Menus
- The hyper-scooter signed Gilera
- Discovery
- In the saddle
- Contact
- In the city
- Highway
- Departmental
- Comfort
- Braking
- Consumption
- Convenient
- Conclusion
The hyper-scooter signed Gilera
839 cm3, 75 horsepower, 76 Nm of torque, 8 valves, 18 liter tank…. ! The GP 800 is by far the hyperlative scooter par excellence and the biggest scooter in displacement and power currently on the market. Appeared in 2007, that is to say 5 years after the Burgman 650, the GP 800 has automatically placed itself as the big sports maxi-hyper-mega-scooter, in the tradition of a TMax 500 rather than a Burgman more " bourgeois ". With the first 90 ° V-twin – the same as the one fitted to the Mana 850 – the mega-scoot is also characterized by a chain transmission (facing the gimbals of the competition), while keeping one of the features major parts of a scooter: the variator ….
The gain in displacement and power (20 more horsepower than the Burgman) came at the expense of weight – 260 kilos fully loaded – and storage space…. So, the chain hyper-scooter, good idea or not? and for whom ?
Discovery
Massive at the front but slender at the rear, the GP 800 is characterized by its cuts and billhook lines. We are very far from the curves and curves of the competition. The Italian flap comes out immediately and gives an undeniably sporty look to the whole, especially from the side. The front face, on the other hand, resembles a small GT motorcycle with its vertical double optics. The saddle very close to the dashboard gives an image of overall compactness, confirmed by a short wheelbase of only (cm for a Burgman 650). The dual LED taillight and dual exhaust finish giving the sporty image.
Getting closer, we note the large aluminum swingarm, hydraulic monoshock, large-diameter front fork (41mm), and double-disc 300mm at the front. With the chain transmission, the whole thing is almost closer to the motorcycle than to the scooter. Finally, there is a height-adjustable screen, electrically, on the handlebars.
The double analog meter is separated by a digital meter, providing a lot of information. On the practical side, the digital display is controlled with the finger on the handlebars and therefore does not require going to look for the tiny button on the dashboard, except to set the clock. The 2 partial trips are therefore also reset to zero with a longer push on the stalk. We note the absence of warning.
Under the saddle mounted on a cylinder and which can be unlocked with a push button located under the dashboard, there is just enough space for a helmet.
The parking brake placed on the right side is very easy to handle, and blocks a caliper placed on the rear brake: effective.
In the saddle
And if the central frame leaves the possibility of passing the legs easily, it is placed quite high. The space left on the sides to put the feet up is rather reduced. Unlike some scooters where you can drive your feet very forward, or conversely, almost backwards, here the position is more seated. The saddle is high, even very high, and the feet barely touch the ground for the 1.70m scooter, even at the end of the saddle. It gives a first impression of heaviness.
The mirrors, rather small, can be adjusted simply by pushing the mirror.
Contact
With the brakes on, the GP 800 snorts with a low sound. With the fear of weight in mind, the handle turns slowly and the scooter reacts instantly…. immediately making you forget your weight.
The Gilera instantly resumes when the throttle is applied without the delay usually observed between right grip and reaction. Everything very quickly builds confidence, especially between acceleration and deceleration. The brakes are easily gripped with two fingers, offering immediate ease and both power and feeling. Suddenly, you feel like you are using the handlebars in just a few minutes.
In the city
With its small wheelbase and reduced width, the GP 800 fits effortlessly everywhere. The mirrors placed on the fairing provide just the visibility you need and their small size allows them to be forgotten between cars.
The handling here is more akin to that of a motorcycle in terms of the pick-ups and reactions to acceleration…. with the advantage of not having to juggle speeds. And when we talk about speed, we end up at 80 km / h in less than 4 seconds … the fastest of the scooters we tell you !
Even at low speed, in traffic jams, and between lines, the scooter is easy to handle and above all responsive…. totally forgetting his weight. In fact, the only danger lies in the high speeds which one finds oneself quickly, and without realizing it. It is clear that with a machine like this, we make the hole shot at all red lights.
The only downside is a reduced turning radius of 6.80m which requires a little play.
