What's the best bang for your buck when it comes to sport bikes?

some say its the ninja 250r is this true?

depends if you want speed and power go for Kawasaki or Suzuki from the 1000 to the 1400 which go any were from $10,000 to $15,000 but if you want acceleration and reliability go Honda or Yamaha in the 600 to 1000 category and these bikes range from $2000 to $9000. all for companies make good low priced bikes from 600 to 1400 engines

I dunno but I got the ninja 500 with 16k miles for only $1500

Ninja 250? Not if you want to be stuck on a 250 for a long time. You'll get tire of a 250 real quick. I learned how to ride and took a safety class on a 250cc over a three day course and I was pretty tired of it by the second day. They shake a lot and aren't very comfortable to ride at high speeds (above 35) as they shake like crazy. A small motor putting out high RPM's is going to rattle and make the bike feel flimsy.

250 is weak..............go with any Suzuki.....GSX-R, Katana, etc.........good bikes!

If you already know and understand how to drive a manual transmission, it helps learning a motorcycle because it's one less thing you have to focus on when learning. If you can practice discipline and restraint when riding, you may be fine. It's not all fun and games on a sportbike. Even if you ride perfect you need to know how to react when other cars and bikes and trucks don't drive so perfect. That comes from building new instincts and reflexes, and driving habits.

When I ride on the highway, I assume that every car I pass or that passes me, doesn't see me and is looking to come into my lane. I'm ready for any move that car makes half a second before he makes it.

You have to learn aerodynamics. If you get to close behind a rig, the wind can trap you there. When you pass along side of a rig the wind will pull you closer to the truck at one point and push you away at another. You have to learn all this and have counter balence and movements programmed into your body reflexes. You need lots of practice.

People recommend smaller CC bikes for beginners because most newbies are into it for the speed and flashiness of it and often underestimate the seriousness of riding safe. The temptation to tap into that power is usually too great to overcome. If you know you can and will respect the bike and get at least 3 thousand miles of practice before hitting the highway, and before group rides, then maybe you can start on a 600cc bike. Otherwise, help yourself out and start small.