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Motorcycles
How to Shift Gears on a Motorcycle Download ArticleExplore this Article methods 1 Shifting Gears on a Manual Transmission 2 Shifting Gears in a Semi-Automatic Transmission Other Sections Questions & Answers Video Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Article Summary Reviewed by Jason Shackelford
Last Updated: October 7, 2025 Fact Checked
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This article was reviewed by Jason Shackelford. Jason Shackelford is the Owner of Stingray Auto Repair, a family owned and operated auto repair shop with locations in Seattle and Redmond, Washington. He has over 24 years of experience in auto repair and services, and every single technician on Jason’s team has more than 10 years of experience. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,978,309 times.
One of the most important processes of riding a motorcycle is shifting gears. This may seem like a challenge to master, but shifting gears is really a simple process. How you shift gears, however, will depend on whether your motorcycle has a manual transmission or a semi-automatic transmission.
Shifting Motorcycle Gears
Shift into first gear by closing the throttle and pulling the clutch in all the way. Push downward on the shifter, apply throttle, and slowly release the clutch.
When the motorcycle starts to roll, increase throttle input and release the clutch completely.
To upshift into higher gears, close the throttle and squeeze the clutch. Lift the shift peg up as far as possible. Bump the gear shift upwards to reach each higher gear.
Close the throttle and squeeze the clutch to downshift. Press the gear shift peg down and release it. Adjust the clutch and throttle to your current speed.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 2:
Shifting Gears on a Manual Transmission
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1 Become familiar with the clutch, throttle, and gear shifter. The clutch is located in front of the left handgrip. It is responsible for transferring torque from the engine to the transmission. The throttle located on the right hand grip. Rolling on the throttle increases the engine RPM[1]XResearch source to prevent the engine from stalling. The gear shift is a bar located in front of the left foot pedal. It is responsible for switching between gears. Practice the following:
Squeeze the clutch lever in, then slowly ease it out.
Roll the throttle towards the back of the motorcycle ("roll on") to go faster.
Roll the throttle towards the front of the motorcycle ("roll off") to go slower.
Press down on the gear shift to put the motorcycle into first gear. This only works if you are in neutral or second gear, otherwise, pressing down the gear shift will only take you to a lower gear.
Move the gear shift upwards to reach the remaining gears. The predominant gear pattern for manual motorcycles is one down, and four or five up. Neutral is found between first and second gear.
2 Start the motorcycle by squeezing the clutch, then pressing the starter button. Make sure that you are resting in the neutral position. Neutral is indicated by a green "N" light on the meter console; all new bikes come with this feature. At this point, you should be sitting on the saddle of the bike.[2]XResearch source Advertisement
3 Shift into first gear. Start by closing the throttle, and then pull the clutch in all the way. At the same time, move the gear shift into first gear by pushing downwards on the shifter. Then, slowly apply throttle while releasing the clutch gently until the motorcycle starts to roll slowly. After this point start increasing throttle input and release the clutch all the way.
Do not be in a hurry to release the clutch lever, continue to coordinate the throttle and the clutch until the motorcycle is moving. As the motorcycle increases speed, continue to ease the clutch lever out smoothly and slowly.[3]XResearch source
4 Upshift into higher gears. When you have achieved sufficient speed to justify shifting to a higher gear, roll off, (close) the throttle as you squeeze in the clutch. Place the toes of your left foot under the shift peg, lift the peg up as far as it will go. You can continue moving into higher gears by bumping the gear shift upwards more. One bump goes to second, another to third, another to fourth, and so on. NOTE: an experienced rider does not need to operate the clutch to shift up. He simply lifts the shifter lightly with his foot, and then, when he down-blips the throttle, the next higher gear will engage. Doing this smoothly takes a bit of practice, yet saves shifting time, and also slightly increases the lifetime of the clutch plates.
If you are in first gear and you lift half way, you will find neutral.
If you release the clutch and roll on the throttle and nothing happens, you're in neutral, squeeze the clutch and lift again.
If you skip a gear by accident, don’t worry. It won’t damage the bike as long as you make sure to match the throttle to the gear you have shifted to.
