The best bike under $1k? Decathlon Triban 105 RC 520 Review - feat. Shimano 105 + TRP HY/RD
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ก.ค. 2024
- “Affordability” and “Cycling” are two words rarely used in the same sentence. A short walk through the ‘entry-level’ bike section of any local bike shop or bike manufacturer’s website can give you sticker shock. If your budget for a new bike is limited to under $1000 dollars, you’re typically limited to single speed or townie bikes with lower tier components or older drivetrains. This is one reason we’re particularly excited to be reviewing the Decathlon Triban Disc 105 RC 520 today. Although the model name is a mouthful, the RC 520 has one of the highest specs for Decathlon’s Triban bike line.
Equipped with 11-speed Shimano 105 drivetrain, TRP HY/RD disc brakes and a retail price of $899 the RC 520 is easily one of the best values for a new bike on the market today. Unlike the typical 8 or 9 speed drivetrains available at this price range, the Shimano 105 R7000 series components offer crisp and responsive shifting.
What really makes the RC 520 stand out from the crowd is the professional level drivetrain. Rather than the typical 8 or 9 speed entry-level components, the RC 520 comes with the latest 11-speed Shimano 105 R7000 series. With each release, Shimano trickles down the advancements from the Dura-ace and Ultegra series down to the 105. As a result the latest R7000 Shimano 105 is crisp and responsive which is a big step up from the previous generation. If you're new to cycling you think an extra gear or two isn’t worth the cost, but as you ride more miles you’ll come to appreciate the wider gear range and reliability the 105 and higher-tier components offer. Also, the fact that it is a modern 11-speed drivetrain means future upgrades or replacements will be readily available.....
... Read the full review @ thesweetcyclists.com/decathlo...
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00:00 Intro
00:15 Unboxing + Specs
01:50 Fit + Finish
09:11 Ride Quality
12:12 The Final Score
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Visit Our Website - thesweetcyclists.com/
Follow Us On Instagram - / thesweetcyclists
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Decathlon - www.decathlon.com
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Where has this product been all my life?! Works like a charm!
Although the video was lengthy.. you reviewed every part of it in detail.. you got a new subscriber... 👍🏼
Neatly explained review video. Keep up the good work!
Your videos are clear and to the point and I really appreciate all the comments you have responded to! It's really helpful! Keep up the great work. +1 subscriber
Awesome review man. Thanks for all the detail.
Glad to see an US review of a Decathlon Bike, enjoy your ride !
Thanks for the great review! Really helped me
This one has so much better paintjob than the previous model. damnit
Have my eye on this bike so thanks for the review.
I have the 105 group set on my cube road bike really good set...thanks for sharing this..great review.
Thanks for feedback! The Shimano 105 groupset has seen a lot of improvements over the years. These latest versions feel as good as 10 speed SRAM Reds and magnitudes better than two year old 10 speed Shimano Tiagras on my other bikes.
Great review great and useful detail. Thanks for sharing
Great review, thanks!
Excellent. Just what I wanted to know.
Cheers
Wow a very nice bike and 105 to boot that is a steal
Presumably some of the not quite Shimano 105 stuff(that sounds functionally very close) can be replaced with true Shimano 105 parts as they wear out. Looks a very nice bike for the price. May upgrade to this from a Triban 3a.
Yes it is
I’ve ridden 3000 km on one and you cannot beat it
Great review, thank you 👍
So good in fact I’ve just bought one!
The Triban series from Decathlon has sold well here in England for years, I just got the 500 with rim brakes and I love it. I live in a flat area so no so much of an issue.
Rim brakes vs disc brakes is an interesting debate. I really like the hydraulic disc brakes on the RC 520, but my primary climbing bike is still rim brakes.
@@TheSweetCyclists I ride mtb as well and their is no chance I would ever use rim brakes, like ever. But for road I'm open to the debate. I've got some decent pads on my Triban and the stopping power on hills is good. But meh if that's how bikes are moving so be it.
I was hoping that was the case. I'm interested in getting either the 500 or 520 and the flat topography where I live in Cambridgeshire should make the weight of the bike range less of an issue.
@@wsmu the new tribans are great, mines a 2018 with rim brakes. The cable disc ones are even better. Just have the bike set properly and it will be great!;
@@Steve-nq8jc Bit the bullet and will be picking one up tomorrow. Thanks!
Well done!
This is the most comprehensive review for RC 520, thank you for that.
Have you used the bike for endurance rides and events like Brevets ?
I haven't done anything that long, but have done 6-7 hour rides with it. The bike has a more endurance oriented geometry (a more upright position), so it's a great option for longer rides.
Im from Singapore 🇸🇬,Bought this bike 2nd hand. It cost me $550SGD. Mainly used this for my part time food delivery jobs and Leisure rides. So far, Love it!
That's a great deal. The RC 520 and the other Triban bikes are great bikes for the price.
Great Job. Tank you.
1000. Subscriber. Best luck with your good channel 😊😊
Thanks for subscribing! Pretty excited to see the channel grow and hit the 1000 number. Hopefully we can bring some more bike reviews in the near future.
I'm considering to buy a new bike and I'm a beginner to road bike. Triban really offers a very great value compare to other brands. And thank you so much for your in-depth and detail review on this bicycle. Greetings from Hong Kong.
Happy the review could help. Decathlon's bikes are hard to beat in terms of price. It's a great way to get into cycling. If you become more serious about longer rides, upgrades like wheels/tires/saddle can help you grow with the bike as well.
