250cc? 600cc? Cruiser? Sport? Scooter?? So many options!

by Kitta
(SoCal)

When I took the MSF course, it was my very first time sitting on anything with 2 wheels and a motor. I think I picked it up pretty quickly, and even had some of the veteran Harley guys saying that I was really impressive for a beginner. My mom encouraged me to take the course by saying that, if I passed, I could borrow her 150 Genuine Buddy scooter for the summer. I passed the course a few weeks ago, and went on a 50 mile mountain ride on the Buddy with my mom for Mother's Day.

As much as my mom is against it, I can't shake the feeling that I want to buy a motorcycle instead. The Buddy was fun, but I was riding full throttle at 65. That was fun for my first ride, but I get the feeling I'll be bored and too restricted after a while.

My question is: what in the world should I buy for my first bike?? I was originally drawn to cruiser-style motorcycles, but after riding both a cruiser and a dual-sport in the MSF course, I found that I felt more comfortable on the dual-sport. I am 5'8" and 120 lbs, and I want a bike that I can handle but also grow into. Not too heavy, not too fast, not too slow. I've heard tons of people suggest going small (Ninja 250 seems to be the almost unanimous recommendation), but then others say 600cc is still manageable for beginners. Suggestions? Tips? Advice?