[Noah930]

I'm also a fan of the SV650 (without bodywork/fairings). The Ninja 500 (or what they used to call them before they stuck plastic on them, the EX500) is another good beginner bike. Or if you can find a Suzuki GS550ES. Those might not be the bikes you dream about owning, but they're good platforms on which to learn to ride properly. And you can usually sell them for about what you paid for them.

Buy used. Avoid fairings (you'll be shocked the first time you price out a replacement panel). There's a high likelihood you'll drop your first bike (or second or third). It might not even be at speed, but in your driveway or at a stop sign when you put your foot down on a spot of oil.

MSF. That's a no brainer.

I'm a proponent of the mantra: Dress for the crash, not for the ride. Proper gear can be protective and tolerable/comfortable even in the heat of summer.

Better/smarter/more careful riders than you have been hurt/killed.

edit: Oh, and I think a 600/620 Monster can be a decent first bike. Maybe even a 750. You'll hear lots of admonitions to avoid the marque because of reliability and maintenance. Ducks may not be the gas-n-go appliances Japanese bikes seem to be, but I don't think Ducati reliability or maintenance is ridiculous, either. Just remember that anytime the terms "Italian" and "electrical" are put together, there's reason for suspicion. But in general a lot of Ducati stuff (just like on Japanese bikes) can be DIY. Possibly the only maintenance issue that is different are the timing belt changes that are necessary about every 6K miles or 2 years. You can DIY, but it seems like a lot of Ducati owners just as soon have their dealers do so. Just like a lot of Porsche owners would just as soon have a shop change out their worn CV joints, as opposed to DIYing it in the driveway. I'd also advise to avoid the plastic-tanked (2005+) Ducatis. Particularly if you're thinking of owning it for any length of time. I think that's a ticking time bomb.