If your new to riding I would definitely not get a 9k bike. I dropped mine within the first 2 weeks I had mine, it would just be a damn shame to buy a new one and have something happen to it. My first crash was due to be inexperienced and me being on a road that I didn't belong on. If I were you I would start with a 600cc. I have had one for 6 months and Im not tired of it. Make sure you invest in some good saftey gear as well, this isnt somewhere you want to go cheap. The thing I like most about mortorcycles other than they are cheap, fast, ridiculous gas milage, can park anywhere, traffic doesnt apply, you look awesome and girls love em, and easy to work on is cops seem to leave me alone when im riding vs. my car in which I get pulled over every five minutes.
I think you should go with a japanese bike though, from what ive heard from other people is that ducatis are way more expensive to fix even if you do the work yourself vs. japanese. But if you have the money, then it doesnt matter. Just be careful.