CyclistThe new Basso Palta wants to be everything to all ridersFive years after the launch of the previous Palta gravel bike, Basso has announced the new Basso new Palta III, which is said to balance adventure with performance in a bid to become a one-bike solution for most gravel needs.The Palta IIIs bottom bracket and rear triangle are claimed to have increased in stiffness, while Basso says a down tube inspired by its SV road bike,among other tube profile revisions, helps reduce the frontal area of the bike to bolster aerodynamics. The complete framesets weight has also dropped to a claimed 960g, achieved through revised tube shaping and component alterations.At the same time, head tube stiffness is said to be reduced, for better front-end comfort, and a shorter seat tube coupled with a proprietary clamp system attempts to balance comfort at the rear as well.Tyre clearance gets bumped up to 50mm, and a storage hatch is added for extra versatility.Each Palta comes with a five-year warranty, with five spec levels available in the US and EU and three for the British market. UK builds offer both SRAM and Shimano groupsets, with prices ranging from 3,999 to 5,399.Lighter, faster, stifferBassoBy switching up the carbon layup and reducing component size in places, the new Palta has managed to shave some weight from its predecessor. Now tipping the scales at 940g in a medium size (54cm), the brand claims the frameset is 270g lighter than the 2021 iteration.There have been considerable revisions in stiffness too. The bottom bracket and rear triangle have increased in stiffness by 19% and 12%, respectively, while the head tube has decreased by 15% to better handle rough terrain.This came from feedback we had from our riders, Bassos product and marketing manager Leonardo Basso says. They had the feeling that the bike could have been better at transferring power, but on technical and bumpy descents, having less rigidity on the front end would allow better handling on the bike and foster confidence. On a bumpy curve, for example, you should be able to feel the bike copy the terrain better than the previous Palta.Higher stack, shorter seat tubeBassoIn terms of geometry, the stack has been increased by 5mm on all sizes for a more upright and controlled riding position. Furthermore, the new Palta can be built without spacers, so it can now be set up with a slammed stem to achieve a more aggressive setup.On medium, large and extra large frames, the seat tube has been reduced by 20mm to enable more of the seatpost to be exposed. This works alongside the brands own shock absorbant 3B Clamp System, bolted into the seatpost, will work together to add flex and compliance on bumpier ground.At the rear end of the bike, the chainstays have been lengthened by 5mm to accommodate wider tyres on the rear. That takes the Paltas maximum rear clearance to 50mm tyres, with 52mm the new threshold on the front.Trickle-down from the roadBassoWhile the Palta retains a similar look to its predecessor, theres plenty of inspiration from the brands top-end SV road bike to be found in the bikes tube profiles.Most noticeably, the Palta III borrows the same down tube shape from the SV, released in 2025, which Basso says improves stiffness, aerodynamics and weight management. In an age of aero-driven claims, the brand says the thinner down tube profile was a conscious choice to minimise frontal area. Throughout the front-end, the brand has applied a truncated airfoil tube design to improve airflow, with the most drastic changes coming to the down tube and fork profile.These SV-inspired changes have resulted in a claimed 18% reduction in frontal area compared to its predecessor. Although Basso doesnt provide any wind-tunnel stats, this reduction should improve aerodynamic performance over the previous generation Palta.Cockpit changesBassoThe trickledown from the Basso SV continues around the cockpit as the Paltas new Strato stem borrows elements from the Fuga cockpit fitted on the SV. As a result, the stems weight has been slimmed down to 250g, with further improvements made to the mechanisms security and adjustability. These changes mean you can remove the stem without re-routing the cables.The stock handlebar, on the other hand, is far closer in feel to the previous Palta. The only change here is a slight narrowing in the tube profile to accomodate a thicker 4.5mm bar tape wrapped onto the two-piece setups.If youre looking for an integrated cockpit, however, you can upgrade to the one-piece Fuga and Levita handlebars upon initial purchase. Introduced