I've been riding motorcycles on and off since '78. I love them. My favorites have been a '74 BMW 900R and an '08 Harley Davidson Fat Bob. I still own the latter.
I rode motorcycles that were 250cc or so off road and in motorcycle safety classes. They seem like toys to me, but that is because since '78 I have owned a 400/4, a 650, a 750, a 900, a 1000 and now a 1600 and I am a cross country riding lover. But they are good for back road or small town riding and for a beginner. My best experiences have been with Honda, BMW and Harley Davidson.