How tall are you, and how much do you weigh? A 250 is overkill for wanting to start small IMO. It's not about doing what everyone else is doing but keep in mind that it probably won't take long for you to get comfortable enough to start wanting more than a 250 will provide. A 600 is a good starter bike if you leery about something bigger. Just take your time, 9 times out of 10 the new rider gets hurt because they were trying to keep up with more experienced riders and they stepped out of their comfort zone. A good friend will teach you clutch and throttle control techniques instead of teaching you how to make a lot of noise with the throttle then pull out like a bat out of hell at a green light lol. Learn how to go from stop to being fully engaged in first gear at 10-15mph without giving the bike any gas whatsoever, it will force you to learn the sweet spot on your clutch.