It’s a fantasy many riders have dreamed of riding a motorcycle on Forza Horizon 5’s sun-soaked Mexican landscapes since the game’s 2021 launch. But as we roll into mid-2025, the question remains: Are motorcycles finally coming to Forza Horizon 5?
As a longtime Forza enthusiast, I’ve dug deep into developer updates, community debates, and even modding scenes to separate hope from reality. Here’s what you need to know.
The Short Answer: Don’t Hold Your Breath
Despite years of passionate requests from players, motorcycles are not part of Forza Horizon 5’s roadmap—and there’s no credible evidence that will change. Playground Games (PGG), the studio behind the Horizon series, has stayed conspicuously silent on the topic, even as they’ve expanded the game with new cars, modes, and even a PlayStation 5 port.
But why?
Developer’s Silence Speaks Volumes
Forza Horizon 5 is a celebration of cars. Every official update—from April 2025’s “Horizon Realms” mode to the Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato addition—reinforces this focus. Scouring PGG’s blog posts, patch notes, and livestreams reveals zero mentions of motorcycles, not even as a vague “we’re looking into it.”
Even a curious anomaly—an “I4 MOTORBIKE ENGINE” buried in the game’s engine swap list—turns out to be a red herring. As one developer clarified in forums, it’s an unused relic with “no match in Forza.”
Why Motorcycles Are a Technical Nightmare
As riders, we know motorcycles aren’t just “cars with fewer wheels.” The physics of leaning, counter-steering, and rider weight shifts are wildly different. This is where Forza’s engine hits a wall.
The ForzaTech engine, praised for its car handling, wasn’t built for two-wheeled physics. Modders have tried to hack bikes into the game, but the results are glitchy.
YouTube clips of “motorcycle mods” often show crude model swaps or cheat menus—not authentic riding experiences. Even dedicated motorcycle games like Ride 5 struggle with realistic physics, so retrofitting Forza would require rebuilding the engine from the ground up.
Then, there’s the Performance Index (PI) system, which balances vehicle stats for races. How do you fairly pit a 200-hp Kawasaki Ninja against a 1,000-hp Bugatti? Either bikes would dominate or feel useless, disrupting Forza’s competitive ecosystem.
The Community Split
The Forza fanbase is divided. On Reddit and Steam forums, riders argue bikes would “refresh” the game, citing fun memories of Grand Theft Auto or The Crew Motorfest.
Key concerns include:
- Collision chaos: Would riders ragdoll on impact (raising the game’s age rating) or magically stick to bikes (breaking immersion)?
- Resource drain: Should developers prioritize bikes over fixing car bugs or adding new models?
- Franchise identity: Forza Horizon is a car culture shrine. Adding bikes could dilute its soul.
Modders Hit a Dead End
If official support is lacking, could mods save the day? Not quite. Platforms like Nexus Mods host over 200 FH5 mods—mostly visual tweaks or cheat tools. A leaked Yamaha Raptor 700 quad bike in game files sparked excitement, but quads ≠ motorcycles, and it remains unconfirmed.
Even TikTok trends tagged #FH5Motorcycle are misleading. Most videos showcase real-world “Forza”-branded dirt bikes or compare FH5 unfavorably to bike-friendly games like The Crew Motorfest.
Why Forza Horizon Isn’t Ready
PGG’s silence isn’t stubbornness—it’s practicality. Introducing motorcycles would mean:
- Overhauling the physics engine.
- Rebalancing every race.
- Animating riders (a first for Forza).
- Risking the game’s E-rated accessibility with crash realism.
With PGG focused on expanding car content and new platforms (like PS5), bikes are a logistical non-starter.
What’s Next for Motorcycle Fans?
While FH5 won’t satisfy your two-wheeled cravings, hope isn’t lost. The community’s relentless requests prove the demand exists. Future titles, like Forza Horizon 6, could integrate bikes from the start—or we might see a motorcycle-centric Forza spinoff.
For now, motorcycles in FH5 remain a pipe dream—one that’s fun to imagine but grounded by technical and creative barriers.
