Don't buy a new bike. Chances are good you'll lay it down at least once. Even a light layover, forgetting to put the kickstand down (more common than you think) will hurt the wallet a lot less on a used bike.
Get the biggest bike you can and respect the power.
Take a course in basic skills and once you are confident take a race course. Learn proper techniques, balance, counter steering etc. Once you thrash a bike on a race course you will have little need to push it on the street. Get it out of your system on track days. Way more fun and safer. Any of the bikes mentioned in this thread would be fun at the track. Does race city still run track days?
Don't waste your time with the CBR125. I really like that bike but it's very niche and you will be tired of it in two weeks. Great bike to introduce timid little ladies to the sport, commuting, or for riding schools to build a fleet but not for anyone who has thoughts of blasting to Banff for lunch.
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