Motorcycle Gearing: Introductory Lesson

DaveMossTuning.com Technically, gears are toothed wheels which transfer power one to another by direct contact. Sprockets are toothed wheels which transfer power one to another via an intermediary device like a chain. Regardless, we motorcyclist Neanderthals refer to altering the ratio between any 2 types of wheels as changes in "gearing". On a motorcycle this can be done inside the transmission like an automobile, but is most commonly done outside of it via the sprockets.