[timwilky]

I have a friend who bought an R1 as her first bike in her late 30s, at least her husband bought an R6 as his a few weeks later.

Contrary to popular opinion, when she sold it 3 years later in had not been dropped, unlike the R6 that went into a dry stone wall on his first ride with me as target fixation overtook everthing he had been told about the twisties ahead, and to ride at his own pace, not mine.

So I guess there are some mixed messages.
It is the rider not the bike.
Riding with experienced others might bring on confidence but could encourage a false bravado.