It’s weird; some bikers that have been around for a while tend to think of older sportbikes as good beginner bikes and will even recommend them as such. If a bike wasn’t good for beginners when it was new, why would it be good for them 10 years later? If they were hard to ride in 2005, they’ll be hard to ride in 2015.
A perfect example is my trusty 2005 Yamaha R6. I bought it brand new and it definitely was not a good beginner bike at the time (it was my 2nd bike). 10 years later, I’m considering selling it but will not sell it to a new rider even if the money is right. In some ways it’s slightly easier to ride than the newer 600cc supersport models because of its (barely) lower seat, but it still makes over 100 HP at the rear wheel and lacks the electronic aids that some new bikes have (ABS, traction control, slipper clutch, etc.).
Don’t let anyone try to convince you that a older sportbike is a good starter bike. Stick with something a little more upright and not so much power, then work your way up to a sportbike afterward.