getting started with a sports bike...?

[mmmmmmmm[Æ]mmmmmmmm]

Hi.

So,I am 16, i have my license, etc. anyway, ive been looking at cars for a while, and being on a tight budget there are very few options for me (the most i can spend at the moment is 3000). so i have moved on from cars to, you guessed it, motorcycles. But im not really the harley kind of person, a touring bike would only be my thing if i happened to travel cross country all the time...so im sticking to sports bikes for now.

my girlfriend has a strange obsession with sports bikes, and shes telling me the best way to go is either ducati or a kawasaki ninja. i couldnt find a ducati for 3000 or under, ninjas i had more luck with. so question #1: any other bike recommendations? i dont want something known for breaking or having too many of any problems. speed and power really dont matter to me at this point in time, when i have a bigger budget ill start getting picky in that area

okay, so lets fast forward a month: i have a motorcycle. what now? i dont know for a fact but im pretty freakin sure you need a special license to operate any motorcycle/atv/moped/whatever. question #2: where do i go for this, how much will it likely cost, and how long does it take?

Safety is also a big issue here. Now, this might possibly be a surprise, but i really hate it when anyone, whether on a motorcycle or any kind of "pimped out" 1990 honda hatchback, weaves in and out of traffic like everyone should be going 90. if i get a sport bike, im most likely going to be going around the speed limit, not driving like a dumbasss. but no matter what i say, almost every female im close to is going to freak out when i get on this motorcycle. i mean, ive heard horror stories about people dying on these, but if your a decent (and aware) driver, (#3) is it really that bad, or is it all based on luck? fill me in here with anything you know.

Back to the money issue, by time all this happens i really hope i will have a job, but i am basing most of my want to buy a motorcycle on the fact that they dont take a lot of gas to operate. But, i have to keep insurance in mind. i heard motorcycle insurance is cheap because it doesnt cover injury, but does that mean my life or health insurance is going to be hiked up because of this? i dont pay for either of those but if either are affected all that much i know its not going to fly with my parents (thats question #4)

lastly, question #5, please fill me in with any other information i might or might not need. im a beginner at this and im not afraid to let it be known, but i dont always want to be a beginner. so, if theres anything else i should know, please let me know.

whew...lot of words.
tl;dr version:
i want to start riding a sports bike.
1. what kind of bike is best for a beginner
2. what kind of license do i need and how much/how long does it take
3. how safe are these, taking into account being a good driver 4. how is motorcycle insurance/will my health/life insurance change?
5. any other info

 

[Steven]

The Kawasakin Ninja 250R is your best bet. It is, firstly, a beginner bike. Secondly, it looks good. Third(ly?), it is very inexpensive. You can get a 1 or 2 year old bike with lowish mileage for $2500-3000, and it is dirt cheap to insure. This is a great bike, with enough power to get you where you need to go, but not so much as to get you in trouble.

 

[ricechopper]

ive ridden hundreds of thousands of miles on every kind of bike, from Harleys to Hayabusas. a motorcycle is as safe as any other vehicle if operated properly. just look out for the other guy, and anticipate what other drivers are going to do. take a Motorcycle Saftey Foundation's basic rider course. it runs from $25-$350 depending on the state you live in.
look around for a bike, try to stick with the big 5. Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, BMW, Harley Davidson. you cant really go wrong with any of the bikes these companys put out.
get yourself a 600-650 Suzuki or Kawasaki.