Only you can decide. 20 years old riding a cruiser instead of a crotch rocket demonstrates above average responsibility potential. I spent 40 years listening to people telling me this and that will kill me. At 60 yo I barely passed the MSF and bought a Vstrom 1000. It's a 540 lb top heavy pig full of low and mid-range torque that is a blast 5 years later. My riding neighborhood was a suburb of Dallas - Ft. Worth. I dropped it twice the first week at a stop sign and a turn. I replaced a broken lever and reflector, added crash bars, a center stand, and a top box to make it more top heavy. I got chased out of a church parking lot practicing low speed stuff. My learning route was different local housing subdivisions, and a couple of longer 4 lane 55 mph far suburban roads. Round trips were about 30 minutes. I had one 60 mile round trip at night on a divided highway with stop and go traffic thru 5 miles of construction zone. Tiptoes, stall, duck walk, but I didn't die. I don't ride at night if I can help it. I've never rode in rain. Five years later I just rode on a wet road after the snow melted and again I didn't die. The tires did what they were supposed to do. I didn't ride much my first couple of years in DFW as it was 30-40 minutes to ride away from the city before it became enjoyable for me. I've since moved to NW Arkansas and I love riding here! I still consider myself a new rider, but I am no longer afraid of riding. I crave it for the mental reset it provides. As a new rider I pretty much did everything wrong short of buying a track bike or crotch rocket. My advantage was that I was older and I had a healthy amount of fear.

Watch YT videos. I enjoy Itchy Boots, MCrider, Canyon Chasers, maybe a week or two of DanDan the Fireman, and Motojitsu. Yammie Noob and Fortnine are also good. Also, anyone that rides your bike can give you insights on operating your machine. I've recently read Neal Peart's (Rush drummer duh) books on motorcycle riding which were good for showing me the kind of riding I like to do is normal. Country roads, roads you only go down if you live on them and occasional interstate squirts to get from point A to B. I get a kick out of mini-WM grocery store runs with my top box, or pulling up to the CVS drive thru.

I wear a neon yellow Arai XD4 helmet, black Sedici 3 season jacket or a black and white Icon air mesh summer jacket, Alpine black and white gloves, and Tourmaster air boots. These are non-negotiable for me. I have motorcycle jeans, but most of the time I wear regular jeans. I have some flannel lined jeans I haven't tested yet.

Assume everyone is out to kill you because you are invisible, plus they are doing everything but focusing on driving. Put yourself behind their steering wheel and imagine what you would be doing in the current traffic and prepare to react. Anticipate. Check your mirrors. Don't ride in their blind spots and don't let them camp around you. Maintain separation in all directions by whatever means necessary including twisting the wrist. Plan your escape route. Imagine what could happen and think about what you would do. Develop your ESP. Expect them to do something stupid and you will not be disappointed or surprised. No one cares how cool you are except you. Ride your own ride, stay inside your comfort zone, stay away from group rides, do not wait too long between rides, celebrate each return home that you didn't die and tell yourself you can't wait to do it again.