@@TheSweetCyclists Yes I totally agree! and it's a great starting point to road bike :)
Thanks a lot for this review. Just purchased this in the states and this is the best review for this bike available on YT.
Hey Mate, how is your experience now with the bike few rides ? Want to get the same one here in Australia 🇦🇺!! Cheers
Hey Mate! How is your experience after few rides.? Want to get the same bike here in Australia. Thanks
@@gabrielalonzo1211 Hey man, I really like it. Very much worth the money! I have no real complaints. If I had to nitpick I would say the wheels could be better. I had to get the wheel re trued after the first 500 miles. That might just be due to the roads I ride not being the greatest. Overall I highly recommend for the money.
Remember to check the hyrd brakes since they tend to be set up incorrectly from the shop
Good advice if you have any bike shipped to your house. If you're able to, we'd recommend picking the bike up in-store as we did so you can test ride it and make tweaks. They also offer a free tune-up if you bring it in the first 6 months if you need the shifting/braking adjusted.
Welcome in the french life👌US citizens, decathlon is the solution for most of our sports equipments!! 👍👍
Il y a qqch d'un peu surréaliste à voir Decathlon aux EU. Je crois qu'il n'y a qu'un seul magasin physique, en Californie. Interessant de voir si ça va marcher, pas sûr.
Maria Martins ca a déjà échoué il y a plusieurs années mais aujourd’hui le groupe a les reins très solides ils se sont implantés avec succès dans beaucoup de pays, il est vrai cependant que les américains sont très chauvins niveau marques .... à suivre
hi, im from malaysia and i love decathlon and triban products
FYI: We finally converted the RC 520 to tubeless tires! See the full video here th-cam.com/video/F2yaqvyL6e8/w-d-xo.html. Spoiler alert - upgrading from the stock Triban Protect Light tires (a hefty 730g!) to Hutchinson Sector 28 tires (586g) really improves the performance and feel of the bike. Highly recommend the tire upgrade if you want to get more out of the bike.
Thanks for the insights! What would be a good wheelset upgrade for the bike? Say within the 400-500 USD range.
@@alexabong6199 We recently swapped them out for some Mavic Ksyriums we picked up second hand for ~$330 off Craigslist. I'd recommend keeping an eye out on the used market, there are still some good deals to be found.
@@TheSweetCyclists Thanks for the tip! Will keep an eye out.
Great review... such a great bike for under the 1000.
Absolutely. Note - it's not under $1000 anymore due to increase production costs. It's listed at $1200 currently, but still a great deal for the components.
@@TheSweetCyclists didn’t realise this . I’m in Scotland and ppl I here from can’t get bikes anywhere with the shortage
I would buy this for winter and to commute, next to my high end bike.
To add: if you are in doubt whether you like a racing bike this also is a good start.
I'm fairly new to road bikes. Currently on my first ever road bike. And old boardman sport. I use to commute. I only do 5 miles that takes me 20 minutes. Do you think this triban would increase my speed/time?
Thanks for your amazing video. I watched the whole thing. Could you please tell me if the frame is triple/double butted and uses hydroformed tubing or not?
Good question. I don't know the answer for that though. The aluminum frame does appear to have tapered tubing though. Try reaching out to their customer support and share the answer here if they get back to you.
Thanks for putting this video together and sharing your review!
I thought the RC 520 used to be under $1k. It was about $1,250 with a 10% discount for me when I signed up for the newsletters. I saw later that they offer better discounts that what I got. I don't feel robbed. Decent bikes are hard to come by now and it's still a good value.
No problem, glad it could be helpful. When we first got the bike it was actually $899 which was nearly impossible to beat. Unfortunately it's gone up since then, and I wouldn't surprised if they adjusted the price again.
@@TheSweetCyclists How's it going? I was just uploading a video I created to my channel showing my Triban RC 520 and I went to go look at Decathlon's Website and to check on the price before I published my video and the price has gone up another $100 now since I bought my Triban RC 520 bike over a month ago. It's now $1399 + $80 for shipping to where I live in Florida. You were right assuming the price would go up even more. I think my bike was worth the $1250 that I paid for it but, if that price keeps going up, it gets harder for a person to make a decision to buy it. I feel lucky that I got my Triban RC 520 when I got it before the price went up. I would have loved to have gotten it for under $1k but, I am still happy with my purchase.
@@Phonamana We had the same double take on the Decathlon website a few days ago. Unfortunately inflation + gas prices probably mean prices aren't going to go down anytime soon. While I still love the RC 520 once the price gets closer to $1700 I'd prefer something like the Specialized Allez (www.specialized.com/us/en/allez-elite/p/199474?color=322288-199474) which is faster and lighter.
@@TheSweetCyclists Hi, I had remembered our conversation about the prices going up on the Triban RC 520. I had looked a couple of weeks ago at the Triban RC 520 price and I was shocked when I saw they had gone up to $1,699 like you predicted. I would have never have bought the bike for that much but, I was thinking GREAT, the value of my bike went up another $450. It made me feel special that I got the bike for a lot less but, then I looked at the price again in the last few days and they slashed the $1,699 price down to $999. Now my bike doesn't feel so special after that price drop. LOL Anyways, I thought I would let you know that the price has dropped now by a lot in the last week and under 1k just like the title of your video.
