1
When I took an ERC, a guy showed up not having ridden for years and even then on dirt bikes.
He was on an '05 R1 that his brother-in-law bought and left in the garage for a couple years.
Finally sold it to him to make peace with the guy's sister for a song.
So, his first bike was an R1.
Buy the bike you want.
If you're concerned it might be too much bike and ride it that way, you've already gotten past the reason why people say not to buy them in the first place.