Stopped riding in 1990 for 19 years. Never got it out of my blood. Then in 2009, a friend of mine from Canada told me, "Don't go to your grave leaving something undone that you wanted to do". Got back to riding immediately and will never give it up again. If you buy a small bike, it won't be long at all until you wish you had something bigger. I speak from experience.

 

I think you can start on anything, IF you don't mind laying it down at low speed and getting it scratched up. I think you can learn on a Harley touring bike, but you might drop it in your driveway, etc.
It takes a while to learn to ride and to learn to take care of a bike. If you get a Harley touring model right out of the gate, I just wouldn't get one that's all cherry where you're going to feel bad about dingin' it up.
I say get some Japanes POS, as large as you want, and rag on it for a while before you get anything nice.

 

Exactly. You are big enough to handle any touring bike but the fact is you will at least "tip over" a couple times early on (grab a big handful of front brake at full lock in a parking lot anyone?? anyone??). Experience can save your butt with an 800lb scoot. If you don't mind a scratches to the chrome and bruises to the ego, go for it. However, I think a 750 is a good starting size bike for you.... Maybe get a dual sport first? Something completely different from the big touring bike that you might keep after moving up?

MY MAIN POINT: Beware of getting a cheaper, low zoot metricruiser. It put me off of cruisers for several years after I rode a few miles on a buddy's Yamaha Star with plastic chrome, beach bars and a tractor seat. I wallowed down the road thinking , "Who wants to ride around on this boring tractor?"

Then I rode a Harley and everything changed.... That was just my experience, YMMV.

-Sin

 

Buy yourself a beater for no more than $1000. Novice riders are much more likely to drop their bike, than a veteran rider. (ask me how I know this) Also it will allow you to see if this is for you or not. The of motorcycling appeals much more to some than the actual riding itself.

My $0.02.

mikebaby

 

I started riding again after many years - began with the Riders Edge Course, overtime rented a Sportster, then a Fat Bob, then a Road King. Just bought a Road King of my own. Taking a little time, renting and riding different bikes not only brought my riding skills back, but also made the decision of what to buy very easy. I knew I wanted the Road King.

 

I hadn't ridden for 15 years, and it was a RM80 dirtbike when I was 16. I took the MSF and bought a Street Glide, no regrets I love the big bike. I'm just under 6' and 190 ish but fairly strong and a quick learner.

Take the MSF course, if you are the "star student" and pick it up easy you can handle whatever bike you want. You know how strong and coordinated you are, and it definitely makes a difference on how quickly you'll master it.

A buddy about my size just bought a 883 low, we took the class together and he definitely struggled quite a bit more than me. He loves that little bike though, so it may not be the end of the world if you go smaller if you aren't comfortable.

 

It all depends on you, your personal ability, and how committed you are to riding. I've had friends that have gone both routes: small metric twins (Kawasaki EX500s) which they did drop/crash, and others who went straight to the heavy weights (with only one lay down in the garage). In February my buddy totally surprised me by buying a new Road King. His last time on a bike was 30 years ago and it was a 125cc Yamaha dual sport. To date I have taken him down 2K miles of every road condition imaginable (freeway, down town, residential, and loads of mountain roads, switchbacks, etc.) and in every weather condition except snow (well, hail two weeks ago, if that counts). He loves it! No issues. Built the same as you. Rides like an expert even with his wife on back. Make your own decision, but I would hate to see you have an incident, or worse, be injured, and end up crashing out of the sport.