Price Paid:  $3200.00 at Ebay

Favorite Ride:
Anything Coastal

Bike Setup:
2003 Frame. Full Campy Record. Orion 2 Wheelset. FSA Carbon Pro Cranks. Zero Gravity Brakes. Fizik Arione Saddle.

Summary:
Bought 2003 model frame on Ebay for $860 and built it up with all top of the line components for a weight of 16.2 lbs and cost of $3200. This bike handles my heavy 230 lbs and begs for more. The oversized tubes and triangler forks and stays make it incredibly strong.

I only sense minimul flex on descentes when spinning out. This frame does not even think of flexing on any climb out of the saddle. I am amased at this considering my weight. Feels very smooth on the flats, even on slightly rough roads. I feel very lucky to have found one for under $1000 as they are not plentiful. I would especially recommend to those heavier riders.

Strengths:
No flex.
Rides like the wind.
Cool radical triangler forks and stays.

Weaknesses:
None so far at 1800 miles.

Similar Products Used:
Trek 5500
Aegis Aro Svelte

Price Paid:  $1600.00 at Performance

Favorite Ride:
Grande Ronde Valley

Bike Setup:
Mostly record, and mavic open pro rims, and FSA carbon crank with Aluminum spider.

Summary:
Responsive, well-crafted machine. I've put 6,000 k on this frame this year. Compared to other bikes (I haven't ridden a lot though), this is very quick to leap into action when you jump on the pedals. The bike is light, but not as light as some people claim. I have the 60 cm though, and the fram weighs 1,391 grams and the fork 531.

My main complaint about this bike is the Microtech internal headset, which is difficult to figure out and comes with basically no help documentation.

I built it all up myself and love the ride. I'll spend at least another year riding it.

Strengths:
Responsiveness, dampening, looks nice.

Weaknesses:
Headset.

Similar Products Used:
Specialized S-Works with Dura Ace

Price Paid:  $4500.00 at performance

Favorite Ride:
Basso diamante with record carbon 10 speed

Bike Setup:
Basso Diamante frame with Campy Record 10 speed carbon, Mavic Kysirium sl wheels with Vittoria Diamante pro tires, Easton carbon equipe pro handle bars and stem., Record carbon seat stem and bottle cages,FSA carbon lightweight crank,Selle Italia SLR carbonio saddle.

Summary:
Purchased the Diamante by Basso and equiped it withh all carbon components keeping the total weight for this 62 cm frame below 15 .5 lbs. The more upright position allows me to climb effectively while sitting down. The bike is a magnificent climber with enough stiffness to transfer all the power to the wheels. With all the carbon there is no road vibration to speak of. I have been riding a steel Tomassini Tecno with Record carbon for the past several years with a triple ring, but this Basso allows to climb and ride more effectively with only a double.Good internet shopping allowed me to build this $ 6500 bike for $4500.!

Strengths:
Direct power transfer with a stiff frame. Excellent road dampening with good road feel.Incredible light weight and good looks.

Weaknesses:
Still feel the big bumps,unlike the steel. Have to hold on in the cross wind s, although that could be due more to the Kysirium wheels

Similar Products Used:
Bianchi steel with Record 9 speed
Tomassini Tecno with record 10 speed

Price Paid:  $0.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
Avala

Bike Setup:
Basso Diamante 2004, Campy Record 10 speed, Ksyrium SSC SL wheels, ITM Uniko handlebar, Microtech stem, fork, and seatpost, Fizik Arione saddle, Michelin Pro Race tires.

Summary:
It's an awesome frame. If only more people new. Very light, very little flex, very comfortable, very everything. By the way I am describing a newer version of the frame than the one that can bee seen in the picture.

Strengths:
Light.
Stiff.
Responsive.
Comfortable.
Beautiful finish.

Weaknesses:
None.

Similar Products Used:
Basso Zer0.9, Tosetto.

Price Paid:  $3300.00 at Local Shop

Favorite Ride:
Anything that goes uphill

Bike Setup:
Basso Diamante, 9 Speed D/A, Deda Newton Stem, ITM Millenium Bars, Alien Carbon Seat Post, Mavic Ksyriums Wheels, Michelin Race Pro

Summary:
I just purchase the Diamante after looking at for nearly a year on the IBD's store. The bike is very reponsive, with minimal (if any) bottom bracket flex. It is extremely light (16 lbs) in-spite a heavy seat and clunky look 357's. The bike is as smooth as my custom Reynolds 853 which soaks up road vibration really well. The chain stays are super trick. All the tubes are shaped and the bike looks fast standing still.

Strengths:
No flex at the bottom bracket. Beautifully sculpted frame. Smooth ride.

Weaknesses:
Only one color available: Black.

Similar Products Used:
QR Custom Steel 853 Frame with D/A 9 Spd and Mavic Cosmic Carbone (or Heliums depending on the day).

QR Private Reserve Ultegra 9 Spd