Well said, I couldn't agree more with most of what you said.

A couple of things I'd like to include are (as mentioned above) correct riding gear/equipment can't be talked up enough for mine. I speek from personal experience of having had an ambulance, yes a friggin siren blaring, lights flashing bloody great huge ambulance that forced me off the road whilst it was on route to an accident. Bugger me it actually caused an accident, mine. Those were the days (about 15+ yrs ago) when I used to ride my pride n joy, a BMW R100RT.

If I hadn't been wearing full leathers, good quality helmet, gloves, boots etc as I laid it down at around 40mph I'd probably only have half an ass from all the skin grafts that would've been needed. Instead I just got up, dusted myself off and walked away. Albeit very shaken and more than pissed off with the ambo driver after I saw my bike all bent up. I digress, sorry. Mine was identical to this:http://lh6.ggpht.com/_l8786MjsgOM/R2cQ8COiejI/AAAAAAAAAeg/XiH-OQfKwAE/R+2v+parts+for+sale+020.jpg

Secondly I'd like to promote the worthyness of having a riding partner (on another bike), preferably, nay better than oneself. In essence someone to copy if you will, through street/city riding to highways and twisty mountain passes including in the rain. It's akin to learning one of many sports like skiing, surfing, karate etc. If you have someone better than you to copy/follow and you have half a brain, a good set of balls and the desire to practise & improve then improve you shall.

For the record all learner bike riders in Aust. can only ride up to 250cc size m/bikes for the first 12 months, that's for the bleeding obvious reasons. Practise first, follow your mate(s) around, get to know your limits/abilities, gain experience then buy a bigger bike like a thumping Harley, Ducati, BMW or Moto Guzzi.

GL with your future decision and riding days ahead.

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I just took a brief look of the FZ6-R and it looks very appealing. However, would the 600cc be a bit much for a beginner? Also, would you recommend an older year that I can get used because from what I hear... "If you ride, you will fall" and it would be painful to drop a new bike...

Btw: whats the difference between the FZ6-R and the R6?

The Mfg'rs model nomenclature can drive one nuts...here are some links
to make your hair hurt, in terms of discerning the real "differances":

FZ6R 2009 Yamaha FZ6R
YZFR-6 2009 Yamaha YZF-R6
FZ6 2009 Yamaha FZ6

And, the FullTiltBoogie R6S version:
2009 Yamaha YZF-R6S

Any of the above are seriously fast, amazing handling 600 cc class m'cycles, if
used in capable hands.

For a first street sled, I would look for used, 600 cc max, (less would be ok, imo,
based on your size & lack of riding experience), etc. And, used could be a couple,
three, four years old.
There are garages full of sleds that don't get ridden much after the first year or
so...though, used m'cycles require as much investigation, or more, than used
cars.

I agree with the above post. Check Craigslist for a used bike and BE CERTAIN to take the Motorcycle Riding Safety Course in your area!!!

Thank you everyone from all the input. It would be greatly appreciated if a list was provided as to what kind of used bike i should be looking out for. ie: Thanks!

1) 04-07 Ninja500R
2) 06-09 FZ6-R
3) Etc.

That's for you to research...part of the joy of ownership is the hunt. Look for her, see her, feel her, take her for a ride...you'll know when you meet the right one

Tleong,
It is like asking what specific car(s) one should buy for commuting and weekend rides...very difficult to say,
"Hey, look at these three bikes", especially as the models offered have expanded so much for the past several years.

My initial pick(s) is to keep it at 600 CC max, though 500 CCs will walk any car up to 80 or so. I also think a naked bike
or less faired one makes more sense for a first scoot than the full faired racer style bikes; also easier on the arms and neck,
and the "naked" scoots usually provide more steering movement, lock to lock, for low speed maneuvers that novices have trouble learning.

Used is your better bet, and any year back to the start of the decade will snap your wrists, power-wise. Of course "newer" model year is
sometimes better, but unless it has been abused or sitting out in the rain, the UJMs are hard to break. My '87 Honda Hurricane 1000 is near
pristine, unbreakable and will still snap my eyeballs back in my head...

Do some perusing on this link, by model and year(s):
Total Motorcycle - Your virtual motorcycle destination

And, there are other good links on the web...find a few you like, then GOOG that specific model & year for reviews, of which you will find
many from the motorcycle mags, listed on the net.

Your tenacity in asking anyone here to respond that the Ninja 500 is a "better" beginner bike for you vs ___, is short sighted, as all you can
get here is purely anecdotal, and none of us know your skill, skills learning ability, etc.

Another idea is to find a 500cc, or less, that runs well, but may not be cosmetically perfect; sort of a messenger's special...good to learn on, if
you drop it you won't cry, and when you get "better" and/or tired of it, you won't have much dough in it and can move on to something newer.

Any of us making a bike rec'd, other than an opin, is like rec'd a wine for your dinner. I am not being a smartazz or snarky, but your request is
term paper investigatory in scope. Look, read, go look at scoots, think about it, etc.

The time is on your side, as buying a sled in fall/early winter is prime time for deals. But, I hope you get your MC license and learn how to ride
somewhere besides the Streets. An MSF course is highly rec'd. I still take one, as a refresher, every 3 yrs of so, and I consider myself a damn
good rider with 46+ years and hundreds of thousands of miles riding, all across the US, CDA, etc., in all kinds of conditions.
GL,mD

Thank you guys for all the help! If I sounded naive when writing in this thread, it is because I am new to the whole bike thing. But once again, thank you for all the direction to be pointed at, and the analogies were quite useful!

Btw... what is "UJMs"? Thanks!

Initially, a slang acronym, for Universal Japanese Motorcycle.
While I feel the 4 big brands of Oriental Expresses all have
their slight differences and niches via model offerings, and
slightly different approaches to engine tech and gizmos,
they, Honda, Kawa, Suzuki and Yamaha, remain very similar
and cop from each other. It is not meant as a criticism or
un-PC slam.