Future motogymkhana bike?

[Adam Ef]

So well there's more time to think about future plans than to ride at the moment I thought I'd start on a hypothetical future project for a motogymkhana bike. I've always been fascinated by it and would love to try it some time, getting more satisfaction out of skilled cornering and manoeuvring than speed on bikes most of the time.


I know they say beginners should just use what they have, but a 240kg VFR is not the bike for it!


Looks like a lot of people use sports bikes with modified flat bar set ups for ease of handling. So I'm thinking to look out for a cosmetically challenged, CBR600rr, GSXR 600 / 750 (again) R6. Or possibly go for a cheap naked if I can find a Cat N Street Triple (although I found handling on mine a bit tippy and twitchy) MT09, or ideally a really nice GSX S750, but I'd probably be afraid to drop anything too nice and they're all fairly new still.


Main criteria I guess are agile, light as possible, smooth (no jerky FI issues like a lot of modern bikes have as the riding is all in 1st / 2nd gear and the rev range that they suffer in mostly), cheap as possible, ability to get engine bars, decent-ish suspension with adjustability as standard (not spending loads to upgrade) and as a bonus a nice bike that I may like to use as a hack for everyday use too, (so ABS would be a bonus too, preferably switchable, but not essential).


I know someone is going to say get another SV, but I'm not putting time or money into the suspension again and I'm always up for new bikes I haven't had before. I owned my SV for longer than any other bike I've had so would prefer something different.


So if anyone has any time on their hands for some suggestions at the moment then fire away! Cheers.

[Adam Ef]

+ just in case anyone doesn't know what I'm on about...

This guy is amazing :

[Adam Ef]

Thought of a couple of other points. Torque is preferable to BHP. Tucked away or under seat exhaust would also be a good idea for the inevitable drops and slides.

[Chris_SVS]

ER6 or Bandit, FZ6? something already fairly naked as standard. Just add crash bungs

[DarrenSV650S]

I'd be looking at an IL4 250 with a huge rear sprocket. Torque is useful but having a long rev range with fewer shifts seems like more of an advantage to me

[squirrel_hunter]

I've dabbled in Motogymkhana over the years. Its a good skills workout. The South West section is Swindon based as the chap who runs it is Rob Fox lives up here and he's quite good so not far from you in Bristol. Its true you can use any bike. He runs a NSR250 but I've seen others on all sorts including a Pan European. Which reminds me of a demo Rob did by ridding it along and hitting the lockstops in turns.

As for the bike to use, yeah a VFR might not be the first thing that springs to mind, I'd always be worried about dropping it and doing damage so you're going down the right route of getting something cosmetically challenged that you're not going to be to concerned about. One thing to consider is turning circle and power delivery, unless you're really good really fast I wouldn't be worried about a big engined bike, something that doesnt have clipons would be good.

Here's a video of some of the practice sessions, watch out for some idiot on a white Grom.

If you want more info reach out to Rob, he's a nice guy. Not sure when this years season is going to start though...

[Adam Ef]

Originally Posted by Chris_SVS

ER6 or Bandit, FZ6? something already fairly naked as standard. Just add crash bungs

Possibly. Good price, availabilty and plenty of parts for fixing up once it gets broken. Maybe slightly heavy though.

[Adam Ef]

Originally Posted by DarrenSV650S

I'd be looking at an IL4 250 with a huge rear sprocket. Torque is useful but having a long rev range with fewer shifts seems like more of an advantage to me

Hadn't considered smaller bikes. Good idea though. Helps on price too.

[Chris_SVS]

Originally Posted by Adam Ef

Possibly. Good price, availabilty and plenty of parts for fixing up once it gets broken. Maybe slightly heavy though.

Heavy low down though

[Adam Ef]

Originally Posted by squirrel_hunter

I've dabbled in Motogymkhana over the years. Its a good skills workout. The South West section is Swindon based as the chap who runs it is Rob Fox lives up here and he's quite good so not far from you in Bristol. Its true you can use any bike. He runs a NSR250 but I've seen others on all sorts including a Pan European. Which reminds me of a demo Rob did by ridding it along and hitting the lockstops in turns.

As for the bike to use, yeah a VFR might not be the first thing that springs to mind, I'd always be worried about dropping it and doing damage so you're going down the right route of getting something cosmetically challenged that you're not going to be to concerned about. One thing to consider is turning circle and power delivery, unless you're really good really fast I wouldn't be worried about a big engined bike, something that doesnt have clipons would be good.

Here's a video of some of the practice sessions, watch out for some idiot on a white Grom.



If you want more info reach out to Rob, he's a nice guy. Not sure when this years season is going to start though...

Brilliant. I'm Swindon side of Bristol too, so great to have that info. I'll look into it as soon as we're allowed back out. There was going to be a taster at Castle Combe soon being held by the IAM group from Bath, combined with extreme braking sessions, but looks like it won't happen soon now.