500 Saturno Piuma

Commonly known as "telescopic" or "feather" (a name that might have been inspired by its being lighter than the Saturno Sanremo), this model was launched in 1952 and put on the market the year after. It featured an engine with light alloy finning on the cylinder head, a bigger crankcase, a telescopic fork in front and hydraulic shock absorbers at the rear. From 1952 to 1957 it notched up several wins in the Formula Sport (the 1955 Milan-Taranto), Grand Prix and Formula 2 (1957) races. In 1957 a fairing-equipped 500 Saturno Piuma triumphed in the F.M.I. Trophy with Cantoni and reached a speed of over 200 km/h at the Nations Grand Prix. After Gilera’s withdrawal from racing some riders, among them Liberati, Milani and Campanelli, privately made up special versions of the bike, which remained in competition until the 1960s.