My first bike was a 08 Ninja 250. It was really a great bike to learn on and I am now a pro. I recently upgraded to a 06 Vulcan 900 Classic. However, I would definitely recommend starting on something like a 500cc bike since if you start on a 250 you'll want a bigger one real soon. Also, a 250 really doesnt' have the power necessary to ride safely since you can't accelerate fast enough to get out of harms way. (And believe me, there's a lot of harm out there) If you do start on a 500 though, take it really slow at first so that you really get the hang of it before taking it on the road. Have fun, ride safe and wear full protective gear so that you don't become a smear on the pavement.
