Editing Gilera

{{Short description|Italian motorcycle manufacturer}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Gilera
| logo = [[Image:Gilera logo.svg|130px|Gilera logo]]
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| caption = 
| founder = Giuseppe Gilera
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1909}}, [[Milan]]
| location_city = [[Pontedera]]
| location_country = Italy
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = 
| num_employees = 
| industry = [[Motorcycle]] and [[Scooter (motorcycle)|Scooter]]
| products = 
| revenue = 
| parent = [[Piaggio]]
| dissolved = {{End date and age|2020|df=yes}}
| net_income = 
| homepage = {{URL|gilera.com}}
}}
[[Image:Gilera 600.jpg|thumb|Gilera 600 SuperSport]]
[[Image:Gilera 150 Sport of 1954.jpg|thumb|1954 Gilera 150 Sport]]

'''Gilera''' is an Italian [[motorcycle]] manufacturer founded in [[Arcore]] in 1909 by Giuseppe Gilera (1887–1971). In 1969, the company was purchased by  [[Piaggio]].

==History==
Giuseppe Gilera founded his self-named motorcycle company in 1909 (aged 22) near [[Milan]], [[Italy]]. His first model used a 317cc single-cylinder [[overhead-valve]] engine (67x90mm bore/stroke) with a single-speed belt drive in a simple open frame with the engine as a [[Motorcycle frame|stressed member]] of the frame, and no suspension. It produced 7&nbsp;hp, weighed 75&nbsp;kg, and had a top speed of 105&nbsp;km/h (65&nbsp;mph).<ref>Gilera: the Complete Story. Mick Walker, 2000. Crowood Press</ref>

Gilera subsequently produced a series of V-twins and single-cylinder models with [[Flathead engine|sidevalve]], [[IOE engine|F-head]], and overhead-valve configurations. After WW1, the factory was moved to [[Arcore]], between Milan and [[Lecco]], very near the [[Monza Circuit|Monza]] racing circuit.  Racing was always a focus for the brand, with Giusseppe's brother Luigi a successful [[International Six Days Enduro|ISDT]] participant in the early 1930s. 
<ref>Gilera: the Complete Story: pages 10-12. Mick Walker, 2000. Crowood Press.</ref>
After withdrawing from competition in 1957, Gilera changed direction abruptly. They downplayed their hitherto successful line of four-stroke singles and began to focus on motocross and off-road events in association with independent specialist Elmeca. Sales declined through the 1960s and by 1968 the company was in receivership.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cormier |first1=Jason |title=Gilera CX125 |url=https://www.odd-bike.com/2013/06/gilera-cx125-beginning-future.html |website=www.odd-bike.com |access-date=26 August 2019}}</ref>

In 1969, Gilera became part of the Piaggio group. In 1992, Gilera made a return to the Grand Prix arena and Piaggio continues to produce small-displacement motorcycles with the Gilera name. The famous factory of [[Arcore]] was closed in 1993 and now the motorcycles (only scooters) bearing the name Gilera are produced by Piaggio in Pontedera.

==Racing history==
In 1935, Gilera acquired rights to the CNA Rondine. It had double-over-head camshafts, forced-inducting supercharger and was water-cooled, producing {{Convert|80|hp|abbr=on|order=flip}}@9000 and had a top speed of {{Convert|140|mph|abbr=on}}.<ref name=first>{{cite web |url=https://www.motorcycleclassics.com/classic-italian-motorcycles/classic-gilera-motorcycles/1939-gilera-500-rondine-zm0z18jfzhur//|last=Hamish |first=Cooper |title=Radical Rondine: 1939 Gilera 500 Rondine | magazine=[[Motorcycle Classics]]|access-date=April 13, 2018|date= January 2018  }}</ref> This formed the basis for Gilera' s racing machines for nearly forty years. From the mid-thirties, Gilera developed a range of [[four-stroke]] engine machines. The engines ranged from 100 to 500&nbsp;cc, the most famous being the 1939 Saturno. Designed by Giuseppe Salmaggi, the Saturno was inspired by the pre-war Gilera VTEGS 500&nbsp;cc “Otto Bulloni” yet was quite different due to its unit construction.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/wheels-on-reels/the-gilera-saturno.aspx|title=The Gilera Saturno|publisher=[[Motorcycle Classics]]|access-date=2011-03-11|date=February 2011|author=James Adam Bolton}}</ref>[[File:BISILURO TARF I Gilera.jpg|thumb|Twin-torpedo bodied Gilera T<small>ARF</small>