@@Phonamana Just checked out the US Decathlon site and I'm seeing the same price drops. It's nice to see the bikes at more affordable prices again. I suspect Decathlon is trying to clear inventory for their new Van Rysel / Triban 2023 and 2024 models.
What a fantastic, detailed review of the 520. Thank you!
I'm considering this as my next road bike as I just enjoy getting out and riding for a few hours around the local countryside (Somerset, UK) - you can't beat it.
I'm not too fussed about brand names, would rather have a ride I enjoy. I think the geometry would suit me better than a racier bike too.
I also like the fact I can replace the tyres with wider ones, and upgrade various bits if needed.
I have read before that the wheels are heavy (Decathlon's excellent support told me that to be honest) - I think I would consider a set of lighter wheels, maybe keeping the stock ones with different tyres in case I want to do more gravel style riding.
One question please - what would you recommend for lighter wheels. Just to help point me in the right direction (no pun intended)
Many thanks - great video
AC
Thanks, I'm glad the review was helpful. Personally, I've swapped out the stock wheels/tires to a set of Mavic Allroad Disc wheels (www.mavic.com/en-us/allroad-gravel/wheels.html). You can get them for pretty cheap on the second hand market and it really wakes up the bike.
@@TheSweetCyclists brilliant, thanks for taking the time to reply. Really appreciate the info... Cheers!
I been looking to upgrade to a road bike & I pretty much made my decision to get a bianchi nirone 105 but initially I didn’t want to spend over a thousand bucks. I seen this video and was sold on this bike instead because it fit my budget and it came with Shimano 105. I was super stoked !! only to find out it doesn’t retail for 850 instead it retails for 1200 lol.
Sorry about that! Apparently the $899 asking price was really too good to be true. Decathlon had to unfortunately increase the price earlier this year. Even at $1200, it's still a pretty solid deal for the 105 components and tubeless ready wheels.
It's 850 euros here in Europe so in dollars it would be 925. I guess they feel they can ask 300 dollars more for a great margin and people will pay. I actually read one review where it said "The brakes, levers, derailleurs and chainset alone would cost you £623 (770d)
great review been looking into this bike as a first road bike for myself coming from a flat barred hybrid bike. Im guessing these tyres could do gravel paths too ?
Definitely. The tires have pretty large thread pattern and would do well for basic gravel riding. Note Decathlon does offer a 'gravel' version of this bike with wider tires (700x36 vs these 700x28) and different handlebar and color scheme.
The Sweet Cyclists just noticed that and they are the same price here in the UK so that’s a boost
You talk about the wheels being heavy and suggest upgrading. I can see in a later video (for the Bluemels mudguards) that you did just that and added Ksyriums, but can't find a video where you talk about it. So how does the bike feel with the new wheels? (Note: Son thinking of buying but is nervous of 'sluggishness')
Yes, we did end up changing the wheels and tires out which really improved the experience. The lighter wheels make the bike feel more responsive so I'd highly recommend it. Just replacing the tires alone help the bike feel sportier.
I recently bought one of these bike. There are a number of thing I like about it and a few I don`t. I rode a hilly 112 miles last Sunday, so its good for distance. But mounting a pannier rack and mud-guards(fenders) I feel the design is poor as the eye-lets are in the wrong place.
A very nice review , very detailed and I found this review this best yet.
I own a triban rc 500 just one week old .
And I am leaning towards Trek Domane bikes. what do you think?
Thanks for the feedback! The Trek Domane bikes are a great option as well, but will obviously cost quite a bit more. Something like the Domane AL 5 would get you the same Shimano 105 drivetrain with a lighter and sleeker frame for ~$2000. It really depends on what you are looking for. The Triban RC 520 is great a great all-arounder but if you want something for longer and faster rides more aggressive road cycling bikes like the Trek Domane / Felt FR / Specialize Allez have nice aluminum frame options. You should definitely shop around and test ride what's available.
@@TheSweetCyclists Thank you for your suggestion..
I was looking for Trek Domane Al 2 ( shimano Claris ) and I am not an aggressive rider. I do couple of ride a week and mostly as an fitness and to explore places. Triban Rc 520 is definitely a good bike but the Treks are so eye catching..
@@SathyaNarayan_Dance4Life Absolutely. I wish the Triban came in more color options - the Trek's Purple Abyss/Trek Black colors scheme really looks great. Just note the 8-speed Claris drivetrain isn't nearly as smooth or fast as the 11-speed 105. I'd recommend trying find a higher-spec version as you'll easily spend $500 or more if you wanted to upgrade the drivetrain in the future.
By the way is not a full 105 groupset, only levers and derailours, nice bike.
Decathlon have put their prices up alot since 2017 !
Bought triban 500 for £279 , same bike now is £479 !
Pretty decent road bike , basic 3 X 8 with mircoshift ! Perfect road bike until your fitness level goes up !
Only downside is the hardest gear only keeps you peddling at 30 mph approx downhill
It's quite informative. Thanks. Is this Large size slightly smaller than the usual 56?
Thanks. For me the "large" feels pretty close to standard 56cm bikes like my Specialized Tarmac 56cm. If your over 6' 1" you'll probably want the XL version though.
@@TheSweetCyclists I am exactly 6'2" or 189cm with a wing span slightly more at 6'3.5" or 192cm. Would you recommend the L or XL as I would prefer a more relaxed upright position?
