My first mtn bike was a used '89 or so trek 830.. it weighed at least 30lbs and was a tank. Two years later I bought a slightly used, custom built '91 cannondale beast of the east, full xt (before xtr), which weighed about 23lbs. There was no camparison in handling between the two.. the cannondale was such a delight to ride. But prior to this I had already owned a number of decent bmx bikes and a very nice bianchi road bike.. so I was spoiled for decent bikes.