Highway
The GP 800 sets off on the motorway with gusto, dynamism and speed. We immediately find ourselves at widely reprehensible speeds…. especially at the overestimated counter! Because if the calibration of the odometer reveals a difference of 10 km / h at 90 km / h, the difference reaches a good 20 km / h in addition to above 160 km / h. When the odometer reads 180, it is thus only 160 km / h with still a little margin to reach the symbolic speedometer of 200 km / h (on German autobahn). Even at these speeds, the behavior of the scooter is exemplary. Whatever the road surface, the steering is impeccable, safe and provides an impressive feeling of safety, even in duos and in big curves..
The protection of the screen, placed in the high position, proves to be good, and without particular effort on the helmet for a pilot of average size. Returned to the low position, the pressure on the chest is very important, however, immediately bringing the position to the maximum.
Departmental
The return to departmental roads is achieved naturally, and the behavior remains exemplary in small curves, including on bumpy roads and in duos. And as the kilometers go, the GP 800 makes you want to send harder and earlier, so far are the limits, the frame accepting everything. This is where you can be surprised depending on the road surface, as the power sent to the rear wheel can cause you to start sliding…. The scooter remains impeccable but not all riders are able to handle an angle glide if they put on too much power all at once…. the behavior is then comparable to that of a sportswoman.
Comfort
The saddle is soft and the firm suspensions offer an excellent compromise by erasing the defects of the road well. For the rider, the comfort is royal, allowing for a 700 km day trip without any problem. Comfort here is closer to a GT motorcycle than a roadster. Comfort is a bit lower for the passenger. Placed at the same level as the pilot, it does not have an overhead view, and the handles are a bit low. This does not prevent long trips, but he will appreciate more stops after 250 km.
Braking
Powerful…. is the watchword of braking for the GP 800. It also offers a good feeling. In town, everything can be handled with just two fingers. The rear brake brakes hard and the front brake even harder. It’s powerful but always dosable, and never wrong. In short, the two front discs of 300 mm and the rear of 280 mm play more than their role to finish giving exemplary behavior to the machine.
Consumption
With an 18-liter tank, and at stabilized speed on the motorway at legal speeds, the GP offers a range of 300 kilometers before reserve! At higher speed, consumption drops from 5.5 liters to 7.5 liters.
The gauge is quite precise. If it does not start moving until after 100 km, it then descends a 1/4 graduation every 50 km. It thus arrives in the middle around 200 km, then at the last ¼ approaching red around 250 km.
The passage in visual reserve on the gauge located in the right meter is coupled with a yellow warning light on the instrument panel.
Filling the tank requires putting the scooter on a center stand, and paying attention to the distribution of gasoline. The neck of the reservoir (under the saddle) is quite narrow and can cause backflow on some pumps. The last liter also needs to be dispensed with the neck almost at the edge of the tank neck and slowly.
Convenient
The GP 800 is a sports scooter…. at the expense of utility capabilities. There is no storage compartment in the front…. not even the slightest place to slip a toll ticket. The trunk is small and just allows you to slip a small full-face helmet (a large modular does not fit). An A4 folder just fits but a laptop doesn’t fit, nor the longest locks.
On the other hand, the trunk incorporates lighting and a 12V cigarette lighter socket. Suddenly, it is possible to simply power a GPS, especially as there is space to slide the electric wire, without it being crushed when closing the saddle.
Finally, placed just above the engine, the trunk heats up briskly. While this is very effective in drying the gloves, the morning pains au chocolat melt very quickly..
On the anti-theft side, the anti-theft devices are easily placed on the front and back. It is therefore possible to attach it without difficulty, which is far from the case with all scooters.
Conclusion
The Gilera GP 800 is the scooter of all superlatives in terms of handling, handling, driving pleasure, and braking. It also allows you to travel far – including a duo – and comfortably with excellent protection. He thus swallowed without flinching and without suffering for the pilot and passenger 1400 km in two days! On the other hand, it does not offer the storage capacities that one expects from a scooter, often used in urban and para-urban areas. And fans of the gimbal will regret the presence of a chain … preferred by bikers? At 9,450 euros, it is roughly the same price as a TMax or a Silverwing, with much higher power but lower storage capacities.
Strong points
- handling
- motor
- braking
Weak points
- storage
- seat height
Competitors: Aprilia SRV 850, BMW C600Sport, Honda Silverwing, Piaggio X9 500, Suzuki Burgman 650, Yamaha TMax 500
GP 800 technical sheet
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