Motorcycle of the Week: 1939 Gilera Saturno
Never heard of it? Don’t be discouraged, I hadn’t either until I saw one for sale. My research shows that I probably should have at least heard of them. Gilera was an Italian motorcycle company that was in business from 1909 to 1969 when it was acquired by Piaggio. By 1939 the company had 3 500 cc models and would dominate the racing world with them right after the war. They had 2 four cylinder models (one a direct drive supercharged bike) and the Saturno Single. Piaggio brought the Gilera name back to GP racing (and showrooms) in 1989 and campaigned them until 1992. You can still buy a Gilera scooter if you live in Italy.
In 1939 war was descending on Europe like a black cloud. The Saturno was introduced and won the only GP race it was entered in. It wouldn’t really leave a mark until right after the war when it dominated the open class GP for a couple of years until other manufacturers caught up with the radical design.
What a design it was. Gilera didn’t change the girder front front end for two years after the war but it didn’t make any difference. It simply was dominant on the street and on the track. The 1939 Gilera Saturno was a 497cc single cam OHV single cylinder air cooled monster that made 36 HP right from the factory. A 4 speed transmission and chain drive pushed the top speed over 90 MPH. Sprung girder front suspension and a patented horizontal spring friction damper rear made for an impressive ride coupled with a 330 LB dry weight. Drum brakes on both ends completed the package.
This rare Italian bike really moved the needle in performance motorcycles. If you ever get a chance to see one, you can give me a hearty ‘neenah neenah’ because the only Gilera I can remember seeing is the from the Piaggo racing era in the 1990s.
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I intended to comment on this post the other day and upvote then but my voting power was low so I nailed first thing this morning. You get my full 2 cents worth for showing a brand of bike I didn't know existed.
A good looking bike too, but that seat could use a little work in my opinion.
The seat is probably pretty comfy, but the suspension is ugly. It was one of the first real attempts to separate the rider from the rear frame. You just don't realize how many bumps there are in a road until you don't have any suspension at all.
Yes , it did look like a couple big springs on the back, but not much padding on that seat. I guess that needs to be supplied by the rider.
Looks like a pretty rough ride. Do the springs on the back of the seat actually help on styles like this or is it just a "we will do the best we can to make it comfortable" type thing?
It's crazy to think that 90 was screaming fast at one point. They just bumped up the speed limit in Michigan to 75 on a lot of expressways so people push 90 pretty consistently every day :P
The springs help. Lots. In those days EVERYBODY wore a 'Kidney Belt' to try to keep them in place against the pounding vibration. In all honesty, they didn't work very well. This bike had a horizontal dampner between the frame and the rear wheel that had to help enormously.
WWII was really good for one thing: Hydraulic technology made huge leaps due to the aircraft industry and it wasn't long and motorcycles actually had the hydraulic technology that we use today.
The first certified 100mph production motorcycle was the Triumph Bonneville of the late 40s. The model was named for the land speed record they set at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah. Back in the day we called it 'doing the ton'. Hitting 100mph. My Connie will do it in 3rd gear with ease.
That is pretty cool. :) Thanks for all of the great info. I can't imagine the difference between riding a bike back then and riding one today!
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Wow, I’ learn sonething new today!
, gilera is one of the interesting stuff that I’ve red today. Look so striking masculine.
Happy new year @bigtom13!
Thanks Joy! I'm glad you liked it, typically Italian and FAST in it's day. What's not to like?
Thanks for stopping by!
What a cool classic this is one company I had heard of, a colleague working in Brindisi Italy, had bought one of these and at that stage i had never heard of the company so I had to look it up
]Have a great day
I saw one just like this for sale on a website and thought they'd made a mistake. My research was really fun for this one because it is very unknown and has a today connection.
Just out of curiousity how much were they selling it for
Howdy sir bigtom13! that's some bike there. Of course I hadn't heard of it neither but my research shows that you should own one! lol. This is a great post though, very interesting bike!
If I was going to put out the money for a 'historical' motorcycle I think I'd go with some other choices, mostly post WWII stuff that had some suspension. Indian or Vincent or even Triumph or Norton. I don't want to own a museum piece, I want to be able to go get a cup of coffee...
well sir bigtom I was thinking more of an investment but then that wouldn't be much fun if you couldn't ride it. Are they still making Indians? And are they good like they were in the 40's and 50's?
Omg! The first one looks dope!
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Pretty motorcycle isn't it? I'm not sure just how the Italian stylists do it, but they are always in front of the herd. Particularly when you consider it's 80 years old.
Yeah it definitely looks like it could ruin your day if you hit a bump in the road, and from the 2 hour dirt road experience I had a few days ago I learnt all about Kidney Belts, wish I had one then. Still it's a stunning old school bike, thanks for sharing Tom.
There is a certain romance about hard tail motorcycles. Only among people that have never ridden one. Suspension is your friend. This bike represents the one of the first efforts at that. It was incredibly advanced for it's day.
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