Ive got a 2000 Suzuki GSF 250V, its quick, reliable, got it at a good price, people look at it and sware its not a 250 because its bigger than other pansy 250s, revs to 16k and its got 10k variable valve timing which makes the top end much better..
personally id stay away from CBRs even if they are recently plated because most of them are imported + rebuilt after having the life thrashed out of them for years!
A couple of my mates have Ducati 620 Monsters... learner legal due to the throttle restrictor.. thats an outlay of 10k + for your first roadbike if you want to depart with that kind of coin...