I (late 1940s - early 1950s)]]
{{unreferenced section|date=December 2012}}
After World War II, Gilera dominated [[Grand Prix motorcycle racing]], winning the 500&nbsp;cc [[road racing]] [[List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champions|world championship]] six times in eight years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gilera Story |url=https://press.piaggiogroup.com/en_EN/post/show/126644/gilera-story.html |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=press.piaggiogroup.com |language=en}}</ref> Facing a downturn in motorcycle sales due to the increase in the popularity of automobiles after the war, Gilera made a gentleman's agreement with the other Italian motorcycle makers to quit Grand Prix racing after the [[1957 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1957]] season as a cost-cutting measure.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Motorcycletist |first=The Old |date=2022-02-21 |title=L'histoire de la Gilera 4 cylindres - Partie 2 |url=https://theoldmotorcycletist.com/2022/02/21/lhistoire-de-la-gilera-4-cylindres-partie-2/ |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=TOM {{!}} The Old Motorcycletist |language=fr-FR}}</ref>

The 1957 500&nbsp;cc machines on which former World Champion rider [[Geoff Duke]] had much success were resurrected in 1963, but with the benefit of newer, upgraded Tyre technology of the 1960s were considered still competitive. The team was devised by Duke to challenge the domination of [[Mike Hailwood]] on the MV and had early successes with riders [[Derek Minter]] and teammate [[John Hartle]] at [[Silverstone Circuit|Silverstone]], [[Brands Hatch]] and [[Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari|Imola]], Italy.

In May 1963 Minter suffered serious injuries when racing a [[Manx Norton|Norton]] at Brands Hatch, and his place in the team for the TT races was taken by [[Phil Read]], who came third to second-place teammate Hartle. The team only raced for one season in selected races.

In 1966 Minter arranged to ride the Gileras at the TT in June,<ref>[[The Motor Cycle|''Motor Cycle'']] 18 August 1966 "''Last Sunday night, Derek Minter left for Italy to collect two five-hundred Gileras for the Senior TT''". Accessed 31 March 2016</ref> again without success as he crashed on a wet road surface after a rain shower at [[Brandish Corner]] during the last practice before race-week, breaking his left wrist which ended his racing for the rest of the race season. The bikes were raced at Brands Hatch later in the year.<ref>Sixty Years of Speed, 1967, a ''[[Motorcycle News]]'' publication. Accessed 31 March 2016.</ref>

<!--The following paragraph was translated from de:wp. Further citations and verification of some dates would be helpful (see ref).-->
The four-cylinder Gilera engine was also used successfully for world championship sidecar races. Eight victories in the sidecar class, as well as four runners-up in the world championship from 1949 to 1952 (three times Ercole Frigerio and one Albino Milani), showed the potential of the engine. In 1954, the Gilera four-cylinder was used by [[Piero Taruffi]] for the record-breaking T<small>ARF</small> vehicle.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-07-05 |title=Taruffi Italcorsa Tarf II |url=https://www.louwmanmuseum.nl/en/car/taruffi-italcorsa-tarf-ii/ |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=Louwman Museum |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Tarf |url=https://www.museoauto.com/en/collezione_en/tarf/ |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=Mauto |language=en-US}}</ref><ref group="Note">The TARF was initially powered by a Moto Guzzi 500 two-cylinder engine, which was subsequently replaced with Gilera 350 cc, 500 cc and 550 cc four-cylinder designs.</ref> The Swiss driver [[Florian Camathias]] won a sidecar race with a Gilera four-cylinder engine for the last time in 1964.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}

