Gilera GP800
Sun, 04/09/2011 - 22:06
Whilst enjoying a vacation day out with the family, strolling around the very delightful Antibes, I was passed by some bloke on a scooter who was moving at one hell of a lick. The bike looked huge, for a scooter and I managed to track it down when it was parked up. The machine in question is a Gilera GP800 and I have to say that I am quite taken with it. This is purely based on a quick look around of course. It looks all day comfy, with that engine should be capable of swallowing huge mileage and all in all is quite an imposing machine.
Has anyone here actually tried one? I would be interested to know what they are like. I am sure that they are not cheap and as yet I have not done any interweb digging to find out how they compare, price wise, to standard bikes of a similar capacity.
Kev - have you managed to try one?
By the way I actually saw someone riding a DN-01 in St Tropez and they look even weirder with someone on board.
Mon, 05/09/2011 - 01:33
#2
Re: Gilera GP800
Apparently the can be a bit unstable at their terminal speed. One negative over other super-dooper-scooters is that it's chain drive I believe, whereas nowadays they all seem to be kevlar belt driven. Engine reputedly reliable and seems to be the fastest scooter available.
The Silverwing is probably the best built. The Yamaha 500 is probably the sportiest. And the Burgman 650 Executive the most practical / best equipped with electric mirrors to help squeeze through gaps (seriously), heated seat and grips as standard (I believe), electric windscreen and tip-tronic (manual gear selection) type box, with a boost button to change ratio's/revs when a sporty onslaught away from the lights is necessary.
For commuting and light-touring duties, lardness and friends street-cred thoughts aside, they do seem hard to beat. A lot of hacks seem to use them when going to the airport for overseas launches. I'd have one over a DN01 or Deaxville personally. And if it were my money I'd prolly go for the 650 Burgy. Seems best equipped and there's loads stateside with big mileages without anything imploding.
BTW congrats on the new gloves - I was sure 'I' was the 10,000th poster... with a Diavel! ;-D
Thu, 15/09/2011 - 15:13
#3
Re: Gilera GP800
Apparently the can be a bit unstable at their terminal speed. One negative over other super-dooper-scooters is that it's chain drive I believe, whereas nowadays they all seem to be kevlar belt driven. Engine reputedly reliable and seems to be the fastest scooter available.
Hello Cap'n - thanks for taking the time to reply. In my opinion the use of a chain for the final drive is a plus point and not a negative. They are better at transmitting the power and a whole lot easier to change. Kevlar belts do fail at times !!!
A lot of the big scooters are excellent and I think in essence that there is not a lot to pick between them. Helping out a local journo friend over the past couple of years I got to ride one of the big Kymco's along with the Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki offerings on a group test. The Yamaha was the one that came out on top but there was not a lot in it and given the price premium to be paid over the Taiwanese machine then there was not a lot of reason to justify the extra expense. The biggest surprise with the first exposure to the style of machine though was hat they are not as frugal as I had expected, fuel consumption wise. That said they were still pretty good compared to a bigger bike or a car for the commute. I also had the Peugeot Geoplis for a couple of weeks recently and that was surprisingly easy to live with and a ton of fun.
Thu, 15/09/2011 - 15:43
#4
Re: Gilera GP800
shuggiemac. On a couple of trips this year that included Italy there was a large number of chain driven big Scoots which I assumed were Gilera's.
They often road in groups of sportsbikes, particularly on Passe de Tonale, or however you spell it, and it was novel to be faced by a R1 on its pegs coming round a bend followed by a Scoot and FireBlade. They are very intimidating when coming towards you on a bend at Warp Factor 10 Mr Zulu!
Must be good fun though as there were a significant number and they cost a few Lira. Those double front wheel jobs are upwards of £7000 at sticker price in the Italian shops!
Thu, 15/09/2011 - 18:48
#5
Re: Gilera GP800
Just for you chaps, here's a review I prepared earlier:
Gilera GP800 review
Fri, 16/09/2011 - 09:33
#6
Re: Gilera GP800
I think I read somewhere that the engine's based on the Aprillia Mana 850
Sat, 01/10/2011 - 12:01
#7
Re: Gilera GP800
The fact that its chain drive put me off,,I think shaft or at least belt drive would be more suited to a scooter.....maybe they could have enclosed the chain!!!
NEWS...
* ROSSI NOT TO RETIRE!
Rossi uses Twitter to deny The Daily Telegraph's story...(more)
* ROSSI TO RETIRE!
The legendary Italian racer will be leaving MotoGP for good at the end of this year...(more)
* WIN A ROUTE 66 TRIP!
Harley UK offers Route 66 tour prize for two to anyone taking a demo ride...(more)
* AUDI BUYS DUCATI!
After nearly 30 years, VW Audi Group Chairman finally lands his prize motorcycle factory...(more)
* APRILIA CAPONORD SPY SHOTS!
PIctures snapped illicitly at dealer event show Aprilia's Multistrada rival...(more)
Whilst enjoying a vacation day out with the family, strolling around the very delightful Antibes, I was passed by some bloke on a scooter who was moving at one hell of a lick. The bike looked huge, for a scooter and I managed to track it down when it was parked up. The machine in question is a Gilera GP800 and I have to say that I am quite taken with it. This is purely based on a quick look around of course. It looks all day comfy, with that engine should be capable of swallowing huge mileage and all in all is quite an imposing machine.
Has anyone here actually tried one? I would be interested to know what they are like. I am sure that they are not cheap and as yet I have not done any interweb digging to find out how they compare, price wise, to standard bikes of a similar capacity.
Kev - have you managed to try one?
By the way I actually saw someone riding a DN-01 in St Tropez and they look even weirder with a rider on board.