- Unsprung weight is anything on a bike not being supported by the suspension; e.g. wheels, tires, brake rotors, chain, sprocket, swing arm.
- Unsprung weight is undesirable because the more weight an unsprung component has, the more inertia it has (p=mv).
- The more unsprung inertia there is, the harder it is for the suspension to absorb changes in inertia by exerting a compensating force, as it has to do more work. (f=ma, p=mv, a=[change in v], conservation of momentum/energy)
- So, less unsprung weight means the suspension has a faster reaction time to bumps in the road, causing less jostling for the rider.
- Forces not absorbed by the suspension are passed on to the components on top of the suspension, including the rider.
- So, the higher the ratio of sprung to unsprung weight, the smoother a ride you get.
- The smoother the "intrinsic ride", the stiffer you can make the suspension without rattling the rider's teeth out.
- The stiffer the suspension, the better the handling and feedback.
|
|
