It’s one thing to rework a road bike to fit disc brake rotors…what makes the 2018 Basso Diamante SV Disc really interesting are the other design features. But first, the brakes. They’re using thru axles and internally routed hoses front and rear, leading to flat mounts positioned for a minimum 160mm rotor.
You’ve got your choice of Campagnolo Super Record (regular or EPS) and Chorus, or Shimano Dura-Ace and Ultregra (regular or Di2), all as complete groups with their respective hydraulic disc brakes. Max recommended tire size is 700×28.
The flagship frame is a blend of 1K, 3K and UD fibers shaped into modified/truncated NACA and other aero shapes, depending on placement. All cables and wires run internally. Basso’s Comfort Kit uses a series of frame inserts and custom shaped spacers to adjust front stack height without killing aesthetics. The frame insert holds the upper headset bearing, so you retain all of the stiffness while adding up to 15mm additional head tube height. Or set the bearing directly into the frame and you’ll get a slammed stem that actually sits just below the front of the top tube:
Another unique touch is their three-point seatpost binding system. Using a rubber collar that sits between the post and the frame, you fix the position with the upper and lower set screws, then tweak the center one to tune it. The idea isn’t so much to create a flex point, more to reduce vibrations.
It’s available in four colors and seven sizes from 45 to 61, with crank arm lengths ranging from 170 to 172.5 and stems from 90mm to 120mm. Available now.
Not new, but cool enough for a quick look is their Fast Cross cyclocross bike. Available in two color schemes (both pretty sweet), it’s available in two builds – SRAM 1x or Shimano 105 – and gets smaller 140mm rotors. It has compact race geometry and recommended tire clearance of just 700×35, meaning it’s made for going fast, not casual gravel rides. That said, Basso has this listed as the only bike under their “Cross/Gravel” menu heading, which makes us hopeful they’re working on something gravel specific that uses the comfort and fit features from the Diamante.
