Bought my 05GS500 in sept/october last year as a first bike, put about 11000km commuting daily city/hwy in the rain mostly over the winter, wanted to get an 06GSXR600 but got a sweet deal on a GSXR1000 so...I jumped.
Never touched another bike than my GS500 before so I didn't really know what to expect. Was altogether excited but felt stupid for having chosen such a powerful bike as 2nd bike after only 6 months of riding experience.
Bought the bike brand new from a dealer in OH on Ebay, had the bike shipped to Seattle (I live in Vancouver, BC)
Last friday after work hopped on the shuttle that goes from Vancouver airport to Seattle airport 200 miles south with my helmet but forgot my raingear.
Got to Seattle at around 9PM, in the rain, took a cab to the Forwardair warehouse nearby.
At the warehouse about to close, they had a beat up container laying in a corner
Was so excited I could almost hear my heart beating 
Again, I felt so stupid for having chosen that bike: I had to drive 200 miles back to Vancouver in the rain, darkness, on a 165hp bike with brand new tires. I almost gave up....but opened the container and there was my baby, spotless silver/black 06 GSXR1000 with less than 1mile on the odo 
It was almost surreal, I was alone outside the warehouse in an empty parking lot in the rain, facing my shining new Gixxer, no idea what it was going to be like.
Fired up the bike, awesome deep sounding noise, sat on it, made sure I was familiar with the location of the all the controls, bent forward (it's a sportbike  ), released extremely slowly the clutch expecting to loose control immediately (it was raining) but instead the bike started to move with utter smoothness and no vibrations. Insanely smoothly to be honest. A real pussycat
Same with the brakes, very progressive and as easy to control as the throttle.
Stopped at the gas station to fill it up before heading to Vancouver on the I5
Hopped on highway, in a blink of an eye I was at 75mph, no drama, nothing, I felt like I was not moving, engine was barely running at above idle speed in 6 th gear. Totally awesome. Same think with passing cars on the congested I5 downtown Seattle, 1 or 2 degrees on the throttle, you go from 75mph to 85mph almost instantaneously but very smoothly.
Made my way to Vancouver, in complete admiration for the bike. A couple of times, I hit 100 mph (so not to go above 6000rpm, break in period), the bike is totally rock solid.

It's now been a week, I've got about 500 miles, mix of city/hwy riding.
That bike has a double face, it turns into a powerful monster if that's what you want or pussycat if you feel like it. You choose with your right hand what animal you feel like dealing with. Going fast is so easy but be ready to lean VERY quickly in turns, as the bike accelerate so fast out of corners, things can quickly get out of control if you're not 100% focused on what you do.
Overall, I'm very happy with my choice, I don't regret choosing a liter bike at all, throttle control is really what it's about. It's a lot easier in the city as shifting is almost optional, taking off at green light is a lot of fun, almost impossible to stall. The riding position is quite comfortable and (here is the poser) you do get your share of attention when riding it
I commute to work daily with it, including in the rain and I'm already totally used to it.
Downsides so far, it's a gas guzzler compared to the GS500, it requires premium gas and the engine stopped running twice with no reasons when idling in traffic.

Apologies for my English but I'm French LOL

Now that's my kind of upgrade!!! 

riding it for the first time would have been bad enough, but at night and in the rain! Are you insane!

I would have taken it to the nearest petrol station (probably walked it there  ) and waited till morning. Just sitting admiring it!

Anways, great to hear that mate 

I was ready to do it, but after riding to the nearest gas sation, I felt "able" to ride the beast home. I seriously considered spending the night in a hotel but the forecast for the weather was worse for the next day. Kee in mind, I ride in the rain 50% of the time, so I'm used to it.

Another thing, here rain is more like a drizzle, nothing as bad as what you get in Aus.
I'm not crazy 

I uploaded 3 pics of the bike in the gallery, I get so excited talking about it  it's like being a kid at Christmas 

I don't blame you. Its a dead set awsome bike!

How much did it cost you?

less than USD10K 

What the!

How??

I want one! 



How big is that rear tyre compared to the GS 


How does it handle around slow , fast, and tight bends.

How is it on bumpy roads?

Its so beautifulllll. . . . . 

That is a great looking bike.  I hadn't seen it in black.  Very cool.  Congrats and happy riding.

mmm i bet its plush ... i'v been riding with two other guys almost every time i  go riding (94 900rr and a 06 zx10) and me and the guy on the CBR have to work our bikes to get around a corner good clean and fast ..  the guy with the zx10 ...  the bike dose all the work for him :|     but i have not got to seen this i'm normaly leading .. on my 500! i like the twistes and i normaly out do most of them just cuz my bikes so light .. but any stright away . i'm a gonner

Quote from: galahs on May 27, 2006, 07:49:13 AM
What the!

How??

I want one! 



How big is that rear tyre compared to the GS 


How does it handle around slow , fast, and tight bends.

How is it on bumpy roads?

Just uploaded a pic of the Suzie sisters that'll give you an idea on the rear tire

Around tight bends, quite a bit of work as the bike is very stable so you have to push it harder, lean more while making sure you have ABSOLUTE control of your right hand so not to be catapulted out of the solar system .
At the same time the standard settings of the front suspension is very soft so the steering seems a bit twitchy due to my weight. I was recommended a preload increase for the front end.
Faster turns like freeway on ramps are piece of cake, rock solid, no drama, it's like steering on rails.
Ride is very comfortable with the standard suspension setting.
Speed bumps are much better dampened than on the GS500, while high speed control is awesome. 160 kmh is like not moving.

Make sure you have it pointed where you want to go before you pull that trigger.  You have the fastest bike out there, watch out.  The 150 mph roll on is awesome. 

 

sweet bike...enjoy 

You don't realise  how much bigger the 1000 is till you see a pic like that. I mean in tyre width as well as bike height and width. The GS is a baby!


Whats the go with having equal sized chicken strips on both bikes 

you mean my gs isn't a powerful monster? 

Sure it is 

Thnaks for guys for all the compliments Xena is getting  , she was named Xena by my insurance agent LOL.
It is a sweet bike, I can't stop looking at it and I just realized I have close to 1000km already in a week so my first service need to be scheduled ASAP.
I had a good time yesterday as a guy driving an M3 was obviously anxious to show how powerful is car was to everyone and was basically teasing me by driving exactly at my speed. I did a quick acceleration (no WOT I'm too scared ) in 2nd gear and within a couple seconds I was above 100mph already at the end of the (wide)bridge where we were driving on. That bike is insane. Funny how you literally feels like the traffic behind you has stopped.
I'm thinking of having a big sticker made similar to a famous brand of computer chip but it would say "devil inside"or something like that 

According to the suzuki site there's only a .8 difference in seat height.   hmmm.....is it just me or does that look like a lot more than .8 inch?