Originally Posted by VegasTriker

Once you get to mid-level in components, they all work pretty well and will last for many miles. It is worth spending enough to reach that level. The upper level components are lighter and get you a fancier finish but you have to decide if the price differential is worth it. I find mid-level components to be just fine for my riding. Here are links to the component levels for Shimano and SRAM, the two most common OEM component makers: http://www.choosemybicycle.com/in/en...nent-hierarchy
http://www.choosemybicycle.com/in/en...nent-hierarchy
http://www.choosemybicycle.com/in/en...nent-hierarchy
http://www.choosemybicycle.com/in/.....nent-hierarchy

You can't usually combine shifters by one manufacturer and derailleurs by another but you can have different manufacturers front and rear. I have SRAM TT500 shifter/Microshift FD and Shimano Dura Ace thumb shifter/Shimano Deore RD on my current trike. The OEM SRAM X-7 RD really sucked so I dumped it but had to change the rear thumb shifter as well.

In my book, the lighter the bike, the better. A light bike invariably means the manufacturer used decent components and did not put a lot of useless crap on the bike like a kickstand and cheap suspension. That what you do get on BSOs sold by the mass merchandisers.