Originally Posted by Jeff Neese

Differences are not necessarily improvements. 10-speed or higher cassette? Thinner chain and chainrings - not what you want for a serious touring bike. More gears? It's usually the range that makes a difference on a touring bike, not the spacing between shifts. Bearings and cranks? They have not invented better steel since the '80s. Frame rigidity? The properties of chromoly steel have not changed - it has always been possible to make a steel frame as rigid as they want, and flex where they want. The frames on older touring bikes were purpose-built to be optimized for their purpose - carry loads and long hours in the saddle. It may not be as rigid as you want for a racing bike, but Trek and Miyata made those too, with very rigid frames.