Top 5 Bikes & Scooters With Reverse Gears

Fancy a two-wheeler with a reverse gear? Here’s some of the best picks

For most motorcycle riders, the idea of a reverse gear on a bike feels almost alien. We’re used to cars having a dedicated ‘R’ on the gearbox, but bikes, even the litre-class ones, usually don’t. On regular motorcycles, especially petrol-powered ones, backing up has traditionally meant putting the bike in neutral and walking it backward with your hands placed on the handlebar. But in recent years, with the rise of electric bikes and some big touring machines, reverse gears have begun to find its way into the two-wheeler world in a more widespread manner. If you want to know more about how a reverse gear works, check out this explainer.

A reverse gear isn’t a common feature in two-wheelers, but it is available on a handful of ICE and electric bikes today:

1. Honda Gold Wing 

The Honda Gold Wing series is perhaps the most iconic example of a petrol-powered motorcycle with a reverse function. Designed for long-distance touring, the Gold Wing is a large, luxurious bike with a massive presence on the road. Due to its size and weight (393kg kerb), backing it up manually can be exhausting, which is why Honda equipped many of its models with an electric reverse assist. This system uses an electric motor to slowly move the bike backwards at low speed, ideal for parking or manoeuvring in tight spaces. In India, the Honda Gold Wing is priced at Rs 42,82,114 (ex-showroom).

2. BMW K 1600 Series 

BMW’s K 1600 family, including the K 1600 B and K 1600 GTL, has reverse assist functionalities. These big touring machines are powered by a 1,649cc, in-line, 6-cylinder engine producing 160PS and 180Nm. Like the Gold Wing, the reverse feature is electric and designed simply to help riders back out of parking spots or narrow driveways. The K 1600 is ideal for highway cruising, and ride modes include Rain, Road, Dynamic and Dynamic to suit different conditions. In India, the price of the BMW K 1600 B and the BMW K 1600 GTL start from Rs 35,62,000 (ex-showroom).

3. Ather 450X 

The Ather 450X is one of India’s most popular electric scooters and a great example of how reverse gears are becoming mainstream in EVs. Instead of a mechanical gear, the electric motor on the 450X can reverse at slow speeds, allowing the scooter to back up under power with ease. The 450X is known for its peppy performance, advanced TFT display, Bluetooth connectivity, navigation and multiple ride modes for city riding. The reverse feature adds real convenience for riders who park in tight urban spaces. The price of the Ather 450X starts from Rs 1,47,999 (ex-showroom).

4. Bajaj Chetak 

The Bajaj Chetak electric scooter also comes with a reverse mode, helping riders manoeuvre effortlessly in confined areas like parking lots or narrow driveways. The electric motor in the Chetak can spin backwards at low speed, providing smooth, controlled reverse movement without additional mechanical complexity. Chetak’s ride modes include Eco and Sport, letting riders choose between range-focused riding or quicker throttle response. The price of the Bajaj Chetak starts from Rs 91,399 (ex-showroom).

5. Ultraviolette F77 

The Ultraviolette F77 is a performance-focused electric motorcycle that also includes reverse functionality. In fact this is quite important as the bike is top heavy with a kerb weight of 197kg. As with other EVs, the F77’s motor system can operate in reverse to help with parking and tight manoeuvres. The F77 is a premium electric bike with battery pack options of 7.1kWh and 10.3kWh with claimed IDC (Indian Driving Conditions) range of 211km and 323km in the regular and Recon variants respectively of the Superstreet and Mach 2. The electric bike has a 5-inch TFT display that offers connectivity, navigation and multiple ride modes like City, Sport and Eco. The price of the Ultraviolette F77 Superstreet and F77 Mach 2 starts from Rs 2,99,000 (ex-showroom).