Gilera ER 500 Dakota

Gilera ER 500 Dakota
Manufacturer	Gilera
Production	1989
Class	Enduro
Engine	liquid-cooled, four-stroke, single cylinder, 4 valves
Bore / Stroke	91.4mm x 91.4mm
Compression ratio	9.5:1
Top Speed	154.1 km/h / 95 mph
Horsepower	35.0 HP (26.1 KW) @ 6900RPM
Torque	30.24 ft/lbs (41.0 Nm) @ 5750RPM
Transmission	Gear box: 5-speed, manual Final Drive: chain
Suspension	Front: gas telescopic fork Rear: adjustable monoshock
Brakes	Front: single 260mm disc Rear: drum
Front Tire	90/90-21
Rear Tire	5.10-17
Weight	148.0 kg (wet)
Manuals	Service Manual

The Gilera ER 500 Dakota was a liquid-cooled, four-stroke, single cylinder, 4 valves Enduro motorcycle produced by Gilera in 1989. Max torque was 30.24 ft/lbs (41.0 Nm) @ 5750 RPM. Claimed horsepower was 35.0 HP (26.1 KW) @ 6900 RPM.

Engine

A 91.4mm bore x 91.4mm stroke result in a displacement of just 492.0 cubic centimeters.

Drive

The bike has a 5-speed, manual transmission.

Chassis

It came with a 90/90-21 front tire and a 5.10-17 rear tire. Stopping was achieved via single 260mm disc in the front and a drum in the rear. The front suspension was a gas telescopic fork while the rear was equipped with a adjustable monoshock.

1989 Gilera ER 500 Dakota

The 1988 Gilera ER 500 Dakota has, at its heart, a liquid-cooled, four-stroke, 492cc, single cylinder powerplant that was mated to a five-speed manual transmission with a chain final drive, and can reach a maximum power output of 35 horsepower and 40 Nm of torque.

Standard fittings include a gas telescopic front fork, an adjustable monoshock as a rear suspension, a front disc brake coupled to a rear drum, a square headlight with a protection grille, a dual seat, a rear luggage rack, a dual seat, an engine mudguard, laced wheels with off-road tires mounted on them, an analogue instrumentation panel and wide handlebars.

Overview

Gilera ER Dakota 500

The first the world saw of the new Gilera four-stroke during the 1980s was at the biennial Milan Show in November 1985. Not only did the famous old Arcore factory have one of the biggest and most impressive stands at the exhibition, but also an exciting new thumper in the shape of the 350 Dakota trailster, with the added promise of a larger version in the pipeline. And Gilera's first new four-stroke in over a decade showed that it wasn't just two-stroke models which were receiving the modern treatment in the Arcore R&D shop.

FOUR-VALVES

Designed by Ing. Lucio Masut, the newcomer employed every trick in the book - including liquid cooling, four-valve cylinder head, twin exhaust ports, twin 25 Dell'Orto carbs, double overhead camshafts driven by toothed belt, a balancer shaft (gear driven directly off the crankshaft) multi-plate hydraulically operated

wet clutch, five-speed gearbox and Japanese electronic ignition and electric starter. There was also a forged piston and a one-piece crankshaft which ran on anti-vibration ring bearings. The pity was that all this hi-tech only produced 33bhp at 7,500rpm from the 348.8cc (80 x 69mm) mill. But at least the 500 (which took another eighteen months) promised a 25 per cent power increase with no additional weight to speak of.

DUAL-PURPOSE

Gilera had opted to build a dual-purpose, on-off-roader rather than a pure street bike because, at the time, sales of machines like Yamaha's Tenere were riding high. The Paris-Dakar style was all the rage both in Italy and around Europe; in fact everywhere except Great Britain! Even though the Dakota's power output was disappointing in view of its technical gizmos, the in-house Gilera styling job was generally accepted as being superb. As proof of this, author Alan Cathcart picked the Dakota to feature as only one of two machines with engines of less than 750-class in his 1988 book, Dream Bikes.

But besides the lack of power, the wide 5imp. gal (231tr) fuel tank and sculpted bodywork was slammed by serious off-road riders for its enforced 'knees-out' riding stance which, unless the rider adopted a more rearward seating position, (which then altered the weight distribution) was extremely uncomfortable.

THE ER VARIANT

Gilera responded in a positive fashion by introducing the ER variant in 1987, just as the 500 model 492cc (92 x 74mm) came into production. The ER was targeted firmly at the committed green lane rider, with its smaller 3.3imp. gal (151tr) tank and the twin coolant radiators now shrouded by abbreviated plastic panels. These two changes enabled the driver to sit further forward in a more comfortable position. The original model was also retained and, with both versions available in 350 and 500 form, this meant that there were actually four different Dakota models to choose from. With a dry weight of no less than 3241b (147kg) in both engine capacities, the Dakota was one of the heaviest machines in its class. This showed up most under heavy braking when the single 260mm disc and its Grimeca four-piston caliper was stretched to its limit to cope. The Gilera engine was the most sophisticated in the on-off-road sector of the market, but with its great weight and power-sapping ultra efficient (quiet!) exhaust system it was not really suitable for pure competition, even in its 500 form. However, the engine was very strong and the square-tube enduro-type chassis was fully capable of taking more power. The result was that at the Milan Show in 1987 Gilera launched the XRT.

Source Gilera The complete story Mick Walker

Specifications

Make Model	Gilera ER Dakota 500
Year	1988
Engine Type	Four stroke, single cylinder, 4 valves
Displacement	492 cc / 30.0 cu-in
Bore X Stroke	92 x 74 mm
Compression	9.5:1
Induction	Delorta carburetor
Ignition	Electronic
Starting	Electric
Max Power	44 hp / 32 kW @ 7250 rpm
Max Torque	40.1 Nm / 29.6 lb-ft @ 5750 rpm
Transmission	5 Speed
Final Drive	Chain
Front Suspension	Gas telescopic forks
Rear Suspension	Alloy swing arm single shock
Front Brakes	Single 260mm disc
Rear Brakes	Drum
Front Tire	90/90-21
Rear Tire	5.10-17
Dry Weight / Wet-weight	152 kg / 335 lbs
Fuel Capacity	22 Liters / 5.8 US gal
Consumption Average	18.2 km/lit
Braking 60 - 0 / 100 - 0	14.9 m / 41.0 m
Standing ¼ Mile	14.5 sec / 140.4 km/h
Top Speed	154.1 km/h / 95 mph