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 1964 BMW R27 | |
| Manufacturer | BMW |
|---|---|
| Production |
|
| Assembly | Milbertshofen, Munich,West Germany |
| Predecessor | BMW R26 |
| Class | S |
| Engine | OHV single |
| Bore /stroke | 68 mm × 68 mm (2.7 in × 2.7 in) |
| Compression ratio | 8.2:1 |
| Top speed | 130 km/h (81 mph) |
| Power | 18 hp (13 kW) @ 7400 rpm |
| Transmission | Four-speed, left foot shift |
| Suspension |
|
| Tires | 3.25 x 18 front and rear |
| Wheelbase | 1,379 mm (54.3 in) |
| Weight | 162 kg (357 lb) (wet) |
| Fuel capacity | 15 L (3.3 imp gal; 4.0 US gal) |
| Oil capacity | 1.2 L (0.26 imp gal; 0.32 US gal) |
The 247 ccBMW R27, introduced in 1960, is ashaft-driven, single in-line cylindermotorcycle manufactured byBMW.
AfterWorld War II, thePotsdam Agreement of the USSR, USA, and the UK, prohibitedBMWAktiengesellschaft (AG) from building motorcycles. Later, this ban was lifted and in 1948 BMW produced its first postwar motorcycle, the 250 cc R24, which was based largely on the prewar R23. It was the only postwar BMW motorcycle produced without arear suspension. BMW introduced the R25 model, withplunger rear suspension, in 1950. The last of the plunger models, the R25/3, was introduced in 1953.
In 1956 BMW introduced a completely revamped single-cylinder engine, the R26 (engine numbers 340 001 – 370 236), with improvements paralleling those introduced at the same time in the boxer twins. The R26 came with an enclosed drive shaft, rear swingarm, and front Earles forks. A new headlightnacelle came with a sliding black plastic over the ignition key, and the “bell-bottom” front fender was dropped along with the mechanics' hand shifter. The engine of the R26 was bolted directly to the frame, and produced 15 hp (11 kW).
Based largely on the R26, in 1960 the R27 added rubber mounts for the engine and boosted power to 18 hp (13 kW). The 250 ccOHV vertical single was the only rubber-mounted thumper engine BMW ever produced, and was their last shaft drive single-cylinder motorcycle. The engine pumped out 18 hp (13 kW), the highest ever for a shaft-drive BMW single. BMW manufactured 15,364 R27 models (engine numbers 372 001 – 387 566 ) over the production years of 1960 to 1966. Some of the 1966 R27 models were sold as 1967 models because dealers in those years often would assign dates to BMW motorcycles when they sold them, and not necessarily when they were manufactured.[1]
BMW did things differently from other manufacturers. This is evident in the R27. Its enclosed shaft final drive is rare for a single cylinder motorcycle. But it also had a triangulatedEarles front fork (named after English designer Ernest Earles); so the motorcycle had a front swing arm as well as a rear swing arm. When you squeezed the front brake lever hard not only did the front end not dive, it actually rose slightly. Thus, braking was a very steady activity, though the brakes were weak by today's standards. The engine's crankshaft was laid out fore-and-aft rather than side-to-side; also a rare feature. This way, thecrank and the final shaft were in line, and drive forces did not have to be run through a set of 90-degree gears. Also, thekick starter swung out sideways instead of parallel to the frame.
| R27 | |
|---|---|
| Engine Numbers | 372 001 – 387 566 |
| Design | Single cylinder with driveshaft |
| Engine | 4-stroke, 2OHV |
| Transmission | Four-speed, left foot |
| Model years | 1960–1966 |
| Number manufactured | 15,364 |
| Bore | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Stroke | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Capacity | 247 cc |
| Power | 18 hp (13 kW) @ 7400 rpm |
| Compression ratio | 8.2:1 |
| Fuel efficiency | 60.3 miles per US gallon (3.90 L/100 km; 72.4 mpg‑imp) DIN 70030 |
| Maximum speed | 81 mph (130 km/h) / with side car 56 mph (90 km/h) |
| Wheelbase | 54.3 in (1,379 mm) |
| Curb weight | 357 lb (162 kg) |
| GVWR | 716 lb (325 kg) / with side car 1,058 lb (480 kg) |
| Tires front & rear | 3.25 x 18 |
| Battery | 6 volt, 9 Ah. |
| Tank capacity | 3.96 US gallon (15 liter) |
| Engine oil capacity | 2.6 US pint (1.2 liter) |
| Transmission capacity | 650 cc |
| Rear drive capacity | 125 cc |
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