Another reason you should really consider a starter bike until you get some good seat time in is what to expect on the street.

The most important part (IMO) of learning to ride is not how to handle the bike. That will come anyways. Its learning what to expect on the road and how to react.

A starter bike gives you a better chance of surviving that on many different levels. A lot of the peeps that start out on bigger bikes are to busy with the bike to concentrate on thier surroundings.

I would suggest an SV650. They handle great, have plenty of power, are lightweight, parts are cheap, and very affordable. You can do anything with one. Trackdays, mountain runs, commute, or just cruising around. And they tend to keep you from getting bored of them unlike many other starter bikes.

Whatever you do, be careful and make sure you ride with atleast gloves and a jacket.