Which motorcycle would you recommend to a beginner woman?

I'm COMPLETELY new to motorcycles but I'm very eager to learn. I have taken my first BRC course and did very well. I learned so much, I even surprised my boyfriend who thought I would do terrible. I even did better than some lady with all the Harley gear who had been around her husbands motorcycle for years. I did not pass the driver test portion, however with more practice, I know I will do very well. My inseam is 31" so I don't want a bike too tall. I'm unsure of what style of bike I want. The first bike I practiced on was a Kawasaki Eliminator. It's only 125cc's. I definitely want a 250cc bike. I've been looking at the Honda cbr250r, but I'm unsure if the sportbike stance would be good for me. I've looked at the Suzuki gw250, but it's so much heavier than all the other 250's. I've also looked at the Suzuki tu250x. I just want some opinions. I plan to do mostly commuting around town, with the occasional 20 min trip on the highway.

For men, do you have a wife or girlfriend who went through the same situation?
For the ladies, what are you experiences, and tips?

Man, woman, old, young, doesn't matter. What matters is getting a motorcycle that matches where and how you ride. You plan on commuting in town, one in a while a 20 minute run up the freeway.
I assume you are not planning on racing, exceeding the speed of traffic (maybe just a little),

Hence: The Suzuki TU250 -- 250cc single, unstressed, upright, light, agile. What is there not to like? As far as I can find, the TU250 is mild, just 16bhp. Most will tell you that it is not capable or is unsafe on the highway. I would disagree. I'm riding a Vespa LX150, 11.7bhp, and I ride the freeways and Interstates cruising 60mph with a 64mph top. With the bigger motor with 16bhp the math says you can comfortably cruise 70mph with a 75mph. That will be actual, not indicated. Most speedometers are about 10% off. Cars will be thinking they are doing 75 mph in a 65 zone, but will actually be doing just 68mph, what the little TU250 will be happily doing.

I wanted a TU250, but wasn't available in California,. And a step-through frame is far better for my knees. I like the 245 pound weight of the 150. I *DO* know the minimum for the freeway, and I know that the TU is over the minimum and *IS* acceptable on the highway.

And I *do* like the upright seating so I can see over the cars, like the TU will do, not like the lower position of the sporty bikes. Sporty bikes are better for higher speed -- at a loss of a better view. You can't avoid the collisions you can't see. I like the taller view. Like I said, what is there not to like?

Female student rode the old CM400 Honda. 123 pounds, 5'3'" lady

My wife bought three motorcycles in three years, a used starter bike (old Honda standard 400), a newer Ducati Monster 620, didn't like the stance after riding it on a few longer trips and bought a BMW F 650 GS which she still loves to ride.

I started with a Softail Deluxe and have been very happy with it!