Give it a try!
Which is correct?
1. I'll give it a try doing something
2. I'll give a try doing something
3. I'll give it a try to do something

"It" needs an antecedent. Β That is a noun or noun phrase that it refers back to. Β The key word here is "back". Β In your examples #1 and #3 you are trying to refer forward to "doing something" and that won't work. Β If you have a previous sentence defining "it", you can just say, "I'll give it a try." Β For example: "They say bicycling is easy. Β I'll give it a try."
Your example #2 could work but it is a little awkward. "I'll give a try bicycling" should be rearranged to "I'll give bicycling a try" and it flows a lot smoother.

There are areas like this that are not addressed by the cold mechanics of grammar and syntex, some place for a 'living sense' of a language. Is there an English word for that? --something that is not grammar but still implies more of 'rule' than, say, 'common usage' would.

I agree with Dick's judgement: Β "I'll give it a try", or "I'll give bicycling a try". Β You can also say "I'll try bicycling", but of course Rafee was asking specifically about "give it a try".