What's a good beginner motorcycle for someone with little riding experience?

I'm a junior in college and have been wanting a bike for a long time, so I plan on hopefully getting one after I graduate. I've had some riding experience in the past, (I owned a Yamaha YZ85 dirt bike when I was 14 or so, and my older brother had a Honda CR250R that I would ride occasionally) but nothing very significant. What are some good, solid bikes that would suit a beginning rider? I wouldn't be doing too much with it… Maybe driving it to work and taking it out on the weekends for fun. Two bikes I really like are the Yamaha FZ-07 and the Harley Iron 883. What are your thoughts on these two bikes, and which, if any, other ones would you recommend for someone starting out?

Suggest you take a Basic Riders Coursefor one good reason- insurance rates are lower for a beginner street rider.
That said, I'd recommend the Yamaha FZ-07 if you wish to buy new but also recommend buying a nice used bike instead just because street riding is different than dirt-biking, a whole lot different.

Both the FZ-07 ($7300 new) and the 883 ($8300 new) are good bikes, but have you looked at the ninja 300 or r3's and those 300cc class of bikes? The ninja 300 for example sells new at $5300 WITH ABS, which may be a useful feature to you. It also does not look like a super small bike, most people used to complement me on my blue ninja '08 250 and would ask if it was a 600cc bike… Also when choosing a new bike just remember that you ARE going to drop it or crash it, so buying a used bike that has a little bit of damage and reduces the price dramatically is a very good idea. Trying to buy a bike in the beginning of summer can be quite hectic and the prices are usually pretty high, buying at the end of summer will give you much more bikes to choose from and at cheaper prices (supply vs demand). If your buying new, i have heard that some dealerships will sell cheapest in the winter, but this is not always the case and there are incentives released from the manufacturers during the summer.
-Keep the bike. Ditch the fiancee.

The FZ-07 is a great bike that would work quite well as a bike to learn on as well as keep you happy for a good while afterwards. The H/D Sportsters, whether the 883 or the 1200 aren't real good choices to learn on, but are great bikes after a rider is experienced and comfortable on two wheels. The Yamaha "should" get better mileage also.
As others have said, it is highly recommended to start out life with a gently used bike. Most people drop their bikes a time or two in the first year of ownership. It doesn't hurt as much of the bike already has a scratch or two. Another bike to look at would be the Honda CB500R… NOT the CBR500… Two totally different bikes. The CB500R is very similar in design and style as the FZ-07, just different. I'd also recommend giving the Triumph 800 Tiger a look also.
Don't be afraid to check out All the various dealerships. Most have medium sized used bikes of all makes and models that were used as trade-ins. Keep an open mind, sit on as many bikes as possible, DON'T let a salesman convince you to purchase any model, let your but tell you which is best for you.
Enjoy bike shopping.