daf1009

Good Morning Everyone...I recently acquired this Trek Frame...and am trying to ID it. It has been powder coated in a rough way, so I have been unable to find the serial number (any help there would be appreciated too). Here are some of the specs...and, of course, the required pictures are below...

It has a Columbus sticker on it...but, that was post PC, so it could have just been added, but the frame is relatively light (no scales, so do not know exactly)

Seat Tube (CTC) - 60 cm
Seat Tube (CTT) - 61 cm
Top Tube (CTC) - 58 cm

Head Tube - 7.5" or 19 cm
Chain Stay Length (measured from C of BB to C of Dropouts) - 17" or 43 cm

Campagnolo dropouts
Came with a front/rear Suntour Superbe Pro brake calipers...but, of course, these could have been after market...

So, now Trek experts...any ideas on what this frame is?

Thanks

SJX426 

SN is your best bet. The condition indicates that it should be stripped and repainted, IMHO. The SN is on the BB, typically. Once you get the SN you can determine the model and year. If I am not mistaken, the headbadge is an indicator of an older one along with the external braze on guide for the RD cable. Another indicator is the brake boss. The Campy DO says higher end, 700 series or a race or high end touring configuration.

Do you have a front fork?

The Golden Boy 

Screwed on badge means pre 80 or so- Campagnolo dropouts means 700 or higher- 43cm chainstay means TX700 or 710. If the Columbus decal is real- it's a TX770.




EDIT= I'm a dope-

Remeasure your chainstay length. According to the catalogs, it should be either 44 or 42.

44 would be TX700 or 710 or 770

42 would be TX900 or 930.


My guess, based on the P-clamp rack marks, it was not a 900 series bike. I have seen a 710 in that baby blue color, not that it matters based on the powdercoating.


SN is your best bet.

daf1009

I am still trying to get the SN...with the PC, it is tough to see.

No front fork...again...picked this up out of trash...with zero investment!

daf1009

OK...here we go...

Serial Number - G4 E8 D92

So, by the Vintage Trek site...

G4 = TX700 or TX770 (assuming Columbus is right, we will go with TX770); 4 = 24" (right on the money!)
E8 = May, 1978 (again, with the assumption of the screwed in headbadge, right on the money!)
D92 = no interpretation

Remeasured the chain stay - right at 44 cm (again, as close as you can measure!) - and...on the mark for a TX700/710/770

So...with it all in...and looking at some pictures of TX700's and TX 770's...I think we have it!

jeirvine 

Can't beat the price. Nice project.

daf1009

Mods...if this should be moved to the appraisal thread, I apologize for not starting there...

So...now that we are more sure...anybody want to place a value on this frame? It is too big for me...and I will clean it up a bit...

Chrome Molly

The two spots above the rear brake bridge look a little worrisome. Hopefully not, it's a great find. Deserves to be built back up nicely with real paint vs PC.

The Golden Boy 

Nice!

Since you have the date- you've narrowed it down between the TX bikes.

That kind of detective work is fun!

JohnDThompson 

Most likely just a little surface rust from where a previous owner had a rack mounted.

753proguy

Are you sure that it has been powder-coated? That looks awfully thin for PC. More like rattle-canned, or even a blue-tinted primer, almost?

Since the fork is missing, look very, very closely at the HT and DT for signs of a crash. Does it take a 27.0 post, or a 27.2? It's wager 27.2, which means not Columbus SP, but Reynolds 531 tubing....

Edit: I don't see any ripples in the tubing in those head shots, but it would need to be inspected in person to know for sure...

shoota 

Nice find. Just about my upper end size

daf1009

It may not be PC...feels very rough...like a really bad PC...but...could be rattle canned or primer...

I looked real close...nothing that indicates a wreck...

Best I can measure, it is a 27.0...does that confirm (to some extent) the Columbus SP?

daf1009

Shoota...if you are interested..."shoota" me an offer...it is too big for me...

753proguy

Not necessarily. If it were 27.2, then that would essentially eliminate Columbus SP, but try a 27.2 post if you have one, and make sure that the seat tube is clean inside.

JT could probably tell us if these were only available in 531. The point might be moot....
Someone might be able to find a close-to-matching fork, so that would be cool. My first 'nice' frameset was an ice-blue Trek TX900 in about 1978, in a 24-inch size, so very similar to this one. I put a lot of miles on that frame, even toured on it, then Trek added full braze-ons and repainted it for me, doing the paint for n/c under warranty, and charging me only about $15.00 (iirc) for all of the braze-ons! I ended up selling it for more than I had in it, years later....

Siu Blue Wind

And with this, off to appraisals we go!

daf1009

Yes, there was a rack on it there when I got the frame...

Duane

daf1009

I cannot get a 27.2 mm into the tube...and it appears clear...reading on several sites, this frame could be ordered in the Columbus tubing...so...with all the evidence that we have so far, I think that it is fair to call this a TX 770.

Unless anyone objects strenuously! Of course, not sure it matters...

oddjob2

I don't believe house rules permit trolling for offers here. You are supposed to pay the ultra low membership fee and put it in the for sale section.

daf1009

This was, simply, a quick reply to another posters comments...no trolling intended...sorry to offend you...but...please CHILL OUT! We are all here to discuss bikes...

oddjob2

EXACTLY, bike discussions, identification and opinions on FMV.

zazenzach

oddjob is politely telling you don't sell or solicit offers here without first paying for a membership. doing so is against the rules and is likely to get you warned/banned.