1977 Trek TX700 or TX770? Need help differentiating Reynolds 531 from Columbus SL
11-27-13, 06:17 PM
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1977 Trek TX700 or TX770? Need help differentiating Reynolds 531 from Columbus SL
Hello, I have this 1977 Trek I have owned for thirty years. I bought it used and it had been repainted. Looking up the serial number at vintage-trek I find it could be either a Reynolds 531 TX700 or a Columbus SL Tubed TX770. I am looking for clues to identify the tubing but have only found the fork ends are narrower than on my other Reynolds 531 framed bikes. I will include some pictures- thanks for the help!
11-27-13, 09:45 PM
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Or look at the steerer and check for Reynolds or Columbus (dove) markings.
11-28-13, 08:54 AM
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The stampings on the tube are also definitive, but more likely to be obscured by paint or trimmed off during construction.
BTW, the fork crown is a Haden "Europa" crown, used after about 1981. Have you checked the serial number against the database at vintage-trek.com?
11-28-13, 09:04 AM
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Espo3909
Since you have an interesting bike there, a few more pictures would be really nice!
Are you all reasonably sure that the 77 tubing would be SL and not SP? Seems to me that SP was pretty common and SL was pretty new. When I built up a Colnago in 1981 it was SL and was the largest frame size, at 56, that Colnago produced in SL, and had a rider weight limit of 165 lb.
Happy Holidays! - Jim
Ok, well I answered my own question. The Trek 1978 catalog lists the 9XX models as "Columbus SL/SP" tubing, so presumably the TX 770 would be the same. Also, they used the NCO "New Continental Oval" fork blades so the cross section of the Reynolds and Columbus blades was very close to the same, so the fork blade thickness would not be a good identifier for your TX770/700. Still, would like to know what kind of markings you find on the steerer.
Here's a set of my TX700 pics https://www.flickr.com/photos/leaping...7638148549533/ I believe the fork crown is a Haden Europa also.
Since you have an interesting bike there, a few more pictures would be really nice!
The helical rifling is a defining characteristic of a Columbus steer tube, so if the fork is original to the bike, the rest of the frame is also Columbus -- SL if 58cm or smaller, SP if 60cm or larger.
The stampings on the tube are also definitive, but more likely to be obscured by paint or trimmed off during construction.
BTW, the fork crown is a Haden "Europa" crown, used after about 1981. Have you checked the serial number against the database at vintage-trek.com?
The stampings on the tube are also definitive, but more likely to be obscured by paint or trimmed off during construction.
BTW, the fork crown is a Haden "Europa" crown, used after about 1981. Have you checked the serial number against the database at vintage-trek.com?
Happy Holidays! - Jim
Ok, well I answered my own question. The Trek 1978 catalog lists the 9XX models as "Columbus SL/SP" tubing, so presumably the TX 770 would be the same. Also, they used the NCO "New Continental Oval" fork blades so the cross section of the Reynolds and Columbus blades was very close to the same, so the fork blade thickness would not be a good identifier for your TX770/700. Still, would like to know what kind of markings you find on the steerer.
Here's a set of my TX700 pics https://www.flickr.com/photos/leaping...7638148549533/ I believe the fork crown is a Haden Europa also.
Last edited by leaping_gnome; 11-28-13 at 10:25 AM.
11-28-13, 09:26 AM
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same fork on the tx700 I refurbed. Narrow forks more common then. Serial #s only option I have other than components (if its all original).
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11-28-13, 09:43 AM
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Espo3909
Are you all reasonably sure that the 77 tubing would be SL and not SP? Seems to me that SP was pretty common and SL was pretty new. When I built up a Colnago in 1981 it was SL and was the largest frame size, at 56, that Colnago produced in SL, and had a rider weight limit of 165 lb.
Happy Holidays! - Jim
Are you all reasonably sure that the 77 tubing would be SL and not SP? Seems to me that SP was pretty common and SL was pretty new. When I built up a Colnago in 1981 it was SL and was the largest frame size, at 56, that Colnago produced in SL, and had a rider weight limit of 165 lb.
Happy Holidays! - Jim
Kind of surprised the weight limit is so low on SL frames, but then again, we are unfortunately growing larger as the generations pass. Columbus probably wouldn't even produce SL frames these days, just not enough small riders out there anymore...
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11-28-13, 03:27 PM
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12-03-13, 05:58 PM
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Hey thanks for the help all. I found no markings on the steerer and there was no rifling on the inside. I m going to conclude it is Reynolds tubing. Thanks again.
