Moto Gymkhana Techniques Level 1: #2 The Secret of Moto Gymkhana

[@Ringer1982]

It's interesting how sometimes one detail suddenly helps you understand a problem you are facing for a long time. For somebody it can be enough to know that he should go faster, and going faster he will be always leaning, while somebody needs to know that he should always lean and because of that he starts to go faster.

[@LexcoMotoGymkhana]

Yes! Excellent point. I teach beginner motorcyclists on the weekends and it’s so interesting to notice what information and coaching helps some riders while other info and coaching helps others. Everyone is different and we all see things differently. Thanks for watching.

[@kenlee7954]

How about braking? I wanted to practice it by myself but just confirming if I should use the front brake when approaching a turn and release the brake proportionately to the lean angle and maybe use the rear brake thereafter if I want to go from hairpin turn to circle? Am I right? Plz correct me of I am wrong thanks.

[@kenlee7954]

I can do a very slow u turn within 2 car park space but I wanted to do the same at a tad bit higher speed and without using counterbalancing because I think I gotta be able to do that before I get seriously involved in motogymkhana riding events. Currently there's none in where I live but have always been so keen to practice this type of riding style. Not interested in high speed knee dragging stuff. I am always trying to take it easy on public road but whenever I get to an empty parking lot and have a bit of more dynamic and exciting riding time on my road bike, this is the only type of practice I am so keen to do. Plz help thanks.

[@LexcoMotoGymkhana]

Hello and thanks for watching. Yes, you are correct in that at the beginning of a turn, I depend more on front brake but as I begin rounding a cone, I use rear brake. I made a video about this subject in my Level 2 series where I explain my thoughts on this topic. I hope that video addresses all of your questions.

[@Elscroftz]

Hello. Amazing tip. Do you engage the clutch when going around the cone, maintain throttle or just roll off? I want to get into the proper technique. Thanks

[@LexcoMotoGymkhana]

Hello and thank you for your comment. I do not use clutch when I round a cone, however, there are good Moto Gymkhana riders who do use clutch. I prefer to use throttle and modulate the brakes while holding an open maintenance throttle. I also do not like to use very high idle rates either but again, some good riders like to do that also. I prefer to keep idle rate just a little bit higher than stock and I prefer to use gearing to modify the response from the throttle. I will be making a series on modifications soon. I hope this helps; please let me know if you have more questions. Thanks for watching.

[@BhaveshSinghBhanucsgo]

What is the length between those two cones ??

[@LexcoMotoGymkhana]

Sorry but I don’t remember. I usually do not measure the distances; I usually just lay out a pattern without measuring and use different distances every time I practice. Thanks for the question.

[@BhaveshSinghBhanucsgo]

@@LexcoMotoGymkhana that second last line was the perfect answer ❤️ thanku

[@LexcoMotoGymkhana]

You’re welcome :)

[@atfortyfivemotovlog5814]

Hello, have question :) When to use counter balance? Or it is not applied in MG technique?

[@LexcoMotoGymkhana]

Good question. In Gymkhana, counterbalancing is not needed and it is preferable to stay neutral with the motorcycle... or at least, that is MY opinion. Counterbalancing is mostly needed when performing U-turns very slowly but in Gymkhana, we should try to carry a little bit more speed through the U-turn so that counterbalancing is not needed. However, if a beginner Gymkhana rider needs to counterbalance a little bit when starting their training, that's ok.

[@leadnitro3]

Great demonstration, especially what not to do. Thanks!

[@LexcoMotoGymkhana]

No problem! I’m glad that the video was helpful for you. Thanks for watching :)

[@marlonbrando2708]

You initiated boss much thanks!

[@LexcoMotoGymkhana]

You are very welcome :)

[@powerentertainment719]

Great video brother. I am new to this technique. Is it okay to start learning it in low section tyres? Like 130/90 ald 110/70 rear tyres. Or tyre size doesn't matter at all?

[@LexcoMotoGymkhana]

Thank you. I’m glad you liked it. You can start practicing Moto Gymkhana on any bike and on any tire. These techniques translate to many types of bikes and tires. I work at a Motorcycle school as an instructor and I can jump on any of the school bikes and ride this style. And the bikes are stock. Now of course, on some bikes you will be limited as far as lean angle and speed but you can still apply the same methods. Thanks for watching and for the question :)

[@echevarriawilson]

Has anyone done this on a road king? Thank you for your content!

[@LexcoMotoGymkhana]

Definitely! I've done this kinda riding on cruisers and I've seen others as well. Of course, you can't go as fast because of lean angle but the same techniques work. Thanks for watching :)

[@niko6743]

@lexco moto gymkhana do have to put new clip on or handle bar risers for easier manipulation of bike? I have a 2007 GSXR 750. With the handle bars higher it appears you'll have better control of the bike. Is this true?

