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Moto Guzzi 350 Two-shaft 1956

Moto Guzzi won the 350-class world championship for the first time and lost the 250-class title, which it had held for two years. Following this defeat the company decided to concentrate its efforts on the fine 350 single-shaft model. It prepared a new engine with double camshaft distribution operated by a bevel gear shaft. The engine was installed in a new openwork tubular chassis. The Moto Guzzi people paid particular attention to the vehicle's weight distribution and aerodynamics.

Thus a really new all-round motorcycle was developed. The new Moto Guzzi 350 two-shaft was driven by the reigning world champion, Fergus Anderson, and both the races and the motorcycle led the field in the 350 class.
One of the most striking features of the Moto Guzzi 350, both aesthetically and functionally, was the fairing. The two parts of the fairing, front and rear, completely covered the wheels, allowing just enough room for the racer's leg movements. The fuel tank was also divided into two parts. The upper part was in the usual position, resting on the chassis tubes. The lower part was mounted over the engine cylinder, thereby lowering the vehicle's center of gravity as well as its overall line. A mechanical feed pump was required to bring the fuel up.
In 1955 the 350 model was lightened and given a front bell fairing, and the rear fairing was removed. Bill Lomas rode it to the world championship and was able to repeat his achievement the following year.

By this time, 350-class racing was the monopoly of the Moto Guzzi racers. But in 1957 a new vehicle entered the field, the Gilera 350 four-cylinder. This motorcycle was directly derived from the 500, which had already won five world titles.
The Moto Guzzi company did not underrate the challenge to its supremacy presented by the new Gilera. Although it stuck to the single-cylinder two-shaft formula, the company increased the performance of its 350 model. First it reduced the total weight of the motorcycle to just over 210 pounds, an incredible achievement in light of the fact that the ultralight and ultraexpensive new aluminum alloys were hardly used at the time. The cylinder size was changed from a short stroke (80 mm. X 69.5 mm.) to a long (75 mm. X 79 mm.), and a gigantic carburetor was installed (45 mm.).
The Australian racer Keith Campbell rode the new Moto Guzzi 350 to three championship Grand Prix victories and to his first world championship.

Motorcycle: Moto Guzzi 350 Two-shaft Manufacturer: Moto Guzzi, Mandello del
Lario Type: Racing Year: 1956
Engine: Guzzi single-cylinder, horizontal, four-stroke, with two-shaft overhead bevel gear distribution. Displacement 349.3 cc. (80 mm. x 69.5 mm.)
Cooling: Air
Transmission: Five-speed block
Power: 38 h.p. at 8,000 r.p.m.
Maximum speed: About 140 m.p.h.
Chassis: Openwork, tubular. Front, swinging-link suspension; rear, fork with telescopic shock absorber
Brakes: Front, central drum, four shoes; rear, central drum