The Gilera Fuoco was the sporting Gilera version of the Piaggio MP3 three-wheeled scooter. It went on sale in June 2007 with two front wheels, a single rear wheel and a locking front suspension that let it stand upright without a stand, and it stayed in the European price lists until 2017.
Gilera Fuoco at a glance
| Maker | Gilera, Piaggio group |
|---|---|
| On sale | from June 2007 |
| Type | tilting three-wheeled scooter |
| Wheels | two front 120/70-12, one rear 140/70-14 |
| Engine | Master 500 cm³, four-stroke, electronic injection |
| Emissions | Euro 3 |
| Front suspension | articulated quadrilateral with two side cylinders |
| Roll lock | manual lock, released above 20 km/h or 2,000 rpm |
| Top speed | 143 km/h |
| Consumption | 21 km/l on the Euro 3 ECE cycle |
| Sold in Italy | 2007–2013 |
| Sold in Europe | until 2017 |
The Commons search found no free photograph of the Fuoco, so the article keeps the photo already attached to the record.
History of the Gilera Fuoco
An MP3 in Gilera colours
The Fuoco was the sporty version of the MP3, the three-wheeled scooter Piaggio first marketed in 2006. In Europe the 500 cm³ version of the MP3 was sold under the Gilera brand as the Fuoco 500ie; in the United States the same machine was sold as the Piaggio MP3 500, and the 125 version was not offered there.
The Gilera Fuoco was produced in a single model, with the 500 cm³ Master four-stroke engine and electronic injection, approved to Euro 3. Sales in Italy ended in 2013, while the scooter stayed in the European price lists until 2017.
Two wheels in front
Its front suspension is an articulated quadrilateral: the rolling mechanism is made of two side cylinders connected to four arms. It lets the Fuoco be ridden like a two-wheeled scooter but with more grip on the road. Fitted as standard with the Roll Lock, the Fuoco can support itself: the suspension lock can be used at traffic lights, to let a passenger get on first, to park and to stop without using the stand. A light shows when the lock can be engaged, and it is released either manually or automatically once speed passes 20 km/h or the engine passes 2,000 rpm.
The point of the layout appears on slippery or broken surfaces, where the front end keeps continuous grip: a temporary loss of grip at one wheel is compensated by the other, which makes riding between tram rails, over broken asphalt or on cobbles safer. The shape of the front body also gives the rider extra protection.
Style and name
The look and structure of the Fuoco were shaped to give it an aggressive, robust, off-road character. Its name follows the same logic as the three wheels: in ancient Greece winners were awarded a three-footed vessel, the tripod, which was placed on the fire to heat water.
The scooter reaches a maximum speed of 143 km/h and returns 21 km per litre on the Euro 3 ECE cycle.
Design and features
- Two front wheels: an articulated quadrilateral front suspension with more grip than a two-wheeler.
- Roll Lock: the front suspension can be locked to park or wait without putting a foot down.
- Master 500 engine: the only engine offered, a four-stroke with electronic injection.
- Sporting bodywork: Gilera’s own styling on the MP3 platform.
- 143 km/h: motorway pace with 21 km/l on the Euro 3 cycle.
Gilera Fuoco versions
- Fuoco 500ie (2007–2017): the only Gilera version, sold in Italy until 2013.
- Piaggio MP3 500: the same machine under the Piaggio name, including in the United States.
The Fuoco shares its three-wheel layout with the Piaggio MP3 and sits alongside the two-wheeled maxi-scooters Nexus and GP800. More models are in the Gilera collection.
Video: GILERA FUOCO VS. QUADRO 400
Video by The Bike Show on YouTube.
Sources
- Gilera Fuoco, Italian Wikipedia: on-sale dates, engine, suspension, roll lock, performance, name
- Piaggio MP3, English Wikipedia: the Fuoco as the Gilera-branded MP3 500 and the US naming
