[Moto-P]

Originally Posted by DAEMANO

You're actually the first person I've ever heard this from. For $1700 and the level of performance the Sports-i's provide I don't know if there's anything that touches their road comfort/performance/cost mix.

I think you might actually have preferred something sprung softer like STs which are sprung at 5k front /6k rear IIRC.

While spring rates do affect the overall low speed motion of high cornering loads and larger undulations, the small quick inputs (high speed motion over ruts and harsher noises) won't really change perceptually with springs. These are mostly the character of compression rate of shock absorbers (dampers). So going to slightly lower rate springs usually won't change comfort levels or handling for that matter given the dampers are constant and the same.

Small changes in spring rates are critical when you're chasing trophies in motorsports, and drivers can drive cars at the limits to effectively make use of these small changes, and balance the tune of dampers, corner weight, alignment, tire types, pressures, and overall setup of joints and sub-frame tuning. It is because these parameters are total, and comprehensive relationship of all the other parts of the car, it is critical that coil-overs too, should be chosen carefully to accommodate the role you intend for your car.

However, on street driven cars looking for modest change in character to tune towards a generally more sporting role, in a broad sense, shocks and joints (bushings) are what affect it more, along with very importantly tire choice.