Would you do a comparison between this bike and the Van Rysek EDR AF 105. As a begginer, I don't know which to choose.
Great review!
Thanks! We'd love to do that review as well but the EDR bikes are still hard to come by here in the US with bike shortages. We'll definitely do a comparison once we can get our hands on one, the EDR bikes look great.
I think the Van Rysek only accepts smaller tyre sizes (28 ? 30 mm ?) and has no holes to mount accessories like mudguards, etc.
But it's 1-2 kilos lighter.
Cycling Prince's videos of some Decathlon bikes are pretty shoddy and confusing. Thank goodness I found this and it's pretty informative.
P.S. Please do review more bikes, including the Van Rysel RCR CF (Ultra CF) and RR AF (Ultra AF) Lines.
Appreciate the compliment and the support. We try to keep the reviews product focused and cut-out the fluff. Definitely hope to feature more bikes and the Van Rysel bikes on the channel as we grow.
@@TheSweetCyclists You're welcome. And as an owner of a B'Twin Ultra 700 AF myself, I'm pretty happy by the quality by what Decathlon had did for their bikes.
I am new to road bikes need your help in understanding this so I can make the right purchase. you mentioned that it’s not fast from a dead stop with the overall weight being the main factor. But it also has shimano 105 set which should make it faster than trek domaine Al 2 or giant contend no? I am using those as comparable because of price. I know those two options have shimano Claris or sora but lighter frames. So are those bikes faster off the line or rc520 faster than those ? Looking forward to your reply
Good question. The biggest factor in "speed" for a road bike is really the wheelset / tires, a very light wheelset and sticky tires can accelerate faster and feel more nimble. Overall frame weight is more important when it comes to climbing hills. The Triban RC 520 ($1400 today) is still a better value and bike than the Domane AL (even the $1800 Domane AL 4 Disc is using Tiagra drivetrain) as the components are higher quality.
The Shimano 105 drivetrain and hydraulic HY/RD disc brakes are a big upgrade that will shift and brake smoother than comparable bikes. My recommendation would be to buy the RC 520 and upgrade the stock wheel / tire combination. Our RC 520 with upgraded Mavic Ksyrium wheels and Hutchinson Sector 28 tires which really improved the nimbleness and performance of the bike.
I would use the bike to go to work few hills but ok and in the weekend riding with friends. Do you think it can handle some good pace rides ?
Nice video ! Allot of good info
Absolutely. I use the bike for commuting and 2-5 hour weekend rides without an issue. The Shimano 105 components give you a great gear ratio range for climbing or riding fast.
Thx for the info !
Just purchased my RC520. Been riding mountain bike for many years, eager to start road cycling. Main reason why I bought it, its the components, all road bikes with Shimao 105 you do not see below US$1,300
Just waiting for mine too!
What's ur height and what size did you buy??
@@khapungsam8233 6ft, large
@@khapungsam8233 1.70m bought M
is the shimano 105 a good groupset?
i have a triban 100, and would like to upgrade the oneby to a different oneby, but i have no idea whats resonable
Short answer is yes. The 105 groupset shifts fast and smoothly compared to Tiagra/Sora or lower-level Shimano groupsets. If you plan on doing longer rides, I would highly recommend doing a test ride with a 105 bike and see how it feels.
@@TheSweetCyclists i heard the sram apex is on the 520 gravel, that sounds more interesting
Great review,first off Thank you for your time, can I ask would this bike be ok for me a 60 yr old doing triathlons,not competitively but for charity though obviously I want to go as quick as I can !!, lower back isn't in the state it was in 30 yrs ago and I like the comfortable to ride mantra that seem to go with the reviews Ive seen of the 520, any advice ala sacrificing a bit of pace for comfort, Guess I just need some reassurance tbh.
Take care and again Thank you.
Great question. The RC 520 is definitely more of an endurance style bike = more upright, more compliant and more predictable steering. If you were a competitive racer, I wouldn't recommend it as a triathlon bike but if you're just doing it for fun and want the upright position it's a great bike to eat up some miles. I'd highly suggest upgrading the tires to something aggressive like the Hutchinson Galatik / Continental 5000S / Goodyear Eagle F1 though, as the stock tires are not grippy and very heavy. If you have a higher budget, a second set of lighter wheels also can make the bike more responsive and faster.
@@TheSweetCyclists Thanks for the quick reply, thing is and I know its a question that is probably impossible to answer but upgrade tyres, upgrade wheels, have nervous breakdown changing tyres haha, at some point It would be more cost effective to buy a different bike,what I mean is by the upgrades am I not making the bike something it's not if that makes sense.
If I put something like Mavic aksium wheels and tyres as you recommend above the price would then be roughly £1050-1100 would the bike be worth that do you think.
Yes, cycling is a slippery slope! You can easily spend more on upgrades than the original bike cost. For the Triban, for ~£69.00 you can get a pair of Continental 5000S from ProBikeKit. For wheels, Mavic is a great option and you can usually get like-new Aksium or Ksyrium wheels second hand for cheap. Because the Triban has Shimano 105 drivetrain, I think it's definitely worth adding a little money to it.
With this bike I almost start to wonder why you would spend 6 times this price on a bike... Upgrade the wheels and you are good too go!
(If you want to have racy geo get the van rijssel)
Just have a second set of wheels for sprints would not do?
@Hao Wei Li yes sure, but it's more aesthetic than performance tbh. In a blind test there is no big difference (apart from weight, a bit in earo (but you can't feel that that's more timing).
