From our Old Bike Archives – Issue 84 – first published in 2020.
Story Jim Scaysbrook • Photos Independent Observations.
Mention Gilera and most people think of the exotic four cylinder racers that began in the 1920s as the GRB Rondine (Swallow) – a double overhead camshaft four cylinder, supercharged design set across the frame, with water cooling, which by the outbreak of WW2 was putting out 80 horsepower and capable of 140 mph.
Stripped of its supercharging and air cooled post-war, the Rondine, which had become part of the Gilera empire in 1935, swept all before it bringing 500cc World Championships to Umberto Masetti, Geoff Duke and Libero Liberati. But what filled Gilera’s coffers were not such race track exotica, but basic, reliable fare designed to appeal to the everyday rider.
Giuseppe Gilera was just 15 years of age when he began work at the Bianchi factory in Milan, and by 22 he had started his eponymous motorcycle company at Marzo near Milan. His first design was in 1909 – essentially a bicycle powered by a 317cc single with mechanically operated overhead valves and final drive by belt. Even prior to WW1, Gilera had produced their own V-twin, and the first of the Saturno (Saturn) singles – a line of overhead valve five hundreds that would continue for decades. The Saturno also marked the beginning of the company’s practice of naming its models after planets.
A new factory was built after the war at Arcore, a stone’s through from the Royal Park that would soon be home to the famous Monza racing circuit, and the first model off the line was a 350cc single with inlet-over-exhaust valve arrangement called the Turismo. Two versions were available, producing 8 and 10 horsepower respectively. The later Gran Sport was even quicker but the models that really kept the accountants happy were the side valves – cheaper to produce and service and capable of long life. These came in models from 247cc (the L and the LE), and the V Range, all 500s, made from 1935 to the outbreak of WW2. The 500cc side valve engine was stretched to 600cc to power the commercial Moto Carri light truck.
The solo ‘V” series was made from 1935 to 1941 as the VT, VTGS, VTE, VLTE and VTGSE, all sharing the same basic specification with a tubular steel frame using the engine as a chassis member. The wet sump design meant no need for an oil tank or oil lines and resulted in a very light and compact motorcycle. The 498.76cc engine with 84mm x 90mm bore and stroke was fed by a Dell’Orto MC 26 F carb, and produced 12 horsepower at 3,800 rpm. The four-speed hand-change gearbox was bolted to the rear of the engine to form a semi-unit construction. Up front sat what Gilera referred to as ‘parallelogram’ suspension – in reality conventional girder forks with hand-operated knobs operating on friction plates to provide damping. However the rear suspension was quite revolutionary for its time, being what Gilera called ‘boxed spring’ and which received a patent in 1935. This was a triangular shaped tubular steel structure with a central pivot, the movement controlled by friction dampers linked to a tubular steel sleeve compartment housing a long coil spring on each side. This basic design continued on many Gilera models for many years until replaced by a conventional swinging arm with twin dampers in the early ‘fifties.
The VL was undoubtedly a handsome motorcycle, with its chrome plated tank with red and gold panels proudly proclaiming ‘La marca dei primati’ (number one brand). Publicity material of the period stated the VL was “Owned by medical practitioners and wealthy businessmen”. With Gilera’s favoured wet sump design, the centre section of the motorcycle was uncluttered by an oil tank, leaving plenty of space for the exposed battery. Standard equipment included a Marelli electric horn, Bosch magneto with manual advance/retard, a centre stand, an Aquila single saddle, a steering damper and full electric lighting. A duplex primary chain ran in a substantial cast alloy case, with the clutch (technically described as ‘dry’) actually lubricated by oil mist from an engine breather. The VL ran on 3.25 x 19” tyres front and rear and tipped the scales at a svelte 145kg dry.
In addition, the Marte utility wagon was developed from the V model LTE 500, and many were made for the Italian army pre-war as well as for parade duties for Mussolini’s military and ceremonial occasions. The Marte (Mars) was produced from 1937 to 1945 and was made only as a sidecar, supplied to the Royal Army in WW2 and remaining in service with the Italian army. Post war, Gilera assembled 222 civilian models in 1946, plus 158 military version which were converted to civilian specification. The engine produced 14 horsepower at 4,800 rpm – 2 hp more than the LTE from which it was derived – with an alloy cylinder head instead of iron, higher 5.0:1 compression ratio, and instead of the V-series solos’ chain drive, used a Cardan shaft drive. To produce two-wheel drive, a cross shaft transferred power from the rear hub via a set of spur gears ahead of the rear axle with a second set of spur gears at the sidecar wheel transferring drive back again so the two wheels were in line. The sidecar gears included a dog clutch controlled by hand lever on the motorcycle and operated by the passenger. The sidecar wheel was suspended by a trailing arm. Gilera was the only manufacturer in WW2 to offer a sidecar with both solo and sidecar wheels having their own suspension system, as well as drive to both wheels. After Mussolini declared war on 10th June 1940, the VLTE became the standard military solo model, still closely based on the civilian L/LE models.
With the war over and Italy in tatters, the company abandoned the side valve models to concentrate on the overhead valve Saturno which for 1946 was produced in Sport, Turismo and Competition versions. The Saturno retained the traditional 84 x 90mm bore and stroke of the V series models and used the same basic wet sump bottom end design. It is the post-war Saturno that has dropped into the lexicon as the definitive Gilera 500 single, but its beginnings lay in the handsome side valvers that were such a strong suit for the company during the 1930s. Certainly a gentleman’s motorcycle.
The featured VL 500 was restored in Adelaide by the late Gianni Minisini and remains as part of the family collection.
Specifications: 1938 Gilera VL 500
Engine: single cylinder side valve.
Capacity: 498.7cc
Bore x stroke: 84mm x 90mm
Power: 19hp at 5,000 rpm
Lubrication: Wet sump.
Ignition: Bosch Magneto
Carburettor: Dell’Orto MC26F
Gearbox: Four-speed hand change.
Frame: Tubular steel
Suspension: Front: parallelogram girder Rear: Spring box swinging arm
Tyres: 3.50 x 19 front and rear
Dry weight: 140kg
