What gear is generally used for motorcycle riding?

[ValentinaAnn]

Motorcycles normally ride in 3rd gear. If used solely as a short-distance urban commuter tool, choose a speed not exceeding 50 km/h. Motorcycle starting gear: It's best to start in 1st gear, which prevents stalling and protects the vehicle. Starting in 2nd gear constitutes lugging and damages transmission gears. The larger the displacement, the more severe the gear damage. Conventionally, it's also best to classify motorcycles according to purpose, structure, engine type, and working volume. Motorcycle selection: If frequently traveling between urban and rural areas with two riders, choose a standard motorcycle with 125-250 ml engine displacement. For poor road conditions, high-speed riding, or general racing purposes, choose an off-road motorcycle.

[BeckettDella]

My experience riding a Kawasaki Ninja is that third or fourth gear works smoothest in the city. Start from red lights in first gear to dash out, immediately shift to second when reaching 20 km/h, and third gear around 40 km/h feels just right—no lugging or excessive engine noise. For mountain roads, it depends on the curve size—sharp corners demand second gear for instant acceleration out of bends, while sweeping turns are safest in third gear with steady throttle. Never lazily climb hills in high gears, or the chain will clatter in protest. Once I coasted downhill in fifth gear to save fuel, but emergency braking nearly caused a fishtail—my mechanic later scolded this foolish move: always downshift for engine braking stability on descents.

[McBrody]

When I first started learning to ride a motorcycle, I was always confused about the gears. Now I've figured out some tricks. Small-displacement bikes like 125cc ones rev up quickly, so you can comfortably ride at 30 km/h in second gear in the city without any shaking, and they're less likely to stall when starting at intersections. But this doesn't work on provincial highways—last time I rode my GSX250 in fourth gear at 70 km/h, the engine sounded like it was about to fall apart. A friend reminded me that small-displacement bikes usually max out at fifth gear, so don't push it. Interestingly, I found that second gear feels more stable than first in the rain, as the tires are less prone to slipping. Experienced riders say listening to the engine is more accurate than watching the dashboard—if it sounds muffled, you should downshift; if it's screaming, upshift.

[CarolineDella]

The biggest takeaway from my last round-island ride was the skill of gear usage. Cruising at 60 km/h on flat roads in fifth gear saves fuel, but when encountering crosswinds, immediately downshift to fourth gear to increase traction. When overtaking trucks, shift down to third gear in advance and rev the engine higher for a quicker and safer pass. Never shift gears while leaning into a turn, as it can easily lead to loss of control—adjust to the appropriate gear before entering the bend. On sandy sections, I once got stuck in first gear but managed to free the bike by switching to second gear and gently twisting the throttle. A mechanic once told me that excessive use of the clutch halfway is most damaging to the clutch plates, so in traffic jams, I prefer to crawl in second gear rather than overuse the clutch.