hmm interesting, in the UK it's the 1000cc bikes we guide the new guys away frmo and tell them to get a 600cc and if it's needed to fit a 33bhp limiter to it ( legal for some licenses ).
The 600cc bike is more stable and has the grunt when you need to use power ( once you learn sensibly
) to steer out of trouble.
Riding a 600cc also means you pay more attention. I've seen "lazy riders" on 1000cc who find that when the need to use power to make the bike turn tighter they are sitting in the wrong gear. Thus why you'll find lots of 1000cc EX-riders
GOD, do not touch an entry level Ducati and only touch an upper one if you've the cash to maintain it.
Leon, you've clearly not been near many 600cc Jap bikes.
I'm NOT a riding god and *I* can ride a Bandit ( naked, "soft" ) as fast as many on sports bikes and regularly keep up with 1000cc'ers on road runs. I just have to work a lot harder -- whcih I then prefer
If you do go for a smaller 250cc bike then definately make it the plan to be a short term gap and FOCUS on using it to improve riding skills to get up to a much safer bike.
BUT, you are in NYC ? I'd not ride the streets on ANY bike and wait and get a car license