I can concur what 190 said , the best way I was taught was to assume everyone is out to knock you off!
Not to be paranoid , but if you have a right of way and a car is pulling out , assume it is /might pull out and be aware - green lights at crossroads? check and don't assume no-body will jump the lights.
I had a bad crash due to a pothole and tank-slapper, the roads are so bad now, even the motorways' have potholes and you don't expect that.
I always wanted a GSXR750, as used to have a FZR1000.
I looked at the positives - basically great handing very fast bike, which will always exceed my capabilities, but then looked at Negatives:
Expensive to run in decent tyres, MPG, etc.
If you're doing a lot of commuting / traffic just annoying to ride as low and just not met for it.
But more importantly , there is so many speed cameras where I used to go for a rip, I would lose my licence quickly, methinks
A Bandit 600 would be a cheap light reliable bike, millions about at every price range.
It's easy to ride and gives you nice commanding view when mooching through traffic, and no back/ wrist ache of a superbike style.
If you spend 3k upwards you would get a decent model that's been looked after.
I ended up buying a Suzuki SM400! it only does about 100 flat out so very different from what I was thinking of.
But it's really good handling , if you hit potholes, speed humps it floats over them. Really high up so you see over all the cars, quick enough to get away from most cars from lights even if you ultimately have to move aside.
Has really sticky tires so zooms round corners, and TBH corners are where the fun is, not straights!
The initial speed buzz, of a superbike quickly becomes boring on just straights, not different to a car, it's all about the reading the corners, and going round smooth that's the real fun and a much lacked skill.
I have always loved bikes as at one end, you can have a 50cc moped to commute through traffic at virtually no cost and quicker than anything stuck in traffic.
Off road bikes, that will take you anyware you dare to go, only limited to your own capabilities
Or you can spend 5k and get a superbike that will do 180+, and amazing quarter mile times, and beat cars that you would need a lottery win for!
It's all about confidence on a bike ,and the only way to do that is ride , start out in the dry for the first times, and try and learn your bikes handling characteristics'.
Brake hard in a straight - how much does it dive and upset the balance?
Try coming off /on the power in a nice swooping bend to work out what the bike wants to do.
In the wet you have to be Smoooth
if you brake to hard you will be off, accelerate hard and you will lose back end , it's all about gentle use of the brakes /throttle,
You also have to be committed in a bend , lost confidence and come off the throttle(normal reaction) , and the bike will sit up and run wide , if you apply more throttle it will squat and turn tighter.
No different to driving anything quick, but on a bike you won't get away with many mistakes like you can in a car, and those mistakes hurt normally!
Also you have to scan way ahead and look for potholes, drain covers, over banding, horse manure!
The way the advanced driving course's make you call out EVERY potential hazard before you arrive at it means nothing will take you by surprise , that is the ideal mentality to keep you safe on a bike.
After a while it does come naturally, and I am sure you do develop a sixth sense for people opening car doors, pulling out - you sort of guess they are going to do it before it happens
Bikes either get in your blood and never leaves you ,or you just won't feel safe or like them.
For me its freedom , you see scenery loads better, and the fact that you have to always be 'switched on' when riding makes me feel more alive if that makes sense