Mention Gilera and most people think of the exotic four cylinder racers that began in the 1920s as the GRB Rondine (Swallow) – a double overhead camshaft four cylinder, supercharged design set across the frame, with water cooling, which by the outbreak of WW2 was putting out 80 horsepower and capable of 140 mph.
Stripped of its supercharging and air cooled post-war, the Rondine, which had become part of the Gilera empire in 1935, swept all before it bringing 500cc World Championships to Umberto Masetti, Geoff Duke and Libero Liberati. But what filled Gilera’s coffers were not such race track exotica, but basic, reliable fare designed to appeal to the everyday rider.
Giuseppe Gilera was just 15 years of age when he began work at the Bianchi factory in Milan, and by 22 he had started his eponymous motorcycle company at Marzo near Milan. His first design was in 1909 – essentially a bicycle powered by a 317cc single with mechanically operated overhead valves and final drive by belt. Even prior to WW1, Gilera had produced their own V-twin, and the first of the Saturno (Saturn) singles – a line of overhead valve five hundreds that would continue for decades. The Saturno also marked the beginning of the company’s practice of naming its models after planets.
Featured on website https://www.tanksandtailpipes.co/#/ found at – Tanks & Tailpipes, 61 Louee Street, Rylstone. We’d be welcoming you with open arms should your club like to arrange a ride out to us in Rylstone. Our shop is a great destination for a run, if you want to stay the night both of our pubs cater to motorcycle riders with bike parking undercover. We also sell car and motorcycle enthusiast gear, and finally a shop for us!
A new factory was built after the war at Arcore, a stone’s through from the Royal Park that would soon be home to the famous Monza racing circuit, and the first model off the line was a 350cc single with inlet-over-exhaust valve arrangement called the Turismo. Two versions were available, producing 8 and 10 horsepower respectively. The later Gran Sport was even quicker but the models that really kept the accountants happy were the side valves – cheaper to produce and service and capable of long life. These came in models from 247cc (the L and the LE), and the V Range, all 500s, made from 1935 to the outbreak of WW2. The 500cc side valve engine was stretched to 600cc to power the commercial Moto Carri light truck.
