Replacement for Trek 520
08-19-24, 04:03 PM
#76
That's a 1X SRAM Apex.
It is probably a good deal as a gravel bike (if you don't mind having the N-1 edition; they are just now introducing a new version). I would not want to use that for conventional touring or bike-packing.
Trek should warranty-replace your frame, not give you a credit so you can spend even more of your money on a bike designed for a different purchase (unless you want to buy that type of bike).
They should go suck a bag and give you a new frame, or give you the cash to buy something comparable from somewhere else if they don't have any residual stock.
They probably aren't made anymore, but I got a really nice Soma Saga disc frame for $700. If you can find a Surley LHT, that would be another great one.
It is probably a good deal as a gravel bike (if you don't mind having the N-1 edition; they are just now introducing a new version). I would not want to use that for conventional touring or bike-packing.
Trek should warranty-replace your frame, not give you a credit so you can spend even more of your money on a bike designed for a different purchase (unless you want to buy that type of bike).
They should go suck a bag and give you a new frame, or give you the cash to buy something comparable from somewhere else if they don't have any residual stock.
They probably aren't made anymore, but I got a really nice Soma Saga disc frame for $700. If you can find a Surley LHT, that would be another great one.
08-19-24, 04:10 PM
#77
If you can get one with GRX 2X 11-speed gearing, get a 46/30T crank and 11-40T XT or SLX cassette. It works. I have this on my Soma Saga touring bike with cable shifting, and my all-road bike, with Di2. Both use the GRX 2X rear derailleur officially rated for 11-34T. A B-screw adjustment is all I needed to use the 40T cassette. I could probably have gone with 42T.
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08-19-24, 04:11 PM
#78
Senior Member
Exactly. In other words, once a bike company honors a warranty for a defective frame, the bike's owner doesn't get the frame back. It's either collected by the bike company's sales rep or rendered unusable by the dealer (e.g., by sawing a dropout off or some other not easily reversed assault).
08-19-24, 04:14 PM
#79
Senior Member
Herein lies the issue with doubles in some circumstances.
For the vast majority, a compact, subcompact, or even a 1x is the best option. But for others, I imagine more prevalent with tourers and an extra 50lbs, a middle ring that will go the width of a cassette might end up being the weapon of choice for a lot of miles.
It has little to do with running some chart to demonstrate the same available ratios with less duplicates. It has to do what the the ease of use, and convenience, that makes it almost function as a 1x in a lot of situation. At those times, there is little care if the same ratio could be found elsewhere in the gearing.
Back in the 52/42 days, most of my time was spent in the 42t in hilly terrain, or even where there were a lot of lights. The 52t was great on flats and downhills with open road.
John
For the vast majority, a compact, subcompact, or even a 1x is the best option. But for others, I imagine more prevalent with tourers and an extra 50lbs, a middle ring that will go the width of a cassette might end up being the weapon of choice for a lot of miles.
It has little to do with running some chart to demonstrate the same available ratios with less duplicates. It has to do what the the ease of use, and convenience, that makes it almost function as a 1x in a lot of situation. At those times, there is little care if the same ratio could be found elsewhere in the gearing.
Back in the 52/42 days, most of my time was spent in the 42t in hilly terrain, or even where there were a lot of lights. The 52t was great on flats and downhills with open road.
John
08-19-24, 04:15 PM
#80
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I am in very good shape as shown by my 3,300 miles I did this summer with huge elevation gains BUT I am 65 years old and not a kid anymore. I do know that without my 19.5 gear inch granny gear (or something fairly close) I would have gotten off my bike and pushed it several hills. I never pushed my bike up a single hill this summer
The catch is you can’t go less than 50 overall tooth count, maybe 55 depending on the RD. So maybe the highest gearing in the 30t is 30-24, or 30-21, before you lose the chain wrap. You also need to make sure the 30t clears the chainstay.
