:d

[LolNewb]

I used to be one of thoeses guys who wanted the cool looking 600cc or 1000cc race reps for a first bike but after reading i decide 600cc non race reps or less (i dont wana get myself killed on a bike before i learn how to ride one!) just finished a msf class spent over 1k on some gear now saving up for eather ninja 500r and sv650s or the sv650 and last but not least 500r. i dont plan on getting a race rep for atleast 5 years when i know i can handle one of those beasts. most my riding will be in town untill i feel ready then freeway will use it for ride to school on those nice days and the good old cage for the nasty raining days

[OldSchlPunk]

Good for you! You may not need to wait 5 years to move up, but at the same time, there's no rush either. If done properly, you'll never have a last bike. You'll always remember your first.

[Ivan_markII]

I would recommend for a first bike to avoid streetbikes. Streetbikes are heavy; they damage easily; and all those bikes you mentioned will break 70mph like it isn't even there.

I would recommend, as a first bike, a dual-sport bike. They drop with little damage; you can actually off-road them; and their insurance is very cheap compared to a streetbike (full coverage for a DRZ400SM was, for me, $160 per year). Their off-road capability is very important because you can learn to slide them on, say, gravel roads, fire roads, and your local dirtbike track. Also, you can race them/track them at relatively slow speeds on go-kart tracks as a supermoto bike.

And finally the most important point; if you want the absolute loudest bike in your city--something that will make a Harley sound like a mosquito--put an aftermarket pipe on a single-cylinder bike.

I have an SV650. I wouldn't recommend it as a first bike because it is a sportbike without fairings. That means you will be passing slightly less-skilled riders on GSXR1000's.