Revival of Italian Motorcycle Brand Gilera

Italian motorcycle brand Gilera has a long history dating back to 1909 in Arcore, Italy. Known for its success in racing, particularly in the 500cc class in the 1950s, Gilera faced financial difficulties and was eventually acquired by Piaggio in 1969. Under Piaggio's ownership, the brand experienced a resurgence in the racing world, with notable wins from Manual Poggiali in 2001 and Marco Simoncelli in 2008.

Despite its racing success, Gilera struggled to make an impact in the consumer market and focused on producing scooters and commuters primarily for the European market. However, the brand fell off the radar with the introduction of strict Euro 5 emissions regulations in 2021.

Rumors of Gilera's revival have been circulating for some time now. In March 2022, there were discussions about Zongshen's new 900cc engine and the potential revival of the Gilera brand. Recently, Dennis Chung from Motorcycle.Com uncovered information that confirms the rebirth of the historic Italian brand. It turns out that Piaggio, the current owner of Gilera, and Chinese company Zongshen have a joint-venture called Zongshen Piaggio Foshan Motorcycle Co. Ltd, established in 2004.

The joint-venture, based in China, recently filed design patents for a new model called the "GLR900." This bike bears a striking resemblance to Aprilia's discontinued Shiver naked streetfighter, with some minor changes to the bodywork and a small windscreen for added wind protection.

However, the introduction of the GLR900 raises more questions than answers. Will Aprilia also relaunch the Shiver 900? Will the GLR900 be available outside of China? The answers to these questions depend on various factors. The previous 900cc Aprilia models were quietly discontinued due to not meeting Euro 5 standards. If the GLR900 still uses the same 896cc engine, it is unlikely to be sold in Europe.

Regardless, it is highly probable that the GLR900, along with the Gilera brand, will make its comeback in China before anywhere else in the world. The brand's absence at EICMA 2023 indicates that a European launch is not yet on the horizon.