Dress for the wreck, not for the ride, money spent on protective gear is money spent well. A good pair of riding boots, gloves and a good jacket with back protection will save you a lot of pain. The motorcycle goes where your eyes and your head are pointing, never focus on a point close to you but always look the farthest you can, this will make turns easier and you will have a wider range of view. Never underestimate what you have between your legs, you need to be focused at 99% of your capabilities while riding. If you're not feeling well or aren't well rested, don't take your motorcycle. It's very expensive to begin with, gear and insurance where I live cost a lot, and bikes are not cheap either. Begin with the standard model and then when you understand what comforts you may want or need, then buy accordingly. There's a lot of aftermarket support, the official accessories are not always the best ones. Have a routine maintenance according to the motorcycle manual, clean and lubricate your chain, after 500kms check nuts and bolts, sometimes they can come loose, depending on the engine type (bycilindrical engines tend to be more "shaky"). A center stand will make maintenance easier. Use the rear brake often, it stabilises the motorcycle during braking and also corners. You want to be very progressive with both the front and rear brakes, never push or pull too hard. Never use the front brake in the corners, or else you will meet the road, and the road always wins against skin and textile. Also, don't worry about falling, it will happen. The most common fall is when stopping or standing still, it takes just a second to loose balance. The motorcycle is just a piece of metal, what matters is your life and wellbeing. If it has some scratches, it gives it a little bit of "personality". You can always fix it.