Basso has a new bike in its portfolio, and it challenges everything we have seen until now coming from the Italian brand. The Basso SV stands for Sempre Veloce, encapsulating a philosophy around rider-focused performance. We tested it months ahead of the launch, and it was hard to wait until today to explain to you all the details about this exciting addition.
Suitable for cyclists of all types
The needs of their customers were already addressed by the several road bike models Basso counts on. The Basso Diamante is tagged as the Porsche 911 of Basso because it never gets old. It is updated every three years and its round tubing is very particular to the brand, but adapted to modern riders. The Diamante SV features a similar geometry, with aerodynamics being the focus of the design. The Astra and Venta complement the offer, but all this will change as Basso considers the new model “the bike that 95% of the customers should buy”.
Whether you are seeking to optimize your performance or simply want the pleasure of riding an exclusive Italian bike, the new Basso SV is designed to enhance your ride with features that combine forward-looking technology with the adaptability and comfort that everyday riders demand.
Leonardo Basso, Marketing Manager at Basso, explained to us their view on the current road bike scenario. According to them, all-road bikes don’t usually consider aerodynamics, and lightness, and racing bikes are used by recreational cyclists beyond their intended design. Their aggressive look and feel, make us feel good on the bike, but what about the comfort features necessary for when the road gets bumpy? Basso addresses this dilemma with the new SV, “the ultimate performance bike for real-life riders seeking premium features and quality on every ride”, as quoted by Leonardo.
The Basso SV is positioned to occupy the space in between. There was no need to design a pure racing machine because, unlike most bike frame brands, they do not have any money invested in professional road cycling teams. For those brands, the way of working is to develop a bike for the professionals and then adapt it to the customer. The people at Basso don’t have that problem, and they can put the normal rider at the center of this process.
To achieve this, they began by examining what riders truly want from a high-performance bike. Partnering with 4 Performance Bike Fit Studio, they analyzed the biomechanics and positioning needs of different kinds of cyclists to understand how fit and comfort could harmonize with aerodynamics and speed. Additionally, Basso disclosed that they used Artificial Intelligence to explore market trends and preferences, identifying the specific attributes that high-end bike buyers value most. This data-driven approach ensured that every design decision was backed by riders’ desires and expectations.
Disrupting the design standards of Basso
Talking about design, at first sight, one can already see the radical changes compared to the current Diamante SV. The downtube has been reduced in width but increased in height, and the headtube is longer to provide aero efficiency without adding too much weight. The overall frontal impact area of the frame and fork has been reduced by 16% versus the Diamante SV (29,754 mm2 vs 24,993 mm2). All this has been achieved thanks to the Kamm-tail tubes made of intermediate module carbon fibers (Torayca T1100 and T1000) that blend the aerodynamic benefits of aerofoil tubes with the weight savings and compliance of round tubes.
The new design of the downtube shelters the front wheel from potential airflow disruptions. In order to make the most of these aerodynamic enhancements, Basso recommends using tires ranging from 28 to 35 mm.
Regardless of the multiple changes, the SV preserves the brand identity of the Italian bike manufacturer, and any rider aware of the brand will recognize it as a Basso bike even if the logo was not present on the downtube. The Italian roots are intact, and now there is a layer of cutting-edge technology on top of them.
Built to individual specifications
If we have to highlight something from the geometry it is the sloping, a novelty within the Basso road range. On the one hand, it provides better fit versatility, and on the other hand, it enhances comfort given that more seatpost out is translated into more flex and riding compliance.
To continue talking about the geometry of the SV we need to introduce you to the Fuga integrated handlebar, also launched today. It has a very short reach (65 mm), intending to provide comfort by allowing a flat assembly of the level. The 1° of back sweep promotes a more upright position of the rider when riding in the hoods. The Fuga handlebar suits best riders with narrow shoulders, as it has a fixed width of 37 cm in the flat part and 40 cm in the drops. There are six different stem lengths to address the needs and preferences of each customer.
To sum up, the SV is built to individual specifications, offering a choice of 7 frame sizes, 16 integrated handlebar options in 2 distinct designs (the new Fuga and the already existing Levita), and 2 seat post setback choices, ensuring a perfect fit for every rider.
By analyzing the stiffness values of the new Basso SV and comparing it to other high-end models in the current Basso range, one can see that both bottom bracket stiffness and headtube stiffness have been significantly enhanced, while rear triangle stiffness at the axle has been maintained at a consistent level.
Tested with Monte Grappa in sight
We were part of a selected group of media representatives who tested the new Basso SV months before its public launch. During that press trip to Bassano del Grappa organized by PaceUp, we got to know not only the new model but we were also introduced to their entire bike portfolio, checking firsthand how they are built, painted and assembled in-house.
The SV is launched in four colorways, and we were assigned the Rosso Vivo one with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 and DT Swiss ARC 1100DB 50 wheels. In this version, the silver chrome color meets the raw carbon on the bottom of the downtube, with vivid red details in between. The other colorways are Viola Galaxy, Urano White, and Pure Black.
As explained by the designers, the shape of the tubes influences how the light is reflected, and one could see the different looks of the bike based on the light conditions. We were undeniably persuaded by its aesthetics, and it was time to check if its performance on the road was at the same level.
Over two rides on separate days, we put the Basso SV to the test while enjoying the landscapes of the Veneto region. We were lucky with the temperatures, as even Leonardo Basso kept thanking the weather gods for the conditions we enjoyed in October.
The first route, immediately after the presentation of the bike, took us along the foothills of Monte Grappa. At first, the most striking thing was the handlebar, but we quickly got used to it and started wondering why, given our narrow shoulders, we had not switched to 37 cm handlebars yet. We tested the performance both with the hands on the drops and hoods, checking how easy it is to reach the brake levers and how comfortable we are with a different hand positioning. After internally confirming that it has the perfect dimensions for our body shape, we switched our focus to other features of the bike.
We are proud owners of a Basso Diamante in size 56, but for this test we wanted to try the Basso SV in size 53, and we are so glad we did. Downsizing is the current trend, and we cannot deny that a bike with more seatpost out and a longer stem is more beautiful to the eyes. Our position on the bike was the same because we sent our measurements to the people at Basso beforehand, but our ride feeling was different. We perceived that we could react faster, probably because of a shorter wheelbase.
The following day we headed west from Bassano del Grappa, and the route featured a gravel path and a steep climb with unevenly laid cobbles. We tested if, as claimed by Basso, the SV thrives on any road, in any situation, and we are happy with how it performed. We made an effort in the off-road part of the route and, even if we consider that in that situation is the tire the component that dictates how comfortable you are riding gravel on a road bike, we can also attribute some weight to the frame.