2 stroke runner 125 WOW! (Gilera Runner 125)

Member Name: sten london

Product:	Gilera Runner 125
Date:	15/08/04 (3587 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: speed, sheer acceleration, durability

Disadvantages: panels crack and cost the earth, thirst for expencive 2 stroke oil, nick-ability

If your looking for a fast, fun way to get about town then this is the scoot for you.
My bike is a parralel import - i saved £400 - and the only differaces are its speedo is in kph and its a one colour paint job (and all the better looking for it).
The runner 125 in its 2 stroke form is the pick of the bunch, every moring i ride 25km across london on mine and it never fails to burn off all other scooters, including the 4 stroke version.

I would recomend one to anyone, with the following proviso's:
Drinks only the best fully synthetic 2 stroke oil-it hates any thing else.
Speed cameras are often a worry.
Pannels are both fragile and very expensive.
Make that, very fragile and very very expensive.
The coolant tanks lid is, to be fair, crap, and loss of coolant is a day to day thing.
The bike wants to swap ends (spin) in the wet.
Every Chav in town wants to nick it or nick bits off it.
Your firends will soon tire of hearing how much fun you're having.

Most of the tunning goodies are aimed at improving top speed-not relevent in congested london, and with sports exhausts costing around £200 for about a 3bhp power increase, not very good value.
The improvement program I'm starting is:
Sticker tires (Michelin pilots) - should help in the wet
Kevlar drive belt - belt streach is a reoccurring problem that soon blunts your standing starts.
Braided brake hoses - the standard brake lines are made to a price (.0001 of a euro) and expand horribly reducing brake pressure.

Summary: