Fivespeed

Fivespeed is a term used in multiple contexts to denote a system or product that offers five distinct speeds or gear ratios. The meaning varies by domain, but the core idea is a five-step progression or range.

In automobiles, fivespeed most often refers to a five-speed manual transmission (5MT). In a typical layout, the driver selects one of five forward gears and one reverse gear. Five-speed transmissions were common in many passenger cars from the 1960s through the 1990s, prized for balancing torque, efficiency, and driveability. Today, many vehicles use six-speed or higher transmissions, but five-speed units remain in use in some models and in certain regional markets.

In cycling, a five-speed configuration describes a drivetrain with five rear sprockets, or a five-speed freewheel or hub. These setups were common on early and mid-20th-century bicycles and persist in certain vintage builds. A five-speed system offers a narrower gear range than contemporary seven- or more-speed drivetrains, with implications for climbing ability and top speed.

Outside automotive and cycling, fivespeed is used as a brand or product name by various companies, including equipment manufacturers and retailers. In such cases the exact meaning depends on the product line and marketing context rather than a universal standard.

See also five-speed and five-speed manual transmission.