My Suzuki SV650 has been a great starter bike for me. Coming up 5 years now and it's been rock solid. Enough pep to scare the shit out of you(For the first year or two :P), and super light so it's easy to handle. Mine is a 2001, but I believe the newer FI model came out in 2004. Nicer bodywork, same badass V twin sound.
I picked it up for $3500 way back when, and i'm sure i'll still get close to $3000 for it today.