===European championships===
{| class="wikitable" 
!Year !! Class !! Rider
|-
| [[List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing European champions|1939]] || 500&nbsp;cc || {{flagicon|Kingdom of Italy}} [[Dorino Serafini]]
|}

===MotoGP World Championship===
Gilera won the following World Titles:
* '''[[List of 500cc/MotoGP Motorcycle World Champions|500&nbsp;cc class]]''':

{| class="wikitable" 
!Year !! Class !! Rider
|-
|[[1950 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1950]] || 500&nbsp;cc || {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Umberto Masetti]]
|-
|[[1952 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1952]]  || 500&nbsp;cc || {{flagicon|ITA}} Umberto Masetti
|-
|[[1953 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1953]]  || 500&nbsp;cc || {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Geoff Duke]]
|-
|[[1954 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1954]]  || 500&nbsp;cc || {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Geoff Duke
|-
|[[1955 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1955]]  || 500&nbsp;cc || {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Geoff Duke
|-
|[[1957 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1957]] || 500&nbsp;cc || {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Libero Liberati]]
|}
* '''[[List of 250 cc Motorcycle World Champions|250&nbsp;cc class]]''':
{| class="wikitable" 
!Year !! Class !! Rider
|-
|[[2008 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|2008]]  || 250&nbsp;cc || {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Marco Simoncelli]]
|-
|}
* '''[[List of 125cc/Moto3 Motorcycle World Champions|125&nbsp;cc class]]''':
{| class="wikitable" 
!Year !! Class !! Rider
|-
|[[2001 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|2001]] || 125&nbsp;cc || {{flagicon|San Marino}} [[Manuel Poggiali]]
|-
|}

===MotoGP World Constructors champions===
* '''500&nbsp;cc class''' 
** 1952, 1953, 1955, 1957

===Isle of Man Tourist Trophy===
* '''350&nbsp;cc class''' 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
! Champion
! Class
! Motorcycle
|-
| [[1957 Isle of Man TT]]
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Bob McIntyre (motorcycle racer)|Bob McIntyre]]
| Class 350&nbsp;cc
|
|-
|}
* '''500&nbsp;cc class''' 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
! Champion
! Class
! Motorcycle
|-
| [[1955 Isle of Man TT]]
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Geoff Duke]]
| Class 500 cc
|-
| [[1957 Isle of Man TT]]
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Bob McIntyre (motorcycle racer)|Bob McIntyre]]
| Class 500 cc
|-
| [[1963 Isle of Man TT]]
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[John Hartle]]<br>Second
| Class 500 cc
| Team Scuderia Duke Gilera
|-
| [[1963 Isle of Man TT]]
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Phil Read]]<br>Third
| Class 500 cc
| Team Scuderia Duke Gilera
|}

==Motorcycles==
=== Racing motorcycles ===
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
|-
! Model
! Engine
! Years
! Notes 
! Image
|-
|[[:it:CNA Rondine 500|Gilera 500 Rondine]]
|
|()
|
|
|-
|Gilera 5004C
|
|()
|
|[[File:Gilera 4.jpg|thumb|Gilera 5004C (1957)]]
|-
|[[Aprilia RSV 250|Gilera RSA 250]]
|
|()
|
|[[File:Paris - Salon de la moto 2011 - Gilera - RSA 250 - 001.jpg|thumb|Gilera RSA 250, 2008, [[Marco Simoncelli]].]]
|-
|}

