I picked up this TX302 today, came with most of the original parts. The sellers photo made this bike frame appear flawless. Went to buy it today and I’m thinking this frame is a respray. I don’t see any evidence that it was another color but it just looks a little chunky at places. Maybe it was repainted years back as it has some road rash and bike rack rash.
The Trek ST decal looks too thick compared to my 100% original metallic green 1977 TX304.
Overall... it’s straight and was just the size I was looking for. Plans are to build it up with a triple crank and ride it. I’m liking this powder blue color as my Cannondale panniers are blue.

The first few year Treks have the head badge screwed on. This Head badge was removed prior to paint as it’s nice and smooth paint underneath.

Paint is a little chunky around the forks and lower chain stays. Maybe it’s an original paint job after all that didn’t come out looking as smooth as glass like my other TX300 I have.

Yes there is a model number but not in the form of a decal. Trek stamped the model code on the serial number. The first 4 characters on the serial number are model number, frame size, month brazed, year.

I included a picture of the serial number, the first letter is C meaning it’s a TX300 frame, the component group it had made it a TX302 model per Treks 1977 catalog specs.

From 1976-1978.5 Trek offered frames TX200, TX300, TX500, TX700 & the Racing geometry TX900. All frames were silver brazed but each model designation involved different tubing material.

In the Mid-West, Trek supplied fully built bikes and these model numbers (TX200-TX900) ended with the last number being the component group it came with.

I’ve been doing more buying than selling I think.... maybe a little of both. It started with an estate sale find, a 1984 Pinarello for $30. I had no idea what this bike was but it got me into riding. I ended up parting this Pinarello out and I raised enough cash to get me a pretty rare Campagnolo SR equipped Trek 760 road bike and this got me to join the site. I rode that 760 for some time then decided to part with it as I didn’t like the racing geometry. With the profit off that sale I purchased a 1982 Trek 728. I’ve rode this one for some time now but just don’t like the Taupe color. I’ve read that by owning this color Trek I’ll never need to worry about it getting stolen. lol
I’ve listed this Trek 728 a few times locally on CL off and on over a year or so but may have been priced too high so it didn’t sell in my market. Finally I dropped the price within reason and some things happened that I ended not selling it after all.
I’ve just gotten bit by the vintage Trek bug to build me a nice rider in a color other than Taupe. So I too have been rummaging through CL, FBmarketplace, offer up, letgo and garage sales these past few months. I’ve been searching for a 1976 Trek TX700 in a 24” frame ( 60cm).
I recently fond a great condition metallic green TX304 that was just a tad bit too small for me but just couldn’t walk away from it cause it was too darn pretty. So now she lives in my home and I’ve been staring at her every day. Haven’t tried to ride that one yet and probably won’t.
While searching.... I found a FREE Trek 520 Cirrus frame set in 64cm(no seat post clamp or head set) and I had some extra parts but not enough to complete it. With my wheelset and parts I had, sold it for $95 locally on CL. Buyer ended up giving me an even $100 for that Cirrus a few days ago and today I picked up this powder blue 77’ TX302 with that same $100.
I really just wanted this powder blue frame since it has decent paint and no rust. It’s close enough to a 1976 in year and even though it’s not a TX700, it’s my size, so this will have to do for now. The build begins...

Possible donor bike.... 82’ Trek 728

I’m still on the fence about sacrificing my 728 for parts. I do have an extra set of NGC-450 center pull brakes that I’ll be using on this powder blue 77’.
This might end up being a winter project if I’ll be sourcing parts.

I’ve read Jim Blackburn front racks are difficult to find. When they do pop up on eBay, the go for a premium. So I began searching for 70’s to early 80’s inexpensive bikes on CL that picture one of these rare front wrap around racks. Within a week I found a red Viscount that had one installed. Asking price was $50 for the complete bike and I picked it up by the end of the work day. That old Viscount was grimy and dirty,, cleaned her up and listed her back on CL for $50. I sold her fast within 2 hours.
I’ve kept my eye out for racks and have bought two more complete bikes ( a Schwinn Continental and a Manta) all under $50 just to grab these Jim Blackburn front racks. Same story, clean them up and offer them back on CL for the same $50 but without racks. Sold within a day.

These 80’s blue Cannondale panniers look great on this frame.

Thanks....

I had seen some early Treks with the brass head badge polished. Really like how it came out.

This will be a good place for this Ideale saddle. It came on that $30 Pinarello I had parted out and it’s the only piece I kept from that bike.

I picked up another vintage Trek on CL for parts. It came with these Suntour Barcons and SR SP-11 pedals I’ll be using on this build.

The front center pull brake I had was damaged. Surprisingly I was able to find a NOS front NGC-450 brake on eBay. I’ll keep the NOS Gran Compe pads as spares and run with the used brake pads I had.

I’m still searching for a few parts to complete this build. I need a BB Sugino MT 68 axle to install the Sugino AT triple crank I picked up.

Need to get a set of Gran Compe brake levers to match these NGC-450 calipers.

It’s coming together nicely and so far I haven’t spent too much on it. Looking forward to riding this TX300.