[@LexcoMotoGymkhana]

Yes. It is helpful to be as upright as possible. I added some bar risers that added about 1 inch. Because Self Steering is used for Moto Gymkhana, the bike will turn quicker if you have the center of gravity further back over the rear wheel and rear suspension. This is why people with sport bikes will usually do a handlebar conversion on their bike. However, I have seen a very good Japanese rider who has a 750 GSX-R who still uses the clip on style bars and is a super fast rider. So it’s not a complete necessity but it can be helpful depending on your preference.

[@SilverCabin]

Alex! I love the vids man. Great work.

[@LexcoMotoGymkhana]

Glad you like them. There’s lots to watch and even more videos are coming. Thanks for stopping by 🙌🏼

[@Dutchguy74]

when you do a u turn with moto gymkhana, how much space you need? , like traditional u turn technique, with steady slow speed, little rear brake , counter balancing and no full lock in my country you need to be able to do within 6 meters

[@LexcoMotoGymkhana]

That is a difficult question to answer because it will all depend on the motorcycle and line selection to know how much speed and space you will need. The goal is to carry as much speed and lean angle as possible so that you do not need to modulate the clutch and counterbalance. I think that some of my videos in later lessons will help you understand a little better. Thank you for your question :)

[@christiandeleo7737]

Cheers, will try 😊

[@barkinsahin]

Enlightning tip. ❤ thanks.

[@LexcoMotoGymkhana]

You got it. Thanks for checking out the channel 😎

[@Cris_MT03]

I have started watching your videos! they are fantastic! It is just what I was looking for! So, thank you a lot :) you made me Happy! By the way, where do you go to practice this gymkhana? I mean, which kind of places you go to practice?

[@LexcoMotoGymkhana]

Thank you very much for your comment and for watching. I’m very happy to hear that the videos have been helpful. It is hard to find good practice spots where I live. There is a small parking lot that I use often. It’s near where I live and flat and clean. I am a Moto instructor by trade and sometimes I will go practice where I teach the Moto course but it’s a little further from home so I cannot do that often. Most parking lots around here have security guards who kick me out so most of the big open lots are not available to me.

[@Cris_MT03]

@@LexcoMotoGymkhana Thank you a lot for your reply! I live in Barcelona and it is not easy to find a parking lot empty either hahah. I will explore more places. Thanks :)

[@Dutchguy74]

Moto gymkhana, these are the techniques of the Japanese motorcycle police right, incredible how they can do sharp u turns, I think they even break and accelerate during the turn and also their leaning is different.

[@LexcoMotoGymkhana]

Yes. The Japanese approach is different and very mysterious to others like me. It took me lots of study and practice to learn what they were doing. If you do not give up, you will learn the secrets. Thank you for watching.

[@Bikeadelic]

Is counter balancing good if you want to go slow though? I feel my very slow speed is much worse than my high speed for motorcycling in general not gymkhana

[@LexcoMotoGymkhana]

Counterbalancing is great for low speed maneuvering. I use it everyday when I ride. Even though Moto Gymkhana techniques do not employ counterbalancing, I still dedicate a portion of my time to practicing it on a regular basis.

[@Bikeadelic]

@@LexcoMotoGymkhana thank you for the clarification 🙏

[@rodneywoods9537]

Tks bro

[@LexcoMotoGymkhana]

No problem. Thank you for stopping by and checking out the vids. 😎

[@trionrider]

Thanks for sharing!👍

[@LexcoMotoGymkhana]

Your welcome! I hope you found the info to be helpful :)

[@bike_holiday4483]

Hello! I'm from Russia, Moscow! You right, this basic figure (GP8), and you are give a very impotant information. Respect! And sorry my english :)

[@LexcoMotoGymkhana]

Hello, my friend! Your English seems good to me :) It's better than my Russian. Thank you for watching and for your comment. I appreciate the support.

[@bike_holiday4483]

@@LexcoMotoGymkhana kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqjKhGeJjZV6Zqc Its my practice. And my chif give my same information - chin inside the turn, body inside the turn ;)

[@LexcoMotoGymkhana]

Your body timing and throttle/brake timing is looking good! Thank you for sharing. It's always great to see people working on their fundamentals. Keep up the great work. Arigato! :)

[@bike_holiday4483]

@@LexcoMotoGymkhana There is another exercise. you need to go at idle, as much as possible bent down to the tank of the motorcycle, and let the motorcycle itself shift from side to side. The purpose of the exercise is to feel the bike's own balance and learn how to use it. Learn not to fight with a motorcycle;) You can first hold the handlebars of the motorcycle, but then you just need to hug the motorcycle and swim with it ;) This exercise gives freedom to the hands when riding a motorcycle.

[@LexcoMotoGymkhana]

I actually do that exercise sometimes as a warm up but I have never named the exercise. Do you have a name for that exercise in Russia? And I really like how you describe the motion as "Swimming". That is a great way to describe moving with the bike. I like it :)

[@abdullahshaaban5517]

Awesome

[@LexcoMotoGymkhana]

:)

[@atypical_moto]

Sweet tip. Thanks!

