{"id":1760166,"date":"2026-02-10T12:19:30","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T09:19:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1760166"},"modified":"2026-02-10T12:19:30","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T09:19:30","slug":"this-gravel-bike-ignores-the-pros-and-its-better-for-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1760166","title":{"rendered":"This Gravel Bike Ignores the Pros\u2014And It\u2019s Better for It"},"content":{"rendered":"
Updated February 12, 2026 02:10PM<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Pros<\/h2>\n
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Sure-footed but without the \u201csit back and relax\u201d traits that can come with adventure builds.<\/li>\n
Great performance on the road, with great handling in corners.<\/li>\n
If you\u2019re after a true Italian bike, the Palta should tick all the boxes as it\u2019s handmade in Bassano del Grappa.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Cons<\/h2>\n
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Could be a bit harsh for some on the rougher gravel roads.<\/li>\n
Several of the build options aren\u2019t as competitively priced as rivals.<\/li>\n
May not have enough mounts for some.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n
Sicily and the roads up Mt. Etna certainly make for one heck of a testing ground for the new Basso Palta, and that\u2019s precisely where the Italian brand amassed the reporters lucky enough to have the chance to test ride this new gravel bike. Not a shabby location for a winter shakeout ride, but the question is: is the bike not too shabby?<\/p>\n
I rode the Palta three in a \u201cmid range\u201d build for the product launch. Sram Force AXS EXPLR with Zipp 303s XPLR wheels.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Basso doesn\u2019t have any pro road teams using its bikes, and that\u2019s due to the brand\u2019s philosophy on road bike development, especially the SV model. That philosophy is that its bikes are designed for everyday performance riders who don\u2019t need the extreme design traits of a race bike. And that philosophy seems to be something that is has again carried over to the third generation of the Palta, its gravel offering. Basso\u2019s claim: \u201c..gravel isn\u2019t a choice between racing and exploring, it\u2019s both. The Palta is the singular answer to a fragmented market, a unique blend of performance and versatility packed into one iconic frame at its third generation.\u201d So with this in mind, what has it produced for the 2026 market? Let\u2019s jump in.<\/p>\n
The new Basso Pala is in it\u2019s third ittiration since it\u2019s launch in 2018.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
It\u2019s been five years since the second-generation Palta was released back in 2021; the Palta 2 was arguably its first proper gravel bike. Just take a look back at the Palta\u2019s first-generation model, and I\u2019m sure you\u2019ll agree it looks more akin to a cross bike than what a gravel bike is today. And that\u2019s understandable; over that time, gravel and the scene have become a defined discipline of its own, yes, multiple styles, but definitely its own thing. But the jump between the 2021 Palta and this model isn\u2019t quite as striking as the first two generations. Or at least at first glance, but delve a bit deeper and it\u2019s clear this is more than just a facelift.<\/p>\n
Yes the location for the product launch was spectacular, but the bike itself was worthy of taking on Mt Etna. Basso have hit on the same path for the Palta 3 as they did with their SV.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
As with every gravel bike, the first thing to be discussed on the cafe ride is the tire width, so let\u2019s kick off with that first. Just like many recently released gravel bikes, the Palta 3 doesn\u2019t shy away from healthy-sized rubber. Out rear, you\u2019ll be able to fit a 50mm tire with enough clearance for dirt shedding, or adding an extra few millimeters of rubber if you\u2019re on dry-packed surfaces (that\u2019s not official though), and upfront the fork allows for an official 52mm of tire clearance. Ok, now we have that out of the way, let\u2019s get on with the rest of the bike.<\/p>\n
There should be enough room up front for your favorite 52mm tire. If not, maybe you need to look for a XC MTB!<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
One thing that sets Basso bikes apart is that the brand produces all its frames in Italy. Carbon is sourced from Japan. For the Palta 3, Basso has used the ever-popular Toray, in this case a mix of T800, M40JB, and T700 (if that means anything to you).<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not a gravel bike without a storage box. The fidlock system worked great on our test ride.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Unlike much of the market, Basso has sidestepped many design trends and has focused on producing a bike that forgoes dropped stays and instead incorporates an \u201celbow\u201d design rear dropout that claims to provide a vertical flex point. It\u2019s not the first time we\u2019ve seen this design on a gravel bike, but it fits in with Basso\u2019s design aesthetics that it has adhered to across its range. This design language is best seen in how it has basically copied and pasted the downtube from the SV road model into the Palta 3. Aero-optimized, with a few extra design flourishes more suited to gravel.<\/p>\n
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For the Palta, Basso has partnered with Vibram \u2014 yes, those people usually seen on the soles of trail and hiking shoes \u2014 and developed a replaceable hard-rubber covering for the lower part of the down tube and the BB area. That SV-shaped downtube has also had a storage system added, which is now standard on gravel bikes. The included compartment, accessible via a Fidlock quick-release magnetic latch, includes two internal bags that fit inside the down tube: one large for bigger days and one small for carrying the bare essentials.<\/p>\n
