Short answer: for most riders the answer is a Venta R, Basso's race-capable carbon platform with slightly more forgiving geometry, from ₹2,09,990 as a complete bike on Shimano 105. Step up to the Astra if you want sharper handling, look at the Diamante or Diamante SV if you race, and the Palta II if you ride gravel. Get the size right before anything else, because Basso runs slightly long in the top tube.
Basso has designed and built frames in Vicenza, in north-eastern Italy, since 1977. The range is small by the standards of the big brands: five model families, each aimed at a clearly different rider, with much of it sold as framesets so the build can be shaped around you.
The Bike Affair is an authorised Basso dealer in India, and every Basso we sell is built to order in our Hyderabad workshop. This guide works through what each model is for, what it costs, and how to choose. You can see the full Basso range here.
- How the range is organised
- Start here: what kind of riding do you do?
- Venta R: where most riders start
- Venta: the previous generation
- Astra: the step up
- Diamante and Diamante SV: the race flagships
- Palta II: gravel
- The bit that decides your budget: wheels
- Mechanical or Di2?
- The whole range by budget
- Before you decide
- FAQ
- Ride one first
How the range is organised
| Model | What it is | Brakes | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venta R | Race-capable carbon, slightly more forgiving geometry. The current disc platform | Disc | ₹2,09,990 complete |
| Venta | The previous generation, mostly as framesets | Rim and disc | ₹94,990 frameset |
| Astra | A step up from the Venta, with sharper handling | Rim and disc | ₹1,13,990 frameset |
| Diamante | Race flagship | Rim and disc | ₹1,89,990 frameset |
| Diamante SV | The top of the race range | Disc | ₹4,36,990 frameset |
| Palta II | Gravel | Disc | ₹1,70,990 frameset |
Framesets run from ₹94,990 for the Venta Rim up to ₹4,36,990 for the Diamante SV Disc. The Venta R is the only family offered as a wide choice of complete bikes, which is where most riders end up and where most of the detail in this guide sits.
Start here: what kind of riding do you do?
| If you | Look at |
|---|---|
| Want your first proper carbon road bike and ride 40 to 100km | Venta R on alloy wheels |
| Ride brevets and long distances through every season | Venta R with Di2 |
| Have outgrown a calmer bike and want something more direct | Astra |
| Race, and know exactly what you want to build | Diamante or Diamante SV |
| Ride dirt and broken roads as much as tarmac | Palta II |
| Own good rim brake wheels and want the cheapest Italian carbon frame | Venta Rim frameset |
Venta R: where most riders start
The Venta R is Basso's entry point and the model most riders start with. It is a race-capable carbon frame with slightly more forgiving geometry than the race bikes, which means you can ride it hard on a group ride and still be comfortable four hours into a long one. Every build shares the same Torayca T700 carbon frame and fork, hydraulic disc brakes and clearance for tyres up to 35mm, which matters more on Indian roads than almost any other specification.
Sizes run from 42cm, smaller than most Italian brands offer, up to 58cm. Black and white finishes throughout.
The builds differ only in groupset and wheels:
| Wheels | Shimano 105 12-speed | Shimano 105 Di2 |
|---|---|---|
| Fulcrum Racing 600 alloy | ₹2,09,990 | ₹2,59,990 |
| Fulcrum Racing 800 alloy | ₹2,09,990 | ₹2,59,990 |
| Vision TC 60 carbon | ₹2,69,990 | ₹3,19,990 |
| Vision SC 60 carbon | ₹2,89,990 | ₹3,49,990 |
All of these currently sit well below MRP. The Fulcrum Racing 800 with Di2, for example, is ₹2,59,990 against an MRP of ₹3,29,990.
The Venta R is also specified with Vision SC 55, Vision Metron 55 and 81, and Attaque Carbon 45 and 50 wheels, from ₹2,59,990 up to ₹3,79,990 depending on wheel and groupset. None of those builds is available right now, so if one is the bike you want, ask us before you plan around it.
Which one? The frame is identical in every build, so what you are really choosing is how you shift and what your wheels are made of. The two sections further down deal with each.
If you want one answer: the Venta R with Fulcrum Racing 800 at ₹2,09,990 is where we would start most riders, and the same bike with Di2 at ₹2,59,990 is the one for brevets and monsoon riding. Both builds of the Fulcrum Racing 600 and 800 sit at the same price, so choose between them on which is available in your size and colour.
Our Venta R build guide goes through every combination in more depth.
