In a motorcycle, why is the neutral position typically above the first gear and below the second?

Question

In a motorcycle, why is the neutral position typically above the first gear and below the second?

In: 1946

Answer 1

There are a huge number of motorcycles made where neutral is below first.
It is a pattern that was developed for racing to ensure that you didn’t inadvertently select neutral while downshifting rapidly. Getting a neutral when you didn’t expect it isn’t good on a motorcycle. It also made it easy to find first from neutral. It’s the only gear that is down from that position.