Has anyone failed Motorcycle Safety Course?

Armonster

+1 to everything above.

I would look for a used 600 rather than buying new. The CBR600RR has been fuel injected since 2003, and a clean one with low miles can be found for 4k easily. Pretty much same story with the other 600s, plus or minus a few years. All of the japanese 600 supersports are solid, just find one that doesn't have too many miles and hasn't been laid down.

As for 600s being bad starter bikes, as long as you have the self control to avoid the upper half of the rpm range while you learn, it should be fine. You can still move pretty quick without going over 8k rpm.