@@simonarends7802 there is also the case if you want to join UCI approved races for whch you will need a UCI approved frame
@@-Xaverius this frame isnt close to breaking any UCI rules man. 😂😂😂
@@13ballom it certainly won't in terms of weight but the national federation here requires that all races even cat IV are to be ridden using UCI certified frames. So they need to be listed on the UCI approved frames list.
Some one in youtube tried fitting 700x32c tire on Triban rc120 and it fits.
Would RC520 fit also the 32c wheel on its frame and fork?
Thanks..
We did a video on this (th-cam.com/video/tzzKLBEReLA/w-d-xo.html). A 700x40 even fit on the RC520 with a little space left over - so you can definitely go larger than the stock 700x28. Decathlon even sells the RC520 gravel versions with 700x36 as well.
@@TheSweetCyclists thanks for the quick response.
Gd evening. The difference between 520 road & 520 gravel bike is the wider tyres & wider handle bars only? Any other differences?
That and the paint color scheme are what I think are the only differences. It isn't a bad deal if you want a more gravel oriented bike, as doing the component swap will cost the same or more.
@@TheSweetCyclists Gd morning. Tqvm for your prompt update!😃👍
What's the tire clearance for this bike? Can this be converted into a gravel focused bike? Thanks for the excellent review!
Great question - we have a video dedicated to it th-cam.com/video/tzzKLBEReLA/w-d-xo.html. Fit a 700x40 tire on the stock wheels without rubbing. Decathlon sells a gravel version of this bike for $200 more with flared handle bars, 700x36 tires and a unique paint scheme so you can definitely make this a gravel bike.
@@TheSweetCyclists oh I found it before I read your reply. I actually posted another question there. Haha
Thanks again!
I've bought this bike, it's fantastic. But now i have a problem. I want to change tire. It's very impossibile to fit a new tire on this rim. I have alredy broke 3 tire levers. I'm sure that the new tire size is correct.
I've heard that from others as well. If you see my tubeless conversion video for the RC 520, I was easily able to put on Hutchinson Sector 28 tires on here without an issue. I had more trouble taking off the old tires which seemed to be glued on.
How did you do the bartape accent
It's just colored electrical tape - my local shop added that when the swapped the bar tape. It's a nice touch that really ties the orange accents on the bike together.
This bike was really easy to assemble th-cam.com/users/postUgkxMesz3KOGEmwmvyKQfLfrRSUXLFzfVHZA and required very few adjustments out of the box. The wheels did not require any truing/adjustments. The frame had some small scratches, but nothing major.I did replace the seat though - the seat it came with was very uncomfortable. The tires need to be re-inflated every 4-5 days, but this appears to be quite common for the narrow 700x25 tires.Overall, in my opinion, this bike looks and rides like a much more expensive bike.
I have a trek fx3 disc, wich is an urban (hibrid) bike. I use to go into long rides (between 8 hrs) with my friends and they have entry level endurance route bikes. I have notice they are faster than me and i have been wandering if ist the bike. Would you think this bike could help me to keep the pace of my friends? or they are just faster than me and i need to train harder?
You can't just buy speed. I would say the most important factors for getting faster on the bike are: training! (a pro cyclist could beat most people on a hybrid), bike fit (make sure you are in the proper position on the bike), clipless pedals (you can push through the entire pedal stroke as you are clipped in) and lubricated chain. Road racing bikes and endurance bikes are typically lighter and have drop handle bars with more aggressive positioning which help get the power down. I'd recommend a endurance bike or more aggressive bike if you plan to do longer rides.
@@TheSweetCyclists Hi man, thank you very much for your answer. I will follow your advices, get some clipless pedals and take care of may chain. Greetings.
No problem. Definitely consider a professional bike fit at some point as well - it's really amazing how much of a difference a few cm adjustments on the saddle / seatpost can do.
@@TheSweetCyclists Thanks! I will pay attention to the bike fit. Congratulations for the channel!
Where did you buy that bar tape?
I believe it is Fizik bar tape. Got it from my local bike shop when I had the bike fit done. It was pricey at $40 (cheaper if you buy online or on sale) but a huge upgrade from the bar tape that comes with the bike.
I'm curious, this video is 4 months old now, but did Decathlon jack up their prices? In the video you said it's $900 but I'm looking in the website and it says that's it's $1200
Unfortunately, Decathlon did increase the prices. It was a steal at $899, but still a good deal at $1200 for the components and brakes.
In belgium is the price 860 euros
so basically - if you put 32 or 35 mil tyre, you could ride some gravel and off road? Would you recommend for a rider on a heavier side? I'm 188 cm (6 foot 2) and 100+ kg (around 220 lbs I'd say :D )
Definitely. The gravel version of the bike comes with 700x36 tires from Decathlon with the same wheels. Wider tires are more comfortable and give you more grip off road. I'm not sure what the weight limit of the bike is, but the frame has a lifetime warranty and is definitely overbuilt so I imagine you'd be fine on it.
@@TheSweetCyclists cheers!
Sold out everywhere :(
I am about 1.84m tall. what size would you recommend me?
Bike fit depends on a few measurements like height and inseam, so I'd recommend test riding the bikes in person if you are able to. For reference, I'm 6'1" (1.85m) with longer legs than torso and the large fits well after I changed the seat post to a longer one.
