I just came across this video now. I was in a similar position as you found yourself in regarding the Trek 520. In 2022 all of the Trek 520s were sold out across our Country and on the discontinued list. I noticed that the Trek 520 Grando had a 520 frame so that's what I bought. As I looked at the Trek Dealers inventory list it appeared that I bought the last 520 Grando available to them. It's all the touring bike the "520" is. And...that's also been discontinued...as you pointed out all the steel frames are gone. A shame actually.
I got my Trek 920 in April 2019. Switched to a Jones H-bar & a triple crank(also changed the rear to 11-42). Rode it up the CA coast & the next year rode it from Southern California to St. Joseph, MO. I'm older also & definitely needed the the 22/42 for the hills & my loaded gear. That 920 with upright bars is excellent. Went tubeless with Schwalbe Almotion 29x2.15. I've yet to get a flat in 5 years of riding. Hard to believe but true. Broke my rear rack in Arizona & have since put a Surly Chromoly rear rack on my Aluminum 920, lol. Happy trails.
Chain wrap capacity is the spec that determines GEAR RANGE, the combination of chainwheel(s) and cogs is a matter of preference based on use case. I prefer 2x because it offers a better way to make large ratio shifts quickly in unexpected scenarios. (stop lights/signs, kickers, ect) Others prefer 1x because of the security and simplicity offered by narrow wide chainrings. Triples offer three single front shift options to make large jumps in a hurry, smoothly. None of these options increases gear RANGE. That remains limited by how much slack the rear derailleur can take up!!! Edit to add, changing the gearing on a 1x is as simple as swapping the front ring and adjusting the chain length to match, dead simple. An example for those who will insist 3x offers lower gears. A bike with a rear derailleur that has a maximum chain wrap of 42, ie medium cage. If you have a triple with 48:38:28 that consumes 20t of the available chain wrap capacity leaving 22 as the larges difference possible on the cassette so if your smallest cog is 11t the largest may not exceed 33t. The highest gear would be 48x11 and the lowest would be 30x33, a 358% range. A 48 x 11:53 drivetrain would be exactly the SAME as would a 48/34 x 11:39 double. THAT is how it works.
This was a very informative video, thank you for posting it. I don't want to shoot the messenger here, but i can't ddecide if it's worse that Trek DCed the 520 or that Surly is spec-ing brifters on the Trucker. Yuck
wow I didn't notice trek dropped the 520... for shifters... no need to change shifters going from 3x to 2x... just change the crankset (or change the rings and remove the granny), adjust your set screws and done... done it many times... did it just last week on my vintage trek running shimergo (campy/shimano mix thing)
I love the oldest Trek bikes but with that company is doing to older companies doesn't sit right with me. They will buy a company and make it disappear sometimes slowly just to be nice but they do
Take a look at Arkel paniers, Canadian made, highest quality materials and craftsmanship and the best hardware on the market for connecting to your rack.
I am looking at buying a 2011 520 one of those root beer color ones, need to replace my old Miata 718 that was stolen, the 520 is a little heavier but for around town and touring should not be a problem. I also don't want disc brakes.
Trek is a terrible bike company. Was looking for new bike in the $800 range. Trek bikes in that price have basic Altus components. That’s entry level. Crap. Ended up with a Fuji absolute 1.7. Great bike with expected components for the $. Go away trek.
That's so funny that's exactly what happened to me too. Went to Trek to test ride, ended up leaving and going over to my Fuji shop and got an Absolute haha.
Trends have destroyed the bike industry. I stopped riding then came back about a year ago. This 1x, 2x crap is a farce. I've been looking at Surly as well.
It's unfortunate that trek is going downhill the way they are and focusing so hard on fleeting bike trends like the gravel bike. Removing steel from their lineup was a bad move imo, the 520 was really cool. Trek dealers are stuck with the pressure to sell shit most people don't want or need. I walked into one recently and it was not a good experience, it was like a desperate car dealership. They even called me multiple times and left voicemail asking if i was coming back. Sad.
that's up for debates. Alloy is a fine material, and it is engineered and RnD'd enough to cater to most needs of most cyclists; steel is great and we all love it, but it's a niche. Trek's going downhill because gravity bikes (like MTB's) are kinda king; touring is a niche. IMO 1120 is a superior touring bike anyway. So for a small market of steel bikes, nuanced manufacturing for road-touring bikes, it makes sense to head where theyre heading. Surly is a Niche brand, and I personally don't see the appeal as their design is conservative and overpriced; I guess it works, but it's far from innovative or botique.
I just came across this video now. I was in a similar position as you found yourself in regarding the Trek 520. In 2022 all of the Trek 520s were sold out across our Country and on the discontinued list. I noticed that the Trek 520 Grando had a 520 frame so that's what I bought. As I looked at the Trek Dealers inventory list it appeared that I bought the last 520 Grando available to them. It's all the touring bike the "520" is. And...that's also been discontinued...as you pointed out all the steel frames are gone. A shame actually.
