Very good advice, I'm a new rider. I started last June, on a Suzuki Marauder 800. It worked pretty well as a starting bike. I put about 5000 miles on it last year, and am now hooked. Mostly I commuted to work, and took day trips of 100-200 miles.
I had the same experience as Ooter the first time I took it out of my driveway, too much throttle, dumped the clutch...hang on for dear life. I really am still amazed at the amount of power even an 800 cruiser possesses. Why couldn't I have waited one more week till the MSF course? Luckly I didn't crash, but I was in a pretty bad statistical category for about 10 minutes.
I rented a Harley while I was out in Vegas for a few days of touring the mountains of Utah, and I'm smitten with bike touring.
I learned alot last year, and decided that cruisers really aren't my cup of tea. I'm too interested in touring, and am enamored of the handling of my friend's Concours, so I just recently purchased a 2002 Ducati ST4s. I really can't believe I own the thing, and am counting the days untill I can actually ride my new Italian beauty.
Now I just have to sell my VZ800, before my wife divorces me.
I plan on taking the MSF Experienced rider course over the summer. I had such a good experience at the BRC, I'll likely go back every few years. Any other advice anyone can offer on moving to a more powerful bike, would be welcome. I'm a cautious, but not timid rider.