Ignoring the multitude of financial reasons why buying a brand new bike as your first is a bad idea for anyone who actually cares about money...
There are exceptions to ever rule but....
If you simply want to cruise around on the street, be a stunter, or pose, you can really get ANY bike (including a busa) as your first bike. If you see yourself developing a deep life-long love for bikes as a motorcyclist and/or if you have any interest in really learning how to rail in the corners, the first bike choice is an important one.
I'm probably going to continue, or start, to piss some people off but what the hell...
(1) You can't "respect" something that does not respect you. So throw that concept out the window
(2) If really learning how to rail is important to you, a lighter/slower bike as your first is a better option. In order to keep up with your friends, you will be forced to ride well. Powerful bikes allow you to catch up in the straights, taking the focus off FUN and SKILL (corner speed). Powerful bikes mask mistakes....mistakes that go unnoticed often show themselves violently and without warning by slamming you on the ground.
(3) If you think a 250 would EVER be boring on a twisty road then you really just don't get it
(4) Peopel have different definitions of "making it" of success and of what is "ok". Some people call crossing the double yellow in a corner and "oh shyt moment" and some people call it a reason to be ashamed, slow the F down, and get back to the basics before picking the pace up again.
(5) Some people consider Yonkers part of the city and some people consider Saratoga as part of Canada
My first bike was a shadow 1100. My second was a 2004 FZ6. My learning curve was not as steep as it could have been. I developed and have since corrected numerous bad habits. I've paid dearly for thinking I was getting pretty good on my FZ6 because I could keep up, when really the 10,000 miles or so I had under my belt unfortunately didn't amount to shty. There has been an inverse relationship between my interest in corner speed and my interest in horsepower.
To the OP, you're not going to instantly face financial ruin, instandly die, or forever ruin your motorcycling experience if you get the new Yami....but you'll be incrementally better off if you don't. That's all....
PS - don't listen to a word that any bike salesman tells you
