The Diamante - or Diamond - is Basso's long standing race bike. Already highly regarded, the latest iteration of this thoroughbred Italian race machine has been refined even further. The new 2021 Diamante maximises performance while elvolving into a race bike that accommodates a greater number of riders : a true race bike for all.
In nature, a diamond is formed over a long period of time and under great pressure. Like a diamond, the Basso Diamante is the result of years of hard work and research to develop the finest racing bike. One that is timeless, not only in terms of performance and reliability but also timeless in form and beauty.
Like many of the best things in life, the Basso Diamante is essentialist. That is, all superfluous and non-essential elements of design have been stripped away, allowing Basso to create a bike that is resolved to race. That being said, the Diamante is far from a simple bike, the elegant lines and minimalist design conceal an extremely complex construction.
All Basso's bikes are made by hand in Italy and the Diamante is a true representation of exactly what a premium, authentic Italian racing bike should be.
Basso use only the finest high modulus carbon fibre from industry leaders Toray.
With their dedicated approach and by researching new methods and techniques to continually improve performance, reliability and durability, the Basso Diamante is a highly advanced piece of technology that rivals anything else on the market. The Basso engineering staff have produced a frame capable of efficient performance that lasts and excels over all terrain.
The Diamante's tubes are more rounded than the range-topping Diamante SV and while they still convey aero advantage within the scope of the company's WindShape tube profiling, the Diamante tubeset is more a deft balance of aero, stiffness and an essential element of compliance. Ultimately the shaping, combined with the layup deliver a stable, reactive, efficient bike that handles as if it had four wheels instead of two. The Diamante is a versatile road racing bike that is capable of performing everywhere and in every type of racing scenario.
Add to the construction the revised geometry and you have a bike that is race ready for a host of potential riders. The new Diamante features an additional 10mm of stack that in conjunction with a versatile front end, allows a flexible rider to achieve an extremely aggressive position while allowing a more upright rider to maintain a front end more compact in appearance.
More than great geometry and fantastic craftsmanship or materials, it is the details behind the technological solutions that contribute greatly to the Diamante's versatile performance. The curved fork stands out amongst conventional design and adds a great deal of stability. In conjunction with the fork, the integrated head tube / top tube junction not only provides superior manoeuvrability by setting the headset below the headtube, but adds to the aero aesthetic. The headset also features split spacers which provide easy adjustment which then lock into position to ensure they dont move or shift and damage cabling.
The Headtube of the new Diamante - apart from being 10mm taller, is also over 50% stiffer than the previous model. With just 0.4mm of torsional flex, it yields a highly responsive and confident handling.
At the Bottom Braket too, the flex is reduced to just 0.2mm and as such delivers maximal power to the road - indeed, you may be surprised at the acceleration of the Diamante, it has one of the fastest pick-ups we have ridden.
All this stiffness and speed is tempered with clearance for 28mm tyres and a simple, elegant and unique solution to absorbing road vibrations : Basso's 3B Seat Post Clamp System.
While integrated seat post clamps are not uncommon, the Basso solution goes beyond merely discreetly holding the seatpost in the desired position. The 3B seatpost clamp system uses a rubber gusset surrounding the seat post which is capable of absorbing road vibrations to deliver comfort. It is an elegant solution that does nothing to detract from the aesthetic and with minimum weight penalty.
As an Italian, artisanal bike, it is a given that the aesthetics will be as much of a consideration as the technical aspects - and without compromising performance.
If looking good is half the battle then the Diamante has already won. Every fibre is meant for moving faster and in a more efficient manner, yet its form is an example of undeniable Italian design and class. Functionally beautiful and beautifully functional, the Diamante is ideal for riders looking for a frame offering speed, stunning looks and enduring, essentialist and elegant Italian design.
The Diamante is a modern race bike with considered gemoetry, ideal for the rider looking for speed and performance without compromise, but without the potentailly geometrically restrictive fit positioning of other premium race bikes.
A full complement of Campagnolo Chorus 12 speed mechanical components and hydro disc brakes offer the perfect complement to this Italian race steed while offering lightweight relaible shift performance and excellent control. Married to Campagnolo's new Shamal Ultra Carbon wheels shod with Schwalbe One tyres that deliver incredible performance and low weight with signature Campagnolo looks. Finishing kit is from Italian marque Deda in combination with Basso's in-house product line and seamlessly integrates with the frame for an all-Italian aesthetic.
The build package and frameset combine to offer the rider something very special indeed. Considering the quality of materials, craftsmanship and the distinction of being 100% Made-In-Italy when so many are not; coupled with the signature Basso ride feel and the very appealing price point - the Diamante Disc with Campagnolo Chorus 12 speed is a serious consideration at the price.
PLEASE NOTE : IMAGE IS FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY - SPECIFICATION MAY VARY FROM THAT SHOWN
SEE TECHNICAL INFO FOR SPECIFICATION DETAILS
Basso are rare.