You said the Large is compared to a 56. What would the XLarge be? I'm 6’1 and found this bike in Japan.
Unfortunately, Decathlon doesn't publish a geometry chart that I can find to help you. I can give you measurements of my large if that helps? I'm also 6' 1" but with longer torso and based on a professional fit my nominal size is 58cm while a 56cm is the smaller option.
I did have to swap out the seatpost for a longer 400mm to make the bike fit. My guess is XL frame is probably a 58-60cm, but would recommend a test ride if you can.
The Sweet Cyclists, thank you for the response!
How does this compare with their XC100?
The XC100 is a very different bike - that one is an actual mountain bike with suspension and different geometry. I would describe the RC 520 and the other GRVL variations as more of road bike / all-road bikes that are more comfortable on pavement and fire roads than a suspension mountain bike for single track riding.
Hello sir I ve been on a Rockrider St 530 for the last 2 years, 6000 km so far mostly on road/trekking, and i m thinking to get a road bike. Do you think the rc520 is going to do the job ?
If you're planning on doing more road cycling or longer rides, the Triban or even the Van Rysel EDR AF105 would be great options (it's only $100 more currently). The more aggressive geometry and lighter bike make it a lot easier to climb and ride longer.
@@TheSweetCyclists my main concern is that road bikes doesn't fell that safe (because is lighter) compared to a MTB? Tell me i m wrong. Honestly I never rode a road bike to see how it feels. Thanks for the response
I'd recommend trying out a road bike at a local shop or Decathlon if you have one nearby. The only thing that might feel "unsafe" on road bikes is that the handling can be more responsive. The Triban RC 520 and the Van Rysel EDR bikes are more "endurance" bikes though so they aren't nearly as aggressive as Specialized Tarmac or equivalent bikes. It's definitely worth trying though if you are spending more time on paved roads.
@@TheSweetCyclists thank you so much !
Which BB standard is adopted in this bike?
bb86
oh okay so USA is finally getting support for triban bikes from decathlon thats surprising, i thought you already had them because the brazilians are getting much earlier new products in comparison to us europeans.
Strange right? Decathlon only made shipping available to US in late 2019 and opened their first stores.
Some US customers sometimes are maybe somewhat 'more difficult' than others, and US product liability-cost/efforts maybe different/higher on average compared to france or other countries? (De Gaulle did as well not ask for admission into the US Army - but stayed away from it, became 'la france libre' instead (a joke😀))
what's with the pedals? which pedals came with the bike? i'm seriously thinking about buying this bike *_*
The pedals are the typical plastic platform pedals with removable toe straps. You can see a close up at 1:21 in the video. Decathlon sells some cheap compatible Look Keo/Shimano pedals though if you want proper clip in pedals. Highly recommend the bike, can't beat the components and price.
@@TheSweetCyclists i've never used clip in pedals, does it really make that much of a difference?
Clip-in (or "clipless") pedals make a big difference if you plan on doing longer rides. It really improves the power transfer between your feet and the bike and lets you apply force through the full pedal motion. If you are just commuting around town, it may not be worth the hassle of buying shoes/cleats but if you want to do longer rides you should definitely give it a shot. You can get more affordable shoes/pedals, or get them really cheap second hand.
@@TheSweetCyclists i think i might upgrade the pedals later on if i end up buying this bike :) I have on my list the Triban 500 and this one, Triban 520! It's 200€ more expensive but i have heard people saying the brakes of the 500 aren't as nice and Sora groupset vs 105 is a huge difference, so i think i'll get the 520 soon! I live on Madeira Island, all we have here is descents and climbs so the brakes are very important and not something i want to skimp on.
I subbed btw, there's a lot of people out there that can't pay thousands of €€€ for bikes etc so these "budget" oriented reviews are very handy, it certainly eased my mind! Good luck with the channel!
Thanks for the support, happy the review helped. Definitely agree that high end bikes get more attention than the budget friendly versions. I'd definitely recommend the RC 520 over the 500 if you can afford it. The components and brakes are worth more than the price difference.
This or the rysel edr af ultegra?
It depends on what you're looking for. I've ridden the Van Rysel EDR CF 105 and found it to be more aggressive and responsive than the RC 520. If you want something more affordable and comfortable that can handle some gravel riding then the RC 520 is a great choice.
if i upgrade the tires to carbon wheels how many kg can i save?
It can be pretty substantial. Wheels can be as light as 1.1 kg for both the front and rear wheels, while the stock wheels (with tires + cassette) are nearly 4.0 kg so you could save as much as ~3 kg. Even more affordable wheels/tires could save you 1 kg (2.2lbs!) which is pretty significant as it is rotational weight.
@@lifeisastruggle5517 The Triban is an endurance bike. The main difference between road / endurance / gravel are: geometry and tire clearance. Gravel / endurance bikes have more relaxed geometry (more upright position + longer wheelbase for more stability) and can fit wider tires (45mm or even bigger). You can put wider tires on the Triban and do some gravel riding but there are better gravel bikes on the market for more technical riding.
I have a sizing question, I am 6'2", should I get the L or XL? I want to ride a little more comfortably.😊
It's hard to say what size is best just based on height. I'm 6'1" with a 32 inseam and think the size large is a great aggressive fit with a longer aftermarket seatpost. My guess is that a XL would be better for you if you want a more upright seating position but I would highly recommend going to a Decathlon store and trying them out if you can.
