Originally Posted by wschruba

No contest between even a modern hardtail and an early mountain bike. The gap between the same early bicycle and a full suspension bicycle intended for similar use (XC?) is enormous.

For one, early mountain bicycles have comparatively long wheelbases and top tubes--excellent for climbing a steep hill, but not so good for lofting the front wheel over obstacles. This says nothing of weight or braking ability.

I suppose there is more to say, but it's as simple as taking a 25 year old mountain bike down a trail, then riding the same trail with a modern bike. Provided there's even a little bit of "tech", the difference is night and day.