5 Downshift to a lower gear. Roll off ("close") the throttle as you squeeze in the clutch. Press down on the gear shift peg, then release it. Smoothly adjust the clutch and throttle together to match the speed that you are currently traveling. If you are coming to a stop, keep the throttle closed, hold in the clutch and continue to press and release the shifter until you are in first gear.[4]XResearch source
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 2:
Shifting Gears in a Semi-Automatic Transmission
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1 Learn the required controls. All that you need to do to shift gears on a motorcycle with a semi-automatic transmission is throttle the engine and use the gear shift.[5]XResearch sourceSemi-Automatic Transmission On a semi-automatic, the clutch is tied in to the gear shift, so using the gear shift activates both controls at once.
2 Turn the bike on. Straddle the bike and make sure it is in neutral before proceeding to shift gears.
3 Shift into first gear. This is a very basic process, as all you have to do is throttle the engine and press down one click on the gear shift. First gear is always found by moving the gear shift down a notch, while the remaining gears can be reached by moving the gear shift upwards.
4 Shift into higher gears. To do this, use the same process of shifting into first gear. Throttle the engine and push the gear shift upwards with your toe. Pushing it one click will move it to 2nd gear, giving it another gear will move it to 3rd, and so on.
5 Downshift into lower gears. To slow down and eventually come to a stop, you can downshift into lower gears by pushing down on the gear shift. Always put your bike in neutral when you are stopped.
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Question What’s the shifting pattern on a motorcycle? wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer Typically, first gear is at the bottom, followed by neutral, then second through fifth. Some motorcycles have a sixth gear. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 20 Helpful 54
Question How do I shift gears smoothly? wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer One way to do it is to pull the clutch while releasing the throttle. While you’re still holding the clutch, shift into the next gear. Then, slowly release the clutch lever while twisting the throttle. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 24 Helpful 66
Question Will I cause any problem if I release the clutch quickly? Community Answer Yes, the bike will kick forward quickly, then stall. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 42 Helpful 231
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Video
Tips
Motorcycling demands 100% of your attention 100% of the time. Learn to operate all of the controls from muscle memory by “playing” with your motorcycle in a safe environment. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1
When the light turns green, look left and right and left one more time to make sure that no one is “trying to beat the yellow light.” Pulling out in front of a red light runner can turn a great day into a not so great day. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
When you take your bike out on the streets and highways, keep your eyes up, searching for problems in your path of travel. Check your rear view mirror from time to time looking for people who don’t see you. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Show More Tips Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement
Warnings
When shifting up, listen to the engine. If it is making a very low grumble, shift down. If it is whining loudly, shift up. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
When downshifting, only downshift one gear at a time. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
When shifting into neutral from first gear, make sure that you let the clutch out slowly to ensure you really are in neutral. Releasing the clutch quickly, while still in gear, will cause the vehicle to stall (at best) or leap forwards unexpectedly. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
If your shifts "clunk" a bit, try playing with your jetting settings to get it just right. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
If You don't shift up when the engine hits the rev limiter, your engine could eventually blow Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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Reviewed by: Jason Shackelford Auto Technician This article was reviewed by Jason Shackelford. Jason Shackelford is the Owner of Stingray Auto Repair, a family owned and operated auto repair shop with locations in Seattle and Redmond, Washington. He has over 24 years of experience in auto repair and services, and every single technician on Jason’s team has more than 10 years of experience. This article has been viewed 1,978,309 times. 138 votes - 93% Co-authors: 45Updated: October 7, 2025 Views: 1,978,309 Categories: MotorcyclesArticle SummaryX
To shift gears on a motorcycle with a manual transmission, start the motorcycle with the clutch engaged. Then, roll the throttle toward you to close it completely and press down on the gear shift with your foot. Slowly roll the throttle forward as you release the clutch until the bike begins to roll forward. When you're moving, continue rolling the clutch forward to go faster. Once you reach a high enough speed to switch gears, roll the throttle back and squeeze the clutch. To shift up, use your foot to pull the shift peg up as high as it will go, and to shift down, press down on the shift peg. For tips on shifting gears on a semi-automatic transmission, read on!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Reader Success Stories
Chris Outlaw
Jun 28, 2017
"It helped me a lot. I haven't been on a motorcycle since I was very young. I am going to take the written test for car and cycle license tomorrow, so it was a good refresher course for me. Thanks for the info and help."..." more
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Yes No Did this article help you? Say thanks with a small tip. $1 $3 $5 Leave a Tip Support our mission to help everyone in the world learn how to do anything. Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Reviewed by: Jason Shackelford Auto Technician Co-authors: 45Updated: October 7, 2025 Views: 1,978,30993% of readers found this article helpful. 138 votes - 93% Click a star to add your vote
Chris Outlaw
Jun 28, 2017
"It helped me a lot. I haven't been on a motorcycle since I was very young. I am going to take the written test for car and cycle license tomorrow, so it was a good refresher course for me. Thanks for the info and help."..." more
Janice Walsh
Jun 15, 2017
"Have not ridden in 40 years, and want to relive the good days! Can't wait to borrow a bike and enjoy the memories. Thanks for reminding me of how I used to ride with no problems, even miss the hill climbs."..." more Rated this article:
Anonymous
Oct 4, 2017
"I never rode a motorcycle before, only the scooter and it's automatic, shifting gears is so confusing. Now I understand why most of the riders who have accidents are on motorcycles, not scooters. On the positive side, your article made it easy to ride. Thanks."..." more
Rob Q.
