[jaseman]

I'm a firm believer that you always buy used for your first bike. No matter what bike your buying.

1. You won't feel as bad when you drop it the first time
2. It's much cheaper than buying a new bike, and then deciding that riding just isn't for you
3. Leaves you money for buying proper gear
4. Leaves you money for buying oil, chain lube, etc. for general maintnance
5. Any wrenching you have to do, helps you get intimate knowledge about your bike, and gives you a sense of ownership
6. It's easier to learn when your not as worried about scratching your brand new bike
7. Years down the road, you'll say with pride and a grin "When I learned to ride, my first bike was a [insert name] that smoked and belched, and so on, and such. Man, I loved that old thing..."

And the list goes on...