Basically you could run a triple crank and use a bash guard in the outer with a 40t and 30t in the middle and inner.
It might be an attractive option if you can run in the 40t 95% of the time.
John
08-19-24, 05:01 PM
#81
Banned
I think it's interesting that Trek is giving OP such a generous credit, likely close to what he paid several years ago. He'll get a much nicer bike, modern spec and components several levels better. Cost to him will be as if he had traded in his old bike w/o any depreciation. Plus he got quite a bit of use out of it, including at least one accident. With a little thought he could use any gearing he wants, including a triple. I wonder if he can keep the old components?
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08-19-24, 06:14 PM
#82
I think it's interesting that Trek is giving OP such a generous credit, likely close to what he paid several years ago. He'll get a much nicer bike, modern spec and components several levels better. Cost to him will be as if he had traded in his old bike w/o any depreciation. Plus he got quite a bit of use out of it, including at least one accident. With a little thought he could use any gearing he wants, including a triple. I wonder if he can keep the old components?
Last edited by Polaris OBark; 08-19-24 at 06:18 PM.
08-19-24, 06:25 PM
#83
Banned
We'll have to disagree as to whether the Checkpoint is a viable replacement but $1300 still doesn't sound bad for a bike that may have cost $1500ish, is several years old and has been wrecked. And yes, he could use the $1300 on some other Trek bike and start over on the touring bike. Definitely would have been simpler if Trek still had some 520 frames but it seems they are doing the best they can.
08-19-24, 06:30 PM
#84
He's getting a $1300 credit to spend on a $2500 bike that isn't a viable replacement for an on-road touring bike. He still has to spend about $1300, so he might well be better off with a good steel frame and fork purchased elsewhere. (Unfortunately my Soma Saga disc isn't manufactured any more, but for $700 he would have come out way ahead of Trek's "generous" offer. There are likely similar options from other manufacturers. For $1300, he could get a boutique custom steel frame from some makers.)
08-19-24, 06:31 PM
#85
We'll have to disagree as to whether the Checkpoint is a viable replacement but $1300 still doesn't sound bad for a bike that may have cost $1500ish, is several years old and has been wrecked. And yes, he could use the $1300 on some other Trek bike and start over on the touring bike. Definitely would have been simpler if Trek still had some 520 frames but it seems they are doing the best they can.
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08-19-24, 06:41 PM
#86
For $800, you can get this:
https://www.somafabshop.com/shop/som...=990#attr=1928
This looks like an improvement over my Soma Saga frame.
The accompanying fork (sold separately) doesn't look as appealing.
https://www.somafabshop.com/shop/som...=990#attr=1928
This looks like an improvement over my Soma Saga frame.
The accompanying fork (sold separately) doesn't look as appealing.
08-19-24, 06:44 PM
#87
If it is a merchandise credit and it requires you to spend more than $800, I disagree (unless you want that gravel bike, in which case you should apply it to one of the new generation, carbon frame, etc). But you can get a great touring frame for $800, better than my Soma Saga, and better than my erstwhile Trek 520 (1990).
08-19-24, 06:47 PM
#88
If it were cash, I would agree.
If it is a merchandise credit and it requires you to spend more than $800, I disagree (unless you want that gravel bike, in which case you should apply it to one of the new generation, carbon frame, etc). But you can get a great touring frame for $800, better than my Soma Saga, and better than my erstwhile Trek 520 (1990).
If it is a merchandise credit and it requires you to spend more than $800, I disagree (unless you want that gravel bike, in which case you should apply it to one of the new generation, carbon frame, etc). But you can get a great touring frame for $800, better than my Soma Saga, and better than my erstwhile Trek 520 (1990).
08-19-24, 06:48 PM
#89
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08-19-24, 06:48 PM
#90
If it were cash, I would agree.
If it is a merchandise credit and it requires you to spend more than $800, I disagree (unless you want that gravel bike, in which case you should apply it to one of the new generation, carbon frame, etc). But you can get a great touring frame for $800, better than my Soma Saga, and better than my erstwhile Trek 520 (1990).