Sep 27, 2016
"After 20+ years away from bikes, I doubted my memory of the gear shift pattern. This article not only confirmed I'd remembered correctly, but it also provided clear instructions and useful advice for novice riders."..." more
Virginia Rego
Apr 18, 2016
"The instructions on using the handbrake over the footbrake. As a new rider and experienced bicycle rider accustomed to using the rear brake over the front brake, this is a switch that I have to practice!"..." more Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories
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Download Article Explore this Article methods 1 Shifting Gears on a Manual Transmission 2 Shifting Gears in a Semi-Automatic Transmission Other Sections Questions & Answers Video Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Article Summary Reviewed by Jason Shackelford 
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Reviewed by: Jason Shackelford Auto Technician This article was reviewed by Jason Shackelford. Jason Shackelford is the Owner of Stingray Auto Repair, a family owned and operated auto repair shop with locations in Seattle and Redmond, Washington. He has over 24 years of experience in auto repair and services, and every single technician on Jason’s team has more than 10 years of experience. This article has been viewed 1,978,309 times. 138 votes - 93% Co-authors: 45 Updated: October 7, 2025 Views: 1,978,309 Categories: Motorcycles Article SummaryX
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1 Become familiar with the clutch, throttle, and gear shifter. The clutch is located in front of the left handgrip. It is responsible for transferring torque from the engine to the transmission. The throttle located on the right hand grip. Rolling on the throttle increases the engine RPM[1] to prevent the engine from stalling. The gear shift is a bar located in front of the left foot pedal. It is responsible for switching between gears. Practice the following: 
2 Start the motorcycle by squeezing the clutch, then pressing the starter button. Make sure that you are resting in the neutral position. Neutral is indicated by a green "N" light on the meter console; all new bikes come with this feature. At this point, you should be sitting on the saddle of the bike.[2] Advertisement 
4 Upshift into higher gears. When you have achieved sufficient speed to justify shifting to a higher gear, roll off, (close) the throttle as you squeeze in the clutch. Place the toes of your left foot under the shift peg, lift the peg up as far as it will go. You can continue moving into higher gears by bumping the gear shift upwards more. One bump goes to second, another to third, another to fourth, and so on. NOTE: an experienced rider does not need to operate the clutch to shift up. He simply lifts the shifter lightly with his foot, and then, when he down-blips the throttle, the next higher gear will engage. Doing this smoothly takes a bit of practice, yet saves shifting time, and also slightly increases the lifetime of the clutch plates. 
5 Downshift to a lower gear. Roll off ("close") the throttle as you squeeze in the clutch. Press down on the gear shift peg, then release it. Smoothly adjust the clutch and throttle together to match the speed that you are currently traveling. If you are coming to a stop, keep the throttle closed, hold in the clutch and continue to press and release the shifter until you are in first gear.[4] Advertisement 
1 Learn the required controls. All that you need to do to shift gears on a motorcycle with a semi-automatic transmission is throttle the engine and use the gear shift.[5] On a semi-automatic, the clutch is tied in to the gear shift, so using the gear shift activates both controls at once. 
wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. 
Community Answer Yes, the bike will kick forward quickly, then stall. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 42 Helpful 231