Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Classic & Vintage
Reload this Page >

Trek 520 vs Cross Check

Notices
Classic & Vintage This forum is to discuss the many aspects of classic and vintage bicycles, including musclebikes, lightweights, middleweights, hi-wheelers, bone-shakers, safety bikes and much more.

Trek 520 vs Cross Check

Old 10-10-20, 10:09 PM
  #1  
gorillimo
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Grass Valley, Ca
Posts: 387

Bikes: Surly Cross Check, Specialized Enduro Pro, Lemond Tourmalet

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 105 Post(s)
Liked 192 Times in 94 Posts
Trek 520 vs Cross Check

There’s a later, rig welded Trek 520 on our local CL. After all the hype, it sounds interesting. Get looking up and comparing it to my current Cross Check, not sure that there’s any improvement.Both Tig welded chromo lots of bounce racks.. The early lugged ones are really nice bikes, but I don’t to see if this is anything particularly special.
Help me out if I’m wrong. Tia.



gorillimo is offline  
Old 10-10-20, 10:46 PM
  #2  
sloar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Elwood Indiana
Posts: 7,560

Bikes: they change so much I'm tired of updating this

Mentioned: 168 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1211 Post(s)
Liked 1,120 Times in 421 Posts
The Trek is more of a touring bike, so normally the chainstays are longer to prevent your heels from hitting the rear panniers.
sloar is offline  
Old 10-10-20, 11:39 PM
  #3  
Lascauxcaveman 
Senior Member
 
Lascauxcaveman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Port Angeles, WA
Posts: 8,016

Bikes: A green one, "Ragleigh," or something.

Mentioned: 194 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1627 Post(s)
Liked 629 Times in 355 Posts
...And it might be a bit lighter, too. but probably not by whole lot. The Surly has slightly more modern running gear.
__________________
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●

Lascauxcaveman is offline  
Old 10-11-20, 01:11 AM
  #4  
thook
(rhymes with spook)
 
thook's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Winslow, AR
Posts: 2,795

Bikes: '83 univega gran turismo x2, '85 schwinn super le tour,'89 miyata triple cross, '91 GT tequesta, '90 yokota grizzly peak, '94 GT backwoods, '95'ish scott tampico, '98 bonty privateer, '93 mongoose crossway 625, '98 parkpre ariel, 2k'ish giant fcr3

Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 919 Post(s)
Liked 745 Times in 546 Posts
2 cents, here......frames are of comparable quality and likely ride quality. i've had a CC. nothing spectacular. average responsiveness and i can only speculate the trek is the same being a mass produced item. iow's, both good stuff. however!! that surly will fit some fat ars tires!

btw, where'd you get the conti speedrides? unless i've just missed it, i don't see them available anywhere anymore
thook is offline  
Old 10-11-20, 08:39 AM
  #5  
gorillimo
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Grass Valley, Ca
Posts: 387

Bikes: Surly Cross Check, Specialized Enduro Pro, Lemond Tourmalet

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 105 Post(s)
Liked 192 Times in 94 Posts
Originally Posted by thook

btw, where'd you get the conti speedrides? unless i've just missed it, i don't see them available anywhere anymore
Think they were from Jensen. Not positive, tho.
Think I’ll just stay the course on the CC. It was a good thought, but pretty much the same. Our local co-op just took ina very nice Fuso. Good think it’s too big for me!
gorillimo is offline  
Old 10-11-20, 08:49 AM
  #6  
hokiefyd 
Senior Member
 
hokiefyd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Northern Shenandoah Valley
Posts: 4,124

Bikes: More bikes than riders

Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1438 Post(s)
Liked 749 Times in 559 Posts
Originally Posted by thook
btw, where'd you get the conti speedrides? unless i've just missed it, i don't see them available anywhere anymore
It looks like they'll be in stock on Tuesday, 10/13/2020, at Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Continental-S.../dp/B07CRN6VR7
hokiefyd is offline  
Old 10-11-20, 09:21 AM
  #7  
bargo68 
Dedicated Detritus Dodger
 
bargo68's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Fairfax, California
Posts: 485

Bikes: Some mighty fine ones at that!

