first motorcycle, help me pick one Options

[Hanyo]

I know, i know; the very commonly asked "first bike question" but i need help finding a first bike.

I know about the 250/500 ninjas and the gs500f from Suzuki are all great beginners bikes. I'm really leaning towards a 2008+ 250 ninja because I like how short and light they feel.

But I have a few opinons from my other friends what to get. My friend tells me to get a older 600cc bike such as a 98 katana; My other friend is teling me to get a gs500f to start off with because i will get tired of the 250 real quickly.

My main use of this bike is to commute and I would eventually want to go on the highway with it.

Does anyone have a suggestion on a bike that is less then $3000 and is a good beginner bike (600cc)?

[tomazws]

What made you decide to stay with Kawi instead of switching over to Gixxers?

[bccentaur3]

What made you decide to stay with Kawi instead of switching over to Gixxers?

I'm a little over 5'8 and weigh about 185 athletic build and can flat foot a 08 gsxr750.

On my kawi I still have to be on my tippy toes, well sort of on the balls of my feet. But the way the bike feels, I just like. I know it doesn't come with all the jazz like on the gsxrs for example, they come factory with a stabilizer bar. Kawis get a lot of head shake and pretty scarey some times. I believe the r6's come with gear shift indicators, but the kawis didn't have them until 07 and up I believe.

Besides if you pick up a 05 kawi 636 with the jumper mod you can kill many 600's.