===Historic===
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
|-
! Model
! Engine
! Years
! Notes 
! Image
|-
|[[:it:Gilera 500 LTE|500 LTE]]
|
|()
|Produced during [[World War II]] for the Italian army.
|[[File:Gilera_Militar_500_1939.JPG|thumb|1939, Gilera 500 LTE]]
|-
|[[:it:Gilera Marte|Marte]]
|
|()
|Produced during [[World War II]] for the Italian army, the Marte was a {{Convert|498|cc|abbr=on}} [[Overhead valve engine|OHV]] [[Single-cylinder engine|single]] with {{Convert|14|bhp|abbr=on}}. Intended for use with a [[sidecar]], the Marte had a shaft drive and hand-operated transmission.
|
|-
|[[:it:Gilera Saturno|Saturno]]
|
|()
|Produced after World War II until 1959 as a {{Convert|498|cc|abbr=on}} [[Overhead valve engine|OHV]] [[Single-cylinder engine|single]] with {{Convert|22|bhp|abbr=on}} @ 5,000&nbsp;rpm and swinging-arm rear suspension using parallel, twin horizontal coil springs. The racing version designated ''Saturno San Remo'' was campaigned with success in Italian national and international races but was unable to compete with the multi-cylinder and [[overhead camshaft]] opposition.<ref name="Hugo">Wilson, Hugo. (1993) ''The Ultimate Motor-Cycle Book'' pp.96-97 ''Gilera''. Dorling Kindersley {{ISBN|0751300438}} Accessed and added  2014-12-24</ref>
|[[File:Gilera500Saturno1947aR01.JPG|thumb|1947 Gilera Saturno.]]
|-
|}

===Modern===
{{update section|date=December 2017}}
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
|-
! Model
! Engine
! Years
! Notes
! Image
|-
|Coguar
|
|()
|
|
|-
|[[Gilera Ice|Ice]]
|
|()
|
|
|-
|[[Gilera Storm|Storm]]
|
|()
|
|
|-
|[[:it:Gilera RV|RV]]
|124,3&nbsp;cc, [[Single-cylinder engine|Single]], [[Two-stroke engine]], [[Reed valve]], [[liquid cooling]]
|(1984–1987)
|
|
|-
|[[:it:Gilera RX|RX]]
|124,3&nbsp;cc, [[Single-cylinder engine|Single]], [[Two-stroke engine]], [[Reed valve]], [[liquid cooling]]
|(1984-)
|
|
|-
|[[:it:Gilera KK|KK]]
|124,38&nbsp;cc, [[Single-cylinder engine|Single]], [[Two-stroke engine]], [[Reed valve]], [[liquid cooling]]
|(1986–1987)
|
|
|-
|[[:it:Gilera KZ|KZ]]
|124,38&nbsp;cc, [[Single-cylinder engine|Single]], [[Two-stroke engine]], [[Reed valve]], [[liquid cooling]]
|(1986–1987)
|
|[[File:Kz01.jpg|thumb|Gilera KZ]]
|-
|[[:it:Gilera Saturno Bialbero 500|Saturno Bialbero 500]]
|
|(1987–1991)
|Produced from the late 1980s as a modern version of the historic Saturno using a 491&nbsp;cc [[Double overhead cam|DOHC]] engine with 45&nbsp;bhp @ 7,500&nbsp;rpm<ref name="Hugo"/><ref>{{cite book |last1=Walker |first1=Mick |title=Italian Racing Motorcycles |date=2013 |publisher=Brooklands Books |isbn=9781783180066 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-bBioIgZfdkC&q=491cc+dakota+engine&pg=RA1-PT57 |language=en}}</ref>
|[[File:Gilera Saturno 500 Bialbero rot.jpg|thumb|1989, Gilera Saturno Bialbero 500]]
|-
|[[:it:Gilera XR1|XR1]]
|124,3&nbsp;cc, [[Single-cylinder engine|Single]], [[Two-stroke engine]], [[Reed valve]], [[liquid cooling]]
|(1988–1989)
|
|
|-
|[[:it:Gilera MX|MX1 / MXR]]
|124,38&nbsp;cc, [[Single-cylinder engine|Single]], [[Two-stroke engine]], [[Reed valve]], [[liquid cooling]]
|(1988–1990)
|
|[[File:Gilera_MX-1_(1).jpg|thumb|Gilera MX1]]
|-
|[[:it:Gilera SP|SP 01 / SP 02]]
|124,38&nbsp;cc, [[Single-cylinder engine|Single]], [[Two-stroke engine]], [[Reed valve]], [[liquid cooling]]
|(1988–1991)
|
|[[File:Gilera_SP01_2012_560.jpg|thumb|Gilera SP 01]]
|-
|[[:it:Gilera RC|RC 600]]
|
|(1989–1994)
|
|
|-
|Nordwest 600
|
|(1991–1994)
|
|
|-
|[[:it:Gilera Freestyle 125|Freestyle 125]]
|124,38&nbsp;cc, [[Single-cylinder engine|Single]], [[Two-stroke engine]], [[Reed valve]], [[liquid cooling]]
|(1991–1994)
|
|[[File:2017-11-04-PHOTO-00000004.jpg|thumb|Freestyle 125]]
|-
|[[:it:Gilera CX|CX]]
|124,38&nbsp;cc, [[Single-cylinder engine|Single]], [[Two-stroke engine]], [[Reed valve]], [[liquid cooling]]
|(1991–1993)
|
|[[File:Gilera 125 CX.jpg|thumb|1991 Gilera 125 CX]]
|-
|[[:it:Gilera Crono|Crono]]
|124,38&nbsp;cc, [[Single-cylinder engine|Single]], [[Two-stroke engine]], [[Reed valve]], [[liquid cooling]]
|(1991–1992)
|
|[[File:Gilera_crono_.jpg|thumb|Gilera Crono]]
|-
|[[:it:Gilera GFR|GFR]]
|
|(1993–1994)
|
|
|-
|[[Gilera DNA|DNA]]
|
|(1996–2009)
|
|
|-
|[[Gilera Runner|Runner]]
|
|(1997–2020)
|
|
|-
|[[Gilera Nexus|Nexus]]
|
|(2003–2012)
|
|
|-
|[[:it:Gilera GP800|GP800]]
|
|(2006–2013)
|
|[[File:Gilera_(5970894470).jpg|thumb|Gilera GP800]]
|-
|[[:it:Gilera Fuoco|Fuoco]]
|
|(2007–2017)
| 
|[[File:Fuoco500ie.JPG|thumb|Gilera Fuoco]]
|-
|[[Gilera Ice|Ice]]
|
|(2001–2003)
|
| 
|-
|}

