Suzuki GSX R 1000 Page 78
CHASSIS
DESIGN
Chassis Design
6-14
(2) DLC (Diamond-like Carbon) Inner Tube Coating
The 2003 GSX-R1000's front forks have inner tubes with DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) coating,
rather than the titanium-nitride coating, as on the 2002 GSX-R1000.
The element carbon usually exists in several forms. Familiar examples are graphite and diamond.
These forms all have a crystalline structure, but their properties all vary, depending on in what
order the carbon atoms are bonded. The DLC used for the 2003 GSX-R1000 front forks is an
amorphous structure, which contains the properties of both diamond and graphite.
This DLC coating features high hardness, low friction and high resistance to wear.
The chart below compares inner tubes with Diamond Like Carbon coating with those with
Titanium Nitride Coating and those with conventional chrome-plating.
2003 GSX-R1000
2002 GSX-R1000
Inner Tube Coating
Diamond Like Carbon Coating
Titanium-nitride Coating
2003 GSX-R1000
Diamond Like
Carbon Coating
Friction Force
2002 GSX-R1000
Titanium-nitride
Coating
Conventional
Chrome-plating
