First bike!

billyryanwilliams

Hi guys,
I am currently in the process of buying my first bike and have found a Basso Coral for £250! I've had a google around and haven't found much about the bike which is making me feel a bit apprehensive about pulling the trigger! What are peoples experiences with Basso bikes? The owner claims that it cost £1000 new so I could be getting a bargain, have they rebranded their range "Coral" with "Reef"?

Thanks in advance

Billy

robd75

Hi Billy,
I had a Basso Devil a few years back and it was a good bike. I believe that the Coral is a very old model ie 90's so verging on retro now. Without a link or picture not a 100%. For £250 and being your first road bike, I personally would recomend you look for something a bit more modern

billyryanwilliams

I have attached a picture of the bike. It does not look retro, hence my confusion. The bike includes pedals, shoes and a helmet so I am valuing the bike itself at around £180.

MichaelW

Is that campanolo 8, 9 or 10 speed.
Older 8 speed cassettes are hard to find, only Miche make them and they are a specialist item.

billyryanwilliams

All I know is that it has 21 gears (as a newbie I don't know what speed this would make it) Obviously going to view it before purchasing.

robd75

Well it's not retro! Looks decent enough and I don't think you will go far wrong for £250.
How many chain rings are at the front? The number of speeds refers to the number of cogs on the rear cassette. If it is 2 chainrings at the front it can't be 21 gears as it is only double the number of speeds if that makes sense?

billyryanwilliams

In that sense the only thing it could be is a triple, with 7 speed? And I think I will go for it. Tbh if worst comes to worse I can keep the helmet and shoes and sell it on for £150 if I can't get anything else for it!

robd75

I doubt it would be a 7 speed triple, I don't think they would put that on a road bike and certainly not on a £1000 one. My bet is a 10 speed cassette with double chainring. Looks good value to me

billyryanwilliams

Can you explain how a 10 speed double makes 21 gears? More for my general knowledge than me buying the bike! Thanks for all the help guys, much appreciated!

robd75

It doesn't make 21 it makes 20. I just meant it was unlikely to be a 7 speed triple on a road bike and the picture looks like it is a double not triple chain ring. I may well be wrong as it is not that clear in the picture and it may be a triple with a 7 but that would be very unusal.

billyryanwilliams

Oh okay that makes more sense! I thought my basic maths had gone wrong somewhere! Thanks

robd75

Did you go for the bike in the end?