starter bike???

A sportster really would be a great starter bike with it's low seat height and relatively easy riding position. The 250 ninja or kawasaki EX500 is also a good choice with my preference being 500 for a begginer. Cheap to buy, easy to maintain, easy to ride and with plenty of power to grow into and enough torque to scoot you right along right from a stop. Good handling bike too. We used to build them for AMA class road racing.

Great advice here from everyone, take a MSF class (normally you get an insurance break for passing) and develop your skills from there. Take a lot of early morning rides when most people are off the road. Be sure you are confident in your skills efore riding in a big group as riding in formation takes some concentration.

My first bike was a mini-bike almost identical to the one JohhnyDart posted, then I saved my lawn cutting money for a Honda XL75 and rode the crap out that on the dirt and even on a frozen lake, lol! From there it a CB350 and then a KZ1000, then a KZ650, then a Cagiva Alazzura SS (650 Ducati Pantha engine) and now I have another KZ1000.

I've got over 35 years riding experience and rode every bike under the sun as a motorcycle mechanic, but still took an intermediate MSF course just to brush up on my skills and it wasn't near as easy as I thought it would be! I also agree that the Keith Code books rock.

The best general advice I can give you is ride as though NO ONE can see you, it may save your life. Never drink and ride and when gearing up and function checking your machine before a cruise, change your mindset to invisible mode.....

Congratz and enjoy, motorcycling will bring you a lifetime of memories and become part of your soul.