Motocross The Game Gearing Guide: Short or Tall?
How gearing works in Motocross The Game, when to go shorter or taller, and a track-by-track starting point for the 250F and 450F.
Shorter gearing gives you acceleration and a lower top speed; taller gearing gives you a higher top speed and a lazier engine. Start with the stock ratio, then go one step shorter on tight tracks and one step taller on fast tracks. Change gearing only after tyre pressure, and judge it over a full lap, not a single corner.
Gearing is the most misunderstood part of bike setup because it does not feel like a handling change. It feels like an engine change. The same bike can feel punchy and eager with one sprocket and flat and lazy with another, even though the engine has not changed at all.
In Motocross The Game, gearing is one of the three workshop systems alongside suspension and tyre pressure. It is also one of the easiest to test, because the effect is immediate and repeatable. The trick is to know what you are testing for.
What gearing actually changes
A gear ratio is the relationship between the engine's revolutions and the rear wheel's revolutions. A lower ratio (shorter gearing) means the engine turns more times for each turn of the wheel. The bike accelerates harder, but it reaches the rev limiter sooner.
A higher ratio (taller gearing) means the engine turns fewer times for each turn of the wheel. The bike accelerates more slowly, but it can reach a higher speed in each gear.
In a motocross sim, gearing affects three things:
- Acceleration out of corners. Shorter gearing helps the bike pull away from a slow corner.
- Top speed on straights. Taller gearing lets the bike use more of the straight before hitting the limiter.
- Shift points and rhythm. Gearing changes where you shift, which changes how the bike behaves over jumps and through rhythm sections.
The best ratio is the one that keeps the engine in its useful range for most of the lap, not the one that wins a single drag race.
Start with the stock ratio
The stock gearing is a compromise chosen by the developer. It is a good baseline for learning a track. Ride ten laps and note two things: are you hitting the rev limiter on the longest straight, and does the bike feel lazy out of the slowest corner?
If you are hitting the limiter early on the straight, you need taller gearing. If the bike bogs or requires a lot of clutch slip out of slow corners, you need shorter gearing. If neither happens, the stock ratio is probably close enough.
Change one step at a time. A big jump in ratio can make the bike feel completely different and hide the effect you are trying to isolate.
When to go shorter
Shorter gearing is usually the right choice when:
- The track has short straights and tight corners.
- The bike is slow to build revs out of slow corners.
- You are constantly slipping the clutch to keep the engine alive.
- The track has a rhythm section where you want to be in the meat of the powerband.
A tight Swedish track with deep ruts and short straights rewards shorter gearing because you spend most of the lap accelerating and braking, not holding top speed. The trade-off is that you may hit the limiter on the longest straight, so check the lap as a whole.
When to go taller
Taller gearing is usually the right choice when:
- The track has a long start straight or a fast section.
- You are hitting the rev limiter before the end of the straight.
- The bike feels too aggressive out of corners and breaks traction.
- You want to smooth the power delivery on a 450F.
A fast, open track rewards taller gearing because you can carry speed without shifting constantly. The trade-off is slower acceleration out of slow corners, which can cost more time than the straight gains.
Gearing and the 250F versus the 450F
The 250F and 450F have separate gearboxes and power-delivery models. The 450F makes more torque, so it can pull taller gearing without feeling lazy. The 250F needs to stay closer to its powerband, so shorter gearing is often more useful.
On the 450F, taller gearing can make the bike easier to ride because it smooths the hit and reduces wheelspin. On the 250F, shorter gearing can make the bike feel more alive and help it pull out of ruts.
Do not assume the same ratio works for both. Test each class separately, and remember that the time attack leaderboards are split by class.
A track-by-track starting point
| Track | Surface | Gearing starting point | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rödeby CK | Hard-pack | Stock to one step taller | Fast sections reward top speed |
| Midsummer Carnage | Deep ruts | Stock to one step shorter | Tight, technical, acceleration matters |
| Linköpings MS | Swedish club track | Stock | Balanced layout, tune after a full session |
| Pacific Crown | Sand | One step shorter | Sand kills momentum, drive matters |
| Estrella MX | US track | Stock to one step taller | Long laps and time attack speed |
| Green Peaks | Unknown surface | Stock | Learn the layout before changing ratio |
These are starting points, not prescriptions. The right ratio depends on your lines, your bike class and the current build.
How to test gearing properly
Use time attack. It gives you a consistent track and a timed lap. Ride five laps with the stock ratio and record your best and average. Change one step, ride five more, and compare.
Do not judge gearing by feel alone. Shorter gearing often feels faster because the bike is more responsive, even when the lap time is slower. Taller gearing can feel lazy but produce a better lap because you are not shifting as often.
Look at the delta between your best and average lap. A ratio that produces one fast lap and four messy ones is not better than a ratio that produces five consistent laps.
If you are hitting the rev limiter well before the braking point, you are losing time even if the bike feels fast. Go taller.
Gearing and corner exit
Gearing interacts with throttle control. Shorter gearing multiplies torque at the rear wheel, which can make a 450F spin up on corner exit. If you are struggling with wheelspin, taller gearing can smooth the delivery and let you get on the throttle earlier.
On a 250F, shorter gearing can help the bike pull out of a rut without bogging. The trade-off is more shifting and a busier ride.
The right answer is the one that lets you open the throttle smoothly at the exit, not the one that gives the biggest hit.
Gearing and jumps
Gearing affects how you approach a jump. Shorter gearing may let you clear a jump from a shorter run-up, but it may also make the rear spin on the face. Taller gearing may give you a smoother pull but require more run-up.
If a jump is marginal, change your line or your speed before you change gearing. A gearing change that fixes one jump can hurt the rest of the lap.
Common gearing mistakes
Changing gearing to fix a suspension problem. If the bike is kicking or pushing, gearing will not help.
Going too short for the longest straight. You gain in the corners and lose more on the straight.
Going too tall for a tight track. The bike feels lazy and you slip the clutch everywhere.
Testing on a different track. Gearing is track-specific. Test where you race.
Ignoring the 450F's torque. A ratio that works on the 250F may make the 450F unrideable.
For the next step, the track guides→ covers the related inputs in more detail.
FAQ
Does gearing affect top speed in the game? Yes. Shorter gearing lowers the theoretical top speed and taller gearing raises it, provided the engine has enough power to pull the ratio.
Should I change gearing before or after suspension? After tyre pressure and before suspension. Tyre pressure is the fastest to feel, gearing changes the character of the lap, and suspension is the most interconnected.
Can I use one gearing setup for all tracks? You can, and the stock ratio is a reasonable compromise. A track-specific ratio is faster if you are chasing lap times.
Does gearing affect the time attack leaderboard? The leaderboard is split by bike class, not by gearing. A faster ratio is legal and expected; it is part of the setup.
Sources
- Motocross The Game on Steam ↗
- Official Motocross The Game site ↗
- Official time attack leaderboards ↗
Official source: Steam store description and official about page, checked November 10, 2026. Ratios and track notes are practical starting points, not published game values.