1957 GILERA 150 SUPER SPORT
Frame no.: -/-
Engine no.: *188-4087*
Engine: Single cylinder 4-stroke OHV
Starter: Kick-starter
Bore & stroke: 60 x 54 mm
Engine Capacity: 152cc cast iron cylinder
Maximum power: 7.3 bhp [HP] (6 kW) @ 5.800 rpm
Power-to-weight ratio:
Valve: OHV (Overhead Valves)
Valves per cylinder: 2
Carburettor: Dell O’rto MA 18 B Ø 18 mm
Cooling system: Air cooled
Ignition: Battery-fed with automatically-advanced distributor
Sparks per cylinder: 1
Lubrication: Wet sump forced circulation with mechanical gear pump
Transmission: Gear primary, chain final
Clutch: Cable operated with multiple wet disk in oil bath
Gearbox: 4-Speed foot-change
Throttle: Cable operated
Frame type: Drawn steel tubes
Front Suspension: Telescopic fork and shock absorbers
Rear Suspension: Swingarm with hydraulic shock absorbers
Front Brake: Drum, Ø 150 mm (6 in)
Rear Brake: Drum, Ø 150 mm
Front tire: 19 x 2.50“
Rear tire: 19 x 2.50“
Seat: Dual seat
Fuel tank capacity: 13 Liter
Fuel consumption: 2.5 liter per 100 Km
Top speed: 100 km/h (62 mph)
Weight: 100 kg (220 lb)
List price at that time: £ 193.73.
After the Second World War, there was a great diffusion of the two motorized wheels, which helped to solve the mobility problems of the population. In this quick growing market, Gilera had preferred to introduce the ‘Neptune’ and ‘Saturn’ in mid- 1946. However, Gilera soon realized that these bikes were not the most suitable to deal with the market, and he decided to appoint engineer Piero Remor of the study of an economic model, but with a 4-stroke engine.
The new law in Italy, which imposed the ‘125’ marking and allowed access to motorways for motorcycles with a minimum capacity of 150cc, decreased the production output of the ‘125’ and its replacement with the ‘150’, after a total of 25,000 specimens were built in the various series and versions. For the sake of completeness, it should be added that in 1955, Gilera marketed a ‘125’ derived from the ‘150’ and named ‘Export’ as it was intended for export, in particular in the Swiss Confederation, keeping it in the catalog up to 1959.
Presented in 1952 as the heir of 125, the 150th will be Gilera's best-selling ever, with 96,000 specimens (excluding those built in Argentina by the local branch). Two versions available initially: Tourism and Sport, which were distinct mainly for the front suspension (parallelogram Tourism, Telescopic Sport). For both gears, it remained at 3 ratios. Already in 1953, Sport won a 4th gear.
In the following years, Gilera presented the Gran Turismo (1955), the Super Sport and Red Super (1957). The production ceased in 1960.