Basso is celebrating its 40th year with the launch of a new aero-iteration of its flagship Diamante. The new SV model (that’s Super-Veloce) is based around an all-new 820g carbon frame, which aims to combine an aero advantage and retain the low weight of the Diamante. It will have a tuneable fit and a patented seat mast clamping system that combines a secure fit with rubber/elastomer section to aid comfort.
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Handmade Italian carbon is a rare thing, but Basso is one of the few that build its carbon frames by hand in Dueville Italy. The family owned company in fact has three carbon facilities.
The SV’s slickly integrated ‘Blade’ front blends the fork and proprietary stem into the head tube, and it's here where the SV’s fit can be tuned
Head of Sales Alessandro Basso explains “We produce our own carbon frames and produce high-grade carbon products for many others including Ducati’s Moto GP team [the carbon rear swing-arm is produced by Basso] and parts for Formula 1 teams [Toro Rosso, Force India] and more recently for the new Hyundai WRC car [the super-lightweight carbon seats].
“All of our carbon frames are full carbon so we don’t use metal inserts in the dropouts, BB shell, or head tube. We can completely control the use of carbon and build in strength where it’s needed, but being full carbon it’s significantly lighter than most.”
The SV’s slickly integrated ‘Blade’ front blends the fork and proprietary stem into the head tube, and it's here where the SV’s fit can be tuned. Included with the frame kit (€4,400) is the ‘Comfort kit’, which consists of three options on stack height: for those looking for a slammed race look you can mount the stem directly onto the top headset bearing sans spacers; or go to intermediate with a 20mm spacer that’s aero-shaped to retain the smooth look; and for those looking to go taller 25mm can be added to the stack height by combining the aero-spacer and secondary spacers too.
Basso explains: "We wanted to give people the option to get the fit for them just right, but we also didn’t want to have the handling compromised when going taller, so we designed the spacer system to sit underneath the top headset bearing so the front end rigidity stays the same no matter which way you decide to run the bike."
At the back, the SV has a new patented clamping system ‘3B’ in which the proprietary aero seat mast, with a ‘U’ shaped cross section, is clamped by a three-point bolt system. The seat mast also sits inside a 100mm long rubber/elastomer sock, which acts as a vibration damper and allows a little free movement for-and-aft, again to aid comfort.
The SV is available as both a frame kit (including stem, seat mast, comfort kit, and headset) at €4,400 and a range of top-level equipped bikes with a choice of Campagnolo (Super Record EPS, Super Record, and Chorus) or Shimano (Dura-Ace, Ultegra Di2, Ultegra). Basso also said that a SRAM eTap version would become available with custom hole blanking pieces, which make the SV look smooth and clean.
Complete bike weights are impressive for an aero bike, with the Campag Super Record bike coming in at just 6.5kg including Basso’s own (manufactured in Italy) carbon Microtech M150 tubular wheels — which weigh in at an impressive 1,100g a pair, with a 120kg rider weight limit.
Alongside the SV there have been updates to the Diamante, which Basso describes as the company's climbing special. The Diamante frame tips the scales at a scant 760g, and for 2017 it's now available in a limited edition paint finish called ‘Eggshell’. The soft tone finish does indeed feel like an eggshell and Basso is rightfully proud of the result, "Not only does the finish look fantastic, it has a real benefit in that it's incredibly tough and hugely resistant to scratching or chipping, so the frame will continue to look like new for years."
Disc’s are coming
Basso also explained that disc versions of both the Diamantes are in the works and for 2017 there’s a new version of the Astra disc, which switches to front and rear thru-axles for the first time — along with the slick looking Fast Cross cyclocross bike.
