Help for a beginner

I would start off with a dual sport for a million reasons for you.
First is obviously your height, most of the "sport" styled smaller CC bikes will have you feeling cramped.
A Dual sport is great to learn on, the up-right seating position with the wider bars, lighter weight make it all more managable. WHEN you drop it, and you WILL drop it, it won't be a big deal as they're pretty tough.
It will go anywhere you want to, so if you decide you want to give a bit of dirt a try, it will be able to expose you to that world.

Check out something like an XR400 (Honda) or a Suzuki DRZ400, Find a street legal Yamaha WR450, or look for their WR250X. Kawasaki also has a dual sport, KLX250 that is available in the regular dirt fashion or as a supermoto package.

Honestly, if Yamaha would have made it a WR450X I would be riding that on the street until the tickets added up and I couldn't afford it. Too much fun on the street!
 
I concur but do remember this fellow has to foot a newbie rider insurance bill so something like a KLR650 which is ideal for his size will be a wallet buster - I'd think even a 400 might be tho that's a superb size in a dual sport for OPs frame.

250 thumper dual sport used would be my suggestion.

OP - have a look here

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=707360

and ask questions on that site as well - lots of thumper pilots there.
 
I'm 6'3", > 200 lbs. The first bike I rode was an ex500, great bike, but anything in the 250/500 class will be some degree cramped. It wasn't bad, but I looked like an ape riding a mini-bike on it. Not that I care at all, but insurance will tell you what bike you can get. Price that out first.
 
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