It's funny but about 10 years ago I started comparing suspension travel, Hp, weight by part, and basic geometry of early 80's through 00's mxers...
What I found was the dampening and rebound as well as brakes are better on the newer stuff... but really, how much better..
Weight by part is pretty close.. Geometry is pretty close.. HP does vary when you throw in torque curves but how much better are we talking?
I think this kid really proves my point..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3pOQW_7VMQhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUHHhE75ke0Youtube search Jerry Robin for more info..
So much as always depends on the rider...
All the improvement hype from the manufactures won't help the average weekend rider like me.
At 50 years old I can take a late 80's KX500 with the suspension done and put the hurt on about 90% of the riders out on the dunes and it's not because I'm that good of a rider....
The bikes just haven't gotten that much better for the average rider.