Typical "first bike" question...

[assetuncon]

you have a dilema here - you dont want an oversized bike, but you dont have experience. there is a way around this...

go take your motorcycle safety course and get your license, then you can go to a track day and start on a rented 250, there are tracks around where I live that have amateur days and what not - no experience and they show you the ropes - do a few track days and get some experience, then go get a real bike

[347Mike]

Pick a 600 that is 7 years or newer and be done with it.

Unless you are fine with a top speed of 85 and it taking you 25 seconds to get there then go buy a 250.

This isn't rocket science.

[Tannerm]

First bike was a Yamaha V-Star 650 classic. Slick lookin v-twin Harley wannabe. I outgrew that bike in a few months. immediately wanted something alot bigger. First sport-ish bike was my next bike. A Yamaha FZ6. Not the new neutered full fairing FZ6r, but the naken FZ6. Mine was an 06. The R6 motor was enough umph for me. Wish I still had that damn bike. Both great bikes. So were my Kawasaki Nomad, Honda ST1300, Yamaha FJR1300AE, and Hayabusa.

[ram57ta]

My first bike which I have only had a few months is a katana. Not the coolest bike but I drive close to 40 miles one way to work and I like a little comfort.

While I will admit...the Katana is not the most state of the art, high performance superbike on the planet....it IS a competent, fast, good value for the money. I've ridden several Katana's and they always felt pretty smooth and comfortable to me. Don't be fooled into thinkin they can't go fast...they can. I don't think I'd do a track day on one (unless it was a total beater that I didn't care about).

[OreoStang]

While I will admit...the Katana is not the most state of the art, high performance superbike on the planet....it IS a competent, fast, good value for the money. I've ridden several Katana's and they always felt pretty smooth and comfortable to me. Don't be fooled into thinkin they can't go fast...they can. I don't think I'd do a track day on one (unless it was a total beater that I didn't care about).

Agreed. Amd honest not looking to race it. That is what the mustang is for. And with a CDL it keeps me level headed

[EW]

Anything less than a 600 is a mistake.

[bpr1]

my first bike is/was my 07 R1. Took my time, learned to ride it safely and correctly. I love the bike, it has a shit ton of add-ons now so it's not even the same bike i started with. I started to go with a lesser bike when i got it back in 08, decided against it to avoid the aggrevation of upgrading at a later date. Get what you like.