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A special 350 Moto Guzzi racer built by the legendary Ken Sprayson

One of the most prolific and successful motorcycle frame builders in the world

Phil Aynsley by Phil Aynsley
November 2, 2021
in Features, Moto Guzzi News

Ken Sprayson / Arthur Wheeler 350 Guzzi

With the recent passing of Ken Sprayson at 94 years old, I thought it would be timely to look at one of the bikes he constructed a frame for during his over 30 years working on various special projects for famous tubing and fabricating company Reynolds.

This is by far one of the lower profile motorcycles worked on by Ken Sprayson in his long and distinguished life, but the machine seen here is the result of an interesting collaboration between Sprayson and English racer Arthur Wheeler that in 1959 saw the pair develop a new frame for his 250 Moto Guzzi racer.

Ken Sprayson framed 350 Moto Guzzi

The design was a success so in 1962 a second frame was constructed to house a 350cc motor. 

Ken Sprayson framed 350 Moto Guzzi

A third frame was then fabricated for Trevor Barnes who then spent many years racing and developing the bike seen here.

Ken Sprayson framed 350 Moto Guzzi

The motor is a 350 cc race unit which was greatly modified by Barnes with many internal improvements including a twin-plug ignition.

Ken Sprayson framed 350 Moto Guzzi

Ken Sprayson was generally involved in some way or another with pretty much every frame design used in the British motorcycle industry throughout the 1960s and 1970s. It was Sprayson who fabricated the first ever production Norton Featherbed frame from the designs of Rex McCandless for the Manx Norton. 

Ken Sprayson framed 350 Moto Guzzi

He also had a special connection to the Isle of Man TT and worked on frame designs with the likes of Geoff Duke, Mike Hailwood and John Surtees.

Ken Sprayson framed 350 Moto Guzzi

Sprayson even had a hand in the design and build of the land speed record holding Project Thrust II jet car driven by Richard Noble to a top speed of 1047 km/h. And that only touches on a sliver from his catalogue of works, almost all of which were successful.

Ken Sprayson framed 350 Moto Guzzi
Ken Sprayson framed 350 Moto Guzzi
Ken Sprayson framed 350 Moto Guzzi
Ken Sprayson framed 350 Moto Guzzi
Ken Sprayson framed 350 Moto Guzzi
Ken Sprayson framed 350 Moto Guzzi

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Tags: Arthur WheelerKen SpraysonPhil Aynsley
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Phil Aynsley

Phil Aynsley

Phil Aynsley sadly passed away in 2023 after a life spent travelling the world photographing many of the rarest and most beautiful motorcycles ever made. We are proud to continue showcasing his catalogue of work on MCNews.com.au.

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