My first big bike was a 2003 Hornet. It was a bit of an animal to be honest, and could get a new rider into trouble. I have read really good things about modern Hornets though, but my father had a really bad accident on my 2003 model, and I thought buying a modern one was perhaps tempting fate a little too much.
My brother had a 2003 FZS fazer 600, and for a 1st big bike they are great. Trouble is they are 10 years old now, and being Yamaha, the metals dont age well. If you can find a clean example though - they are cheap, great tank range, awesome linear power delivery and they handle pretty well too. They are deceptively quick if you know how to ride one. Real hard riding starts to show the limitations of the chassis, but to be fair, as a new rider I doubt you would be riding that hard to start off with anyway. The new Fazers are all top end, you have to wring their necks and do a lot of gear changing unfortunately. Way to kill a legend Yamaha!! (Still haven't forgiven you!)
I had an Aprilia Shiver 750 - cracking bike, sounded awesome and performed well up to a ton. Bags of power, pulled like a train but could handle corners too. Was a little top heavy, but once you got used to it, you could make it fly. Only downside was a small tank. I loved that bike though, and it has to be one of my favourites.
I currently ride a 2010 ER6F which I have barely ridden ( and which I am probably going to sell). It is pretty dosile to be honest and the chassis precludes any kind of hard riding. That said, as a first bike I imagine it would be ideal. All day comfortable, fairly quick, reliable engine, fairly good tank range and fairly cheap to insure. I just find it a bit boring having ridden faster and more agile bikes before, but for a new rider I reckon it would be a good choice. I did a trip to Spain on mine and it performed very well to be fair. Cant fault it as a bike - it just does not have the kind of go that I like.
The old CBR600F's were stonking bikes, but perhaps a bit too much for a new rider. I have no idea what the new ones are like but if they follow on the heritage of the originals, it will be a corker. You are probably likely to get yourself into more trouble on one though
You might want to consider something like BMW F800ST too, depending on your budget.
There are loads of great bikes out there, so I would go and try a few for size. Sit on them, test ride them when you can. Read up on reviews, ownership costs and what they are like to live with.
I also like naked bikes (although I appreciate fairing too!). High speeds on a naked are hoot, and you soon develop the naked 'body position' when riding. Generally it is arms aching, head and neck straining forward, a hurricane inside your helmet and a big stupid grin on your face!!
