I used to have a motorcycle. It was a 1994 Yamaha YZF600 Vance & Hines Edition, so it was pretty fast, and pretty colorful, since it was a mustardy-yellow and purple. I had a lot of fun with it, and do miss having a motorcycle. It wasn't my first motorcycle, but it was my first street bike. My first one was a 50cc little bike with 2 gears that I got when I was 8.
My advice to SnowFox-
If you have never ridden a motorcycle before, and if your parents will let you, considering insurance for a 16 year old with a motorcycle will be pretty high, is to get something really cheap. A lot of insurance companies now go by engine size to determine price. A good thing about going with a cheap bike is, for one, if you dump the bike it won't hurt you as much, since the bike won't be worth much. To help this, you can get some frame sliders. If you want to go with a sportbike, the Ninja 250 is a good way to go. They are cheap, easy to ride, and you can find used ones for around a grand. If you want to go with a cruiser, Yamaha Virago or anything from other manufacturers that is around the 250 cc range will be a good bargain. I know in Ohio when you get your motorcycle endorsement, you get a rookie licence, which I believe you can't ride at night or on the highway for about a year. Don't quote me on that, though.
What I'm trying to say is to stay safe out there if you get one. It sounds bad, but when you go ride, it's good to have the mindset that NOBODY sees you, so you have to see them and try to anticipate what they are going to do. Remember to leave yourself an out in any situation. People change lanes in front of you and pull out in front of you, because you are harder to see and they are busy talking on their cellphones, keeping their kids happy, or thinking about how late they are.
OK enough of the yapping.....here's what I went to look at the other day, and still working on the boss (wife) on letting me get this new toy.