Most of what we learn about Russia in school is czar-related and Cold War communism. We hear things like "their economy's building and they have a lot more technology now that their government is more stable and open to trade", but I'm pretty sure that the main thought on most people's minds in my country when they think about Russia is how it was before the Berlin Wall came down. But like Jonathan said, no one in my generation has a strong feeling either way towards Russia. We're pretty neutral and thus, don't think too much about it.
Also, there was that whole Russian bride thing in the 1990s...