pretty sure the factory teams use Ti Nitrate or whatever which gives the color and they say feels better even though it's not as slick. the Black is only DLC and oems are using it because it's slicker and last longer than chrome or ti.
On the forks the hole in the threaded part is to let you drive the lock pin to keep the tube from spinning off the bottom part. On the shock shafts thats a bleed hole for a clicker.
I have the new vmax and it has the black coating on the inner tubes. Noticed I have a leak and upon inspection I found a scratch in the coating. I can barely feel it with my finger nail. What can I do to fix this?? Do I have to get it re coated??it’s A area you can not see so I was hoping I can lightly horizontally sand it out or at least make it more smooth and put on new seals. Or am I just totally screwed?? Please help
Dang Jacob, that's not cool. I don't suggest trying to sand it out because it's only going to rub off the anodizing that's already on there. Unfortunately, the best way to go about getting it fixed, is to get it professionally done and re-anodized
@@GregHitchkoI have no idea where I could have it done. It’s the stock black coating. I can barely feel the scratch and wonder if new seals would leak?? Do you all do the coatings I need?? This is basically a new bike, I’m hoping I stopped the leak. And if not no idea where I can get them coated.
@@jacobhendrickson8935 how new is the bike to get a better idea of how much time is on those seals? Can you feel the scratch with a finger nail or your finger pad, is it sharp?
@@GregHitchko oh well it’s new to me. Lol I guess calling it new is actually way way off. It’s a 2009 but only 9,000 miles on the bike. I have 5 bikes all more mileage without seals leaking. Those are all upside down forks as well. The vmax is a conventional fork 52mm not upside down. The coating looks brand new, I think someone was inspecting the seals and used a flathead to remove the dust cover scuffing the coating. It’s so minor that I’m not sure it’s even why the seal is leaking. I cleaned the seals up with a seal cleaning tool to get all dirt out and believe my problem is solved. However I will replace the seal regardless this winter. So now my only concern would be that very minor scratch. I’ve been told by several motocross riders they very lightly buff out the scratch. Not enough to remove the coating just enough to not be able to feel the scratch. Horizontal only no vertical sanding at all. My only concern is keeping new seal from leaking being the scratch can’t even be seen anyway. Im talking sanding with a 500/1000 grit and so lightly you wouldn’t know it was even touched. I do automotive paint/bodywork so have a good feel for imperfections. I’ve seen videos where they fill scratches with super glue which seems totally crazy to me. Hopefully this winter I can find a place to re coat it for me. It doesn’t feel sharp at all but I can barely feel it with my nail.
@@jacobhendrickson8935 oh yeah, I can see that happening where someone used a flat head to pull that dust seal down, not the best method lol. But hopefully there was just a random spec of dirt that was caught up in there, causing it to leak. Sounds like you know what you are doing in terms of trying to buff it out since you're familiar with automotive body work and paint so I would trust your instincts with it! I'm sure you barely need to touch it and it will come out fine. The only potential down side it would cause it the way it looks cosmetically, but sounds like that isn't an issue based on where it is located. Thanks for chatting through this with me Jacob, every bike and situation is unique and it's cool that you brought me along on the journey. You will have to keep me posted if you go ahead and try to buff it out.
Fuck no lol kashima coating is literally only done in a small handful of places in the whole world most in Japan I think there's one place in Germany that does it and they mainly do car suspension for gt3 group cars
What is even the point of coating the outer tubes? I see that all the time on motorcycles, even though these are not sliding surfaces. There are bearings inside which do that job. Coating these with Kashima is purely aesthetics. The other thing is that they seem to NEVER coat the insides of the cartridges with these fancy materials. Only anodizing, typically colorless, sometimes black. Sure, its nearly impossible to get a good PVD/PECVD coating like DLC on the inside, but Kashima should be possible. But apparently its not worth it, so maybe the friction isn't actually the problem. If friction isn't the problem, then why do they put a coating on the inner tubes? I guess its mostly for looks and scratch resistance...
Haha motoXperts are a joke. Guys can't even build motors without destroying a brand new crank and try to blame the customer so they don't have to pay out of pocket to fix their mess up. Nobody should have to touch a motor after paying $4,000 on a rebuild. Best excuse they tried was saying that they can see makings on the flywheel nut and said that we did it. Huumm?... So how did they put the nut on? Magic? Lol guys are junk there. I will never trust them with anything of mine again!
Good straight forward information.
It's solid stuff! Thanks for that feedback Brian
Broo !!!!!! Thank you guys man... great information
Rocky Mountain ATV brought me here! Great Channel, awesome product! just subbed!
Right on, that is awesome to hear. Glad to have you along for the ride brother 💨💨
pretty sure the factory teams use Ti Nitrate or whatever which gives the color and they say feels better even though it's not as slick. the Black is only DLC and oems are using it because it's slicker and last longer than chrome or ti.
So true! The DLC black is definitely the strongest and most resistant. Interesting to see different teams using different coatings too!
How much for the black tubes
Can you to the color coating over the kashima?
So I’m good with my 21 kx450 no need for a color change
I would so no! Those are rock solid.
Price on a set of forks done up?
