BMW R27: Riding Mountain Passes with Wide Gear Ratios

A crisp, autumn‑like August day took me from a cold, windy coastline into warm inland air sheltered by the mountains—ideal conditions for riding my 1965 BMW R27. Over a 3‑hour, 160 km (100‑mile) ride, I focused on how the wide gap between 3rd and 4th gear affects uphill performance. The heavy flywheel gives the 250cc single strong torque and steady pull, but steep corners sometimes require an early downshift to avoid over‑rev. With 3rd covering roughly 40–75 km/h and 4th stretching from 60 km/h to well over 100, the usable range is impressively broad. Slow downhill hairpins were easy and safe, and the moderate distance felt just right for a sleep‑deprived body—another memorable ride with this classic machine.