Gilera Marte 500 and VL 500

Gilera · 1937–1946

Gilera Marte 500 and VL 500: history and buying advice

The side-valve for gentlemen and the army bike with shaft drive to the sidecar wheel.

Nederlandse versie

History

Alongside the overhead-valve model, Gilera built side-valve 500s in the thirties, such as the VL 500. Advertising sold it as a motorcycle for doctors and businessmen. It already had a sprung rear wheel with Gilera’s patented ‘boxed spring’ suspension from 1935, which stayed on many Gileras into the fifties.

For the Italian army, engineer Salmaggi designed the Marte, Gilera’s last 500 cc side-valve. The drive was special: a cardan shaft and cross shaft to the sidecar wheel. After the war, 222 civilian Martes were built from leftover parts in 1946, and 158 army bikes were converted for civilian use.

Key data

Engine1 cylinder four-stroke, side valves
Bore × stroke84 × 90 mm, 498.7 cc
PowerVL 500: approx. 12–19 hp (sources differ)
Gearsfour, hand change
Top speedMarte: approx. 78 km/h
DriveMarte: shaft to rear wheel and sidecar

What to check when buying

  • With a Marte: is it an original army bike, a civilian one from 1946, or a converted one? Ask about papers and origin.
  • Check the shaft and cross-shaft drive to the sidecar; parts are almost impossible to get.
  • Look at the ‘boxed spring’ rear suspension and the friction dampers at the front.
  • A side-valve is calm and strong, but not fast. Know what you want to use it for.
  • Compare the frame and engine numbers with the papers.
To the workshop guide

SourcesMuseo Piaggio: 500 MarteOld Bike Mag: Gilera VL 500 (English)Wikipedia: Gilera (English)

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