===Moped===
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
|-
! Model
! Engine
! Years
! Notes 
! Image
|-
|[[:it:Gilera Eco|Eco / EC1 / Città]]
|
|(1979–1989)
|(moped)
|[[File:Zwartegileracitta.jpg|thumb|Gilera Città]]
|-
|[[:it:Gilera Stalker|Stalker]] 
|
|(1996–2012)
|(also known as SKP)
|[[File:Gilera_Stalker_50-Jelonka.jpg|thumb|Gilera Stalker]]
|-
|[[:it:Gilera SMT|SMT / RCR]]
|
|(2003–2020)
|
|[[File:Gilera1.jpg|thumb|Gilera RCR]] [[File:2017-10-05_(219)_Gilera_SMT_50_at_Bahnhof_St._Valentin.jpg|thumb|Gilera SMT]]
|-
|}

==See also ==
{{Portal|Italy|Companies}}
*[[List of companies of Italy|List of Italian companies]]
*[[List of motorcycle manufacturers]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{reflist|group=Note}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Gilera}}
*{{official website|gilera.com}}
*[http://www.registrostoricogilera.org The Gilera Historical Register]
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{{Gilera}}
{{Piaggio motorcycles}}
{{Major Italian motorcycle manufacturers}}
{{500cc/MotoGP World Constructors' Champions}}

[[Category:Gilera| ]]
[[Category:Piaggio Group]]
[[Category:Motorcycle manufacturers of Italy]]
[[Category:Scooter manufacturers]]
[[Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1909]]
[[Category:Italian companies established in 1909]]
[[Category:Italian brands]]
[[Category:Province of Monza and Brianza]]
[[Category:Engine manufacturers of Italy]]
[[Category:Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Milan]]