Could I, with this background, purchase a 1000cc motorcylce and be okay?

I learned how to ride on a Honda Rebel (236cc), and rode it for about 2-3 months to and from school, then when we had a shortage of gasoline and needed economic transportation (mpg), I got on it again (Hurricane Katrina). This time for about 2 months. Then when I got eff'ed over by my insurance company I didn't have a car (which got destroyed in the storm), and the ONLY transportation available to me was a Honda FT500 Ascot (kinda sporty, but older motorcycle). I rode that bike for a YEAR straight, rain, cold, night-time, ALL the time, and since I was working 7 days a week, 45 miles away, I put on some good mileage in the saddle.

I've thrown a leg over a friend's 600 Gixxer a couple of times, and rode it no problem (about a dozen times, about 20-30 miles a trip).

I've also ridden a friend's R1 a couple of times, and really liked it... would there be any problems with me purchase one for myself?

got a full licence?
done a bike safety course?
can you aford it?

if yes to all then do it and enjoy it!

dude...your totally ready...just make sure you take it slow at first and over a month's time learn to open it up more and more...

but...just be careful...i've seen way way too many bike accidents

you should be fine. I would suggest taking a MSF safety course if you haven't already..
My first street bike was a Honda Valkyrie 1500cc
Before that, i rode a 100cc dirt bike. I had no problems learning to ride on the Valk...

Like a gsxr 1000, no but do you really need that much bike. 170 mph with 2 people?? gsxr750 is way more than enough unless you start racing

Yes but only if you ride responsibly. Only a few can handle the power of all the Jap liter bikes. Many more foolishly think they can with tragic results. Some get away with it for a while. Few realize their own true capability and give the bike the respect it deserves. Those who do ride responsibly most of the time.

Things to consider when you're looking at motorcycles. At what speed is most of your cycling? What is your traffic mix? Are you comfortable with up-shifting and down-shifting gears? Can you handle the weight of a bigger bike. The 1000 is the premier motorcycle (like a Cadillac compared to a Chevy) for power, comfort, speed, etc. If you can answer the questions positively and can afford the price tag, go for it. And if you like cross country road trips, it's the way to travel.

dont disrespect the power of this scoot, or as sure as god makes rain, it will smear u over the road like strawberry jam. that is what gets riders killed.....disrespecting the bike.

As long as you can afford it, I'd say go for it. A 1000 cc cruiser will be no problem; on a 1000 cc sport bike, you'll want to take it easy the first month or so (it's a lot wilder than a 500, about 3 times the power) but should be able to manage it.

No problem. With your experience with the Ascot, you'll be able to handle a liter bike without going all squid.

If you have to ask this question then my answer would be no. You seem to actually want to take your time to learn, and only you would be able to know when you're ready for a liter bike. The throttle goes both ways. If you do get a liter bike, just take your time on it and get used to the power before you start hitting WOT!

no way sounds like you have plenty of experience

I'd stick with a 600cc if I were you. Repeat after me: THERE IS NO PRACTICAL REASON TO OWN A LITERBIKE ON THE STREET.

The highest speed limit in the country is 75mph. A 600cc can hit that in 2nd gear, a literbike in 1st. Great, so now that you've bought six gears, what are you going to do with the other four?

Yes, you have experience riding, but you still have no idea what a liter-class sportbike is capable of. The bikes you mention are slow as hell in comparison, and much more forgiving.

A 600 gets better mileage, handles quicker, and still goes stupid-fast. All you get from 1000cc is a slightly faster aceleration and 30mph more top speed. But there really isn't a difference if you hit something at 150mph or 180mph; you die. Simple as that. In fact, there's a pretty damn good chance that anything over 100 will simply kill you in a very violent and painful manner. A literbike will just get you there faster.

You have a decent background, but riding a Gixxer 6 a few times does NOT mean you can ride it to its limits. Sport Rider just did a Bike of the Year test with a GSX-R1000, a Ducati 1098, and a CBR600RR. Guess what? The 1.1 liter Ducati had the slowest lap times, the 600cc was actually FASTER than the Ducati, even with "half" the engine, and the Gixxer was on top, but only by one second.

So again, what are you looking for? If all you want is bragging rights, go get surgery and be a porn star. But you'll do better on a 600cc and have more fun anyway.

I would say you have enough time on them to go for it and move up to a bigger bike just be safe out there you know they are a lot faster then what you've been on so far

Have you priced insurance?