Ok, I know many folks wouldn't even consider these bikes since they are somewhat challenged in the horsepower department, but since my pride and joy is a 2006 Royal Enfield Bullet, it actually appeals to me. I'd like a pre-70's R series bike of any sort, really, but for some reason the singles seem so damn cool to me. Who has owned one, or had experience with one? It looks like they are maybe not as easy to come by as their bigger boxer brothers, but are there other downsides than the power? Are they as reliable as the boxers? Parts availability? Anything weird abotu working on them? Are they the greatest/worst thing ever? Eamon
I have a spot in my heart for one... yes, they are "sedate" in the power department, and they differ substantially from the twins (points, coil and battery ignition, rather than magneto, for one) and really dont' share many common parts, but the are rather handsome bikes, I do believe.
Copla years ago someone rode a thumper from Florida to the BMWMOA in Oregon, and back. 2nd gear on the steep grades in the Rockies, but made it over every pass.
Yeah, That was Florida Airmarshal Kevin Reimer. He built his own electronic ignition for his bike, rode it all the way to Redmond and then spent 90% of his time at the rally drinking beer and fixing other riders bikes. Super nice guy but I don't think that he's pull that stunt again. But know what? Knowing Kevin he just might! (Did you know that he built his own electronic ignition for that bike? Went to the auto supply store, bought about $10 worth of parts, built it and installed it in the air-cleaner box. Way kool!) PS: He didn't ride that little single back home. His riding partner bought a nice R80 G/S cheap at the rally and needed to get it home, so Kevin talked the collector (I forgot his name.) who brought the Vintage Bike Collection out from Fla into stuffing the single into that last possible spot his semi and Kevin rode the R80 back East. Kevin had a adventure riding out from Fla but but I don't think that he wasn't really looking forward to the trip home. NOTE: I also have to mention that when my RS almost swallowed a valve at the 2009 MOS Rally, it was Kevin who masterminded my getting some used parts and repairing it well enough that I could finish my trip to Canada and back to the W. Coast. I owe him a BIG one!
thanks for posting that MMOK. I've traded a few emails with Kevin regarding the R27, enjoy hearing more of the story. Eamon, I've never ridden a BMW single. I hear scooter-like performance can be expected.. full size bike with the heart of a scooter? They do look nice, the slender beemer. Some reports indicate the earlier singles tended to overheat when overworked. Those issues were fairly resolved with the R27. OTOH this 1952 R25/2 set a SCTA record at Bonneville '09 for Pushrod Production Vintage 250cc at 69.224 (remember that's at 4,218' elev.) http://www.brooksmotorworks.com/racing/P-PV-250cc-Record The Freedle Flyer
I owned a 1954 R25/3 for almost two years back in the early seventies when I was still living in Germany. I was 17 at the time and it was my first bike so it got flogged for all it was worth.......... Top speed was about 60 in third and 55 in fourth and if you let the oil level drop it holed the piston. See '17' comment above. With a holed piston is also how I bought it and then went through the motor and chassis to get it TUV ready. Good times, just keep and eye on the oil level if you plan to flog it like a teenager would, and in my case did. The only recurring problem I had was cracks in the fuel tank which in retrospect was likely my own fault since I didn't know much of anything, especially checking fuel tank mounts. Ride it like you care and it should be ok.
John Penton once won a gold medal in an ISDT riding an R27. John Penton? Yep, that Penton Motorcycle cat. This is an early BMW single. Note the exposed driveshaft. Photo snapped at the 2010 Luckenbach (Texas) Harvest Festival.
I thought that I'd throw in a few photos of the R27 that my friend Del Ward is building out in Va Beach, VA. He's a retired Sea Bee, went to BMW Service School and wrenched at the local dealership for a few years, before retiring to build his own customized Airheads. He turned out Cafe racers back when no one else was doing em, a couple of first rate /2 conversions, a heavily customized R60/r resto bike, a gorgeous Harley show bike and now hes working on a Resto R27 with lots of polished parts. Yes, he has a shop but this ones being built in his living room! The last time I spoke to him the bike was still under construction but I Dell never does anything by half measures, so I know it'll be super nice once it's done. (Please excuse a couple of fuzzy pics!)
I've never ridden one but my uncle had one for a while back in the late 60's. For some reason there were quite a few of them in Australia and one of my neighbours in the late 80's had one he'd bought new around 1960 and it was still chuffing around the streets, completely untouched apart from changing the oil and plugs so he reckoned.
They were built and sold by the gazillions after WWII for the European market, where restrictions imposed by the Allies allowed only small (less than 250cc?) displacement bikes. The twins were super-deluxe and were largely for export. Still alot of thumpers around in Eastern Europe.... Nice story of their history and commuting on one here....
I had an R27 for a few years, a nice ride, I rode mine with a Heinrich fairing and Califia saddlebags. It fit me just like my R50/2 does. The R27 has the distinct advantage over other singles is the rubber mounting of the engine and trans unit. If you want some really good BMW single advice, talk to Richard Sheckler of the Yahoo slash2 group and the BMWVMCA. If you join the VMCA, there is a tool loan program for members. Just a little benefit to help keep life affordable.
This took me awhile to locate but I knew I had a road test somewhere of the BMW R-27. Cycle World May 1964. Enjoy. It's a classic. http://s196.photobucket.com/albums/aa1/montmil/BMW%20R-27/
I'm not sure you'll find this useful, but I put this together in part to compare / contrast / learn about pre-70 BMW's. - http://viewshare.org/views/em/bmw-motorcycle-chronology/ that said... i think the pictures in this thread are far more intresting to me anyway... hope this helps. --e
montmil, Thanks for posting those pages! I guess that the littlest Beemer is like all the others. Once you understand the bike for what it is, it turns out to be a jewel!
Yea, that is a nice resource. You seem to be missing the R6 in 1937. Also I think the r25 came out in 1948. Still, very nice work.
I bought à r26 , i can Puck it up in 4 days. I ridders like à charme, and doing > 110 km per hour on THE gps. Only Thing i need to find now is à helmet and leather jacket That suits THE r26. Me happy Sorry for THE typing did it on my phone
Doesn't this belong in Thumpers? Congrats on the purchase, brommers. hope you post a pic of the mighty single soon. Where you located?