First bike? What do you recommend?

After I sell the Mustang, I plan to use the money to buy a motorcycle. I've never driven a motorcycle so I'm completely green. I'm wanting something sporty but not too much. I was thinking a Suzuki GS500E or SV650S to learn on. I'm looking under $2,000. Any recommendations?

Honda Rebel 250. Learn how to ride first, then graduate to a bigger bike...
http://powersports.honda.com/2012/rebel.aspx

Good bike to learn definitely!

OK, I've been riding bikes for over 20 yrs. I have owned many street and trail bikes. So, I am not speaking completely out of my ass here...

Your 2 suggestions are quite reasonable, however, if you have NEVER "ridden" (we do NOT "drive" a bike) I STRONGLY encourage you to get some serious time up on a trail bike BEFORE thinking of dodging 4000 pound moving metal objects on the road.

Your time spent learning to ride on terrain with ONLY fixed objects, might just save your life one day. It did for me!

Having survived a 100 mile/hr "moment" and walking away, is part luck, part not shitting yourself and making it worse... trail riding skills definitely helped me with this experience.

BTW, I own/ride an '07 Ducati S4R (Testastretta)..... and yes, that is it (& me) in my avatar at Phillip Island Moto GP Circuit in Australia....

Pete is absolutely correct here! Deal with things that don't move first then deal with real life situations like the aforementioned 4000 lb dickheads on the road! If you have ever wondered why Harley's are so loud it's for the stupid people that dont use their mirrors while driving! The way I look at it is If my 2004 F250 4 door 4 x 4 monster of a truck got cutoff like it was in invisible you better believe that riding a bike is 1000000 times more dangerous

I'm well aware of all the dangers of riding motorcycles, believe me. My dad and myself were the only members of my family that DIDN'T own a motorcycle, it's been drilled in my head for years to always look out for them.

Why Harleys have loud pipes, I learned that when I was 5 and it scared the crap out of me when one drove by and my dad explained it to me.

I say "drive" because I've riden as a passenger on several bikes, just never been the one controlling the bike other than moving my friend's Ducati Monster 695 around in the parking lot. If I could afford one, I'd be all over a Duc M620 Dark but that's just too far out of my range. I have enough friends with Ducs that I'd have plenty of people to get me up to speed on it.

I really don't want a strictly cruiser. I want something that after I feel comfortable with it a few months down the line, I can take out and get some handling experience. I was thinking an older Ninja 250r. This is also why the GS500E came up as I was highly recommended that by several people. They second up a SV650.

My problem with a dirt bike I guess would be street drivability. I'm looking for something to drive to work if it's not raining. What should I look for?

One other thing to think about when looking at a "sport" type bike is the center of gravity is much higher. It does make it more challenging with slow speed manuvers. I started with a Kawasaki 454LTD and then got my Harley Fat Boy. I took the MSF course years ago when i was 19 and they had Honda Rebels at the time. I know they have a course at HCC also.

How about a 2003 black/red Kawazaki Z1000?

I am kinda interested in getting a bike too. I was really thinking about getting an enduro bike, they aren't ridiculously fast like the crotch rockets but it gets you to learn how to ride.

My first bike was a 2000 SV650, it's a good bike but it's small in size. The Z1000 I have now is a better bike, not just in CC's but riding.

I found the perfect one for you Bryce!

^^^Pimpin!

I had too sorry!

I happen to know of a Honda Shadow VLX for sale....