Looking at Trek 920, thoughts?
10-01-19, 11:57 AM
#26
Senior Member
Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about the wheels as long as you keep your tires inflated properly(to avoid pinch flat/rim bashing type situations, and just have a shop tune them up before you do any decent weight touring. You'll be running high volume tires, which greatly reduces the impact on rims. Don't plow through potholes and you should be fine. I don't know that I'd trust the Trek store for checking over the wheels. If they were prepared to let them go out the door as they are from the factory, I doubt they'll particularly care to look them over just because you mentioned it. I'd take them to a different shop and tell them that they're factory wheels that you'd like them to go over before you do loaded touring. Ideally, ask around to find out what shop is the best in town for wheels. ...Then if you like them, just go to that shop in the future. They're probably the best shop in town.
I have a friend who just uses a piece of plastic zip-tied to the under side of his rear rack rather than fenders. He seems happy enough with it for casual use with only occasional rain rides. If you think you'll end up in the rain much, I'd get real fenders. You're still gonna get a little wet and gritty without real fenders.
I have a friend who just uses a piece of plastic zip-tied to the under side of his rear rack rather than fenders. He seems happy enough with it for casual use with only occasional rain rides. If you think you'll end up in the rain much, I'd get real fenders. You're still gonna get a little wet and gritty without real fenders.
10-01-19, 10:17 PM
#27
Senior Member
As far as Trek goes, they are the most distributed bikes in the world. There should not be a problem for parts or repairs, unless you're in the middle of no where or countries with no running water.
Just throwing this out there:
Have you looked at the Giant Toughroad SLR GX 1?
Just throwing this out there:
Have you looked at the Giant Toughroad SLR GX 1?
10-02-19, 08:59 AM
#28
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You can buy a complete Surly Disc Trucker for less than a Trek 920, obviously without racks. Better bike all the way around in my opinion. I've not ridden the 920, mind you, but I do own a DT. Don't be fooled by looks and mediocre Bontrager components.
10-02-19, 09:37 AM
#29
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But for dirt/MMR roads...the 920 is the better bike, room for bigger tires and fenders, brifters and not bar-ends (good luck using bar-ends off pavement)...and it comes with hydro brakes that are just plain better in feel and being less maintenance (no manual pad advancing).
For what they do both the Trucker and the 920 are good at what they do...which are two different things.
10-02-19, 11:06 AM
#30
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I should run out and play the PowerBall 'cause I must be the luckiest guy of all time! Climbed a 15 mile unpaved pass back in June. This was 9 mile Gibbons Pass back in 2014. Got plenty more where that came from.
Last edited by indyfabz; 10-02-19 at 11:17 AM.
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10-02-19, 11:52 AM
#31
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Guess how the only broken bone I've gotten from cycling came about.
10-02-19, 12:24 PM
#32
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My advice: Don't play the lottery.
The only time I broke a bone cycling is when someone in front of me spit out a stick. It hit the front wheel of my brifter-equipped IF, got spun up by my bladed and lodged between the inside of the brake caliper and the him, causing my wheel to lock. Split the end of my collar bone.
Never even fallen over riding the LHT on dirt/gravel/rocks. I may be back here next year along with some unpaved mountain passes.
The only time I broke a bone cycling is when someone in front of me spit out a stick. It hit the front wheel of my brifter-equipped IF, got spun up by my bladed and lodged between the inside of the brake caliper and the him, causing my wheel to lock. Split the end of my collar bone.
Never even fallen over riding the LHT on dirt/gravel/rocks. I may be back here next year along with some unpaved mountain passes.
10-02-19, 01:52 PM
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BTW...I believe the 920 originally came with bar ends.
10-02-19, 10:10 PM
#34
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10-03-19, 03:59 AM
#35
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Bar ends. Remember a certain now banned poster who claims he converted his 920 from bar ends to brifters a few years ago?
More LHT dirt. 7,250' Skalkaho Pass.
More LHT dirt. 7,250' Skalkaho Pass.
Last edited by indyfabz; 10-03-19 at 04:03 AM.
10-03-19, 02:55 PM
#36
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Thread Starter
Thank you all so much for the input, after a lot of back and forth I've decided to go back in the traditional direction and get a Trek 520.
The Surly LHT was catching my eye as well but the cost was getting up there with disc brakes and rack. My LBS was able to give me $250 off MSRP on the 520 so the cost was significantly lower than the 920.
Since I will be travelling with my wife (she is riding a Rocky Mountain Sherpa 30), the benefits of the 920 wouldn't be as beneficial.
The Surly LHT was catching my eye as well but the cost was getting up there with disc brakes and rack. My LBS was able to give me $250 off MSRP on the 520 so the cost was significantly lower than the 920.
Since I will be travelling with my wife (she is riding a Rocky Mountain Sherpa 30), the benefits of the 920 wouldn't be as beneficial.
10-03-19, 05:08 PM
#38
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Thread Starter
Thanks 
Fingers crossed I've made the right call on frame size. I am 5'10" with a 33" inseam (w/o shoes). Therefore I'm skirting the line between 54 and 57.
I've gone for the size 57 frame and I'm comparing it to my 56 Jamis (which fits quite well though I did drop the stem from 100mm to 80mm) and it looks very very close in the key dimensions. Standover is actually a little lower on the Trek and the effective top-tube is essentially identical. The shop has other stems in stock in case I need to drop the 100mm down to an 80 or a 90. It also looks like the Trek has less rear-offset on the seat than the Jamis.
Fingers crossed I've made the right call on frame size. I am 5'10" with a 33" inseam (w/o shoes). Therefore I'm skirting the line between 54 and 57.
I've gone for the size 57 frame and I'm comparing it to my 56 Jamis (which fits quite well though I did drop the stem from 100mm to 80mm) and it looks very very close in the key dimensions. Standover is actually a little lower on the Trek and the effective top-tube is essentially identical. The shop has other stems in stock in case I need to drop the 100mm down to an 80 or a 90. It also looks like the Trek has less rear-offset on the seat than the Jamis.
Last edited by Wiggle; 10-04-19 at 09:14 AM.
