Gilera is a name with a long history. The first Gilera motorcycle was produced in 1909 by the company's founder Giuseppe Gilera. The company represented Italy in the International Six Days Trial in the 1930s. In the 1940s it's 500cc single cylinder Saturno was produced. This bike became very popular because of it's sleek looks and good handling. Racing successes, most notably with Carlo Bandirola cemented it's reputation as a sports machine to be reckoned with.

In 1959 after the death of his son Feruccio, Giusuppe sold the company to Piaggio. They did little with the brand until producing a range of models in the 1980s. A new Saturno was produced and a trail bike called the Nordwest was also released. Neither bike was a sales success unfortunately and nowadays the name only survives due to it's use by Piaggio on a range of scooters such as the DNA and Runner.

The Gilera Runner is available in several engine sizes. The largest is the 180cc version and is very quick for a scooter. The Gilera DNA blends the practicality of a scooter with the looks of a sportbike. Both models have been very successful and won many fans.