Making The Jump

So, you’ve decided to make a switch to a bigger capacity bike. Here’s how to make the most of the extra power, quickly…

- Dean Ellison

For whatever reason, maybe a 400cc just doesn’t excite you any more, or you ride a 600cc and are just sick to death of getting blitzed down the straights, to then be held up in the corners. The latter I’ve seen frustrate so many riders on track days.

Whatever your reason, it’s going to feel different when you switch to a big bike, meaning you will need to adapt to a new way of riding – and it’s not for the faint-hearted. If you’re an avid race fan, you’ve probably seen that even pro racers find it difficult to switch, with some extremely talented World Championship Supersport 600 riders unable to cut it on a Superbike and vice-versa.

On a small bike you want to keep the momentum flowing, by using every available mm of tarmac and braking just enough to scrub speed for the corners, which is easier to achieve because your approach speed is relatively low.

With a 1000cc you want the bike either full throttle or full brake; you would expect to carry slightly lower corner speed at the apex, stand the bike up and drive to your next braking point, basically getting the most out of the straights and only pushing the brakes or throttle when the bike is on a safe part of the tyre (not on the side). Here’s a few points to consider when joining the big bike club:

On the straights