+1!! Buy a cheap bike, there are only two kinds of rider, those who have been down, and those who are going down. Buy a bike you don't mind wrecking once or twice, then a few seasons later you can go for power or sparkle depending on your taste...
I bought two 1978 GS550s for $400 (neither road worthy) and two weeks later I had my first motorcycle on the road and lots of spare parts! I laid it down, went high-side, and got hit at a stoplight by some ignorant bitch who was applying make-up and driving....
Moral of this story? I don't fall over so much now, I have a very good understanding of the mechanical workings of motorcycles in general, and all together I spent around $6-700 for my first bike, gear, and license. I still have and use all the above, too...