I don't mean to be a jerk or a hotshot, but I would like to make the argument that a 600cc sport bike (not a super-sport) can be a good first bike for some riders.
For a complete novice with no experience to motorcycles at all, this could be a very dangerous bike. For someone young who does not have the proper sense of respect and caution for very high actual speeds, this could be a very dangerous bike.
However, some of us have a natural aptitude for driving/riding. Also, some of us have grown up with machines you ride, as opposed to drive. My FZ6R is my first street bike, and I have found it to be excellent. The handling is stable, predictable, and forgiving. The power is quite manageable, and I find I have to be quite aggressive to ride the bike fast. Having grown in to the bike and explored its performance, I can say with confidence that lifting the front end by accident could only happen in freak circumstances. I have made some very aggressive starts from dead stop, and the front gets slightly light, but never lifts.
Again, I would like to stress that I do not consider myself some sort of super-star who can jump on a bike for the first time and ride it wide open. I grew up in a family of high performance drivers/riders, and the first lesson has always been "respect the machine". Nobody in my family can be considered careless or reckless, and in fact, quite the opposite.
My point is that every rider is different. Buying your first motorcycle is a major decision that requires much research, as well as much looking within. I am trading my 6R for an FZ8 this weekend (as long as the bank will let me) and have no regrets. Something smaller would have been disappointing, but starting on the 8 would have been too much. My FZ6R has been the perfect starter bike, and I look forward to many happy miles on my new 8.
Safe riding!
