The kinetics of methane pyrolysis were studied in a tubular flow reactor in the temperature range 1200 to 1500 degrees C at atmospheric pressure. To avoid excessive carbon formation the reaction time was short and the methane feed was diluted with hydrogen. Ethene, ethyne, benzene and hydrogen were the main gaseous products. Ethane was observed as a product at very low conversions of methane. More than 90% selectivity was obtained for C-2 products, The ratio of ethyne to ethene increased with increasing temperature. The yield of C-2 products is limited by gas-phase equilibrium at lower temperatures. Formation of carbon was strongly depressed by hydrogen at higher temperatures. The maximum yield of ethyne was found to increase from about 10% to about 50% when the temperature was increased from 1200 to 1500 degrees C, with hydrogen dilution H-2:CH4 = 2:1. A mechanistic reaction model was used to simulate the pyrolysis of methane at the actual conditions. A sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the elementary reactions which influence the formation and consumption of the species in the model system.