If it is a merchandise credit and it requires you to spend more than $800, I disagree (unless you want that gravel bike, in which case you should apply it to one of the new generation, carbon frame, etc). But you can get a great touring frame for $800, better than my Soma Saga, and better than my erstwhile Trek 520 (1990).
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08-19-24, 06:50 PM
#91
Do you get to keep the parts from 520? For $1300 you can buy Checkpoint frameset and transfer the drivetrain.
https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/b...orCode=reddark
https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/b...orCode=reddark
I do get to keep the 520, I thought about trying to sell some of the parts, not sure there is a market for them
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08-19-24, 07:00 PM
#92
That would also apply to the Soma frame I linked to.
Not sure about the drivetrain
I do get to keep the 520, I thought about trying to sell some of the parts, not sure there is a market for them
I do get to keep the 520, I thought about trying to sell some of the parts, not sure there is a market for them
08-19-24, 07:01 PM
#93
If you want to tour with it, forget I even suggested it.
If you want to get into gravel biking and have some fun with it, I would spend the money to get the carbon frame (I say this as a steel bike guy).
08-19-24, 07:04 PM
#94
This was just to make the point that if you only want to replace your touring bike, it might be less expensive to turn down the merchandise credit. But I wasn't thinking about the wheels.
08-19-24, 07:32 PM
#95
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He's getting a $1300 credit to spend on a $2500 bike that isn't a viable replacement for an on-road touring bike. He still has to spend about $1300, so he might well be better off with a good steel frame and fork purchased elsewhere. (Unfortunately my Soma Saga disc isn't manufactured any more, but for $700 he would have come out way ahead of Trek's "generous" offer. There are likely similar options from other manufacturers. For $1300, he could get a boutique custom steel frame from some makers.)
08-19-24, 07:35 PM
#96
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Just buy a replacement frame and move the components to the new frame. Surly, New Albion, Black Mountain, AllCity, etc all have steel frame and fork options for $1000 or less. Buy the frameset that has the geometry you like most and swap the components.
Then buy a new reek that costs $1200, sell it for whatever you can, and call it good.
Again- an REI touring bike is just over $1000 right now and is a legit solid ready to ride touring bike with tested geometey.
There is nothing inherently special about Trek. Spend the money and sell a bike to offset the cost for what you actually want.
Last edited by mstateglfr; 08-19-24 at 07:38 PM.
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08-19-24, 07:36 PM
#97
There are some inexpensive ones. (Mine was around $1500, 10 years ago, but the price has now doubled.)
eg: https://blackmtncycles.com/product-category/frames/
The Soma one is $800. Obviously not custom, but the point is that a steel touring frame shouldn't have to cost a lot.
eg: https://blackmtncycles.com/product-category/frames/
The Soma one is $800. Obviously not custom, but the point is that a steel touring frame shouldn't have to cost a lot.
Last edited by Polaris OBark; 08-19-24 at 07:41 PM.
08-19-24, 07:38 PM
#98
I think the main issue (which I had not thought of) is wheel compatibility.
08-19-24, 09:23 PM
#99
Senior Member
If you are looking for another touring bike why not the 920? The Checkpoint is a short chainstay bike, not exactly ideal for rear loads but if you’re looking for more road like attributes I suppose that’s where the Checkpoint shines. I have no experience with either.
08-20-24, 02:04 AM
#100
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For what it is worth, my Salsa Mukluk fat bike, which is used for bikepacking, has a Race Face NEXT SL Direct Mount N/W Single 26T chain ring and an SRAM 950 Cassette 9-speed 11-28, which was 'modified' with a 16T sprocket and a 42T sprocket from OneUP (I do not think that they do this anymore). This was in 2015 so the options have changed since then. My point is that a 1 x setup is not necessarily a limitation.