Venta: the previous generation
The Venta preceded the Venta R and remains available in rim and disc versions, mostly as framesets. The Venta Rim frameset at ₹94,990 is the cheapest route onto a Basso carbon frame, currently in Sea Blue. The Venta Disc frameset starts at ₹1,32,990.
There is also a single complete Venta Disc 105 at ₹2,75,990, in Stone Grey, size 56. Be aware that at that price a Venta R with Di2 costs less, so the older bike only makes sense if that particular frame and size is what you are after.
The rim brake frameset is worth considering if you already own a good rim brake wheelset and groupset. Be clear about the trade: it cannot be converted to disc later, and braking in the wet is noticeably weaker than a hydraulic disc system.
Astra: the step up
The Astra sits a step above the Venta, and the difference is in how it handles rather than in what it is for. Where the Venta is built to stay calm and forgiving over a long day, the Astra is sharper: more direct in its steering and more alert when you push on. It suits a rider who has outgrown the Venta's easy manners and wants a bike that feels quicker underneath them.
It is a road bike in the conventional sense, not an aero frame, and it is available in both rim and disc versions. The Astra Rim frameset is ₹1,13,990 and the Astra Disc frameset starts at ₹1,70,990, currently in Grey Asphalt. The Astra is also offered as a complete bike on Shimano 105 at ₹2,99,990, though that build is not available at the moment.
Diamante and Diamante SV: the race flagships
These are Basso's race bikes, and both are sold here as framesets for riders who want to build around parts they have chosen themselves.
The Diamante comes in rim and disc versions. The Diamante Rim frameset starts at ₹1,89,990, and the Diamante Disc frameset at ₹2,37,990, in Electric Blue, Rubin Red and Opal White across sizes 48 to 58.
The Diamante SV Disc frameset at ₹4,36,990 is the top of the range, in Opal White in sizes 48, 51 and 53. It is not a sensible first carbon bike and is not meant to be. It is for a racer who knows exactly what they want to build and why.
Palta II: gravel
The Palta II Disc frameset at ₹1,70,990 is Basso's gravel platform, and the only gravel frame in the range. It is currently out of stock, so if gravel is what you are after, ask us about availability before setting your heart on it.
It is worth knowing that the Venta R's 35mm tyre clearance already handles a good deal of broken road, and our guide to turning a road bike into a gravel bike covers how far that can go.
The bit that decides your budget: wheels
Look again at the Venta R table. The same frame and the same mechanical groupset appear at ₹2,09,990 and at ₹2,89,990. Everything in between is the wheels.
| Wheel | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Fulcrum Racing 600 and 800 | Alloy | Durability, rough roads, keeping cost down |
| Attaque Carbon 45 and 50 | Shallower carbon | A lighter all-round carbon wheel, easier in crosswind |
| Vision TC 60 | 60mm carbon | Fast flat riding at the most accessible carbon price |
| Vision SC 55 and 60 | Vision's higher-tier carbon | The same idea one step up the Vision range |
| Vision Metron 55 and 81 | Vision's top wheel | Racing. The 81mm is a flat-course and time trial wheel |
Deeper rims are faster in a straight line and more affected by crosswind. On an exposed highway on a gusty morning, a 60mm front wheel takes noticeably more effort to hold on a line than a shallow one, and that is a real consideration on a lot of Indian roads rather than a theoretical one.
Our honest suggestion: unless you are racing, buy an alloy-wheeled build and put the difference aside. Wheels are the easiest upgrade on a bike, they move with you to your next frame, and you will choose better once you know how and where you actually ride.
Mechanical or Di2?
On the Venta R, electronic shifting costs ₹50,000 over mechanical on the Fulcrum and Vision TC 60 builds, and ₹60,000 on the Vision SC 60.
What Di2 buys you is shifting that never needs cable adjustment, stays precise through monsoon grit, and feels exactly the same with tired hands at the end of a long ride as it does at the start. What it costs beyond money is a battery to keep charged and a system you cannot adjust at the roadside with a multitool.
If ₹50,000 is a meaningful part of your budget, mechanical Shimano 105 12-speed is an excellent groupset and the money goes further on a bike fit or a better wheelset later. If it is not, Di2 is a pleasure you will notice every time you change gear.
