Lou makes a good point, hence I only comment on MY experience on MY bikes from MY collection and of course based on what I find pleasing or distinctive in a ride. Hence preferencing all this by saying how personal this is. I derive very little from riding other people's bikes since the simplest things like stem length, saddle placement or general set-up can influence the ride more than the basic frame.
But there are machines... Gios, Moto Team, PX-10, Masi 3v, Falcon San Remo... among those I own... that are most often mentioned by others than myself in terms of being "a good ride" and since all of these are very, very different rides, there must be something about them in general to inspire this impression. And the vast majority of these were "off the shelf" were they not? And some of us collect bikes for their "ride" more than lugwork or build elements although Kevin is certainly right in pointing out that Gios, certainly the early ones, were damn fine put together as well as "nice" riding. They owe nothing to a Masi in this regard. And their first impression is pretty good. My shop guy took mine out after completion and exclaimed, "F*&$ this is light and fast as s#$% and that is as qualified and technical an appraisal as one needs.
But who cares, I just want this darned snow to go away so I can take one of my bikes out and be reaquainted with the ride, good, bad or indifference. Like now.
Peter Kohler
Washington DC USA