Here's my take,
I'm 20, a junior in college, and I work. I will be 21 in July, so it's a ways off. I'm in my third year at my current job, and have worked since I was 15. I bought my '07 FZ brand new in March of '07. I financed it through Yamaha's financing which is a credit line, not a vehicle loan, so only insurance requirement is state legal minimum and theft coverage. My friend co-signed for me and he only had decent credit. They approved me for $11k with an apr of 8.9% for 24 months, then something crazy after that. I figured, eh, I make enough I'll pay it off in a year. Didn't happen, I will pay it off in December which will make it 20 months of payments.
I make really good money where I am at right now. A very large amount of my after taxes income has gone towards the bike starting in April '07. This is partly because I got tricked into a service plan and my amount financed was a hair over $11k. But, anyways, I've been strapped to payments and I CAN'T WAIT TO HAVE THAT DAMN THING PAID OF IN DECEMBER! I've got $1247 left to pay.
I didn't think I was getting myself into huge payments, but I was. Using a loan calculator on bankrate.com, if I had an $11k loan for 24 months at 8.9%, that would be $502.03 a month. My real loan total was $11,213.43, and I'll have it paid off in 20 months, so I've averaged a payment a bit higher than $500 a month for way too long. That is a lot of money. Fortunately I make enough I can struggle, but pay that, but most people my age in school can't.
Being strapped to payments not only has limited my finances everywhere else, but has really just been annoying. I have HAD to work, not only to live since my parents don't support me anymore, not since I was 18, but I have had to make sure to work as much extra as I can to pay for this damn bike. I make enough if I wasn't paying for the bike, I could have saved, and maybe took a semester off work and concentrated on my school so I could do better in my classes. I graduated third in my class in high school, had one B on my transcripts. In college I'm working so much more to pay the bills, completely different story, so that extra time really could have been useful to me.
So, I understand that you're talking $2600 or whatever, and I was telling my story about $11k which is a lot more, but I don't think you're making enough money to buy this bike if you're worried about $100 a month and have only been at your job for 3 months.
What about gear? I've got the bare essentials, a couple helmets, a jacket, gloves, and boots and I've easily got over $600 invested. And I don't buy the most expensive stuff. What about maintaining the bike? Needs tires? Easily a couple hundred bucks for cheapies. Oil changes can add up. Chain lube. Cleaners. What about if you need a chain a sprockets? Couple hundred bucks. Not to mention gas...
Oh, and Insurance. If you get the cheapest insurance you can get, in your name as a 20 year old, in Michigan just for PlPd, you're looking $350 a year just to be legal. If you want any sort of coverage if you crash, you're looking $900 a year and up the newer the bike is.
I hope my story of being strapped to payments and stuff can at least add to your knowledge base to help in your decision in buying a bike. If you feel you can afford it, then go for it. But, you could probably save $2600 up before you know it and buy a bike next summer sometime and own it outright.
If I did it again, that's what I would have done. I can't wait to have the bike paid off and save soo much money every month. Such a weight will be lifted off my shoulders.