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 191 Post(s)
Liked 603 Times in 247 Posts
I think that's a sideways move at best. If you're looking for a different feeling ride and still want all the braze-ons for racks, try a vintage (late 70's into the 80's) Japanese sports tourer. Specialized Sequoia or Expedition, Miyata 1000 or 610, Centurion, Lotus, Bridgestone, etc...
The vintage frames were hand made and in some cases might use lighter, butted tube sets.
I regularly ride a Cross Check and I also ride a 79 Miyata Gran Touring (early 1000 model) and it is a completely different feel. I think you will appreciate the difference too!
bargo68 is offline  
Likes For bargo68:
Old 10-11-20, 09:21 PM
  #8  
gorillimo
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Grass Valley, Ca
Posts: 387

Bikes: Surly Cross Check, Specialized Enduro Pro, Lemond Tourmalet

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 105 Post(s)
Liked 192 Times in 94 Posts
Originally Posted by hokiefyd
It looks like they'll be in stock on Tuesday, 10/13/2020, at Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Continental-S.../dp/B07CRN6VR7
I think you’re gonna like them. They roll well, and ride very nicely. And this is from a guy who raced a Colnago on sew ups!
gorillimo is offline  
Old 10-12-20, 06:20 AM
  #9  
hokiefyd 
Senior Member
 
hokiefyd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Northern Shenandoah Valley
Posts: 4,124

Bikes: More bikes than riders

Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1438 Post(s)
Liked 749 Times in 559 Posts
The Speed Rides are terrific tires. Fast, light, foldable, inexpensive, comfortable, etc. Their only real negative is lack of robust puncture protection, if that's important. Of course, if they had that, then they wouldn't also be at once light, comfortable, inexpensive, etc.
hokiefyd is offline  
Old 10-12-20, 06:57 AM
  #10  
The Golden Boy 
Extraordinary Magnitude
 
The Golden Boy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Waukesha WI
Posts: 13,640

Bikes: 1978 Trek TX700; 1978/79 Trek 736; 1984 Specialized Stumpjumper Sport; 1984 Schwinn Voyageur SP; 1985 Trek 620; 1985 Trek 720; 1986 Trek 400 Elance; 1987 Schwinn High Sierra; 1990 Miyata 1000LT

Mentioned: 84 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2597 Post(s)
Liked 1,678 Times in 926 Posts
Originally Posted by bargo68
I think that's a sideways move at best. If you're looking for a different feeling ride and still want all the braze-ons for racks, try a vintage (late 70's into the 80's) Japanese sports tourer. Specialized Sequoia or Expedition, Miyata 1000 or 610, Centurion, Lotus, Bridgestone, etc...
The vintage frames were hand made and in some cases might use lighter, butted tube sets.
I regularly ride a Cross Check and I also ride a 79 Miyata Gran Touring (early 1000 model) and it is a completely different feel. I think you will appreciate the difference too!
I think you're correct about the lateral move. This vintage of 520 is a touring bike- it's got thicker, oversized tubes to handle weight- and it's designed around carrying a load, not for being spritely. I think this version of Cross Check is designed to be a little more of 'touring lite' compared to the Long Haul Trucker... so more responsive than that, but along those lines.

I think you're kind of stretching the 'sports tourer' term, but you're correct about the lighter, butted tubing.

Generally, the 'sports tourer' is that place between a tourer and a racing bike after the advent of the tourer. Generally, compared to a tourer, they're going to have a shorter wheelbase, longer reach side pull brakes, eyelets on the dropouts and fork ends, rack mounts on the rear, and a double crankset (generally). So to use your examples- a 1984 Specialized Sequoia is a Sports Tourer and a 1984 Specialized Expedition is a tourer, and a 1984 Specialized Allez is a racer. A Miyata 1000 or 610 are tourers through and through. Of course, it can be a bit confusing where before tourers- a Trek 710 WAS a touring bike- but there were no real touring bikes at that point, but then a 710 became a sports tourer after the 720 came out...
__________________
*Recipient of the 2006 Time Magazine "Person Of The Year" Award*

Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!

"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
The Golden Boy is offline  
Old 10-12-20, 08:58 AM
  #11  
bargo68 
Dedicated Detritus Dodger
 
bargo68's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Fairfax, California
Posts: 485

Bikes: Some mighty fine ones at that!

