First Bike Recommendations

I'm 5'8 170 pounds. I have been doing some research on this site and I saw that first time riders should not buy a newer bike bigger than 600. I have been riding dirtbikes for quite some time now, im no pro, but i know the basics and how to ride within my limits. I'm looking into getting on a street bike and I plan on taking the MSF course at the end of the month. My question is, (taking into consideration the new rider sticky) does the first time rider category apply to me as far as the first bike i purchase? Does my dirtbike experience count for anything on a street bike? I would ideally like to get a cbr600rr however, i now realize that might be too powerful. Would an R6 be a better choice? I have also looked at the ninja250, 500, 650, yamaha fz6r, and sv650sf. Are these good first bikes?  What bike would you recommend i buy as my first street bike?

Thanks
Chad  

I am no motorcycle expert but I have been riding for 34 years and I am also an MSF Rider-Coach.

Having dirt bike experience gives you a great foundation for getting ready for street riding.

The best thing you can do to get started is to take the MFS Basic Rider Course and make sure you wear proper riding gear all the time.

A CBR600RR and a Yamaha R6 are, in my humble opinion in the same category. These are very fast motorcycles and can be a handful in the hands of a novice rider.

The Ninja 500 and the Yamaha FZ6R are a little more user friendly as far as power in concerned.

All of the motorcycles you have mentioned might or might not be a good choice for you. Depends on your maturity and riding skill level.

You never mentioned your age and how much riding experience you have?  

I am 20 and in college. i learned to ride a dirtbike when i was 13 but never rode them extensively because i never owned one myself. I got most of my riding in on vacation type trips i would take with friends who had multiple bikes. ive rode 250's and am familliar with countersteering and all the basic riding techniques. I've always been extremely interested in cars and my first one was an 01 stage 3 roush mustang and ive managed to control myself with that (no speeding tickets, wreckless driving, etc.) so if maturity is a question i have plenty of respect for fast machines and the power that comes with them. If i got a faster bike i know i would be able to control myself on it and ride well within my limits. Im just wondering, since its easier to learn on a lesser bike, which one would be best to start out on and get the basics of street riding down since dirt and street are two different beasts.  

The Suzuki SV650 would be a good bike to start out on, as it has plenty of power that's easily accessible so you'll learn (instead of just riding), yet its performance envelope is wide enough that you won't "outgrow" it anytime soon. And Suzuki apparently has a backlog of unsold SVs, so you'll probably be able to find one at a very good price.  

Thanks! Also is there any difference between the SV650 and SV650SF other than the fairings?  

The naked SV650 has a more upright riding position. The SV650SF has lower bars and slightly rearset pegs for a sportier riding position. Everything else mechanically is identical.