Garelli XO 125 - Specifications & Review

Company History

Garelli is woven into Italy’s small-displacement story: from early 20th-century two-strokes to the post-war moped boom and 1980s GP glory. Adalberto Garelli’s engineering produced efficient, robust engines that powered lightweight commuters across Europe, giving students and workers archetypal freedom on pennies of fuel. In the 1980s, Garelli stormed the 125cc Grand Prix class with multiple world titles, proving that mastery of small two-strokes could still win at the highest level. On the street, mopeds and ciclomotori bearing the crest became part of daily Italian life—step-through frames, simple electrics, and a putter-to-scream soundtrack that defined neighborhoods at rush hour. Economic headwinds and market consolidation later dimmed the brand, but revivals and licensing deals kept the name flickering, often attached to retro-styled commuters that nod to the past while meeting modern emissions and safety norms. Historically, Garelli’s contribution is both mechanical and cultural: it taught millions to ride, wove two wheels into urban DNA, and showed that small can be sublime when engineering and use-case align. Hear a tidy Garelli on the pipe and you’re transported—tight streets, warm stone, and the lightness that only a well-drawn 50–125 can deliver.