I bet a $1000-1500
Kawasaki was spot on with the 19-23 KXs. Now they went cheap
Where do I get mine done even tho thier already coded black
What are holes on the bottom of the tubes used for?
On the forks the hole in the threaded part is to let you drive the lock pin to keep the tube from spinning off the bottom part.
On the shock shafts thats a bleed hole for a clicker.
Thank you for the info! Is there a process you recommend for polishing stock or hard anodized fork tubes? Cerium oxide grits etc???
It would be cool to see a 99-02 kx 250 vs the 2005-2007 kx 250
I totally agree with you on that! I would love to build a 99-02 model as well
Are you telling me there is a place I can send my fork to be coated?
I have the new vmax and it has the black coating on the inner tubes. Noticed I have a leak and upon inspection I found a scratch in the coating. I can barely feel it with my finger nail. What can I do to fix this??
Do I have to get it re coated??it’s A area you can not see so I was hoping I can lightly horizontally sand it out or at least make it more smooth and put on new seals.
Or am I just totally screwed??
Please help
Dang Jacob, that's not cool. I don't suggest trying to sand it out because it's only going to rub off the anodizing that's already on there. Unfortunately, the best way to go about getting it fixed, is to get it professionally done and re-anodized
@@GregHitchkoI have no idea where I could have it done. It’s the stock black coating. I can barely feel the scratch and wonder if new seals would leak?? Do you all do the coatings I need?? This is basically a new bike, I’m hoping I stopped the leak. And if not no idea where I can get them coated.
@@jacobhendrickson8935 how new is the bike to get a better idea of how much time is on those seals? Can you feel the scratch with a finger nail or your finger pad, is it sharp?
@@GregHitchko oh well it’s new to me. Lol I guess calling it new is actually way way off. It’s a 2009 but only 9,000 miles on the bike. I have 5 bikes all more mileage without seals leaking. Those are all upside down forks as well. The vmax is a conventional fork 52mm not upside down. The coating looks brand new, I think someone was inspecting the seals and used a flathead to remove the dust cover scuffing the coating. It’s so minor that I’m not sure it’s even why the seal is leaking. I cleaned the seals up with a seal cleaning tool to get all dirt out and believe my problem is solved. However I will replace the seal regardless this winter. So now my only concern would be that very minor scratch. I’ve been told by several motocross riders they very lightly buff out the scratch. Not enough to remove the coating just enough to not be able to feel the scratch. Horizontal only no vertical sanding at all. My only concern is keeping new seal from leaking being the scratch can’t even be seen anyway.
Im talking sanding with a 500/1000 grit and so lightly you wouldn’t know it was even touched. I do automotive paint/bodywork so have a good feel for imperfections. I’ve seen videos where they fill scratches with super glue which seems totally crazy to me.
Hopefully this winter I can find a place to re coat it for me.
It doesn’t feel sharp at all but I can barely feel it with my nail.
@@jacobhendrickson8935 oh yeah, I can see that happening where someone used a flat head to pull that dust seal down, not the best method lol. But hopefully there was just a random spec of dirt that was caught up in there, causing it to leak. Sounds like you know what you are doing in terms of trying to buff it out since you're familiar with automotive body work and paint so I would trust your instincts with it! I'm sure you barely need to touch it and it will come out fine. The only potential down side it would cause it the way it looks cosmetically, but sounds like that isn't an issue based on where it is located. Thanks for chatting through this with me Jacob, every bike and situation is unique and it's cool that you brought me along on the journey. You will have to keep me posted if you go ahead and try to buff it out.
Is it easy to do your self?
Fuck no lol kashima coating is literally only done in a small handful of places in the whole world most in Japan I think there's one place in Germany that does it and they mainly do car suspension for gt3 group cars
Do the kasmia the inner tubes?
The inner tubes actually receive hard anodizing, DLC is the most durable!
Greg, thank you for this. Very informative, honest, and to the point. Nice work!
Of course! Glad I could bring some value and I appreciate your thoughts on this type of content. I think it's fascinating and hope others do too 👍
What is even the point of coating the outer tubes? I see that all the time on motorcycles, even though these are not sliding surfaces. There are bearings inside which do that job. Coating these with Kashima is purely aesthetics.
The other thing is that they seem to NEVER coat the insides of the cartridges with these fancy materials. Only anodizing, typically colorless, sometimes black. Sure, its nearly impossible to get a good PVD/PECVD coating like DLC on the inside, but Kashima should be possible. But apparently its not worth it, so maybe the friction isn't actually the problem. If friction isn't the problem, then why do they put a coating on the inner tubes? I guess its mostly for looks and scratch resistance...
You do sport bikes
Call up The MotoXperts in Spanish Fork, Utah, they may be able to do it! (801) 318-6213
Haha motoXperts are a joke. Guys can't even build motors without destroying a brand new crank and try to blame the customer so they don't have to pay out of pocket to fix their mess up. Nobody should have to touch a motor after paying $4,000 on a rebuild. Best excuse they tried was saying that they can see makings on the flywheel nut and said that we did it. Huumm?... So how did they put the nut on? Magic? Lol guys are junk there. I will never trust them with anything of mine again!