| I'd agree with most of the above, but the duke 600 is pretty gutless. I know I would've been bored to tears with it at 18, and a danger to other road users as I thrashed the nappers of it everywhere.
I had an RD200 at that age and rode like a lunatic (you couldn't ride them any other way!). It was only when I got my first 900 duke and relaxed into using torque to propel me out of corners that I started to really learn about handling (for my money a more satisfying topic than outright speed). There's something very un-rushed about the 900 engine, but it's still hugely satisfying. Just need an RS250 for the track now.....
And yes, get some top-quality leathers, preferably made-to-measure, a decent lid, gloves, boots'n'all. You never know what you're going to hurt when you come off, so you may as well protect it all. | 
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