[Jeff Higgins]

Matt, listen to these guys - start cheap and almost "disposable". You WILL dump your first bike. Hopefully you will be going slow enough to not hurt yourself. Anything you are looking at on your list is way too much bike if you truly "know nothing about motorcycles". I have been riding for almost 30 years, with an honest quarter million plus miles on motorcycles. These things still scare the bejeezus out of me when I get an opportunity to ride one. They are just plain scary fast on acceleration; no car you have ever driven can even come close. And don't kid yourself about starting off easy on one of these until you get the hang of it, promissing yourself to not get on it until you gain some experience. If it's there, you will use it. Imagine a machine that has the beans to flip you on your back with a simple downshift and WOT - when you are already speeding - on the freeway. I know it doesn't sound like as much fun, but once again, listen to these guys. You'll live longer, and learn to ride to boot. Both are worth doing.