If your pal swears it is a spesh, ask him can he prove it, or who told him before you shell out fifty, as like you said you don't want to buy rubbish.
But for some reason, Haro came to my mind, but others are right, that mech stuff looks awfully cheap for a spesh or even anything other than a something style bike. Rear mech from what I can see, looks to be the £6 Shimano sis common to many catalogue type bikes.
Furthermore, a spray over if it is sprayed over in black was back in my day indicative of a nicked bike.
Oh, and BTW, if your feeling it isn't what your pal says it is, go with your gut feeling, for those things are usually right.
