I was a full time instructor for many years and you know what never ceased to amaze me?
All the young bucks planning their first bikes (like cbr6's etc) and the defining moment would always come when you first sit em on an ER500 (or similar).
All of a sudden after only riding 125s the ER was an absolute revelation!
50 bhp is like another planet after a 125 and still plenty to get a novice into trouble. (I class anyone with 2 years or less under their belt as a novice)
Even after passing the DAS test the ability to make the correct judgements on a big bike (600cc+) is not always there.
We have become so used to 100bhp bikes in this day and age that we accept them as normal. A very dangerous thing to do.
Not so long ago the absolute ultimate bike was an RC30 (still holds the lap record at the ring) And that bike was only 114 bhp!
Its time some people took a dose of reality and started riding bikes more to their skill level. Learn on a bike that you can handle till you can stretch the throttle cable everywhere and then move up a level.
Buying a bike just because its cool and powerful is definately not big or clever!
After all this is not a game were playing here. This shit can get real serious real fast.
As an aside my recommended bike for your m8 would be an ER6. Huge fun, stacks of parts to upgrade as and when, handling to compete with other stuff on the road and good re-sale when he comes to get something else. I'd have one!
(the above is only my opinion (which im entitled to) so dont chew my head off if you dont agree)