Something I've never got...how do you "learn" to ride a motorcycle? Does it just come naturally to you if you learned to ride a bicycle, or do you just keep destroying motorcycles and breaking bones until you "get" it?
Riding a motorcycle is actually very easy. It's just shifting you need to get used to. You will "crash" as you learn, which is why most people get used bikes first. Old 250R's or Hondas are popular for beginners. The 300 is a replacement for the 250R as a beginner bike, or a bike for shorter people.
If you wear gear at all times, and ride smart, you will be fine. The problem with sport bikes though is you feel deceptively stable and in control when going high speeds. This is what often leads to people getting hurt on them.
The bike I am looking now is an Iron 883.

Although it will probably be a couple years before I have enough to get one.