Gilera GP 800 Centenario - Specifications & Review

Company History

Founded in 1909, Gilera is a pillar of Italian racing heritage. Post-war 500cc fours dominated Grand Prix, establishing a legend of speed and engineering sophistication. Street machines like the Saturno distilled that pedigree into elegant, torquey singles cherished for road manners and mechanical purity. In the late 20th century, within the Piaggio Group, Gilera pivoted toward sporty scooters and light motorcycles that brought youthful style to European streets. Models like the Runner and DNA experimented with hybrid aesthetics—bike dynamics with scooter practicality—while still delivering punchy performance from small displacement engines. Though pure racing glory receded, the brand’s design language and engineering rigor persisted, making Gilera a byword for Italian verve in daily transport. Historically, Gilera is important not just for trophies but for translating race logic—weight distribution, breathing, and reliability—into machines an ordinary rider could use. A well-kept Saturno or a hot two-stroke scooter carries that throughline: compact, lively, and unmistakably Italian in the way it turns motion into theater.