where to learn what make sa good "spec" nowadays?

[PugwasHDJ80]

Last time I bought a mountain bike (and it was some time ago- it's lasted me years)s,

you basically made sure it Shimano Deore gear set, 21 gears, and the levers you liked, and that was it. If you were really skint you ended up with SunTour crap.

Nowadays the choice os components is bewildering, and I don't know where to start.

There seem to be about 7 different lines from SRAm, Shimano each, 30 squillion brake manufacturers- even front forks have suddenly got complicated- you used to have a choice of about 4 RockShox forks- now there's about a million.

Don't even get me started on Rims!

I don't even know whether to go steel v ali v something else frame...

[BadgerBenji]

Budget and what kind of riding do you want to be doing?

[shouldbworking]

In a way it's still the same. I'd say if you want to make sure its decent, you look for a minimum deore, or if its sram, x-5 gears, hydraulic disc brakes, branded rims and hubs. Forks.. bit of a minefield. Elastomer forks you can rule out, then its air or coil.. personally I prefer air so you can tweak it easily, adjustable rebound, lockout.. then you're into weight, special coatings and so on.