Gillet-Herstal Motorcycles

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Gillet-Herstal Belgica 1954-1958

The Belgica followed the 175 Legia, designed by Marcel Doflein. Components are from mainly German suppliers - Bing carburettors, VDB wheel hubs, Ferodo brakes, Hella & Bosch electrics.

According to a restorer, there are three different models of Belgica; the standard model has the mudguard with integrated flap and the slightly square side boxes; the semi-faired version has toolboxes with rounded shapesl and the faired model has the carburettor concealed behind an aluminum casing.

They go on to say that many parts fitted to the Belgica are the same as on the previous Legia and Milan models:


- The fuel tanks (it seems that those which are hollowed out were intended for the single-seater model)
- The rear mudguard fittings are the same as the Milan
- The front mudguards (with the integrated flap on the Legia and the standard Belgica, without flap on the Belgica Semi-streamlined, Belgica streamlined and the Milan.
- Single-seater saddle supports, round or square.
- The headlight brackets and the fork (except on certain Légia models, perhaps the very first productions)
- The engines cases are identical, only the cylinders are different: 175 cc one exhaust outlet, 200 and 250 cc two exhaust outlets
- The mufflers differ (the first models have a bottle shape, then they take a more stretched shape)

Saroléa Montana 200cc 1955 - some parts seemed to be similar between the Belgica 200cc - the front and rear hubs are almost identical as well as the rear light, the carburettor and the fork.

Sources: https://www.geocities.ws/gilletherstalbelgica/BELGICA.html, et al.

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