Aero tubing designs have been carried over from the SV. <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The rest of the tube profiles are pretty much across the narrower but deeper in profile. This has resulted in an 18% reduction in frontal area over the Gen-2 bike. The head tube stiffness has, though, become slightly more compliant (according to the data shared with us), while the rear triangle and bottom bracket stiffness have increased. Frame weight now drops to a claimed 970 grams for a medium.<\/p>\n
Geometry sits as expected for a bike that wants to straddle the race and adventure market, somewhere in the middle. I\u2019ll delve into how I found this later in the first ride review. As for the fork, it\u2019s been completely redesigned. Weight now stands at 370 grams uncut, and the drive side includes clean, non-visible dropouts. There will be six frame sizes available, XS through 2XL.<\/p>\n
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Mounting points haven\u2019t been neglected: two on the top tube for a bolt-on bag (something I\u2019ll get to in a mo), plus three extra bolts on the underside of the top tube. In addition to the standard bottle cage mounts on the seat and down tube, there are two extra mounts on the underside of the downtube. You\u2019ll find no mounts on the fork legs, but this bike isn\u2019t designed for multi-day wilderness exploration.<\/p>\n
Bags? Yep, you can mount them. And they even do frame specific models.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
When it comes to storage, Basso has partnered with Apidura to develop frame-specific bags. In my case, the small top-tube bag (0.4l) had enough room for some gels and my DJI Pocket 3 camera, and a large bag. Then there are two frame bags, a small one at 1.4l and a large one at 2l.<\/p>\n
Another carryover from the rest of the Basso run is the 3B seatpost clamp assembly. The hidden bolt design incorporates a dense rubber bung that allows the seatpost to flex slightly. I found it worked well on the Sv when I reviewed it and was happy to see it included here.<\/p>\n
The frame is UHD as standard, UCI-approved, so yes, you can race on it, and it has a 5-year warranty.<\/p>\n
I got on with the Levita bars but think for some they may be too stiff.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
There are three bar\/stem options to choose from. The gravel-specific two-piece setup, with the gravel bar (available in 40, 42, 44, and 46cm with that flair at 12 degrees) is designed for those that want a bit more comfort. This is matched to the Strato alloy stem, available in lengths of 80-130mm, providing a combination that should fit most. If one piece is more your thing, you can choose between the two options: the Fuga is a more aero, race-oriented model. In one width, at 40cm center-to-center at the drops and 38 at the hoods, drop is 115mm and reach 65mm, with a lesser sweep than the gravel bar at 6 degrees. This comes in stem lengths of 80-130mm. If you\u2019re still after a one-piece bar but want something with a more classic design, a deeper drop, and longer reach, the Levita may be more up your street. This is available in 10 sizes and four bar widths. Both of these options are a straight carryover from their SV road bike.<\/p>\n
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Finally, the seatpost weighs 180g (380mm length) and comes in either a -15mm offset or a 0 \u00b0 offset.<\/p>\n
Continental Terra Trail 45 mm<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Shimano GRX 2\u00d712 820<\/span><\/td>\n
Microtech Grecale<\/span><\/td>\n
-15 mm \/ 0 mm<\/span><\/td>\n
Strato + Carbon Gravel<\/span><\/td>\n
Continental Terra Trail 45 mm<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Shimano GRX 2\u00d712 820<\/span><\/td>\n
Microtech MX25<\/span><\/td>\n
-15 mm \/ 0 mm<\/span><\/td>\n
Strato + Carbon Gravel<\/span><\/td>\n
Continental Terra Trail 45 mm<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Shimano GRX 2\u00d712 820<\/span><\/td>\n
Microtech Grecale<\/span><\/td>\n
-15 mm \/ 0 mm<\/span><\/td>\n
Strato + Carbon Gravel<\/span><\/td>\n
Continental Terra Trail 45 mm<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Shimano GRX 2\u00d712 820<\/span><\/td>\n
Microtech MX25<\/span><\/td>\n
-15 mm \/ 0 mm<\/span><\/td>\n
Strato + Carbon Gravel<\/span><\/td>\n
Continental Terra Trail 45 mm<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
There will be three color options to choose from initially: the eye-catching, glittery green Galaxy Dream, a Purple dust that is desert yellow with purple accents, and chrome black. In total, they\u2019ll be nine builds available, starting at $4795 \/ \u20ac3299 for the frame kit and topping out at $10,995 \/ \u20ac8499 for the SRAM Red AXs with Zipp 303 XPLR SW wheels. The particular bike I tested was built with SRAM Force and Zipp 303XPLR S wheels, which retail for $8995 \/ \u20ac6699.<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
Review: How the 3rd Gen Basso Palta Rides<\/h2>\n
This past year, I\u2019ve had the opportunity to throw a leg over a few new gravel bike offerings, and for most, they either fall into one of two camps: the race-ready type or the work-horse all-around gravel bike. The Basso seems to slip between the gap, which seems to be the brand\u2019s intent, but does this mean it\u2019s not ideal for either group? A miss-mash of needs but lacking in both areas, certainly not. If anything, it could be a bike that many of us have been looking for.<\/p>\n
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Let\u2019s start with its handling prowess, as it has a lot to offer in this department. Confidence, yep, it certainly supplies that, on and off road. It\u2019s not a bike that will have you turning your brain off and swooping through tricky corners with aplomb; the geometry isn\u2019t slack or long enough for that type of bashing about. Instead, with a racier tilt to the geo, it makes you feel nippy but not on your toes all the time. It forgives you for foolish mistakes while making you aware that you\u2019re in control, not the bike. I\u2019ll admit I\u2019m not the most skilled off-road rider, but I never felt like I was overcooking, even on the loose black dust that sits on Mt. Etna.<\/p>\n
