80s Basso?

term1te

In the pantheon of Italian steel frame makers, where does Basso sit? I saw a rather sad 80s (?) Basso frame on a bike in the station bike park, and it got me thinking if this was a case of how the mighty have fallen, or if it was not that mighty to start with. It was probably once a very nice frame as it had chromed seat stays and lugs.

t4tomo

was its definately the manufacturer and not a model name?

I'm thinking Marino Basso, Italian sprinter, world road race champion in early 70's. Could be a "special edition" or endorsed model.

Monty Dog

Basso is the brand founded by the brother of Marino, Alcide. They have limited distribution in the UK but have never quite reached the accolades of Colnago, Pinarello, DeRosa or Masi for example and therefore don't really garner a premium for collectors or afficinados of Italian bikes - probably because they lack a pedigree of winning top races or being innovative.

genki

Marino Basso - World Champion in 1972

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwLM0EeRBOQ

You have to feel sorry for the guy caught on the line...

I worked with a guy who's flatmate was the brother's daughter and I nearly bought one of their frames last year. They looked really good, still made in Italy I think, but I just didn't want to buy without being able to try one first.

http://www.bassobikes.eu/en/home.html

giant_man

My LBS stocks them, they don't look bad frames tbh but as Monty says, they never reached the status of the other italian brands 'to have'.

ugo.santalucia

genki wrote:

Marino Basso - World Champion in 1972

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwLM0EeRBOQ

You have to feel sorry for the guy caught on the line...

I worked with a guy who's flatmate was the brother's daughter and I nearly bought one of their frames last year. They looked really good, still made in Italy I think, but I just didn't want to buy without being able to try one first.

http://www.bassobikes.eu/en/home.html

The guy caught on the line is Franco Bitossi, his nickname was "Cuore Matto" (crazy heart), to rhime a song by an Italian Elvis's clone, namely Little Tony... the reason for the nickname was he had a heart condition, a form of arrhythmia, which occasionally hampered him during races... he did enjoy some majestic victories... won the Tour of Lombardy twice and wore the Green Jersey in Paris, but he also suffered some disappointing defeats, like this one where he lost the Worlds on the line... a race which he had practically won, was it not for his "crazy heart".