Basso’s latest Italian carbon Venta R road bike is faster, more integrated, and more versatile than ever. With mega modern tire clearance and aero reshaping, it’s both more comfortable and more aerodynamic. So, you can ride faster and further across all road surfaces, with proven race-inspired all-rounder geometry.
On top of that, it’s still super affordable. A pleasant surprise for a modern carbon road frameset still made 100% in Italy.
2024 Basso Venta R affordable Italian carbon (all) road bike
We’ve been eyeing Basso’s affordable Italian carbon Venta road bike since its 2015 rim brake origins, then 2019 update with rim or disc brakes. Now it goes all-in on disc brakes, with a modern fully-integrated sleek overhaul and generous all-road tire clearance upgrade. On paper, it sounded better than ever, on par with Asian-made road bikes that sell for 2-3x as much.
A 100% made-in-Italy semi-aero carbon road bike for 2850€ that will fit 35mm fast gravel tires… that sounds like something I can get behind. So, I wanted to learn more and see how it rides.
What’s new?
Integration is the big thing, with the new Venta R adopting fully internal cable routing through the headset. But still with separately adjustable aluminum bar & stem. Then, there’s aerodynamic optimization. The new bike features slimmer truncated aero tube shapes adopted from the Diamante road race family. Plus, a lower, slimmer seatstays and a more dramatic rear wheel cutout.
Lastly, much bigger tire clearance means you can now officially fit a 35mm tire, more than 15% wider than the old Venta. That’s a key upgrade as it means lots of big volume road slicks and plenty of small fast-gravel tires will fit in this bike, opening up where you can ride the new Basso Venta R.
Geometry
The Basso Venta R’s all-rounder all-road geometry is a direct evolution from their top race-ready Diamante road bikes. And still features quite steep angles for a quick, snappy ride. The only real changes they made for a more all-rounder endurance all-road fit is a few millimeters longer chainstays, and a slightly more upright, shorter fit.
The geometry of the Venta R seems curiously all over the place if you dive deep into the headtube angle, Stack & Reach numbers. But we chatted a bit with Basso’s designers to get a deeper understanding of where they are coming from. Basso describes their geo design process as derived from real anthropometric data compiled from ~900 cyclists of all sizes from multiple continents in the Taylor Bike Project. Using that data on real cyclists’ femur, leg, chest & arm lengths, they shift head and seat angles to balance riders of all sizes with a similar handling. Then, adjust Stack & Reach to put those same wide range of riders in a comfortable, but still adjustable position on the bike.
Tech details
The new Basso Venta R frame & fork are made in Italy from mid-spec Torayca T700 carbon fiber that balances reasonable light weight with durability. It features all-internal cable routing, flat mount disc brakes (comes with 160mm, but 140mm rotors are possible), a PressFit bottom bracket, and 12mm thru-axles.
It includes Basso’s integrated 3B seatclamp which is tightened with set screws from the back of the seattube. It uses a rubber-coated steel plate inside to safely but securely clamp the proprietary concave-back carbon seatpost.
So, how does it ride?
First Impressions
First off, out of the box the bike looks great, but it isn’t superlight. Modestly priced alloy wheels fitted with a basic steel cassette and steel rotors are never going to be especially light. This is not meant to be a bike build for weight weenies.
But while the Shimano 105 12-speed mechanical groupset is no lightweight, it is a solid performer. I’m personally a big fan of the simplicity of a modern mechanical groupset. (You never have to remember to charge this bike.) And 105 works great, with a satisfying click in the lever with each shift and the accompanying clack when the chain moves to the next cog. It’s a solid, reliable performer. The exact same gearing and comparable braking as Ultegra & Dura-Ace, both of which sadly no longer have a mechanical option.
At 9.55kg for my large 56cm stock bike with inner tubes, 278g Wahoo power meter pedals, and a 28g cage… it still feels light on the road. And if you are looking to shed grams?
I even saved 600g by swapping in a mid-depth set of EU-made carbon Fulcrum Speed wheels wrapped in big 35mm G-One RS gravel tires.
Riding the Venta R on tarmac and gravel
Out on the road, the new Basso Venta R simply feels like a quick, solid well-planted road bike. Even with a relatively heavy wheel/tire combo, the bike climbs well and descends confidently. In fact, my first road ride on the bike was especially windy, and I appreciated not having a deep set of wheels to get blown around on.
I was also immediately happy to take the new Venta R more to its all-road side. Surely, it’s not a gravel bike, but even with the stock 28mm slicks, it opens up a lot of extra terrain. I especially love how an all-road bike can be ridden up those dead-end roads with a km or two of deteriorating tarmac or dirt road that connects to the next asphalt dead-end. The worse quality the road, the less car traffic, and the more I enjoy the road ride.
For sure, I took it slower on gravel, but the bike seems reasonably smooth riding over rough surfaces. And a wider tire upgrade certainly can open up new possibilities. When I swapped in lighter wheels with fast-rolling 35mm gravel race tires, it was less about riding actual gravel, and more about softening the ride over rough paved forest roads without cars.
My only real caveat on the bike is to be sure to get the fit that is right for you. It’s become a go-to to rely almost only on Stack & Reach when sizing bikes in recent years. But, Basso’s wide size range also factors in longer stems on larger bikes. So, I would have likely sized down to a 53cm to get my ideal fit, or worked with my local Basso dealer to swap in a shorter stem after getting the 56 to bring my position back a little bit on the bike.
Basso Venta R – Pricing, options & availability
Just one simple but reliable 105 build kit helps Basso keep costs low on the new all-rounder. For $3400 / 2850€ you get a new Basso Venta R in either gloss black or white with iridescent graphics, in one of 7 sizes (42-61cm). The first batch of the new bikes are already in-stock at key Basso dealers, with the next round of availability over the next few weeks.
The bike is built up around a complete Shimano 105 mechanical 12-speed groupset and 27mm deep x 21mm internal tubeless-ready Microtech MCT alloy wheels. The overall spec includes an alloy bar, Basso’s alloy stem with cables routed through an integrated spaced underneath, a proprietary carbon seatpost, the tacky & portly greentech made-in-Italy Selle Italia Model X saddle, and non-tubeless 28mm Conti UltraSport tires.
That all means it’s a great entry bike for someone new to road riding. Or even to an experienced roadie newly looking to head off tarmac for some more all-road riding. For me, this feels like the perfect winter training bike, mixing comfort and a lively ride. It’s still a solid platform that you’ll be happy to upgrade over time. Buy one now to get in shape, and when summer comes, you can treat your new Venta R with some fast affordable carbon wheels to shed weight and ride even faster.
