Have you ever seen a warthog? They are related to wild pigs and have huge heads and narrow bodies, with small tusks next to their snouts that add to their look of ferocity. Warthog is also the nickname given to the Fairchild A-10, an American ground attack aircraft; its reputation is based on its strike power and ability to withstand damage, not its beauty.
Its not often I look at a bike or scooter and imagine what kind of animal it could be, but when I saw the Gilera Fuoco in the flesh I immediately thought its appearance reminded me of a warthog.
The Gilera Fuoco, like the Piaggio MP3 whose front suspension it shares, carries a lot of visual bulk at the front – the two independently suspended front wheels and their electro-hydraulic tilt system are covered by a sort of monster proboscis. On the Gilera Fuoco that bulk is the location for four headlights, a central running light, a steel tube bull-bar and painted perforated metal radiator protectors.
It makes quite an impression and looks much better in the flesh than in the photographs.
The tough bull-barred look reflects what this machine is, the scooterist’s equivalent of an urban assault vehicle, while the extensive steel rails that run right around the back of the scooter provide excellent places to tie things down, meaning you will be able to strap on the bazooka no problem. The utilitarian theme is carried through to the footboards, which are covered in aluminium checquerplate, while the exposed handlebars are nicely finished in satin silver.
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