Steel is real. Surley knows it. Good to hear someone saying pannier out loud. I never heard it said for like 20 years 😄😄😄
I got my Trek 920 in April 2019. Switched to a Jones H-bar & a triple crank(also changed the rear to 11-42). Rode it up the CA coast & the next year rode it from Southern California to St. Joseph, MO. I'm older also & definitely needed the the 22/42 for the hills & my loaded gear. That 920 with upright bars is excellent. Went tubeless with Schwalbe Almotion 29x2.15. I've yet to get a flat in 5 years of riding. Hard to believe but true. Broke my rear rack in Arizona & have since put a Surly Chromoly rear rack on my Aluminum 920, lol. Happy trails.
What upright set up did you use? Bars and stem?😊
Chain wrap capacity is the spec that determines GEAR RANGE, the combination of chainwheel(s) and cogs is a matter of preference based on use case.
I prefer 2x because it offers a better way to make large ratio shifts quickly in unexpected scenarios. (stop lights/signs, kickers, ect)
Others prefer 1x because of the security and simplicity offered by narrow wide chainrings.
Triples offer three single front shift options to make large jumps in a hurry, smoothly.
None of these options increases gear RANGE. That remains limited by how much slack the rear derailleur can take up!!!
Edit to add, changing the gearing on a 1x is as simple as swapping the front ring and adjusting the chain length to match, dead simple.
An example for those who will insist 3x offers lower gears.
A bike with a rear derailleur that has a maximum chain wrap of 42, ie medium cage.
If you have a triple with 48:38:28 that consumes 20t of the available chain wrap capacity leaving 22 as the larges difference possible on the cassette so if your smallest cog is 11t the largest may not exceed 33t. The highest gear would be 48x11 and the lowest would be 30x33, a 358% range. A 48 x 11:53 drivetrain would be exactly the SAME as would a 48/34 x 11:39 double. THAT is how it works.
The pannier solution is simple - there is only Ortlieb Roller Classic. That’s it!
Great review - food for thought. I like the flip shifters, disliked taking my hand off the bars to shift gears, which I did a lot in my daily commute.
Yes so many gravel bikes have gears that are way too high. Thanks for the review.
3x7 gearing is better for touring IMO. Fatter chain is stronger.
What kind of tubing do they use? They seem awful expensive for basically a big framed 90s mountain bike.
You did not consider Kona?
This was a very informative video, thank you for posting it. I don't want to shoot the messenger here, but i can't ddecide if it's worse that Trek DCed the 520 or that Surly is spec-ing brifters on the Trucker. Yuck
My only problem with the 920 is its spec’d 250 pound weight capacity .
wow I didn't notice trek dropped the 520...
for shifters... no need to change shifters going from 3x to 2x... just change the crankset (or change the rings and remove the granny), adjust your set screws and done... done it many times... did it just last week on my vintage trek running shimergo (campy/shimano mix thing)
I don’t know? My disc brake 2015 520 in black is steel, down to fork. The Surly LHT was too overbuilt.
Which surly did you get
For panniers > Ortlieb , they are the best
I love the oldest Trek bikes but with that company is doing to older companies doesn't sit right with me. They will buy a company and make it disappear sometimes slowly just to be nice but they do
Thanks for letting us know that Trek no longer makes the 520.
Take a look at Arkel paniers, Canadian made, highest quality materials and craftsmanship and the best hardware on the market for connecting to your rack.
I don't want a late model 520 because it has an aluminum fork no thanks. At least trek was still offering big frames unlike some manufacturers.
I am looking at buying a 2011 520 one of those root beer color ones, need to replace my old Miata 718 that was stolen, the 520 is a little heavier but for around town and touring should not be a problem. I also don't want disc brakes.
Because they don’t make the 520 any more…
Trek is a terrible bike company. Was looking for new bike in the $800 range. Trek bikes in that price have basic Altus components. That’s entry level. Crap. Ended up with a Fuji absolute 1.7. Great bike with expected components for the $. Go away trek.
That's so funny that's exactly what happened to me too. Went to Trek to test ride, ended up leaving and going over to my Fuji shop and got an Absolute haha.
How about a steel Salsa Marrakesh with Alivio for over two grand. No thanks.
Trends have destroyed the bike industry. I stopped riding then came back about a year ago. This 1x, 2x crap is a farce. I've been looking at Surly as well.
You need a better camera man.
It's unfortunate that trek is going downhill the way they are and focusing so hard on fleeting bike trends like the gravel bike. Removing steel from their lineup was a bad move imo, the 520 was really cool. Trek dealers are stuck with the pressure to sell shit most people don't want or need. I walked into one recently and it was not a good experience, it was like a desperate car dealership. They even called me multiple times and left voicemail asking if i was coming back. Sad.
😂 trek would be going downhill if they didn't jump on gravel bikes.
that's up for debates.
Alloy is a fine material, and it is engineered and RnD'd enough to cater to most needs of most cyclists; steel is great and we all love it, but it's a niche.
Trek's going downhill because gravity bikes (like MTB's) are kinda king; touring is a niche. IMO 1120 is a superior touring bike anyway. So for a small market of steel bikes, nuanced manufacturing for road-touring bikes, it makes sense to head where theyre heading. Surly is a Niche brand, and I personally don't see the appeal as their design is conservative and overpriced; I guess it works, but it's far from innovative or botique.