Reverse Gear

Groovy Rider · Aug 18, 2022

G'day all, I'm pretty new to this but here goes. I was reading a previous Reverse Gear thread and at the bottom it suggested I start a new thread given the age of the thread.
I was wondering if there were any new tech since the last thread to resolve the lack of reverse gear on most makes of large cc bikes?

I't seemed that most people had the attitude of if it's a problem your too old or too soft. I think if tech can solve the one issue you have in some cases I'm all for it. I'd like to buy an Indian Roadmaster and would like the peace of mind that having a reverse would give. Coming from a Honda CB 250 to a Triumph America 865 the weight differance was substantial enough for me to have to get use too, now I don't even give it a second thought. So maybe it can be a safety blanket untill you get used to it, or only use it in specific situations. It would be great if you could buy a reverse gear as an option then the extra cost would be a choice.

I think given all of the riding aid tech such as Traction Control, ABS, IMU etc.. a reverse gear for the shorter or less mucle bound riders would be a no brainerl. Keep in mind the less obsticals to people riding these bikes the more sales manufactures make. It would certianly would give that manufacture an edge.

I don't care what you ride so long as you can get out there and ride for the joy of it and the benifits to your mental health.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to hearing everyones views.

Keep the shiny side up.

Eagle Six · Aug 18, 2022

I would think if there was a marketing benefit (sales) to adding a reverse gear more brands would offer more models with this feature. Adding it as an option would be extremely costly and the design to accommodate the option would add weight and bulk to a model most riders would not like.

RogerC60 · Aug 18, 2022

I think @Eagle Six summed it up pretty well. The bikes I know of that have a reverse gear are behemoths that truly need it: the Gold Wing and the K1200LT (and maybe some of the more recent large BMW touring bikes). My 620 pound R1150RT can be pretty hard to push backwards in some spots, so I always try to park facing downhill with some maneuvering room in front of the bike. Oh, and don't forget to put the bike in first gear and let it roll forward against the engine compression before putting it onto the side stand. DAMHIK.

Kuiil · Aug 18, 2022

If you're groovy, you might be mod too?

Offcenter · Aug 19, 2022

Unfortunately, very few bikes come with reverse gear.
I'm lucky enough to own a Goldwing that has reverse, and brother does that come in handy!!
Unless you are King Kong, there is no way you are going to push that 900 pound bike backwards uphill!
Pretty much all Goldwings since 1988 have had reverse.
I know that there were a few big Harleys with reverse years ago. Those were bikes that were intended to have a sidecar fitted. Standard models had four gears forwards. Sidecar models had three forward and reverse.
Beyond that, refer to what Roger and Kuiil said above.

vito · Aug 19, 2022

When I traded in my 550 pound Triumph America for a 750 pound Triumph Thunderbird I became convinced that any bike over about 600 pounds needs a reverse capability. While I tried to be careful when parking the Thunderbird, a few times I found myself in a problem. Once I had to wait until I found a stranger willing to help me back it up, slightly uphill, so that I could be on my way. When I bought a Goldwing I was very glad to have that awkward, but functional reverse ability. And having a real reverse gear, not just a fixed reverse speed like on the Goldwing, is really great. That’s what I have on my current main ride, a Spyder.

Reverse Gear

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