What is the highest gear on a motorcycle?

[VanAndres]

Motorcycle highest gear is 5th gear. Motorcycle gears: Motorcycles currently have two main types of gear systems: the rotary gear and the reciprocal gear (international gear). The rotary gear cycles through 0－1－2－3－4－5－0, while the international gear follows 1－0－2－3－4－5 without cycling, with neutral located between 1st and 2nd gear. Motorcycle gears and speed: Different models of motorcycles have varying speed ranges suitable for each gear, and each gear can operate within a certain speed range. Higher gears generally have a broader speed range. Taking a common 125CC motorcycle as an example, 1st gear is only used for starting or climbing very steep slopes at low speeds. After starting, you should immediately shift to 2nd gear, which is suitable for speeds between 10－20. 3rd gear is ideal for speeds between 20－40, 4th gear for 30－50, and generally, speeds above 40 can be maintained in 5th gear.

[DelRafael]

I've ridden seven or eight motorcycles with different displacements, and most mainstream models have six forward gears. For example, my Kawasaki Ninja 650 has a clear gear layout of 1-N-2-3-4-5-6. However, some smaller displacement models may have one less gear, like the Honda 125 which only has five gears. The gear design depends on the engine characteristics. For instance, the Ducati Monster 821, despite being a sporty model, also has six gears. In actual riding, the sixth gear is particularly comfortable for high-speed cruising, as it keeps the RPM in a very economical range. But it's important to note that the neutral gear on a motorcycle is not counted in the total number of gears, and when parking, remember to shift into that special neutral position.

[SanPatrick]

Having repaired motorcycles for over a decade, I've noticed that different engines come with varying gear configurations. Inline-four bikes like the CBR600RR typically use 5 or 6 gears, while V-twin Harleys mostly stick to 5 gears. Surprisingly, the single-cylinder KTM390 comes with 6 gears. The number of gears primarily depends on the engine's torque curve—high-revving engines can cover the entire speed range with just 5 gears, whereas low-revving engines require more gears to bridge the power gaps. Once, I even installed a 7-speed kit for a customer's Suzuki GSX250R, though the stock setup is perfectly adequate. A word of advice: if your gear indicator fails, don't panic—shifting by listening to the engine sound is far more reliable.

[Carolyn]

My experience with off-road vehicles tells me that most professional off-road motorcycles, like my KTM 450 EXC, only have 5 gears. Some dedicated off-road models even reduce it to 4 gears. This is because off-roading doesn't require top speed, and closer gear ratios ensure power is always on tap. When riding forest trails, I often switch between 2nd and 3rd gears, while 5th gear is perfect for desert sections. In contrast, road touring bikes uniformly feature 6 gears. When I rode my BMW R1250GS to Tibet, the 6th gear was particularly fuel-efficient on high-altitude highways. In reality, 5 gears are sufficient for large-displacement bikes, but an additional overdrive gear does help reduce cruising noise.

[DiSpencer]

The most unique bike I've ridden as a test rider was the MV Agusta Brutale 1000, equipped with a 7-speed transmission. However, such multi-gear designs are quite rare, as most sport bikes like the Yamaha R1 still use 6 gears. More gears don't necessarily mean an advantage – Harley's touring models only have 5 gears but offer a wider gear ratio range than many 6-speed bikes. Nowadays, some new models like the Honda Africa Twin are adopting DCT dual-clutch systems, which are essentially continuously variable transmissions. A reminder for modification enthusiasts: simply increasing the number of gears without adjusting the final drive ratio can actually negatively impact acceleration.

[VonGabriela]

Riding a heavy motorcycle for travel, I particularly love the six-speed design. My Indian Chief can hit the sixth gear on the highway, maintaining just over 3000 RPM at 120km/h. However, smaller displacements like the Suzuki GSX250R, although nominally a six-speed, reach only about 70km/h at 4000 RPM in sixth gear. Actually, the CVT in scooters is more interesting, as it maintains the optimal RPM without fixed gears. Speaking of unique models, the old Changjiang 750 sidecar motorcycle had only four forward gears, while modern sidecars like the Ural still retain the reverse gear design, requiring an extra step to engage the reverse lever, offering a particularly interesting operation experience.