My .02. since its your first bike-- buy used. buy cheap-- cash in hand, insure it for pl/pd. drive it like you stole it, drop it have a ton of fun with it then sell it within a year. then go out and pick up a nice bike.
I just got back into riding after being away for about 10 years. picked up a old radian super cheap (love the 600 motor in it) and am riding the heck out of it, with plans to sell it in the fall. and move to something else..