as part of the SVs roll-out, the 300g Fuga offers a more aggressive option at a 6 flare, while the 330g Levita offers a shallower flare at 4. The Fuga also has an 11.7mm shorter reach and 5mm shallower drop than the Levita.Apidura bike bags and down tube storageBassoBag brand Apidura has come on board to create a pair of abrasion-resistant and waterproof bags for the new Palta. Two of the custom-made packs come included with each build, including the standalone frameset.The streamlined framebag hangs from the top tube and is available in two sizes, depending on the frame size. For XS to M frames, it houses 1.4L in volume, while L to XXL frame sizes come equipped with a 2L bag. The other pouch comes in a smaller size and is more rigid in feel. Its mounted using a bolt-on attachment above the top tube, just behind the headset.Alongside the Apidura bags included in each build, the Palta comes furnished with a down tube storage unit. This has been upgraded to include a carbon cover, which is said to have contributed to some of the extra grams saved in frame weight.We wanted to keep this component in carbon as it allowed more stiffness around the bottle, Basso says It also means it can be painted because we wanted a seamless integration. We also managed to do this by controlling the tolerances through a Fidlock magnetic latch, which has three levels of adjustability to ensure the fit is snug and secure.Vibram down tube guardBassoBasso has welcomed Italian shoe brand Vibram to supply the Palta with a rubber down tube cover to protect the underside of the bike from damage caused by the rough terrain.The down tube protector is bolted onto the frame using the underside of the down tube bottle mount. It uses the same material as Vibrams soles, but is thinner in profile.Basso Palta III specs and pricingBassoIn the EU and US, Basso is offering builds with groupsets across SRAM and Shimanos gravel ranges, including the pairs top Red XPLR and GRX Di2. Apart from the premium SRAM Red spec, which comes with a Zipp XPLR SW wheelset, all other EU and US builds are paired with Bassos in-house Microtech wheels.The components offered to UK customers will be slightly different. The three British builds come with either SRAM Force XPLR AXS, Shimano GRX Di2 and Shimanos mechanical GRX and a pair of Miche wheels. The prices in the UK range from 3,999 to 5,399.The standalone frameset is available for customers in the US and EU, costing 3,299/$4,795, which includes the two Apidura bags and down tube protector.Each bike is assembled on order, so customers have the choice of two different setback options on the seatpost (-15mm or 0mm), six stem lengths (80-130mm) and additional handlebar and wheel upgrades for a small increase in price. The frame is available in six sizes (50-60mm) and three colourways: carbon chrome, purple dust and galaxy dream.UK specs and pricesBassoBasso Palta III SRAM Force XPLR AXSGroupset: SRAM Force XPLR AXS (1x 13-speed)Wheels: Miche Graff Aero 48Price: 5,399Basso Palta III Shimano GRX Di2 112Groupset: Shimano GRX Di2 (1x 12-speed)Wheels: Miche Graff Aero 48Price: 4,699Basso Palta III Shimano GRX 112Groupset: Shimano GRX (1x 12-speed)Wheels: Miche Graff XLPrice: 3,999EU and US specs and pricesBassoBasso Palta framesetFrame and Fork: Palta III, Torayca CarbonPrice: 3,299 / $4,795Basso Palta III SRAM Red XPLR 113Frame and Fork: Palta III, Torayca CarbonGroupset: SRAM Red XPLR, 10-46t (1x 13-speed)Saddle: Fizik Vento Argo X5Tyres: Pirelli Cinturato M 700 x 45 mmWheels: ZIPP 303 XPLR SWPrice: 8,499 / $10,995Basso Palta III Shimano GRX 825 212 DI2Frame and Fork: Palta III, Torayca CarbonGroupset: Shimano GRX 825, 11-34t (2x 12-speed)Saddle: Fizik Vento Argo X5Tyres: Continental Terra Trail 700 x 45 mmWheels: Microtech MX25Price:4,999 / $6,795Basso Palta III SRAM Force XPLR 113Frame and Fork: Palta III, Torayca CarbonGroupset: SRAM Force XPLR, 10-46t (1x 13-speed)Saddle: Fizik Vento Argo X5Tyres: Pirelli Cinturato M 700 x 45 mmWheels: Microtech MX25Price: 5,399 / $7,295Basso Palta III Shimano GRX 212 820Frame and Fork: Palta III, Torayca CarbonGroupset: Shimano GRX 820, 11-34t (2x 12-speed)Saddle: Fizik Vento Argo X5Tyres: Continental Terra Trail 700 x 45 mmWheels: Microtech MX25Price: 4,399 / $5,995Basso Palta III Shimano GRX 112 820Frame and Fork: Palta III, Torayca CarbonGroupset: Shimano GRX 820, 10-51t (1x 12-speed)Saddle: Fizik Vento Argo X5Tyres: Continental Terra Trail 700 x 45 mmWheels: Microtech MX25Price: 4,299 / $5,995The post The new Basso Palta wants to be everything to all riders appeared first on Cyclist.