[@LexcoMotoGymkhana]

You’re welcome. Thank you for watching and thanks for the comment :)

[@tycoon7885]

Thats it???

[@LexcoMotoGymkhana]

That’s it! Quick and easy concept that will totally change the rhythm and timing of your Moto Gymkhana riding. Learning to stay leaned over is a little tricky at first but once you learn to do it, your riding begins to flow in a very different way. Thanks for watching :)

[@Rettequetette]

Ouch... you're asking me to practice the one thing that scared me the most during my motorcycle training :-/ Those points in the slow figure 8 where you have to flip the bike from one side to the other - it freaked me out, I'm afraid it will still freak me out if I try it again.

[@LexcoMotoGymkhana]

It’s scary at first, especially after you’ve had a fall, but with time and practice it all comes together. I’ve fallen many times figuring these things out but falls start to become more and more rare as you improve. You got this! :)

[@ontrueshka]

I thing it is best learning videos, about gymkhana sport-side secrets :) thank you.

[@LexcoMotoGymkhana]

No problem. I'm happy my video was to your liking. Stay tuned to my next videos coming out this month. They are going to be very helpful.

[@tonyprudencio8056]

@lexco boss I have a cb500x and I currently have 15T in front and 41T sprocket in the rear… this makes my first gear really short and 2nd gear too long for gymkhana…any advise?..thanks..

[@LexcoMotoGymkhana]

Thanks for the question. I had the same issue with my Ninja 300: 1st gear was very short and way too jerky and abrupt for MY taste. 2nd gear, however, was too tall and I would lug the engine. Even if I raised the idle rate, 2nd gear was just too long and I would get no drive or acceleration. So I decided to lower the gearing and work on getting it just right for 2nd gear. I ended up leaving the stock front sprocket size (14 tooth) and increasing the size of the rear sprocket from 42 tooth to 50 tooth, so +8 teeth. 1st gear is now super short but I just short shift right away to 2nd gear when I take off. I now have decent acceleration and no lugging in 2nd gear. Hope this helps :) P.S. Modifying a motorcycle this way will most likely result in a huge loss of top speed and therefore will not be good for highway use. This is why I have a secondary motorcycle dedicated to gymkhana. Just something to keep in mind.

[@rratedmotorcyclerides]

15ft? that actually looks more like double?

[@LexcoMotoGymkhana]

You might be right; Could be more than 15ft. At the end of the day it doesn’t really matter. Just use a distance that will help you practice the concept comfortably. Thanks for the comment.

[@rratedmotorcyclerides]

@@LexcoMotoGymkhana Thank you for the quick reply. I will try that today.

[@Adrenalean767]

The guys who do gymkhana with the heavy bikes,like 1000cc sport bikes,how do they manage to lean at slow speeds and not fall over?

[@LexcoMotoGymkhana]

Thanks for the question. Once you get the techniques down, you can do them on any bike of any size. When I did the Fast Eddie Challenge, I did it on my Ninja 300 and R1200GS to make the point that the techniques are effective on different size and power bikes. These techniques are very different than normal slow speed maneuvers. One of the first videos I made was called “What Moto Gymkhana is NOT”. Check it out because it might help you. Thanks for watching :)

[@Adrenalean767]

@@LexcoMotoGymkhana OK thanks.

[@motogymkhanakiev5336]

Arigato man, nice video

[@LexcoMotoGymkhana]

Arigato! I appreciate the comment. Thanks for watching :)

[@anthonygarner6194]

its pronounced shicane as in sherbert not chikane as in chicken! domo arigato

[@LexcoMotoGymkhana]

Lol! I'll have to watch out for that Ch/Sh sound mix up. I wouldn't want to offend those French people :)

[@anthonygarner6194]

@@LexcoMotoGymkhana merci Lexco heh heh.

[@steadycruising3251]

I thought being leaned over in a slow turn would cause u to fall

[@LexcoMotoGymkhana]

In Moto Gymkhana, you use techniques that are faster but more risky. In the real world, I would feather the clutch, drag the rear brake and counterbalance with my upper body. This keeps the center of gravity more upright and more stable. In Moto Gymkhana, you learn a different style where lean angles are greater for the purpose of speed. Check out some Japanese pro riders like Takayoshi Sakuta to see how far these guys can lean :)

[@steadycruising3251]

@@LexcoMotoGymkhana ohh OK I get it. What's the purpose for using the rear brake tho?

[@LexcoMotoGymkhana]

I'm going to be making a video soon on front vs rear brake but for now I can tell you that rear brake is a very useful brake at low to moderate speeds. It can help stabilize your suspension/chassis, it can help you feel more stable during turns due to geometry and wheelbase changes and it can help you to tighten up your U-Turns. Rear brake is also easier to modulate at low speeds and is less risky than using front brake.