- Gilera
Infobox_Company
company_name = Gilera
company_
company_type =Subsidiary
slogan = Gilera: Born out of Desire
founder = Giuseppe Gilera
foundation = 1909
location_city = flagicon|ItalyArcore
location_country =Italy
key_people =
num_employees =
industry =Motorcycle & Scooter
products =
revenue =
parent = Piaggio & Co. SpA
owner =
net_income =
homepage = [http://www.gilera.com/ www.gilera.com]Gilera is an Italian
motorcycle manufacturer founded inArcore in 1909 by Giuseppe Gilera. In1969 the company was purchased by the Piaggio & Co. SpA -- which now holds six marques and is the world's fourth largest motorcycle manufacturer.In 1935 Gilera acquired rights to the Rondine
four-cylinder engine. This formed the basis for Gileras racing machines nearly forty years. From the mid-thirties Gilera developed a range offour-stroke engine machines. The engines ranged from 100 to 500cc. The most famous of which was the1939 Saturno.After
World War II , Gilera dominatedGrand Prix motorcycle racing , winning the 500ccroad racing world championship 6 times in 8 years. 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 season as a cost cutting measure.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.World Championships
Models
*Cougar
*DNA
*Fuoco
*GP800
*Ice
*Nexus
*Runner
*Stalker (also known as SKP)
*Storm
*RCR
*SMTGilera SMT
The "Gilera SMT" is a cross
moped "for the big city". It is asupermotard which means it is anoffroad moped fit for the big city, but can also handle bumpy roads. It has 17" rims with broad tires, 6 gears and a 50 cc motor with 8.5 horsepower.External links
* [http://www.gilera.com/ The Gilera website]
* [http://www.gilera-saturno.com/ www.Gilera-Saturno.com]
* [http://www.gilera4t.it/ www.gilera4t.it]
* [http://www.uk.gilera.com/urbanzone/ Gilera UK website]
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