Not a done deal yet... but promising

[Olympus]

Well chaps, earlier today I have been potentially offered a Gilera GP800 scoot..... what is known about this beast

[poldark]

Early issues with water hoses, clips not sufficient/loose, complex and potentially expensive drive system IIRC.

Forum legend JimC enjoyed one for many miles and did his own maintenance, so plenty of info via the search function on the Forum.

[Dave Milnes]

Basically it's similar to the Aprillia Mana motor a twinned version of the 460cc master engine in Vee configuration but with a CVT belt drive to an intermediate shaft and chain final drive. As Martin said coolant hose leaks resulting in overheating of one cylinder head had a tendency to blow the head gasket were the biggest issue. Performance was very good when they were running right and they had a largish fuel tank too so distance covered per tank was good. Weirdly the exhaust was on the 'wrong' side as the chain drive was on the opposite side to the CVT which was on the left as all other scoots are. Most of the problems were caused by shoddy assembly typical of Piaggio in the Aprillia takeover period.
The belt combined with chain final drive put maintenance cost staggeringly high, so much so that to sell any GPs some dealers gave away a free belt, chain and sprocket set as the dealer price to do a 16,000 service was almost £300 back when these bikes were new. Wheel size is odd too meaning not a huge choice of tyres available so check this.
When they are in good order and well fettled they will put a big smile on your face. Probably make an interesting project, but price the parts and check availability before committing.

[Gav]

I never realised they were a twinned Master engine, shades of Phil Irving reversing a tracing of an HRD Vincent Comet 500 to make the legendary 1000 (plumbers nightmare Rapide) but much refined series 2/3, and later Black Shadow V Twins.
Aprilia brougt out their version of the Gilera 800 but called it 850 and to be honest they seem neither one thing nor t'other, with limited carrying capacity and neither being a motorcycle per say,or a scooter, however the Mana looks more conventional motorcycle but actually has a dummy tank for storage and and can be kitted out with luggage /real tank under the seat.

Piaggio seemed to make a myriad number of differing 2 wheelers, particularly Apriias, ie two Atlantics overlapping at the final phasing out of the first ,and both mine the big ol bus and the Modular type were fromthe same year, the latter that had models ranging from 125 right up to 500 Sprints.

Not sure of the 750 Shiver is based upon,engine wise and other similar but differing names,that have conventional transmissions ,then there are/were the bigger V Twins Futura, Mille, Falco, Coponold , Tuono, Factory and so on 1000 cc ers.

Alice would be a good source of guidance as she had an 800 I believe, after her Nexus,and there is a thread by her on that very subject.
Not sure if Gilera is still badging bikes now. Dave?

[Dave Milnes]

When Piaggio bought out Aprillia, they acquired a couple of items that they ran with. One was the MP3 which was an Aprillia concept and the other was the GP800. To say the 800 is a twinned Master motor is a bit of a simplicity, but it uses the same heads, barrels cams etc but a totally new crankcase with external oil pump and a quasi dry sump system with a scavenge pump inside the crankcase too. It has 2 fuel tanks down each side of the trunk area and a good solid rigid concentric one piece frame.
The concept is sound, more so than the twin wheel MP3 idea and up to recently Aprillia were still offering their version with a slightly more sporty bodywork and colour scheme, echoing the X9/Nexus offering.

[Olympus]

I've now tested it.....all I can say is wow!!!
After much deliberation and reading numerous reports I have decided against buying it
Don't get me wrong as an indentured HGV technician the maintenance side doesn't phase me in the slightest
I will say the price is also right, but it just doesn't feel right, its very heavy & wont fit on the bike carrier on my Van
Thanks to all concerned