Why Use DLC on Motorcycle Forks? A Custom T120 Shows How Low-Friction Coatings Work
Small bumps and patched roads can reveal how smoothly a motorcycle’s front fork moves. Springs and damping matter, but so does friction between the moving parts.
That is where DLC coating comes in. Applied to fork stanchions—the inner tubes that slide through the seals—it can help manage friction and surface wear.
A custom T120 with DLC-coated fork stanchions
On October 14, 2026, Bike EXIF featured a Triumph Bonneville T120 Black that FCR Original had turned into a custom scrambler. The build retained rebuilt factory forks, with a black DLC coating added to the stanchions. [1]
The report links the treatment to reduced stiction and better small-bump response under braking. It does not provide friction coefficients, breakaway-force measurements or durability results. The build is a useful real-world application example, rather than a measured performance benchmark.
What is fork stiction?
A fork needs to overcome friction before it starts moving. This initial resistance is often called “stiction.” Too much of it can make the fork less responsive to small road inputs.
SKF identifies reduced stiction as a design goal for its motorcycle fork seals. That highlights an important point: smooth movement depends on both the sliding surface and the seals around it. [2]
For riders, the idea is straightforward. A fork needs suitable spring support and damping, along with as little unnecessary starting resistance as practical.
How does DLC coating help?
DLC stands for diamond-like carbon. Depending on their design, these carbon-based thin films can offer low friction and wear resistance for parts that repeatedly slide against other surfaces. [3]
For fork stanchions, the main benefits to evaluate are:
- Lower sliding resistance: A suitable coating and contact setup can help parts move more smoothly.
- Better wear resistance: The coating can help protect surfaces during repeated contact.
Oerlikon Balzers lists suspension tubes among its motorsport coating applications. Its technical material also stresses the importance of the lubricant, substrate, surface preparation and mating component. [4]
DLC is a family of coatings. The right choice depends on the materials and operating conditions, as different film designs have different properties.
Evaluate the coating as part of the whole fork
DLC addresses friction and wear at the contact surface. The damping system controls compression and rebound. Both contribute to fork behaviour, in different ways. [3][5]
When evaluating a motorcycle fork coating, consider the seal material, lubricant and original surface condition. Testing should also check:
- Whether coated dimensions and surface condition meet the fit requirements.
- Whether the coating works well with the seals and lubricant.
- How breakaway force, sliding friction and durability compare under the same test conditions.
The component maker, suspension specialist and coating provider should agree on suitable test methods and acceptance criteria. [2][4]
From motorcycle forks to other sliding parts
Forks offer a familiar example of how surface engineering can affect sliding performance. Similar considerations apply to bearings, slideways and power-transmission components.
Creating Nano Technologies Inc. publicly describes DLC coating services for low-friction and wear-resistant applications, including these types of parts. If a component faces repeated sliding, wear or excessive contact resistance, start by documenting its material, operating conditions and improvement goals. These details help assess whether a DLC coating service is suitable. [6]
This article uses a publicly reported build to explain the technology. It does not establish any supply relationship between Creating Nano Technologies Inc. and the T120 project. Coating performance must be verified for the actual component and operating conditions.
References
Creating Nano Technologies, Inc.
59 Alley 21 Lane 279, Chung Cheng Road, Yung Kang City, Tainan, TAIWAN
TEL:886-6-2323927 FAX:886-6-2013306 URL: http://www.creating-nanotech.com