In my opinion....buy something cheap that you don't care about in the 450 - 650 cc range.
If you want to go with a cruiser...you can go a few cc's higher...but I'd still get something you don't mind dropping. Shit happens.
Its always better to be underpowerd when you're first learning to ride. Plenty of other learning experiences are gonna come your way without having to worry about the bike getting out from under you.
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thanks meng. when it comes down to it, i'm not really interested in power. as exposed to danger as i'll already be, i don't need to go 180mph. i mostly just want something that looks nice and runs well. about dropping the bike; unless there's some rider jargon i'm unfamiliar with, i'm assuming you mean the bike toppling over. aside from some fuckhead pushing your shit over, is this really a big issue with beginners? like, should i start saving now for medical bills and cosmetic repair?