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 191 Post(s)
Liked 603 Times in 247 Posts
Originally Posted by The Golden Boy
I think you're correct about the lateral move. This vintage of 520 is a touring bike- it's got thicker, oversized tubes to handle weight- and it's designed around carrying a load, not for being spritely. I think this version of Cross Check is designed to be a little more of 'touring lite' compared to the Long Haul Trucker... so more responsive than that, but along those lines.

I think you're kind of stretching the 'sports tourer' term, but you're correct about the lighter, butted tubing.

Generally, the 'sports tourer' is that place between a tourer and a racing bike after the advent of the tourer. Generally, compared to a tourer, they're going to have a shorter wheelbase, longer reach side pull brakes, eyelets on the dropouts and fork ends, rack mounts on the rear, and a double crankset (generally). So to use your examples- a 1984 Specialized Sequoia is a Sports Tourer and a 1984 Specialized Expedition is a tourer, and a 1984 Specialized Allez is a racer. A Miyata 1000 or 610 are tourers through and through. Of course, it can be a bit confusing where before tourers- a Trek 710 WAS a touring bike- but there were no real touring bikes at that point, but then a 710 became a sports tourer after the 720 came out...
Point taken. I agree I might have been a bit broad in the examples I gave. I should probably have just pointed out the difference between a modern tig-welded Taiwanese frame and a vintage hand-brazed Japanese frame and the resulting differences in the ride. Surly definitely overbuilds their frames a bit. I would ride my Cross Check harder and more abandon than my Miyata Gran Touring. Although I've read reports about people using a vintage Miyata frameset for gravel bike builds!
The only point I would argue is that my Miyata is indeed a sports tourer as it has a low gear of 34/28 and slightly more aggressive geometry than comparable bikes of its time. Here is an interesting article doing a comparison of the Miyata:
<------ Bicycling Magazine 03-1980 ------> Miyata Gran Touring
bargo68 is offline  
Likes For bargo68:
Old 10-12-20, 08:59 AM
  #12  
sworley
Newbie
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Central Iowa
Posts: 39

Bikes: 2021 Kona Woo, 2015 Surly Karate Monkey, 2006 Bianchi San Jose, 2006 Bianchi Pista, 1994 Kona Humuhumunukunukuapua’a, 1989 Bianchi Campione d' Italia, 1985 Trek 720, 1980 Cook Brothers 3-bar Cruiser

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Liked 16 Times in 11 Posts
My nod would be towards the 520, if the fit is OK for you. They were offered in pretty limited sizes.

As noted before, the CC is an OK, jack of all trades but master of none kind of bike. That 520 was handbuilt in Wisconsin and likely has the True Temper OX tubing. Very nice stuff.

My wife and I had a first gen 853 CC up until last year when we sold it for a Cannondale Topstone. It was just too dang boring of a bike. The CC is a ubiquitous, robot built in Taiwan generic 4130 tubing blah-mobile. And this is coming from a huge Surly fan!
sworley is offline  
Old 10-13-20, 08:35 AM
  #13  
ollo_ollo
Senior Member
 
ollo_ollo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Soviet of Oregon or Pensacola FL
Posts: 5,339

Bikes: Still have a few left!

Mentioned: 48 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 462 Post(s)
Liked 497 Times in 253 Posts
Agree with @bargo68. Why go sideways when you can still find a nice, lugged 520? Lots of them still out there and available. Don
ollo_ollo is offline  
Old 10-13-20, 01:10 PM
  #14  
The Golden Boy 
Extraordinary Magnitude
 
The Golden Boy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Waukesha WI
Posts: 13,640

Bikes: 1978 Trek TX700; 1978/79 Trek 736; 1984 Specialized Stumpjumper Sport; 1984 Schwinn Voyageur SP; 1985 Trek 620; 1985 Trek 720; 1986 Trek 400 Elance; 1987 Schwinn High Sierra; 1990 Miyata 1000LT

