I'm going to be following this thread with interest; the last mtb I bought new was a 2011 Giant Trance (which I love) that is a 26er. Even back in 2011, the 26 was on its way out and I got a great deal on the bike which sealed the deal. As someone who isn't technically skilled nor racing, it was (and is) fine for me, and is still more than a bike than I am capable of. The geometry is slacker than I was used to from bikes back in the 90's, and the handlebars not as wide as they are now, and it does have a triple crank.
However, my ht is a 1996 Mongoose (back when they made decent frames) Rockadile that I've upgraded and upgraded, and I know it's had its last upgrade as decent 26 straight steerer forks are now getting to be relatively rare. And I'm assuming the next ht I'll be buying will be a more slack geometry, wider bars, 1x drive, thru axles, etc... (though I swapped over to hydraulic brakes a time ago now). And in a sort of way I'm looking forward to it as I see all of those things as incremental improvements that Crackle mentioned.
Rich P, hopefully you will post your impressions when you get your new ride and the differences you notice. I will definitely be interested!
Bit of a side note here: I've been riding off road since around 1991, and still ride some of the same places I used to ride. I remember the 90's versions of mtbs with no front suspension or really poor front suspension, more road like geometry, bad rim brakes, low and long stems, and narrow handlebars. I certainly recall some obstacles I used to find much more challenging than I do now as I just seem to float over them with no trouble at all, and feeling comfortable doing so (and this is with a 2011 bike!). While you can certainly argue that making things easier can remove the fun, I just think it means it gives you more confidence in tackling stuff you wouldn't have done back in 1991. I'm looking forward to trying the next iteration!
