You should probably start with little bunny hops by popping the clutch! I can't do one but I certainly will someday. Haha. My friend had a gsxr750 and he did them all the time..squid haha
I think any color can look beautiful if done correctly. My favorite is black, but a Zx10r in that Kawasaki green is beautiful, or a Panigale in that red is just stunning. But all in all if you need a color for any day on any bike I think black is the easiest answer ;) Sinister and sexy
The perfect answer is to wear ATGATT. But that isn't always practical, there are some people who do, and even I know that if I skimp out and wear a leather jacket/jeans/helmet like I would want to I would lose a lot of skin in a crash, however it's convenient and humans tend to choose the path...
Just like cars, I feel like a manual is better for overall enjoyment. There's just more connection to the vehicle and it's nice knowing that not everyone can do it(although many can), it's a skill that you can take pride in, and one you can feel satisfied with when you row through the gears or...