Why are motorcycle transmissions designed with first gear down and the rest up so that you pass neutral going from first to second and when downshifting from second to first?

Question

Is there something inherently beneficial in this design or is it more of a holdover from old designs?

In: Engineering

Answer 1

Foot placement on the pegs while riding means it is easier to pull up to shift from 1 through to 6, neutral makes most sense near the lowest gear because that is where youd be traveling slowest, but if it was below 1 instead of between 1-2 you have the potential for accidentally going into neutral instead of 1 which is a bigger deal than accidentally going into neutral from 1-2.

Additionally you are stopped while in neutral typically so pressing down is more ergonomic than reaching under the lever to push up.