"Which one rides better? depends on the terrain or the purpose i guess. But to say that hands down the Nishiki bike is a BETTER bike (because it is older) is like saying a 1975 Volvo wagon is BETTER than a 2003 Porsche----thats complete BS."

Ummm, what if your bike is like vintage Porsche. My bike probably would have been marketed around $1200 in '90. Actually it was probably not marketed as it's proto >crazy stuff like a 140mm tandem axle.

The bikes worth what I get out of it. The reason I ride it is not nostalga...it was designed and tigged up by the best mtb frame welder on the planet.

I have no probs racing against new HT, I've ridden a few -they all sucked. Nothing under $1000 bucks came close. If I waste this frame, I have to go to old Tom and pay the man...frame around $800.

I ride an old bike....because it's a WICKED bike frame. Stunning responsiveness, master welding, stupidly hard steel.

It's more 'the General' from dukes of hazzard than a Porsche tho-.