Abstract: The invention relates to a crankshaft (1) for a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine having at least two main bearings (2) a crank pin (3). Crankshaft flanges (4) are arranged between each of the main bearings and the crank pin and connect the main bearings to the crank pin. The crankshaft has at least one ring gear (5) spaced apart axially from a main bearing for a drive of a chain drive. A crankshaft surface between the main bearing and the first ring gear has an averaged roughness depth R z of less than 3 micrometres. Due to the configuration of the crankshaft according to the invention for a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine, higher torsional moments can be transmitted or the crankshaft can be designed to be lighter in the area having the higher surface quality.