fiataccompli

A friend of mine is considering the bike in the photos below. I'm guessing '84 Basso - Aelle (?) TriTubi (?) Columbus tubing, Record hubs with Mavic tubular rims, NR RD/FD, Campy shifters, Ofmega 42/52-170 crank, Cinelli stem, Modolo brakes + levers, paint is probably 8/10, but has some rust (nothing bad or rust-belt like) on the bottom side of the BB and the two top tube cable guides...otherwise nice paint. Seat only a backing - no cover. Assuming it is functional, but hasn't been used as a bike in 15+ years? Tubulars are cracked and dry-rotted but hold air. Size is 56cm (c-t) seat tube / 55(c-c) top tube. $150? $200? $750?







It's a pretty bike that's hard not to appreciate, but it looks like frame/component-wise it's sort of a mid-pack market machine.

thinktubes 

Probably between $250 and $300 in that condition.

I few years back, a sold a 56 cm Tretubi Faggin for $350. It was ready to ride and had a mix of Suntour Superbe and Sprint.

Bianchigirll 

Nice looking bike. Midrange model like a Bianchi Campione de Italia. New tubulars $50+, new saddle $45+, overhaul you $80ish shop $100+

I think $350 to 400 is OK

Giacomo 1 

That bike is worth $500 - $800 IMHO.

That is a Basso Gap model, and it would have an SL frame. This is one great rider, very fast and quick handling machine. I find it hard to ride mine easy. I always want to push it harder and go faster. The one the OP is looking at looks very nice, the paint looks great with few scratches showing and the decals are good as well. While the group is a mixed one, none of the parts are bad at all.

Basso is one of the great underated Italians, and I've never heard anything bad about these bikes from anyone...

chrismorg

nice bike panto frame sl tobing I think that back brake bridge is around 86-87

Bianchigirll 

I would like to see the other side of the tubing decal. $800 for SL and mix bag od CampI, Modolo, and Ofmega? that should make the Mondiale I have on ebay with full Athena worth $1200

Chombi

As it looks and with the component mix, 500 tops, if it is indeed at least an SL frame. Good thing is, a buyer does not have to do too much to get that bike looking and working really nicely (and raise its value)....kinda a "diamond in the rough"....

Giacomo 1 

Basso's don't usually go for a song. Check out e-bay. They have real value and are often selling north of my high end price. Gaps, which this model is, always used SL tubing, never Aelle or lesser tubing.

fiataccompli

So the tre tubi means SL main tubes?

lostarchitect 

Reasonably, $400-$500, IMO. but as you can see in this thread, you might be able to get an Italian bike nut to spend more if you're patient.

iptem3000

A guy has been trying to sell a similar spec bike in my area at $675 for months. I suspect $500 and he would have sold it but who knows what will happen in the spring...

Beautiful but not more than $500 IMHO

KonAaron Snake 

I'd say 500 on my area CL, 700 on eBay. Nice fame, parts mish mosh.

Bianchigirll 

Im my experience they don't. I see the same NOS frames hanging out on ebay for years. I almost had to give away a SL Basso with Athena and ended up swapping the parts to different frame and trading the Basso frame and managed to squeak out $200ish for the Rossin I got in trade and I am still out a HS on the Basso/Rossin trade

In general I belive yes TreTubi would mean the mains tubes are Columbus but I don't think gaurantees the stays are the next grae down or even Columbus tubes.


Aron I forgot to quoate you; I think depending on the market yes $500 may be possible but not in that condition. The parts may be "mish mosh" but I belive that is a pretty common mix from that era for a $600-700 bike no?

KonAaron Snake 

You could be right BG, but it's still a reasonably well known SL Italian...complete. I think I could get $500 for it in Philly.

KS_rider

The first number of the frame code is the year of manufacture. If it has Columbus SL tubing it is likely late 1980's. Early 1980's had chromed chain stays, fork mounts and crowns like my 1984 Basso Gap. For more info try writing to info@bassobikes.com

fiataccompli

to follow up on a slightly defunct thread here, it turns out the persona had two of these...or, rather, two brothers had identical bikes. So, long story short, the person who asked me about this one has a bare frame (maybe a headset installed)...same model, same size, paint is a bit worse for wear but no dents/dings so I'm told. Value for a bare frame?

KS_rider

With the rust and scratches on that I wouldn't give more than $200. If you note the pic of the one I picked up last year, which was NOS, zero scratches, no rust, no dings only one fork decal partially rubbed away. I was guessing it would be worth about $400-$500 in that condition but I got it for far less. Incidentally, I liked it so much I am getting another one. It has some rust speckles on the chromed chain stays and some surface rusting inside the frame which will get treated with weigl, but the paint is perfect. The cost is going to be under $100.

fiataccompli

OK...that's a good data point for certain. thanks.

gioscinelli 

Great Italian frame and sells well in the USA! In Italy not a good a seller, because the name Basso in Italian is "
bottom, inferiore, basso, sotto, ultimo!

KS_rider

If you can take the bare frame down to a bike shop and get the frame alignment and dropout checked and they look good. As a bare frame, it would be a great candidate for a new paint job and new decals. Perhaps costing you another $200? These are nice riding frames and a new paint job&decals (off of e-bay) would make a night&day difference in appearance.

KonAaron Snake 

The frame value depends a lot on where you are...I'd say 200-300 on eBay. Frames are hard to sell on CL and it depends on your market.

Rocketrobo

It looks good. in my opinion , it costs about 200

joe englert

alot depends on the tubing. if tre tubi....not much more than 350.00. if sl tubing..around 5-600.00

fiataccompli

so, a Gap could be either tre tubi or SL?

bassomatic5000

Sorry to be late to the party but I purchased this model 30 years ago (same color scheme, too). I'm not sure of the actual model name but it NOT a GAP frame.

I had both bikes: a GAP frame(which I let go for a song...wish I had not) and this model which I used for extensive training rides. The non-GAP model pictured was the model I used most (54cm) and was as smooth as silk and stood up to rough treatment, including a few crashes. The BB was not as stiff as the GAP version (obviously) but could withstand sprint bursts once you got it up on the big ring with rapid cadence.

The Columbus TRETUBI insignia meant the the main triangle was Columbus SL while the rest was high-carbon steel (lesser quality but still tough as nails), a "builder's choice" of sorts. If it were a GAP frame you would see chrome on the stays, butt ends or forks. Also, this model has a Campy Nuovo Record derailleur, down tube shifter package, OFMEGA (CAMPY knock-off) crank-set and head-set along Modolo Equipe brake set. The GAP would have had at least CAMPY cranks and/or the Modolo Master Pro brake-set used by Greg LeMond to win the World's the year before.




I love the styling and the vintage Basso is sort of hidden gem from the time-period. I have no idea how to price these now but I will never sell the one I pulled out of moth balls and I'm riding today.

Here are some pre-restoration pics.