Are the regular motorcycles you see on the hwy that hard to handle?

It really isn't that difficult, but a small mistake can have major consequences. The weight makes a really big difference, especially in the driveway, where most people drop their first bike. Not all starter bikes make you assume a "two point position" in fact, despite its apperance the little ninja has pretty mild ergos. I don't recommend the Ninja 250 for most riders, it has some pretty big limitations. I think the best first bike is an old dual-sport (a street legal dirtbike) they are light and tourquey with forgiving clutch, brakes, and suspension. They are also super cheap and durable. All that makes them user friendly. Plus they are versitile and great fun for advanced riders. They have some drawbacks though. They are tall which is a problem for new riders, especially the short. Also they are not well suited to hiway use. The biggest reason I urge people to start in them is to learn the fundamentals of riding offroad, away from traffic, cops and where mishaps hurt less.