OK I may get flamed but IMHO...My vote is to get a little Ninja, a 250 or a 500 ( which are available for less than 2k in my area) learn how to shift it & ride around an area you are completely comfortable in, see if you like it, which you will & then get a bigger bike, or whatever you may want. My point is get something cheap and disposable for a 1st bike since you WILL dump it, then get something nice. I want another bike every spring but you have to accept what might happen & I can't.. Good Luck. I want another bike sooooo bad, for me though the Lotus makes up for it. Not really, but I tell myself that.
I bought a little Ninja cuz I knew I could pick it up if i needed to, which I did. Less than 300 lbs you can balance on your knee and force up, although I was 140lbs and 5'10". My very drunken point is don't get what you want as a starter bike.