[w_TF]

what matters more than anything is frame geometry, this has much more influence on how a bike feels than frame material

older aluminum frames have a reputation for feeling harsh, but it's not because they're made out of aluminum

[wiredfool]

In a way, it was, because they could go super large tubes without the weight penalty. Kleins and the Cannondale 3.0 and 2.8 were the first to really crank the dial on stiffness, when a lot of the other bikes were running normal or +1 oversized tubes.

They were super harsh because they were aiming for stiffness, and the material allowed them to do that.