 520 is built to hold up, and it’s super reliable over the long haul—you’ll leave this bike to someone in your will

2 – ThruSkew ensures the front wheel will never drop out unintentionally, and makes it easier to remove your wheel without removing all of your front cargo

3 – There’s no better way to see the world than from the saddle, and this is the bike that answers your wanderlust

4 – All-weather disc brakes and puncture-resistant tires give you the confidence to take on bigger adventures in any conditions

5 – It’s the longest-running model in our lineup, and we’ve kept it around so long because it’s one of the best-loved, too

• SPECIFICATIONS

*We reserve the right to make changes to the product information contained on this site at any time without notice, including with respect to equipment, specifications, models, colors, and materials.

Touring geometry

We've spent more than three decades perfecting the 520 geometry to suit the heavy loads and high miles of multi-day touring.

Mechanical disc brakes

Reliable stopping power in all conditions, including wet and muddy.

Puncture-resistant tires

Tough Bontrager Hard-Case tires help keep flats from slowing you down.

Tubeless Ready rims

Bontrager TLR (Tubeless Ready) Road is the first fully integrated tubeless system for the road. No tubes mean there’s no pinch flats, allowing you to run lower tire pressure. With lower tire pressure you can increase traction, control. and comfort, reduce fatigue on you. Best of all, the tire sealant seals up punctures as soon as they happen!

Blendr stem

Bontrager stem technology lets you clip your gear directly to the stem for clean looks, maximum user friendliness.

Built for the long haul

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Bontrager SSR Multisport Shoes

1.999.000 VNĐ

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599.000 VNĐ

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225.000 VNĐ

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Choosing the correct frame size is a crucial component of getting the most out of your road bike. It's not just about comfort: when a road bike fits properly, it's more efficient, easier to handle, and better at transferring your power to the road.

Bikes come in a range of sizes. The best fit for you depends primarily on your height and inseam. That's true whatever your gender, as gender matters far less in finding the bike that's best for you than other factors. Every rider deserves a bike that fits and feels great, no matter their body type, style of riding, or level of experience. That's why we make great bikes for everybody and every body. If you find that you're in between sizes, choose the smaller size for a more aggressive position if you are more flexible or prefer lower handlebars. Choose the larger size for a more relaxed position with higher handlebars. Or, reach out to your retailer or our experts here at Trek HQ for a quick consult.

The Trek Size Finder

This online tool helps determine the bike size that’s best for you. You’ll need a measuring device for your height and inseam. If you find you’re between sizes, we recommend contacting your retailer or calling us at 800-585-8735 (M–F) for a quick consult.

Road bike size chart

Expert advice from Trek

Online resources are great, but there’s nothing like a real person. You can connect with your local Trek retailer directly, call and chat online with us at Trek Headquarters, Monday - Friday 8 am - 6 pm CT and Saturday - Sunday 9 am - 6 pm CT, or email us. We’re here for you.

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• AUS $ NZD $ USD $ CAD $ GBP £ EUR €

Size / 48cm, 51cm, 54cm, 57cm, 60cm, 63cm

At a glance

Where to buy.

Specifications

• Frame Trek butted chromoly disc touring, rack & fender mounts, 135x5mm QR
• Fork Alloy disc touring, rack mounts, 100x5mm ThruSkew
• Hubs Shimano M475, 6-bolt disc, 135x5mm QR
• Wheels Bontrager Affinity Disc, Tubeless Ready, 36-hole, 21mm width, Presta valve
• Spokes 14g stainless steel
• Tires Bontrager H1 Hard-case Ultimate, 700x38c w/reflective sidewall
• Chain KMC X9
• Crank Size: 48, 51, Shimano Alivio T4060, 48/36/26, 2-piece w/chain guard, 170mm length; Size: 54, 57, 60, 63, Shimano Alivio T4060, 48/36/26, 2-piece w/chain guard, 175mm length
• Front Derailleur Shimano Sora R3030, 34.9mm (w/28.6 adapter) clamp
• Rear Derailleur Shimano Alivio M4000, long cage, 36T max cog
• Shifters Size: 48, 51, 54, 57, 60, 63, Shimano Sora R3000, 9 speed; Size: 48, 51, 54, 57, 60, 63, Shimano Sora R3030, 3 speed
• Brakeset TRP Spyre C 2.0 mechanical disc, 160mm rotor
• Handlebar Size: 48, Bontrager Comp VR-C, alloy, 31.8mm, 100mm reach, 124mm drop, 40cm width; Size: 51, 54, Bontrager Comp VR-C, alloy, 31.8mm, 100mm reach, 124mm drop, 42cm width; Size: 57, 60, 63, Bontrager Comp VR-C, alloy, 31.8mm, 100mm reach, 124mm drop, 44cm width
• Saddle Bontrager Evoke
• Seatpost Size: 48, Bontrager alloy, 27.2mm, 12mm offset, 250mm length; Size: 51, 54, 57, 60, 63, Bontrager alloy, 27.2mm, 12mm offset, 330mm length
• Stem Size: 48, Bontrager Elite, 31.8mm, Blendr compatible, 7 degree, 80mm length; Size: 51, Bontrager Elite, 31.8mm, Blendr compatible, 7 degree, 90mm length; Size: 54, 57, Bontrager Elite, 31.8mm clamp, Blendr compatible, 7 degree, 100mm length; Size: 60, 63, Bontrager Elite, 31.8mm clamp, Blendr compatible, 7 degree, 110mm length
• Headset 1-1/8'' threadless, sealed cartridge bearings

Q: How much is a 2023 Trek 520?

A 2023 Trek 520 is typically priced around $1,829 USD when new. Be sure to shop around for the best price, and also look to the used market for a great deal.

Q: Where to buy a 2023 Trek 520?

The 2023 Trek 520 may be purchased directly from Trek .

Q: What size 2023 Trek 520 should I get?

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