Originally Posted by Nightshade

IMO it is the steel that "rings" the best that will give the best ride.

All steel bikes will ring (vibrate) going down the road converting road vibration into low amplitude sound. By "ringing" the tubes dampen road vibration quite a bit.

This means that a softer thicker steel will dampen best but at a weight penalty. Softer thicker steel is used in the building of the old fashioned Cruisers since they are all about a smoooooth ride so the extra weight don't matter as much. Bikes built for speed will need thinner harder steel tubing with really lets a lot vibration reach the rider.