Any thoughts on the Gilera SMX 400?
 

I am a US citizen living in Argentina and retired in South America permanently. I am looking to purchase a nice touring bike to travel Argentina in, and possibly further in the future. A seemingly popular bike down here is the Gilera Smx 400 Touring bike, for around $3000 US it seems like a good deal. Do any of you have experience with this bike, or know of its reliability?
Here is a link to the bike.
Gilera Motors Argentina :: www.gilera.com.ar

Thanks for the info folks! I have heard it is better to purchase bikes in Chile, however I am in the processes of obtaining my Argentinian residency, and I do have a house here already, so this is home for me.

HI, I can't help you, but it's a very interesting bike. Gilera is an Italian brand, and this bike doesn't exist in the european market. I wonder where the engine comes from.

How much does it costs?

Hola

Gilera Argentina split from head Italian office in the begging ‘80s, they continue making “Italian” designed 4 strokes bikes till ’81 or ‘82 then a new design with Hiro (Italians) engines and from there till this new century they only produce 50cc moped, these days as most factory all around the world the buy in china and only assemble here few parts... they “legally” keep the name for Argentina, so they ask Chinese to send it with that name.
I still keep my ’77 200cc Gilera, my first “real” bike!!! :offtopic:
The SMX400 is a China Bike (the engine too), not an Italian Gilera and not an Argentinean too, I don’t have personal experience about these bikes but friends in common of users have told me that all bolts and nuts comes loose or get loose very fast, if you tide them nothing will absorb the vibrations (sic) :confused1:, fork oil seal leak in just few kilometres if they dont forget to put that in, and I know a case with less than 1000kms where the key woodruff from the crankshaft to the alternator cuts and left the pour rider at the middle of nowhere to be towed by a .... BMW :(
To complete: less than 30HP, 190Kgs, cast wheels and front in 17 inches .... :eek3:
Saludos :innocent:

Smx 400
 

Hello there,

at the moment I try to sell a SMX 400 for a friend here in Santa Cruz Bolivia.

Yes the bike is from China, and cheaply build. But the bike I am selling has been up to Colombia and back to Bolivia, now with 20000kms on the clock. The engine still runs fine.

To tell you the truth, I dont sell the bike to a friend or here on the HUBB.

If you are in BsAs, I would look at a Honda Tornado or a Yamaha Lander if you want something with documents. Or a travelers bike if you dont care about documents.

Enjoy
mika