I rode my 1983 Raleigh SBDU 753 Pro Super yesterday so been reading all of this with interest.I'm 6'2", 165 lbs, ride a 62-63 cm frame ideally, am an aggressive rider and for me, 753 is all one could wish for, at least as crafted by the SBDU; it's uber light, lively and in a Raleigh frame has superb ride with no extremes in angles. But you sure couldn't call 753 "stiff". You want stiff (and I frankly do) in this size... ride a Masi 3v, absolutely sex on two wheels even if it's a good 1 1/2 lbs heavier. Just completely different rides and the weight difference is imperceptable, the 3v eats hills and accerates out of a curve like nothing else. So stiff is good but 753 is sublime and that's good, too. I find myself preferring 753, Vitus 971 and Columbus SL/SLX to Reynolds 531 Imperial gauge standard DB which can seen "dead" if that's the right word in comparison; I am not sure why but it just feels that way sometimes.
Peter Kohler
Washington DC USA