I'd rather ride something 10+ years old (no not like THAT!! I'm not a peodophile!!) than ride a modern bike.
So far to date, lets see...
Various old CB125 type things (CBT and 1st day of DAS)
R. plated ER500 (training bike) with leg protectors. Hated it - too heavy.
E. plated CM200. Been off a bike for 18 months at the time and didn't have the bottle to ride the xs. Massive amounts of fun considering.
Old V. plated XS650. GLORIOUS!! You really feel the ride and it handles and stops considerably well considering its age. Twin front disks make all the difference and will be even better when I get her back on the road with the 840cc kit and drilled disks!
Besides that, the pocket rocket bregade don't know what it is and for some reason they are impressed by a 5'3 girl being able to kickstart it...
J plated GPZ900R. Slightly too tall but at anything over about 3mph an absolute dream. First bike I ever rode with faring and at the time the biggest bike I'd riden. Did about 550 miles in 2 days.
E plated CBR1000 rat. HEAVY and too wide for me (it was built by my partner who's about 6'3 cubed).
E plated GPZ500 rat. This is my current bike and I love it. Small and nimble and I can rag it to death without fear of killing it.
Like I said, you get on something older and you really feel it. Far more of a buzz than riding some plasic missile... repiV - get yourself an old GPZ500 or some such. You can pick one up for about £200 and I'll guarentee it'll live longer than a faser or SV.