Almost all Italian, indeed European brands, struggle to compete with major bike manufacturers, if not on quality then certainly on price. Take a look at the likes of Pinarello and Colnago and it is difficult to see the value in their lower end models. Their Carbon tech and bike specifications struggle to come close to matching the counterparts offered by the big four : Cannondale, Giant, Specialized and Trek. Pinarello and Colnago are not small players in the game.
So, when a brand like Basso comes onto the radar it would be easy to gloss over it, dismiss it out of hand on the basis that, if the big boys can't compete, how would they?
Factor in that Basso are 100% Made in Italy - not known for cheap labour and mass bicycle production - and they become even more intriguing.
Visit any reasonably sized town in Italy and the chances are there is - or almost certainly was - a frame builder there.
Italians are in love with bike building. In much the same way that there is a frame building renaissance in the UK, with small outfits popping up all over, that approach permeates Italian society.
The beauty of Basso lies in their perfect balance to their approach.
By their own admission, they do not choose to advertise heavily - an approach more the preserve of North American 'manufacturers' (which is quite often a misnomer - I can name a very popular bike brand that doesn't manufacture a single product, they are simply a marketing company....)
Instead Basso choose to plough their passion and capital into producing bikes that do their talking on the road and, like most Italian brands, there's is more an experience; a particular quality of the ride that engages the rider and evokes emotion. Most of us want a bike to inspire us, but it is so easy to be overhemeled, not only with choice but with the sheer volume of marketing in the publications (who get their revenue from said) that are on offer and that are supposed to help guide our decisions. Understandable.
Basso - as I say - balance these elements particularly well. They deliver not only a signature 'Basso' ride quality - of which they are extremely proud, but they also are technologically savvy. They use the best processes and materials and where tech is not available - they develop their own. While many hide the quality of their materials or tech (by omission), Basso are transparent. As you will see in the detail below, they share not only information on the materials they use but go as far as to detail the lay-up schedules of their frames. I can't think of another brand that makes that level of detail readily available - certainly not at the lower end of the market.
This is testament to the quality of Basso frames. A self belief in their product, their production methods and materials that should instill confidence in you as a rider, as it does me as a dealer.
They are refreshing. Moreover - they are competitive.
This is the crux of it. Most large (let alone relatively small) Italian bike producers don't come close to being competitive, even with big companies' production outsourced to the far-east.
Basso are.
100% Handmade. In Italy. With transparency and high quality materials. Competitively priced. With a ride feel and handling designed not only to perform, but to inspire and delight.
Basso make it entirely possible to confidently purchase an handbuilt Italian road bike, without crippling yourself financially.
GEOMETRY QUICK GUIDE:Staring at geometry charts trying to fathom which bike will suit you best can be daunting to the non-geek and boring as much as anything else!
The price of a bike and the apparent position in the range do not necessarily relate to how racy a bike is. So, simply as a quick reference guide, the Basso Road Range is listed out below in GEOMETRY ORDER from most upright to most racy.
SIZING Guide :
XXS = 44
XS = 48
S = 51
M = 53/54
L = 56
XL = 58
XXL = 60/61
**Be aware that geometry doesn't necessarily dictate the type of riding that a bike is aimed at (though it is obviously a pretty good guide) - the Astra and Diamante SV are good examples. Always remember : a geometry that fits you will make you faster than a geometry that doesn't - if the bike is a top-of-the-line race bike but doesn't fit, it is unlikely to make you fast - more likely uncomfortable, distracted and slower as a result!**
Venta / Venta Disc : Endurance Geometry but with signature Basso ride feel that remains exciting despite the 'Endurance' tag. Exciting but comfortable.
Astra : All-Round geometry designed to crush everything. Constructed from high modulus carbon it is a stiff, light and engaging lay-up for a more spritely feel.
Diamante SV : Technically the most advanced frame in the range with a more 'modern' geometry than the Diamante Rim that sits below it. Accommodating, all-round geometry, yet entirely racy.
Diamante Disc : Sharing the same Carbon tech as the SV, the Diamante Disc uses super-light, round tube profiles and a similar but lightly more racy geometry. It is a great all-rounder and ideal for climbing.
Diamante Rim :Pure race geometry, long and low. Ideal for those looking to maximise their aero efficiency and adopt a racing tuck.
The table below details the most common technologies that are employed by Basso in their frames - these will often be referenced in the Technical Specifications of the models.
Not only that but you can see which carbon fibres that Basso are using and the lay-up schedules of each bike, so the differences between models is more apparent - this is also a useful guide as to what makes a specific frame behave a specific way.
Basso Components
Often a brand will have its own range of components to complement their frames and bikes - these are often scoffed at, but as Cannondale and Felt have ably demonstrated in the past, they can also be some of the lightest.
Basso components are also Made in Italy and their MR wheels are made in conjunction with Miche - a long established and forward thinking Italian brand. Basso components are excellent and perfectly complement the Basso brand - they are also key in delivering the Basso ride and keeping the bikes competitive - both in performance and price. They look good too!