Gilera was founded in 1909 in a small town called Arcore by Giuseppe Gilera. Right from 1909 to 1969, the company was very successful and went on to produce a large number of motorcycles. Gilera motorbikes produced during this period were known for their powerful supercharged engine and speed. It was during this period that the company went on to win several world championships in motor racing. In 1969, it was acquired by Piaggio, a very popular Italian motorcycle manufacturer.
The founder of Gilera, Giuseppe Gilera, was an ardent motorized vehicle enthusiast. He made a motorized bicycle in 1909, when he was just 22 years of age. During the 20s and 30s, he got into racing with his brother Luigi. What was particularly notable about Gilera motorbikes was the supercharged 500 cc engine, which was extremely powerful and reliable. It made the bikes a dream come true for racers, which was evident from the fact that the company won the European Championship in the 1939. During this race, Piero Taruffi, the rider, managed to attain 170 mph on a custom made Gilera bike, which was simply unimaginable at that time. After the Second World War, it stopped producing the supercharged engines, due to the ban on superchargers.
After World War II, Gilera started producing Saturno, a sturdy, 500cc, single cylinder bike with a stylish new design. The model was quite successful and went on to win a lot of championships for the company. During this period, Gilera went on to win the 500 cc road racing world championship six times.
However, there was a sharp decline in motorcycle sales during the post war era due to a number of reasons, one of which being the exploding popularity of automobiles. So, in an effort to cut down the costs, Giuseppe Gilera decided to quit Grand Prix racing in 1957. In 1969, the company was acquired by Piaggio, which is now the fourth largest producer of scooters and motorcycles in the world.
Gilera produces a wide range of scooters and maxi scooters that come with a variety of features. The standout models include the Fuoco and the GP800. The Fuoco is an incredibly stylish three-wheeled scooter that comes with two front wheels and one back wheel. Thanks to this innovative design, there is absolutely no risk of front end skid, which makes it an ideal vehicle for both experienced riders and novices.
The GP800, on the other hand, is a vehicle that blurs the line between a motorcycle and a scooter. It comes with an extremely powerful twin cylinder engine and is known for its excellent power-to-weight ratio. These two are considered the flagship models among Gilera scooters today.