The whole range by budget
| Budget | Options |
|---|---|
| Under ₹1,00,000 | Venta Rim frameset at ₹94,990 |
| ₹1,00,000 to ₹1,50,000 | Astra Rim frameset at ₹1,13,990 · Venta Disc frameset from ₹1,32,990 |
| ₹1,50,000 to ₹2,00,000 | Astra Disc frameset from ₹1,70,990 · Diamante Rim frameset from ₹1,89,990 |
| ₹2,00,000 to ₹2,50,000 | Venta R 105 12-speed on Fulcrum alloy at ₹2,09,990 · Diamante Disc frameset from ₹2,37,990 |
| ₹2,50,000 to ₹3,00,000 | Venta R Di2 on Fulcrum alloy at ₹2,59,990 · Venta R 12-speed on Vision TC 60 at ₹2,69,990 · Venta R 12-speed on Vision SC 60 at ₹2,89,990 |
| ₹3,00,000 to ₹3,50,000 | Venta R Di2 on Vision TC 60 at ₹3,19,990 · Venta R Di2 on Vision SC 60 at ₹3,49,990 |
| Above ₹3,50,000 | Diamante SV Disc frameset at ₹4,36,990 |
A frameset price is for the frame and fork only. By the time you add wheels, a groupset, a cockpit and finishing kit, a frameset build almost always costs more than the equivalent complete bike, so compare a frameset against a complete Venta R rather than against its sticker price.
Prices are indicative and move with exchange rates and import duty.
Before you decide
Get your size right first. It matters more than frame, groupset and wheels combined, and it is the one thing you cannot change afterwards.
With Basso there is a specific thing to know: Basso sizing runs slightly long in the top tube compared with most Asian-market brands. A Basso in the size number you ride on another bike will usually put the bars a little further away. So do not order by the number on your current bike, and if you fall between two sizes, try the smaller one first.
Our Basso Venta size chart covers the Venta range, and our frame sizing guide will get you within a size on any brand.
Every Basso is built to order in our Hyderabad workshop, which means the steerer is cut to your fit as part of the build and a basic fit and size check is included.
Then be honest about your riding. The most common expensive mistake is buying a race bike for riding that is not racing. A Venta R you ride happily for five hours beats a Diamante you cut rides short on.
FAQ
What does SV mean on the Basso Diamante SV?
SV stands for Super Veloce, Italian for super fast, and it marks the very top of Basso's race range: the Diamante SV Disc frameset is Rs 4,36,990 against Rs 2,37,990 for the standard Diamante Disc, and it is built for a racer who already knows exactly what they want to build. For anyone else, the standard Diamante or a Venta R is the better use of the money.
Is a rim brake Basso still worth buying in 2026?
Yes, if you already own a good rim brake wheelset and groupset and mostly ride in dry conditions: the Basso Venta Rim frameset at Rs 94,990 is the cheapest route onto an Italian carbon frame, and rim brakes stop perfectly well on dry tarmac. The trade-offs are that the frame cannot be converted to disc, wet-weather braking is noticeably weaker, and fewer new rim brake wheels and parts are being made each year, which will narrow your upgrade options over time.
What is the largest cassette a Basso Venta R with Shimano 105 can run?
36 teeth: Shimano's 105 12-speed rear derailleur, in both the mechanical and the Di2 versions, is rated for a largest sprocket of 36 teeth, which gives a climbing gear comfortably lower than one to one with a compact chainset. That covers every climb in and around Hyderabad. Going beyond 36 teeth means changing the rear derailleur as well as the cassette, not simply fitting a bigger cassette.
Can I buy a Basso Astra or Palta as a complete bike?
Not right now: the Astra Disc complete bike on Shimano 105 at Rs 2,99,990 is currently unavailable, and the Palta II is sold here only as a frameset, which is itself out of stock at the moment. The practical route onto an Astra today is the rim or disc frameset, built up in our Hyderabad workshop around a groupset and wheels you choose. Ask us for a quote on a full build and we will price it against the equivalent complete Venta R.
Can I upgrade the wheels on a Basso Venta R later?
Yes, and it is the most sensible upgrade path on a Venta R: the frame uses current thru-axle and hydraulic disc standards, so modern road disc wheelsets fit, and buying the Fulcrum alloy build now then adding carbon wheels later usually leads to a better choice than picking deep carbon on day one. By then you will know which depth suits the roads and the wind you actually ride in.
Ride one first
We keep a Basso Venta R demo bike at our Kondapur store for test rides. Ride it before you commit, particularly if you are between two sizes, because that is where the longer top tube shows up. Browse the full Basso range, or tell us where you ride and how far, and ask TBA Guide which Basso we would put you on.
1 comment
I want to purchase two Road bike cycles of BASSO with range up to 200000 RS from your showroom.if available please send the information by mail