@@TheSweetCyclistsThanks for reply. I went to the shop to try it out and I think the XL fits me better, but I'll have to change the stem for a shorter one like 80mm.
@@JiayiZhu-md5ph Glad to hear it. If you're looking for an affordable stem I would recommend Whisky Parts Co, their components are affordable and well made (I have the stem + seat post on my bikes) - whiskyparts.co/cockpit/No7_Stem#/
I'm 6'3..thanks for info. An XL for me I'd say.
I plan to switch to disc brakes; how are the TRP hy/rd performing after a few months? These brakes have VERY negative reviews over the years. I need a first hand comment on them - not some here says from naysayers. :)
I still like them, even after nearly a year now the brakes are smooth and have great modulation. They aren't quite as good as a full hydraulic setup but it's feels pretty close to me. I don't recommend fully mechanical disc brakes though, as I have the TRP Spyre on my Specialized Roubaix and they poor feel that makes braking inconsistent (prefer rim brakes over them).
@@TheSweetCyclists Oh finally, an honest reply! Thank you so much. I'm no pro cyclist and I don't ride as fast as they so I'm in a dilemma between these and a full hydro. All I need is a decent enough braking for my gravel bike. Most cyclists in the forums are plain out snobs over these brakes even if they even haven't tried them. :)
Can it accomodate wider tires like 700x42c?
Decathlon website says maximum is 700x36, but I have heard of people exceeding that. I haven't tried personally and still have upgraded Hutchinson Sector 700x28 tires on it. If you do try, definitely leave a comment for others. You want to make sure it doesn't rub the frame though, as that could slowly damage the bike.
I've fitted 700 X 38c to mine, wouldn't really like to try anything larger as clearance at the chain stays is limited.
Does the bike come assembled out the box? Or did you have to assemble it?
They come nearly fully assembled - you just need to do a few minor things like attach handlebars/pedals. We picked it up in store but have a photo of what it looks like out of the box on our website - thesweetcyclists.com/decathlon-triban-disc-105-rc-520/ - they were assembling it when we stopped by.
Triban or Trek - which is better?
Depends on the specific model and what price you can get them for. As far as I know, Trek doesn't offer a Shimano 105 equipped bike near the RC 520 price point.
what type of BB is equiped?
The bike comes with the FC-RS510 crankset which Shimano recommends this bottom bracket for: bike.shimano.com/en-EU/product/component/sora-r3000/BB-RS500.html. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but I think this is a standard 68mm wide threaded BB.
@@TheSweetCyclists tks, for info and all the best.
That color is boring but the bike is great update carbon handle bars and wheels is a must to do...
Part of keeping the bike cheap is that there are no color options. Personally I like the gravel version color scheme compared to this matte navy.
$899 ?? Seems more like $1199 on the Decathlon website. I would buy for $899, but not $1199.
Since publishing the review, Decathlon has unfortunately had to increase the asking price. It was a steal at $899, but still a good deal at $1199 for the Shimano 105 drivetrain.
Thru Axle？Quick release?
Quick release. Hopefully Decathlon adds some thru axle options in the future.
Can used tire 700x32 c ?
Yes, see our separate video about how wide of a tire you can fit th-cam.com/video/tzzKLBEReLA/w-d-xo.html. Decathlon offers the same bike with 700x35 tires and we were able to put on 700x40 tires without rubbing.
Decathlon says 700x36 or 650x40.
$900!? As of today (August 12, 2020), this bike costs $1200 thanks to COVID driving up bike prices everywhere.
Yes, unfortunately Decathlon did have to adjust the price. It is still a great value for the components, but I'd consider trying the Van Rysel bikes Decathlon also offers as the price difference is smaller now.
@@TheSweetCyclists Gd afternoon. Which Van Rysel bike model is recommended?
@@newton6501 We haven't had a chance to ride the Van Rysel yet but with the price hike of the RC 520 it isn't as big of a price difference. The Van Rysel EDR bikes look pretty good on paper though.
@@TheSweetCyclists Gd morning. Noted tqvm 😃👍
How to lose some weight with this bike? Trim to 9-9,5 kgs?
Wheels/tires! They are very heavy so upgrading those is an easy way to drop a lot of weight. I haven't had a chance to weigh my bike yet as it sits now, but I've swapped in Mavic Ksyrium wheels and it feels a lot lighter.
@@TheSweetCyclists ah ok, thanks for sharing. Im new to road bike or gravel. I often riding with folding bike (360 bike) 16 inch tire... wan to try something new:P i can choose either road bike or gravel. but from what u sharing i think triban 520 can be my first road bike/gravel bike... :P
@@theagen3js371 The RC 520 can definitely do both road/gravel. If you're more serious about gravel riding you could even get a second set of wheels/tires with more aggressive tires and leave slicks for road riding on the other set of wheels.
Ok thank you for your reply and info... i will considered to replace the wheelset then😊👍
@Terra Titanic do you measure it?
what’s your height?
I'm 6' 1" and typically rider 56cm bikes with a tall seatpost or 58cm bikes. The large sized Triban has worked well - with a longer 400mm seatpost.
@@TheSweetCyclists thanks man!
I cant find one for less then 1300
Decathlon increased the price since we published the review, but even at the higher price it's a great deal. At least here, most of the Decathlon bikes are still out-of-stock as well.
