Originally Posted by
Tourist in MSN
I am not sure how "un-sprung" weight comes into play on a bike without suspension. As Fietsbob noted, un-sprung weight on a motorcycle is the weight that is not supported by the suspension. You want to minimize un-sprung weight, the weight above the suspension "springs" is not "un-sprung".
For example, recently on a different thread I noted that someone had a front rack (Tubus Swing) that put the pannier weight above the suspension fork, minimizing un-sprung weight. If a low rider had been attached to the suspension below the stantions, the pannier weight would have been un-sprung which would impair the handling and ride.
Pannier suggestions
Okay, bad term used out of habit. The weight of wheels though will make more of a difference in the feel of a bike than weight on a frame. Lighter wheels will enable you to accelerate quicker, and they feel lighter in turns, more significantly than the same weight shed on the bike frame itself.