Basso Gap

Price Paid:  $990.00 at A A Vittorio Cycles

Favorite Ride:
Boston Southie

Summary:
Beautiful ride, the bike was a complete set up, not just a frame. All campy gear, makes the package really nice for rides around the New England area. I have had zero problems and the ride is as noted here much better than a non-steel ride.

Strengths:
Frame, components campy)...

Weaknesses:
Could be lighter...what else are you gonna say? Any road bike could always be lighter. Thing is this bike can handle a 200lbs rider with ease.

Similar Products Used:
I tested a Felt bike...very nice, super light, but did not give the ride even close to the Basso.

Price Paid:  $290.00 at ebay

Favorite Ride:
Heater Road, Sherwood OR

Bike Setup:
Basso Gap, 3T ZEPP XL bar&stem. 2004 Chorus carbon Ergopower, f./r. derailleur, headset, BB, Record cranks, Centaur 11-23 cassette, Daytona brakes, Bianchi Levitation XL wheelset.

Summary:
This frame is awesome. Excellent attention to detail. The fillet brazed (NOT welded as another reveiwer wrote) is strong and makes the frame stiffer. It is fairly light, and the cast crown fork is very cool, smooth and stifff, not springy for me! (I weigh 165lb). the paint and graphics are awesome, and I enjoy the orange color. Rides very smooth, stiff and comfortable

Strengths:
steel can be repaired (I've broken other Al frames) it is Italian, comfortable yet racy geometry, fairly light for a steel ride, inexspensive.

Weaknesses:
not as stiff as an Al frame, but very few steel frames are. But, you get a smoother, more durable ride. The paint is brittle and can chip easily. The recessed seat post binder bolt and rear brake bolt are hard to replace, I had to grind a regular binder bolt down to fit. It has a tendency to wobble at speed, but it does ahave a 74 degree head angle.

Similar Products Used:
Bianchi Mega X-Pro, Ciocc Wrodl 77

Price Paid:  $400.00 at roadbike review clas

Favorite Ride:
MI Loop

Bike Setup:
Dura Ace 9, cinelli integralter, Campy Zonda, Challenge open tubulars(very subtle) selle italia flite tt.

Summary:
better finnish than I've ever seen. Flawless welds. Custom steel tube set with lugged bottom bracket gives great stiffness for climbing and sprinting without being as heavy as you would thing. I swapped the steel fork for carbon which improved handling (steel fork was too springy for me--210lbs) the bikes steering and descending is precise and stable. If you are looking for a fine Italian steel bike and are not stuck on the prestige of of owning a colnago or pinarello I recommend this frame.

Strengths:
Quality of welds and finnish. Custom steel tubeset. Comfortable. Stable handling. Less BB flex when climbing or sprinting than any other steel frame I've ridden.

Weaknesses:
Orange Basso decals (I dont care for orange). Difficult to replace hidden seat clamp bolt.

Similar Products Used:
trek 1000
steel Bontrager