A new gixxer owner (introducing myself)

[Janis]

Hello you all!
I'm Janis, I live in Rome (Italy) and I've just bought a GSXR 600 (black and orange for the curious ones ).
Before I even start the break-in (tomorrow at 8.30 am...how nervous am I!), I've been looking for a suzuki forum so that I can ask some advise and/or share my experience...and here I am!

I've been riding for almost three years now, starting with a 1990 cbr600 that I destroyed in an accident, then (after a week!) I've bought a 1998 cbr which is still alive, and now I'm selling it because I've fallen in love with that little wild animal called gixxer during a test ride

I prefere track riding for many reasons...can't really drive fast on the roads because it's too dangerous (I know it at my own expenses), and I don't like to travel with my bike (ya know...air conditioning adicted ehehe). On the other hand I've always liked and watched races...so...I started last year to partecipate to track days and other track events.
I've been to Mugello, Misano, Vallelunga, Rijeka, Valencia and many others Italian and European tracks.
I wonder if there are others race lovers here.

Humm that's a pretty long introduction, sorry guys!

ciao, Janis

[Clint]

So that's where Rome is.

Welcome. It sounds like you have lessons to share. Please forgive my ignorance, but is "Janis" a masculine or feminine name, or both?

[Janis]

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

So that's where Rome is.

I've learned to never assume people knows where Rome is

Please forgive my ignorance, but is "Janis" a masculine or feminine name, or both?

It's feminine and it's usually spelled Janice.
It's actually my second name but no one uses the first one (Roberta)..so I'm Janis
btw I'm looking for a name for my lil' beast, I called the cbr Black Mamba, but now this name has become hackneyed because of 'Kill Bill'.

I don't know if I have many lessons to share as you say :o , I know for sure I have a lot to learn!

Thanx for your welcome...I still wonder if there are some racers here...
I guess I will found out later on...

Kisses, Janis

p.s. Ignorance not excused: you're too young and you don't know who Janis Joplin is! Shame on you!

[Clint]

Sure, I know Janis Joplin, but I also know that there are many international differences in names. Wanted to be sure.

The lessons you have to offer may be in English writing - I'm always amazed at how foreigners often do better than Americans in that department. It's almost embarrassing.

It's great to meet a woman who is so seriously into motorcycles. Most young women over here are content to ride around on the back of their inexperienced boyfriend's sportbike wearing a string or two.

One more thing: If you continue to offer kisses you may earn more attention than you anticipate. We can be an unruly bunch, so we can.

Signed, Bobby McGee.

[RookWV]

Janis, I have to admit....I love Rome! Of all the places I've been in Europe, Rome is about the only place I'd like to go back to.

Spent a couple of days there when I was in the Navy and ended up with about 150pictures just around Rome....the rest of my pics amounted to about 100 for the 13 other countries we went. (Naples is kinda dirty though)


Congrats on the purchase and be careful....Wear your gear and always assume the worst drivers are out on the road.

I'd be afraid to ride anything on the roads around there....they are quite narrow and bumpy.

[inspiron]

Hi Janis,

Welcome to the Forum!

I know where Rome is (about 5 hours south of my home), but I still have not been there - but I have taken several vacations on Garda lake, and have been in Venice and in Rimini.

I am driving a GSX 1400 - and loving it!

[Gixxerdale]

Janis! Great bike choice, especially for the track!

[Janis]

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

Sure, I know Janis Joplin, but I also know that there are many international differences in names. Wanted to be sure.

Fair enough
Nonetheless if you want to be sure you should check
(Am I being too suggestive? )

I'm always amazed at how foreigners often do better than Americans in that department. It's almost embarrassing.

Well...I've learned through Americans. I've studied French at school
(between you and me: spelling is overrated )

It's great to meet a woman who is so seriously into motorcycles. Most young women over here are content to ride around on the back of their inexperienced boyfriend's sportbike wearing a string or two.

This topic would deserve a specific thread.
In another section of this forum there was a guy complaining because his wife dind't want him to buy a bike...I would like to show him what happens to a woman who decides to do the same
Try and tell your boyfriend that you don't have time for a romantic week end with him, cause you prefere to ride your bike and maybe spend a day in a track... he will get mad and eventually leave you (for real, not the typical wife threats...wives are more patient than many people think)
I'm in the executive of a non-profit association of women bikers (or woman bikers? got confused with singular and plural here ).
Women are not encouraged at all (let's say it better: we are explicitally discouraged) to drive a motorbike and when they do (and usually we start at an older age than men) family and friends usually make fun of them when they don't frustrate them. Let alone when they say they want to buy a sportbike or (curse!) race!
This year we organised (among many other things) an official championship dedicated to woman racers. More details (in English) here:
http://www.motocicliste.net/trofeo/file/eng.doc
Our site is here: www.motocicliste.net Unfortunately it's almost entirely in Italian cause we don't have time to translate (we have to work, this is a hobby and a passion). One example of what we organize is here (in Engl.): http://www.motocicliste.net/gite/rad.../index_eng.asp

One more thing: If you continue to offer kisses you may earn more attention than you anticipate. We can be an unruly bunch, so we can.

