Anyone here have good experience DLC coating inner tubes and/or the shock rod? Good, bad, worth it?

Not worth it Imo

Thanks for your reply

Ideally a tougher coating to resist denting/scratching better. Also supposed to lessen the drag on both the shaft and fork legs allowing for a smoother motion. I dont think i'd spend the money on it, can't really tell the difference between the non DLC forks i've had and the stock forks on my kawi that are coated...

probably depends on the fork, but a lot of people swear by it on zokes

A much cheaper alternative to consider is SKF fork seals for the forks, and the new MX-Tech Low-Friction Piston Ring for the Shock.

Best price search carbon raptor.  They are direct not farmers like an suspension shop. Maybe its worth it at direct prices.

Ive seen a whole lot of crap DLC coated, anything from valve buckets to wrist pins to fork legs. Im a firm believer that it works!

Ionbond also offered great prices!

As I stated in my post a few up from this one, I would look into SKF fork seals and the MX-Tech Low-Friction Shock Piston ring first before plunking out the money (and downtime) for the DLC coatings.

Also, are the forks that you are considering having DLC coated for KYB, SHOWA, or WP forks? SHOWA forks are the most simple to remove the axle lug off the fork leg. If you have KYB forks, I would abandon the idea of having them DLC coated because the axle lugs are difficult to take off without damaging the fork legs. If you are dead set on the DLC coatings on a set of KYB forks, I would send them out to a suspension shop to remove the axle lugs, but expect to pay some extra money. I can't comment on WP forks. Maybe someone can chime in on those.

MXandSXracer21, on 02 July 2012 - 07:18 PM, said:

DLC legs work better and resist nicks better.

I think I've read something like 20% less stiction.

mog, on 28 June 2012 - 06:54 AM, said:

what quantifies worth? cost vs. benefit?

TDC51, on 03 July 2012 - 01:21 PM, said:

less stiction= less heat and less wear? matched with skf seals as mentioned above you got some smooth sliders... also the legs wear alot slower same with shock shaft.


#### kawi 450s come with dlc coated fork sliders... suki just did dlc coated wrist pin which i believe in alot.

I know its not a dirtbike but fox does kashima coating on there new mtb shock shaft anyone know why that and not a dlc shaft like they use on there moto shock?

Edited by Dasquriel, 03 July 2012 - 01:39 PM.

Dasquriel, on 03 July 2012 - 01:35 PM, said:

I don't believe the Kawi's are DLC coated...I think they are Ti Nitrate (or whatever that stuff is called)...I may be wrong, but I thought I've read this somewhere. Not as strong as DLC coating, BTW.

skf seals do far more for far less, way more bang per buck

seals will always be the weakest link - i.e. they will always degrade and be subject to wear.

No kx450f are dlc.... kx250 are ti nitride its been that way for a few years i think since 09

skf seals and dlc=butter

heres my shock its butter