the MSF course will get u ur license so its more than OK to go with utr permit…and sure sport bikes are fast but who says u have to ride them fast…I like the way they look thats y i got one and Rick is right…I rode almost 300 miles mt 3rd time ever on a bike and my butt was sore but then again so was my friends who had cruiser…but in all most bikes are more than capable of doing what u want to do…it all comes down to preference of which type u like