I have to agree on the SV-650...
Best starter bike that you'll find a reason to keep ever. Does everything but top speed well - and who needs that on the street?
If I were to have a bike for running around on a near daily basis the SV would be my pick.
I personally have two bikes - both RD350's - a '74 basically stock except for H4 Bi-Xenon headlight, and a '75 that will have a 400 engine/tranny, ported and piped with upgraded electrics.
It's currently stripped down and blasted awaiting a warm enough day to paint the frame - I have PickleX-20 on it so it won't rust.
Talk about fun bikes!
Oh - and I pay $94/yr for full coverage insurance with medical on the '74. I purchased it running good for $450 and spent about a week really cleaning it up and cleaning the carbs, putting on new oil/gas lines and in-line filters. Most of the time was spent polishing aluminum and chrome.
JohnC: All motor and no chassis as I remember. I had friends with 500's and one had a 750 and my '75 would eat them up in the mountains no sweat on my bikes or my part. On their part - they were scared poopless trying to keep up!