But it will cost you absolutely nothing extra.
I don’t blame you though – it’s not easy. And there are more words related to motorcycle suspension that might leave you scratching your head.
But don’t worry – because in this blog post, you’ll discover the definition of 6 common (and sometimes confusing) motorcycle suspension terms.
Term #1: Suspension travel
Keep in mind, however, that a complete decompression is only possible when there’s no weight on the bike – including that of the rider.
Term #2: Suspension preload
This means that if someone’s sitting on the bike, suspension preload does NOT apply.
Term #3: Sprung weight
The weight of everything the suspension supports is known as “sprung weight.”
Term #4: Unsprung weight
Everything that the suspension doesn’t support is called “unsprung weight.”
Typically, the less unsprung weight you have, the better.
Why? Because a bike with more unsprung weight takes longer to respond to bumps in the road.
Term #5: Spring rate
The weight the spring needs to compress an entire inch is called the “spring rate.”
The spring rate is measured in PSI or Newtons per Millimeters.
Term #6: Suspension sag
Suspension sag is how far the suspension compresses from a fully decompressed front fork.
Sounds similar to suspension travel? Well, there’s a fundamental difference.
Unlike suspension travel, suspension sag CAN take the rider’s weight into account – that’s why there’s a particular subcategory called “rider sag.”
Learn more about suspension terms with the DWJ Motorcycle Terms and Biker Slang Dictionary
Or would you prefer to discover more about biker slang terms like:
- “I did the ton”
- “Highside”
- “Streetfighter”
You can discover more about terms like these (and many more) in The Dual Wheel Journey Motorcycle Dictionary and Phrasebook.
