unsprung weight

jz321

F = M * A

The acceleration of a mass is a force.

totopo

what I meant was that if you vary the mass (unsprung weight), it's the acceleration that stays more constant and the force that varies. so less unsprung weight means less force for same acceleration, and less momentum and less energy, and less perturbation of chassis.

cofo11

Except A = F/M. It's not really that the lighter wheels provide a lower force, the decrease in mass allows for an increase in acceleration (the same reason the car brakes and accelerates better). You will actually notice a rougher ride as the wheels' reactions to bumps will happen much faster. What also happens is a a reduction in momentum which, potentially, doesn't cause the wheel to travel quite as far initially or on the rebound stroke.