Basso Palta III Review: A Gravel Race Bike For The Speed Merchants

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Cycling Weekly tested the Basso Palta III, a carbon gravel bike designed around speed, on dry Peak District terrain. The review describes it as fast and stiff, with useful integrated storage, but flags the narrow cockpit, mud-exposed seatpost-clamp bolts and limited grip-focused tyre setup as considerations. The supplied report does not include a final score or price.

Cycling Weekly’s review of the Basso Palta III describes the carbon gravel bike as fast and notably stiff during testing on dry Peak District terrain. The report assesses a race-oriented build with SRAM Force XPLR AXS, aero wheels and narrow one-piece handlebars, while also pointing to practical details that may affect riders choosing it for rougher or muddier conditions.

The test bike paired a 1x SRAM Force XPLR AXS groupset with a 10-46T cassette and Miche Graff Aero 48 carbon wheels. The reviewer said the drivetrain’s levers were comfortable and the cassette’s gear jumps were manageable, particularly at the lower end. Schwalbe G-One R tubeless-ready tyres were fitted, a choice the report characterises as aimed more at dry-trail speed than muddy grip.

Cycling Weekly reports that the Palta III frame weighs 970 grams in a size medium, according to Basso. The frame has a stated tyre clearance of up to 50mm, an integrated storage compartment secured by a Fidlock magnetic latch, and mounting points on the top tube, down tube and underside of the top tube. It is UDH-compatible; the tested UK build was a 1x setup, although the frame can accommodate a front derailleur.

The reviewer found the bike quick, but also stiffer on rough trails than the more comfortable Handsling A1R0evoG ridden beforehand. The test bike’s one-piece handlebar measured 37cm across at the centre and 33cm at the hoods, with a 110mm stem. The report notes that buyers may be able to change the cockpit choice at purchase. It also raises a maintenance concern: the two small 3mm bolts on the seatpost clamp sit where rear-wheel mud can reach them.

Speed Comes With Setup Trade-Offs

The review matters to riders comparing race-focused gravel bikes because it looks beyond the Palta III’s aerodynamic appearance and component list to describe how the bike behaved on the ground. The reviewer’s account suggests that its stiffness and speed suit fast riding, while its response on rougher trails may be less comfortable than a more compliant option.

Conditions and setup are important qualifications. The test took place during a warm, dry summer, and the reviewer cautioned that the tyres might be less suited to autumn mud. That is a reported concern, not a finding from a muddy-condition test. The cockpit dimensions and exposed clamp bolts are practical points for prospective buyers to weigh alongside the bike’s speed-oriented build.

A Race-Focused Third Palta

Basso Bikes was founded in Italy in 1977 by engineer and cyclist Alcide Basso, according to the report. Cycling Weekly distinguishes the company from Ivan Basso’s separate bike brand, Aurum. The Palta III reviewed here is described as Basso’s premium gravel bike, rather than the less expensive Palta model.

The report says the Palta III draws on the company’s road-bike design, with shapes Basso calls “diamond-shaped” and features intended to reduce frontal area and increase stiffness around the bottom bracket. The size-medium geometry figures cited are a 370mm reach and 570mm stack, alongside a 430mm rear end and 70-degree head angle. The review says the reach and stack have shifted toward a shorter, higher position than on the previous version.

For UK buyers, the review lists builds with Campagnolo Record X, Shimano GRX or GRX Di2, and SRAM Force XPLR AXS. The test bike used the SRAM option. Sizes run from XS to XXL, and the report lists three finishes: Purple Dust, Galaxy Dream and Carbon Chrome.

“My first thought about the bike was its speed, followed pretty quickly by its stiffness.”

— Cycling Weekly reviewer

Limits of the Dry-Weather Test

The supplied report describes riding in warm, dry summer conditions; it does not establish how the bike performs in deep mud, prolonged wet weather or every type of gravel. The reviewer’s concern that the G-One R tyres may struggle in autumn slop is a caution about their intended use, not a result from a wet-weather test.

The source material provided here ends partway through the performance section. It does not include the review’s complete ride assessment, final verdict, score, price or full component specification. Those details cannot be confirmed from the material available, and the frame’s stated 50mm clearance should not be read as evidence that every tyre at that width will fit in every configuration.

Check Build and Fit Before Buying

Riders considering the Palta III can compare the available UK builds and confirm their preferred cockpit configuration with a retailer. They should check fit carefully, particularly the narrow dimensions of the tested one-piece bar, and confirm tyre clearance for the specific tyre and wheel combination they intend to use.

The supplied review does not state a publication date or identify a further test. Its account leaves wet-weather performance and the full final verdict unresolved, so buyers looking for those details will need the complete review or additional testing under conditions that match their usual riding.

Key Questions

What is the Basso Palta III?

The Palta III is Basso’s premium gravel bike, built around a carbon frame and a race-oriented design. The review distinguishes it from the cheaper Palta model.

How did the Palta III perform in the review?

Cycling Weekly describes it as fast and stiff on dry Peak District routes. The reviewer also found it less comfortable over rough trails than the Handsling bike ridden beforehand.

What groupset was on the test bike?

The test bike used SRAM Force XPLR AXS in a 1x setup, with a 10-46T cassette. The report also lists UK builds with Campagnolo Record X, Shimano GRX and GRX Di2.

Is the Palta III suited to muddy riding?

The review tested the bike in warm, dry conditions, not mud. Its reviewer says the fitted Schwalbe G-One R tyres are aimed more at dry-trail speed than muddy grip, so wet-weather performance remains untested in the supplied report.

What practical concerns did the reviewer identify?

The reviewer noted the very narrow one-piece handlebar and small 3mm seatpost-clamp bolts that could collect mud. The bike has integrated in-frame storage and multiple frame mounts, but no fork mounts, according to the report.

Source: rss