Streetbikes are not learning tools regardless of the engine displacement, Everyone should have to learn on 125cc 2 stroke dirt bike for a yr. before ever being allowed on the street. The dirt has limited traction forcing you to figure out what body position and throttle control are all about, after a yr of crashing and not getting severly injured you will have a new level of respect for sportbikes and pavement!!  

then we should be limited to 500cc bikes for a year at least!

the thought of a novice rider on a GSX-R1000 is terrifying.  

What's good, fam?  Thanks for the post and all of the awesome information therein.  I'm a newbie in NC and I've taken an MSF course and have received my motorcycle endorsement.  Until reading this post, just now, I was convinced that I should buy a ZX-14...I consulted a bike "pro" at the most popular bike part/gear spot, it was preferred retailer by the class instructor, and now I'm really second-guessing my fervor for the ZX-14.  Thanks brethren!  

I read this forum last nite. I would like to thank all you guys because people had convinced me into buying a 600 or bigger. I am a beginner rider and I just passed my MSF course this past weekend. I ain't much on going fast and I just like cruising around. Now, after reading this I believe a smaller bike like a 250 would be really good for me. I would like to go with the new Kawi 250R Ninja, it's small and I think they look awesome. Thanx guyz. I really appreciate it.  

I will say this much...
The bike isnt the problem...Its the rider.

I have known young girls who started out on Busas without any riding exp and did fine and have done fine.

I have seen big buff guys start out on 250's and slide it several times w/o any previous rider exp.

I ALWAYS suggest ANYONE asking about a good bike to start with/buy (even if they have previous exp) that they should take the rider course if they havent already and go from feel from there. SOME people can handle a low HP/Torque sportbike over 500cc's as a newer rider, some are still sketchy after the class and are best to start on a 250. It depends on the person, their mentality, maturity.

The bike WILL NOT accidentally pop a wheelie unless YOU make it do it. A bike will NOT fly out of control unless you did something first. The bike wont wrap itself around a post unless there is a rider on it.
Regardless of experience we all have to look out for eachother and suggest that EVERYONE take the basic Rider Course and on top of that we should inform eachother of things to do and not to do while riding IE: STAY ALERT to help keep our fellow riders safe.  

and as for the guy who posted the following
~~
I TOTALLY disagree with you and to a certain extent, it's YOUR fault that you're friend is dead b/c had you been teaching him how to ride instead of racing, he might still be here. Another thing is it all depends on the maturity of the one behind the throttle. Before i took the MSF class in Sept. i've never rode a motorcycle before in my life, much less a sportbike. A month later i went and purchased a brand new 2007 GSXR 750 and 4000 miles later, i'm just fine. I had someone to follow me and teach me about when and how to turn and i've also read numerous books and watched a few DVD's on riding.  Once you apply all your newfound knowledge SLOWLY on the street, everything will go just smooth. Teach knowledge and skill....not speed. You can die on a 250 just as well as you can a 1000!!!  
~~

NOW I know WHY I got/get *** from people.
I read this and wanted to smack you upside the head. While things you said were true, I hope that you dont rely on your research and friends to protect you from dangers.
While knowing is half the battle, even the most experienced of riders go down for even the most basic of mistakes. It happens.

Thanks for showing me how NOT to act/think.  

You can buy a nitrous-injected Turbo Hayabusa as your first ever bike and ride it home in a snow storm wearing nothing but a thong bikini while figuring out which way the throttle goes and trying to figure out what that lever on the left hand bar is for if you want to, but... well, it's not exactly a brilliant idea.

Form Equals Function: Sportbikes are Not Beginner Bikes

(Found on Sport-Touring.net)  

First off, I think this is a great forum! You can tell what type of a rider a person by the words they're dropping. I have a v-star 1300 that I've been customizing, and cruising a lot. However, lately I've become very interested in super sport bikes. I've been comparing the pro's and con's. I think I might make the switch for the power and maneuverability. I do like longer rides, but I don't want a touring bike. I'm looking at the R6, but I i was hoping to get a little more insight on making the switch from a cruiser to a street bike.

Any words?

Thanks!  

I started on a cruiser. As long as you do not try to go out and give it all the bike has you will be fine. Just take a little time to learn the new bike and adapt your riding style. It is not that hard of a change. Hope it works out for you.  

different style of bike is a different ride for sure. Riding a dirt bike and a street bike two diff worlds. Riding a cruiser and a sport bike...I havent ridden cruiser outside of my MSF class haha. But I'd think this much. Obviously the ergos are MUCH different on it, you are sitting in a totally different way as well as the rake and trail being different so turning will be more responsive than on a cruiser. The power is I assume a lot different as well. Cruisers weigh more so the power isnt doing as much as it could, on a sportbike the power kicks in faster and does a lot more.
Again though I havent ridden a cruiser and dont know much about them except the common sense of it.
Like jinky said just take your time and be easy with it...stats say people wreck/drop a new bike within the first 4 months of owning it so take your time to get to know how it handles.  

I agree and disagree on some i purchased an 07 gsxr600 the reason i bougth was it was a perfect stunt bike if i wanted a drag bike then i would of course got the busa or a 1000 but certain plp get certain bikes to match their style of riding all of my friends ride 600's,750's.an 1000's i also stared out on a dirt bike but the bike culture got to me so far i been puting it down with my gsxr600 also for first timers if your gona get something just for the reason that its fast and dont kwn how fast it really is then dnt always know what your getting yourself into  

I agree and disagree on some i purchased an 07 gsxr600 the reason i bougth was it was a perfect stunt bike if i wanted a drag bike then i would of course got the busa or a 1000 but certain plp get certain bikes to match their style of riding all of my friends ride 600's,750's.an 1000's i also stared out on a dirt bike but the bike culture got to me so far i been puting it down with my gsxr600 also for first timers if your gona get something just for the reason that its fast and dont kwn how fast it really is then dnt always know what your getting yourself into