Motorcycles

There are a few factors to consider here. What is your level of experience? Did you ride any kind of motorcycle before (even like a 50cc minibike)? Have you considered taking a rider's course before diving in? Why are you riding? Are you looking to regularly commute on your bike, even in inclement weather? Or are you looking to hit a track on the weekends and just see this as a recreational hobby?

I started riding about six years ago around my mid twenties, only having ridden a small dirt bike a couple times as a kid. I took the MSF course and bought a used 400cc standard Japanese bike that I could really get used to and not worry so much about if I made mistakes. I wanted an alternative to commuting to work from my car because it was ultimately cheaper. I ended up loving that bike and kept it until just last year. That did not prevent me from experiencing other bikes though, and as my experience and skill grew, friends and others allowed me to ride their bikes just to have fun. From cruisers to sport bikes and dirt bikes. I feel like it was only after all of that did I really settle on a middle of the road adventure bike for my purposes. It is my primary way to get anywhere and do anything, even in the winter. I wouldn't recommend that for everybody, but it suits my purposes. There is nothing wrong with really dialing it in over time. Find what you want out of riding and the right bike will find you.

If you want a sport bike, start with the 300 or the 450. It's a lot more fun to ride a smaller bike fast, and new riders on 650cc sport bikes are where the organ donor jokes come from.

I've given this advice to many new riders and almost no ever takes it, but after a few months they usually say they should have. Buy literally any used bike that's in your budget and is a reliable make/model. Preferably not super powerful or super heavy either. In 6 months time you will A: know if motorcycling is for you, and B: know a hell of a lot more about what kind of bike you want. Plus there's a good chance you'll drop your first bike (happens to most people) and dropping a brand new bike feels bad.

@Labotomized
As someone who owns an Ibex 450 and loves it (for sport touring only though), I'm biased. I got it for my first bike and I'd heavily consider an Ibex 800 for the future. Great value, and the accessories can be gotten for cheap.

Get a ninja 250, it can keep up with 500s.

Also watch 'twist of the wrist' on YouTube. You can find the full hour thing. It saved my life

I would definitely get the naked bike. It will be a lot more comfortable for commuting and a lot easier to handle and learn on sitting more upright in a relaxed position.

my first bike [...] I’m struggling to decide between a sport bike or a naked style bike. I’m thinking the 675 model would be great to grow into as I learn.

Why in the FUCK are you trying to kill yourself? You have zero experience and yet you're gunning for a bike that will hit 100 MPH (with a lot left to go) if you sneeze wrong. To put it into perspective, that bike will out-accelerate a C8 Z06 Corvette, and hang with a C8 ZR1.

Don't be stupid. Get a dual-sport, like a CRF250 or something. Or a Grom.

Something to keep in mind, as it also applies to motorcycles: "slow car fast" is far more enjoyable than "fast car slow".

I’m a few days late to this post but a few additional things to consider and some ramblings…

Whatever you’re looking at I’d run some insurance quotes. From my experience engine displacement and type of motorcycle are large factors in rates. I’d imagine there is a whole actuarial table for claims paid out on that combination that insurance companies use. As an example I could insure a 1200cc cruiser for half what a 600cc supersport cost even though they made comparable power(not power to weight figures though). I’ll also mention that my supersport insurance cost went down over the course of about 3 years of having no tickets/accidents to about half the original quote. It was not my first bike.

If you’re doing the maintenance, then in general, it’s easier on things without full fairings. Some bikes you don’t have to remove panels others you absolutely do just to do simple stuff like changing the oil. I own a ZX6R and oil changes are quick and simple with no panel removals. Coolant swaps require taking about 15 panels off and the removal of the entire nose of the bike just to see the radiator cap. It takes several hours. Another 950cc naked I own the radiator cap is right there. Just drain and fill. No tools required. Something to keep in mind when looking around.

You mentioned being particular on maintenance and motorcycles have shorter intervals than cars do for basically everything. As well as new maintenance items like chain cleaning, lubrication, and slack adjustment. If you follow the manual, some of those are as frequent as 400-600 miles. Most don’t actually do it that frequently but it’s certainly an item to keep an eye on. A dirty/dry chain can rob power and accelerate chain wear(chains are not particularly cheap). A lot of failures in a car that would be a non-event can put you in the hospital on a motorcycle. Fluid leaks? Annoyance in a car. Coating your rear tire in oil or coolant on a motorcycle can cause a crash as both fluids are super slick.

My first bike was a used CBR300R(286cc) which is really just a standard single cylinder motorcycle with a fairly upright seating position but is fully fared like a super sport. It was dirt cheap to insure and got around 75 mpg and you got to rev the pants off it. I really wish I had kept that bike. I sold it for nearly what I paid for it. There was only one time I felt the lack of power was problematic and that was a combination of about 3-4 other things all aligning at the same time in the worst ways. Everything else you just need to be diligent and plan ahead. A basic riders course should go over that at length.