Manufactured 1923-1938 in viale Aldini, Bologna
Fabbrica Italiana Motocicli GD was founded by Guido Dall'Oglio and the brothers Gherardo and Mario Ghirardi.
The GD machines soon became recognised for their excellent performance, taking the 125cc one kilometre world record in 1924. That year, works rider Mario Cavedagna finished second to his team mate Renato Sceti in the 1924 Italian Championship, and did well the following year at the GP des Nations. Cavedagna won most of the races he entered over the next three years, and then in 1929 founded CM. Other GD 125 Corsa riders won the German GP and the Italian Championship in '25, so the radios and sports pages were blaring the marque's name all across Europe.
In 1925, Gherardo Ghirardi and Dall'Oglio both left the company, the latter forming the Dall'Oglio marque.
In 1926 GD were building 5 different versions of their horizontal twostroke, one of which they raced at the Monza Grand Prix. Manufacture was decentralised to a degree, using a variety of suppliers to produce their components; Laurenti for engines, Labanti for tanks, and Stanzani for forks.
These engines were supplied to Gaia of Turin, and likely to other manufacturers.
The following year they introduced a 4-speed 250cc vertical twin, and 1930 saw the introduction of 175cc and 350cc four-stroke models. Mario Cavedagna had left GD to form CM with Oreste Drusiani, and the 175 was supplied to CM who sold it as the GD70.
Included in the range were light two-strokes of 100cc. Production appears to have halted in 1931, and restarted in 1935, initially with motocarro and in 1938 a 250cc version of the previous 175, using a CM engine. With war looming, GD ceased motorcycle manufacture and joined forces with weapons manufacturer Beretta.
Control of the firm passed to cousins Enzo and Ariosto Seragnoli in 1942 who, in addition to producing war material, built the Ursus three-wheeler.
In 2012, G.D had over 2,500 employees and twelve international branches.
Bibliography: Moto G.D. - L' Aquila a due tempi by Enrico Ruffini
Sources: motoclubstoricoconti.it, museibologna.it, wikipedia.nl, moto-collection.org, Biblioteca Salaborsa, correspondence.
GD Stella 1923
GD Corsa Alfa R2 125cc 1926
This machine was very successful in the late 1920s with the likes of well-known racers Baschieri, Bernardoni, Rossetti, Sandri, Tenni and others frequently gaining the podium.
This machine was introduced in response to the new regulations which came in to force the previous year.
Mon Jun 19 2006
rocom at dnet.it
Motore moto gd 175 bicilindrico
Vendo motore gd bicilindrico del 1927?
bolzano
Wed Oct 26 2005
prima.ribica at siol.net
moto GD
Hello, I have one of the moto GD. Where I can find spare parts for
it? I am from Slovenia
Thank you, Matej
Thank you for your fast work. I have two pictures of that moto. You can see, that the reservoar and front light are not original. I dont know of other parts. The frame is a litle bit modyfied. I have the book Moto GD l'aquila a due tempi. From that book i think that it may be tipo Monza - modelo S.S.1 on the page 77.
Thank you, Matej
January 17th 2005
There is a superb book on Moto GD by Enrico Ruffini
Moto G.D. - L' Aquila a due tempi
ISBN: 88-7911-042-X
If you have a query or information about GD motorcycles please contact us
