Gilera

Year of foundation 1909

The history of motorcycle manufacturer Gilera is a fascinating chapter in Italian motorcycling, rich in innovation and sporting success. I'll tell you about the key milestones of this iconic brand.

The Beginnings and the Golden Era

1909: The story begins in Milan, when Giuseppe Gilera (born Giuseppe Gellera) founded his workshop and built his first motorcycle, the VT 317. It was a 317cc single-cylinder capable of reaching 100 km/h, a remarkable speed for the time.
1920s and 1930s: Gilera established itself in competition with its 500cc side-valve motorcycles. In the following years, overhead-valve models arrived, such as the Quattro Bulloni 500.
The Rondine and the World Record: 1936 marked a turning point with the birth of the Rondine, a futuristic racing motorcycle. Equipped with a 500cc inline-four-cylinder supercharged engine, it set a world speed record in 1937, reaching 274.181 km/h. The Rondine also triumphed in the 1939 European Championship.

Post-war triumphs and the Saturno

1946: After World War II, Gilera introduced the legendary Saturno 500, which would become an icon of Italian motorcycling. Produced in several versions (Competizione, Corsa, Sport, and Turismo), the Saturno was a success both on the road and on the track.

The 1950s and the World Championships: This was Gilera's golden decade in the MotoGP World Championship. With its powerful 500cc four-cylinder machines, the brand dominated the premier class, engaging in epic duels. Between 1950 and 1957, Gilera won six riders' world titles with champions such as Umberto Masetti, Geoff Duke, and Libero Liberati, and six manufacturers' world titles.

1957: Despite its successes, Gilera withdrew from road racing due to high costs, while maintaining a strong commitment to off-road racing.
1969: Gilera was acquired by the Piaggio Group. Under the new ownership, the brand was relaunched with new models and a broader range, including mopeds and off-road motorcycles.
1980s and 1990s: Gilera continued to produce successful models, particularly in the small and medium-displacement range, such as the SP-01/SP-02 series and the CX 125. In 1993, production moved from the historic Arcore plant to Pontedera.
Successes in 2000: The brand returned to victory in the MotoGP World Championship, particularly in the 250cc class, with Marco Simoncelli winning the world title in 2008.

Today, the Gilera brand is owned by the Piaggio Group and has made an indelible contribution to some of the most glorious chapters in the history of two-wheeled motorcycles.