You really dont have to go as small as a 250. You can go with a Suzuki SV650 a great starter bike. Also consider a Ducati 750SS also GREAT for learning. Older Ninja ZX-6R (2000 body) or ZZR600 (2007 body). Yamaha FZ-6, Ducati monster 620 or 696. All these bikes are 80 HP or below, except for the zzr600 (100 hp).