1st bike help - standard bike

I'm likely going to be picking up a used motorcycle for my 1st bike in the next few months, and I'd love any advice you might have for me!

This will be for my commute to and from work primarily, which is about 45 miles round trip... so I'm thinking a standard bike would be good so the trip will be comfortable (I don't like the idea of a sports bike and being hunched over for the entire commute). I also want it to be able to handle highway speeds well, but also get 50+ mpg, so I'm thinking it will need to be between 500cc-650cc. Since I'll be on the highway a lot, a windshield is also necessary. Finally, my girlfriend will ride with me occasionally on the weekends, so it should be able to comfortably hold 2 people.

I'm about 6'2", 195 pounds.

Right now a bike I'm seriously looking at is the Suzuki SV650. I'm hoping to spend $3,000 or under for a used one, so I'll probably be looking around for a little while to find that perfect bike for me.

Do you think the SV650 is a good choice for me? Are there any other bikes I should seriously consider that would work well for me? Thanks in advance for your help!!

I would think that it would be fine. If you're completely new to this, you might want to practice on a smaller bike first if you can do so at an MSF class or have a friend with one.

I do plan on taking a motorcycle training class. I've also ridden regular bikes forever, and I rode dirtbikes for a weekend a while back. I'm hoping I'll be able to handle a bike like the SV650 once I finally get one!

truthfully, the sv650 is a pretty good starter bike in the 600cc class. It has power to hurt you, but any bike does, especially the ss bikes. I started on a sv650s and i asked the same questions as you. It has the power to get on the interstate and do a constant 80 mph (which i usually do), but it has comfort also. It is pretty comfortable and the aftermarket on the bike is huge. I loved that bike and im sure you will to. Also if your new, you can make a few mistakes (granted not huge ones) but is alot calmer than say a cbr or gsxr or alike bikes. If you werent looking for a used one, i would say also a gsx650f, but since they are new, you wouldnt find one for that price probably. Also look at the kawasaki 650r, the sv650s and 650r are almost the same bike with different names.. But they are comfortable bikes and can be used as a starter bike..

It looks like you have really done your homework. Have fun riding and always be safe!

Zackly what I was going to recommend was an SV650...or the DL650, which opens up a lot more options :D !

@iamgumby

I Hadn't even heard of the DL650... it looks very nice =) Is that more of a sports bike where you lean forward when riding, or do you ride it more upright like a standard (which I believe the SV650 is)?

Surprise! No the DL650 is called the V-Strom and is actually a "dual sport" bike. It can handle paved roads very well (corner like a laser for a good rider) and can go places where roads are...well...not exactly roads. And give you better than 50 MPG. It has an upright riding position. There are tons of mods for 'em. Very popular.

Davinator,
you seem like a fairly reasonable guy, so I will tell you what I tell everyone else when looking at a FIRST bike. Find a bike you wouldn't mind throwing to the ground several times. Because this is what more than likely will happen to your first bike. In your situation you haven't taken the Safety Course yet so you will have to take that course. If you use your own bike it will more than likely fall either by your mistakes or the mistakes of new riders around you. If you don't have to use your own bike you will have to relearn on your bike after the class, which means you will more than likely drop it. Good luck with your bike purchase. I am sure you will make a great decision.

Thanks everyone for your replies. I'm still a little ways off from purchasing my first bike (there's over a month wait just to take the training course out here!), but I had another question for you fine people.

Should I even consider a 250cc bike such as the Ninja 250, or something similar to that? My commute to and from work is just over 20 miles, and in my car I go up to 80mph on the highway. I'm a bit afraid if I purchase a 250cc bike, it won't be fun at all to drive at speeds like that, but having no experience with motorcycles I thought some of you might have thoughts and/or experience with this.

Thanks in advance!