I kinda feel safe across an ocean

Signed, Bobby McGee.

Humm they split in the song!
ehehheheh

kisses...errr Best Regards,
Janis

[Janis]

Originally Posted by Gixxerdale

Janis! Great bike choice, especially for the track!

Thank you!
I noticed this is a real sportibike 'cause today after 120 miles (road) I've got a terrible tendinitis and got to return back home I guess it is because of the more extreme position on the new gixxer compared to the 1998 cbr one.
Now I can't wait to get used to this (and recover from the pain I feel now, can't close my left hand!), and try this bike in the tracks...dreaming of the 3 days I will spend in Mugello in Sept!
I see you're in Los Angeles... I want to ride in Laguna Seca before I get too old!

baci, Janis

[Janis]

Originally Posted by RookWV

Janis, I have to admit....I love Rome! Of all the places I've been in Europe, Rome is about the only place I'd like to go back to.

Nice to hear (read?) that
Time to come back then! I would take you to Vallelunga (if you like tracks) with my friends or through the hills around Rome...both are wonderful places for motorbike lovers!

Congrats on the purchase and be careful....Wear your gear and always assume the worst drivers are out on the road.

I always wear the same gear, track or road, leathers, helmet, etc.
The worst drivers are ACTUALLY always around, must be a well payed job!
Today I've been very careful and slow..those have been the very first miles with the new bike, so I had to respect the maximum recommended engine speed (7500 rpm) sigh...

I'd be afraid to ride anything on the roads around there....they are quite narrow and bumpy.

Well we don't ride in the city...around the hills and mountains there are many well surfaced road, of course winding and narrow...so that we can have fun and bend w/o speeding up too much
Nothing compares to tracks of course (to me)

ciao, Janis

[LayinLo]

Welcome Janis. I think 87gsxrnut is a track guy.

[RookWV]

Originally Posted by Janis

Thank you!
I noticed this is a real sportibike 'cause today after 120 miles (road) I've got a terrible tendinitis and got to return back home I guess it is because of the more extreme position on the new gixxer compared to the 1998 cbr one.

baci, Janis

Squeeze with you legs more....and let your back do most of the weight bearing. My wrists used to bother me some until I started pinching the tank with my thighs....now my thighs get sore but nothing some stretching won't take care of.

[Janis]

Originally Posted by LayinLo_usmc

Welcome Janis. I think 87gsxrnut is a track guy.

Thank you, hon.
I hope nut will aknoledge my existence
I'm getting aware I have to build up a motorcycle+racing terms dictionary italian-english and vice-versa. Otherwise I can't properly comunicate here...

ciao, Janis

[Janis]

[quote="RookWV"]

Originally Posted by Janis

Squeeze with you legs more....and let your back do most of the weight bearing. My wrists used to bother me some until I started pinching the tank with my thighs....now my thighs get sore but nothing some stretching won't take care of.

Thank you for your advice, I will try, even though I don't maintain a fixed position while riding. I usually pinch the tank and press on the pegs while braking, when I bend I move all my body toward the inside of the turn.
I think I have to rotate the levers down so that my wrist won't be bent to grab them (does it make sense?).
The problem is that the front is loaded no matter how you sit, so shoulders and wrists bear a lot more weight than they used when I rode the cbr.
I guess I will get used to that eventually...I have to see a doctor today cause my foreharm and my wrist are giving me much pain
I can't believe I'm so unfit!

Thank you again...I can't wait to recover and ride my bike again! I have a track day on september the 6th and I have to finish the break-in and do the first 1000 km maintainance before that date!!!

ciao, Janis

[RookWV]

Originally Posted by Janis

I think I have to rotate the levers down so that my wrist won't be bent to grab them (does it make sense?).

ciao, Janis

That will make a big difference!

I move around on the curves too but on the straights I use my legs and back to hold me up....takes lots of pressure off my wrists.

Just like when you're braking except do it while cruising.

[TL chris]

I'm so jealous. Mugello has to be the best and fastest track ever. I'd do just about anything to ride on it.

[SuzukiGirl1]

Janis!!!!

Good to have you here!!
You'll have to post a pic of your new baby asap!

[SuzukiGirl1]

....Also, check out the Off Topic Forum for a thread called "It's effin' FRIDAY!" ...You'll see a pic of 'Nut...

[Gixxerdale]

Originally Posted by SuzukiGirl1

Janis!!!!

Good to have you here!!
You'll have to post a pic of your new baby asap!

Hmm...Speaking of posting a pic asap? We're waiting

[SuzukiGirl1]

Originally Posted by Gixxerdale

Hmm...Speaking of posting a pic asap? We're waiting

noted!!!