superjohn - You are correct on weights.  My previous post mixed dry & wet.

Dry Weight:

Ninja 250 - 333 lbs  (source Kawasaki web site)
Ducati 696 - 355 lbs  (source Ducati web site)

I think my 696 is a great first bike... admittedly, it's kind of like dating a supermodel while you're in highschool.  You feel like the man, but you really have no idea what to do with her.

ppphhh  my first bike was 1200cc busa with a turbo charger on it.  That thing ripped.  I was responsible at the ripe age of 18 and never had any problems on it as new ride.  I only weighed 120lbs when I got that bike, it went about 300MPH.  Good starter bike. 

haha...that was a good one

I think the most important part is age and experience on the street.
I got speeding tickets in my car when I was 18 and just had the license for three months.
I also crashed my first car...not totaled but looked cool.
The 695 is my first bike,  I  am 36 and I put 8000 km on it this summer.
Not drops, no crashes, no tickets...and yes...I have been to track two times with it as well.
Its not the 600 or 1000 or 2000cc...its the upper half of the the motorcycle that counts.