Geometry-wise, it may feel a touch high on the front end for some when climbing steeper gradients, but for the most part, the fit and profile of the bike sit nicely under you, even with the top tube bag in place. I never felt I was riding an \u201cEndurance\u201d styled frameset, but rather a comfortable, fast bike \u2014 something that I\u2019m sure I said about theeir SV model when I tested it. It\u2019s geometry that feels planted yet not overly long.<\/p>\nThe Palta sings along on the road for a gravel bike with little understeer. <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Comfort is one aspect a gravel bike needs to offer, and as we probably all know by now, tire and pressure choice is generally far more important in this department than the bike itself. But saying that the Palta 3 is comfortable and forgiving, not the most forgiving I\u2019ve used, but more than bum and back easing on the terrain that I would think this is designed for. We hit a few seriously rough ruts on one particular descent on the first day of testing, and here I felt the stiffness of the carbon bars mixed with the fork definitely wasn\u2019t where it excelled. But I\u2019ll forgive the bike this, because I think we\u2019ve reached the point in gravel riding where the line between gravel and XC is diverging a lot. For instance, I\u2019ve spoken with many gravel pros who state that the terrain that you\u2019ll find at some more extreme Euro gravel events is now more suited to a hardtail mountain bikes that what adventure performance gravel can be designed for. On terrain that most sane people would class as gravel, be it semi-rough, root-strewen, rutted lanes or hard-packed soil, this thing will be more than at home in the comfort stakes.<\/p>\nConfidence inspiring on the loose dusty surface of Mt Etna.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
It wasn\u2019t until the outrageously gorgeous evening ride home, where we took in the descent of Mt Etna and some extra tarmac through the idyllic Sicilian towns, that I really realized its road capabilities. The descent of Etna is silky smooth with fast switchback after switchback, mixed with some rapid wide corners. I highly recommend you get it on your bucket list.<\/p>\n
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Usually, with gravel bikes, you have an under-steer due to the slacker head angle and fork rake that are designed for coping with the off-road sectors, but the Palta was without a doubt the best road handling gravel bike I\u2019ve used. Its handling felt on-point and precise. Again, it gave me the confidence to push it. In this case, it\u2019s a bike that could almost fall into the all-road category; it\u2019s a bike that I\u2019d happily use on a daily basis, unless I was hitting a fast group ride or a big old day out on the road. You\u2019d certainly feel its gravel traits in situations like that, I guess. But its outstanding and surprising handling on the road really had me wondering if this bike could replace a few bikes in the garage. Yes, climbing on the road isn\u2019t as whippy and responsive as a proper road bike, but you can\u2019t expect that. Saying that, not once did it feel lacking when climbing, for a gravel bike.<\/p>\n The mist didn\u2019t dampen the two days of testing the Palta in Sicily.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Basso has just like its year-old SV road model built a bike that caters to cyclists, not pros (though GVA is racing on it this year). It\u2019s a bike designed around what the average performance-oriented cyclist would want and need. It\u2019s not trying to fall into some niche part of the market, but offering a ride and characteristics that should appeal to those who want a gravel bike that hits that middle ground without feeling lacking. It\u2019s not trying to be extreme at the fringes of either the race or adventure markets, but rather offering a ride and features that I, for one, would be looking for in a gravel bike. I\u2019m not planning on getting my head down and racing gravel weekend after weekend, nor am I looking to head out for multi-day adventures in the roughest of terrain. But I am looking, and my guess is the mass market is looking for a bike that allows you to just have a bloody fun time every time you jump on it, and this is what it offers.<\/p>\n
Like saving money on great gear? Us too. That\u2019s why we developed this<\/i>\u00a0powerful tool that collects the best deals on cycling gear<\/i>\u00a0from across the internet in one convenient, searchable place.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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David Everett<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Updated February 12, 2026 02:10PM<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
[analyse_image type=”featured” src=”https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/basso-palta-road.jpg”] David Everett Updated February 12, 2026 02:10PM Pros Sure-footed but without the \u201csit back and relax\u201d traits that can come with adventure builds. Great performance on the road, with great handling in corners. If you\u2019re after a true Italian bike, the Palta should tick all the boxes as it\u2019s handmade in Bassano […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,71],"class_list":["post-1760166","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-velo-outsideonline-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1760166","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1760166"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1760166\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1760166"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1760166"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1760166"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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