I would literally jump on this (pun intended 😉) if there were more colours available. Something bright. I’m done with dull dark colours
Totally agree. Decathlon's new Triban Grvl 520 does feature a glossy red color which is nice to see (www.decathlon.com/collections/road-bikes/products/triban-triban-grvl-520-subcompact-gravel-bike-326904?) and is close to the RC 520's current $1700 retail price. Unfortunately, the RC 520's price has significantly risen - it's still a great bike but not a steal anymore.
@@TheSweetCyclists that’s a step in the right direction. Out of my price bracket though
67% price increase from when this video was uploaded just 2 yrs ago? Screw 'em.
Unfortunately inflation has increased the cost of a lot of things. It was a steal at $899 but it's still competitive at the current price.
Good luck trying to fix a puncture on the side of the road, the wheels are a nightmare and if you don't believe me do a simple search. It's bad enough trying to remove the default tyre but fitting another brand is almost impossible I'm aware of many who've had to invest in new wheels because of this.
Tony, did you see our tubeless tire video with these wheels (th-cam.com/video/F2yaqvyL6e8/w-d-xo.html)? Taking off the tires was terrible (they seem to be glued in place!), but putting on the 700x28 Hutchinson Sector 28 tires was easy. However, you aren't the first person to mention it is difficult to put on tires though - maybe it depends on the brand of tire?
@@TheSweetCyclists Agree those tyres seem ok but it's very poor of Decathlon as this bike is aimed at people who probably aren't particularly clued up on cycling and are looking to get a decent entry level road bike, subsequently forums where I am in the UK are full of comments about this issue.
I had no problems at all with mine; thought I'd better do a test removal / refit on the driveway just in case I needed to out on the road and I managed to get the tyre of easily with two levers and refitted by hand. You have to make sure that theytyre bead is in the centre channel all the way around to give enough slack to get the bead over the rim. Spit helps too.
Took me about 10 mins while hydrating to do a roadside tube change. I've always used metal tire levers though and always carry 3 or 4.
The crank isnt r7000
Correct, the bike uses a Shimano RS 510 crankset which is not part of the 105 lineup. We've actually swapped it out for a R7000 105 crankset on our bike just to make things visually match - there isn't any noticeable difference in noise or performance.
grate bike shame about the wheels never in my life of over 50 years cycling have I come across a wheel so hard to change a tire to get off and then back on .remove that tire seating lip so the tire can fined it own way to seat itself .the true build wheels are tight but nowt like TRIBAN change the wheel set please
under $1,000, where? $1200 on their website
Since the review was published, Decathlon increased the price. It was a steal at $899, but still a solid bike for $1200.
Looks like a cx bike for me.
Definitely agree, but I think most new bikes look like CX bikes now with the trend toward wider wheels/tires and disc brakes.
@@TheSweetCyclists @The Sweet Cyclists This is actually designed as a CX/gravel. The 520 is a "touring" version, which has road bars and slick tires, while the gravel spec has flared bars and threaded tires.
I’ve never heard so much drivel in one review. There’s nothing wrong with mechanical disc brake’s they work just as well as hydraulic. I’ve had 2 hydraulic failures not recommended. To be honest disc brakes on a skinny tyres road bike is total overkill and the bikes are much heavier
The TRP HY/RD are actually a great brake setup as it combines cable actuation with hydraulics on the caliper. I've had negative experiences with cheaper full mechanical setups as the modulation doesn't feel natural and they don't provide a lot of confidence.
@@TheSweetCyclistsstill talking drivel
its $1400 now :(
Yup - unfortunately everything is more expensive these days. The Triban bikes are still "out of stock" most of the time.
That’s if you can even find one :/ sold out
It's actually 10.77kg check ur data
Your results my vary. That was what our large bike weighed at using a hanging scale at local bike shop with pedals, bottle cages and the reflectors/bell on.
Dude, it's a shit bike from a shit company. And the specs are very misleading, no full 105 and only semi hydraulic disk brakes.
Don't buy it!
Rim brake? What a joke. It hardly works, messes up rims and is as expensive as disc.
Hydraulic are good because no need to adjust and both side braking. No noise. But if that is not available then mech is great alternative. Rim brake is deal breaker.
Nice review…. But rim brake?
The RC 520 uses hydraulic disc brakes- maybe you're confusing the Triban RC 520 with the much cheaper base Triban 100? The RC 520 has hydraulic TRP HY/RD setup with 160mm rotors front and rear that work quite well.
In fact I'd like to upgrade to rim brakes, I'm skeptic about maintaining this hydro + cable setup.
But the 105 brakes only fit 28 mm tyres....
Non smooth welded frame, QR wheels+poor quality wheels+they`re heavy, non-internal cable routing, alloy steerer for this price is an absolute trash choice.
Do you have a new bike you can recommend that beats the RC 520? The bike isn't perfect but it's hard to find even partial Shimano 105 bikes at this price point.
@@TheSweetCyclists you are buying frameset and wheelset first of all, nowdays, only giant specialized and trek still provides decent quality bike. So look at giant contend AR trek domane al 3 specialized diverge
DECATHLON, the new china.
I tried it, not a great fan. Heavy and awkwardly designed frame. Debatable general look and color, to me more like a re branded supermarket bike than a likable, trusty one. Sluggish ride that Decathlon tries to compensate by using better components. I would appreciate more a honest bike with better frame and design, with a real name, independent of Decathlon, but with Sora, than a 105 poor relative of the big brands.