Mentioned: 84 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2597 Post(s)
Liked 1,678 Times in 926 Posts
Originally Posted by bargo68
Point taken. I agree I might have been a bit broad in the examples I gave. I should probably have just pointed out the difference between a modern tig-welded Taiwanese frame and a vintage hand-brazed Japanese frame and the resulting differences in the ride. Surly definitely overbuilds their frames a bit. I would ride my Cross Check harder and more abandon than my Miyata Gran Touring. Although I've read reports about people using a vintage Miyata frameset for gravel bike builds!
The only point I would argue is that my Miyata is indeed a sports tourer as it has a low gear of 34/28 and slightly more aggressive geometry than comparable bikes of its time. Here is an interesting article doing a comparison of the Miyata:
<------ Bicycling Magazine 03-1980 ------> Miyata Gran Touring
That article stub is neat, it's right at that point where tourers were becoming more specialized- 43-45 cm chain stays became more of the norm, with more relaxed angles for most.
__________________
*Recipient of the 2006 Time Magazine "Person Of The Year" Award*

Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!

"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
The Golden Boy is offline  
Old 10-13-20, 01:14 PM
  #15  
The Golden Boy 
Extraordinary Magnitude
 
The Golden Boy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Waukesha WI
Posts: 13,640

Bikes: 1978 Trek TX700; 1978/79 Trek 736; 1984 Specialized Stumpjumper Sport; 1984 Schwinn Voyageur SP; 1985 Trek 620; 1985 Trek 720; 1986 Trek 400 Elance; 1987 Schwinn High Sierra; 1990 Miyata 1000LT

Mentioned: 84 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2597 Post(s)
Liked 1,678 Times in 926 Posts
Originally Posted by sworley
My nod would be towards the 520, if the fit is OK for you. They were offered in pretty limited sizes.

As noted before, the CC is an OK, jack of all trades but master of none kind of bike. That 520 was handbuilt in Wisconsin and likely has the True Temper OX tubing. Very nice stuff.
That's really interesting- I would have totally not believed that the 520 was "handbuilt in Wisconsin," but just googling around show similar vintage 520s with that decal on the chain stay.
__________________
*Recipient of the 2006 Time Magazine "Person Of The Year" Award*

Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!

"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
The Golden Boy is offline  
Likes For The Golden Boy:
Old 10-13-20, 01:19 PM
  #16  
sworley
Newbie
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Central Iowa
Posts: 39

Bikes: 2021 Kona Woo, 2015 Surly Karate Monkey, 2006 Bianchi San Jose, 2006 Bianchi Pista, 1994 Kona Humuhumunukunukuapua’a, 1989 Bianchi Campione d' Italia, 1985 Trek 720, 1980 Cook Brothers 3-bar Cruiser

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Liked 16 Times in 11 Posts
The Golden Boy Yes, the 520 (up until 2007?) was nothing to snuff at. Handbuilt in WI, True Temper OX tubing, solid components and priced accordingly!
sworley is offline  
Old 10-13-20, 04:37 PM
  #17  
merziac
Senior Member
 
merziac's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Posts: 14,101

Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2

Mentioned: 267 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4494 Post(s)
Liked 6,300 Times in 3,633 Posts
Originally Posted by gorillimo
Think they were from Jensen. Not positive, tho.
Think I’ll just stay the course on the CC. It was a good thought, but pretty much the same. Our local co-op just took ina very nice Fuso. Good think it’s too big for me!
Can we have a pic of the Fuso plz, size?
merziac is offline  
Old 10-13-20, 07:20 PM
  #18  
gorillimo
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Grass Valley, Ca
Posts: 387

Bikes: Surly Cross Check, Specialized Enduro Pro, Lemond Tourmalet

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 105 Post(s)
Liked 192 Times in 94 Posts
Originally Posted by merziac
Can we have a pic of the Fuso plz, size?
It was about a 52. I’ll try to go by there on the way home from work tomorrow.
gorillimo is offline  
Old 10-13-20, 07:28 PM
  #19  
merziac
Senior Member
 
merziac's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Posts: 14,101

Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2

Mentioned: 267 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4494 Post(s)
Liked 6,300 Times in 3,633 Posts
Originally Posted by gorillimo
It was about a 52. I’ll try to go by there on the way home from work tomorrow.
Sounds good, way too small for me too but we need to look at all the Fuso's we can.
merziac is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.