Bavarian Motor Works was prohibited making motorcycles after WWII until 1948 when it brought out the single cylinder R24. It was followed in 1950 by the R25, which added rear suspension. The R26 was introduced with an new motor and many frame and suspension changes. The very last of the BMW shaft driven singles, the R27 introduced a rubber mounted motor. BMW produced 15,364 R27s before abandoning the shaft driven single after 1966.
The 1965 BMW R27 uses a 247 CC single cylinder air cooled overhead valve motor that produces 18 HP through a 4 speed transmission and a shaft drive for a top speed of 80 MPH. The bike weighed 357 LBS (wet) and the suspension included leading link front forks. It was considered a smooth, good riding single.
It is possible that I am a sucker for a good backstory, but the seller lists his reason for selling as “because I am leaving on an open ended sailing trip around the world and am selling everything I own.” This particular 1965 BMW R27 is in Orcas, Washington and listed as a “complete frame off rebuild of engine transmission and final drive”. The bike is available with a Buy it Now price of $9,700 until