How does a newbie pick their first bike?

Bike shop that sell things like that to total novices should be required to pay the hospital bills and/or the funeral.

I've always told people I know that want to ride to get a smallish, cheap bike for a first bike and upgrade later when you learn how to ride. I've seen way too many either get scared, hurt or dead from getting too big a first bike. I think Germany has it right with this, their bike license is for size of bike and you have to progress up after a set time riding smaller bikes. Although I don't like sportbikes (and mainly the idiots that ride them) there are some nice smaller ones that would make for a good first bike. I'm more a cruiser type so naturally I would go for a cruiser or standard as a first bike. Although current standard seem to be sportbikes minus fairings and taller handlebars.

Appleseed wrote: Bike shop that sell things like that to total novices should be required to pay the hospital bills and/or the funeral.

It's not like the dealerships are forcing the idiots to buy too much bike...

But a dead guy or a cripple won't be buying another bike.