BMW R27
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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 cc BMW R27, introduced in 1960, is a shaft-driven, single-cylinder motorcycle manufactured by BMW.
History
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/R25-27-60.jpg/220px-R25-27-60.jpg)
After
R26
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/BMW_R_26_1959_blue.jpg/220px-BMW_R_26_1959_blue.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Motorrad_BMW_R26.jpg/220px-Motorrad_BMW_R26.jpg)
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 headlight nacelle 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).
R27
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/R27-white.jpg/220px-R27-white.jpg)
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 cc
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 triangulated Earles 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, the crank and the final shaft were in line, and drive forces did not have to be run through a set of 90-degree gears. Also, the kick starter swung out sideways instead of parallel to the frame.
Technical data
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/R27-engine.jpg/220px-R27-engine.jpg)
R27 | |
---|---|
Engine Numbers | 372 001 – 387 566 |
Design | Single cylinder with driveshaft |
Engine | OHV
|
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 |
See also
Further reading
- Helmut Krackowizer (1999), Schrader Motor-Chronik, Bd.11, BMW Motorräder Einzylinder R 24 bis R 27 1949-67 (in German), Motorbuch Verlag
- Erwin Tragatsch (1976), Alle Motorräder (in German), ISBN 3-87943-410-7
- Motorrad (in German), March 1988
{{citation}}
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(help) - Hans-Joachim Mai (1988), 1000 Tricks für schnelle BMWs [1,000 tricks for fast BMWs] (in German) (11 ed.), Stuttgart: Motorbuch-Verlag, ISBN 978-3613011175
- Ernst Leverkus [in German], Die tollen Motorräder der 60er Jahre (in German)
References
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)