Chiba has really fallen in love with rain lately… not a welcome kind of affection. Fortunately, my area has escaped damage and life goes on without hardship, but looking at Chiba as a whole, it’s clear that various regions have suffered considerable devastation. When disasters keep piling up like this, you really do think “it could be me next” and find yourself reflecting deeply on everyday preparedness.
This typhoon has also brought massive power outages. Even 18:30 the next day, over 20,000 households across the prefecture were still without power. It’s easy to think “it’s just no electricity,” but the refrigerator stops, the lights go out, and you can’t even light the gas water heater to take a bath. You can get by with a decent-sized portable power station, but most people don’t have one unless they’re outdoor enthusiasts.
We need to make sure we’re well-equipped and prepared so we can hold our own if we lose power too… It’s become a world where you really can’t let your guard down.
So we’ve had it for four months now. Part of that is my slowness, but there’s also been outsourced work and parts waiting. Today we’re disassembling and reassembling the front fork.
Service request:Complete front fork overhaul & ultra-thin powder coat (powder coating) on outer tubes
Challenges faced:
Pitting corrosion on inner tubes from 40 years of age (oil seal attack, fluid leakage).
Bottom case (outer) original clear coat peeling and aluminum white oxidation & corrosion.
Decoboco’s approach to surface prep:
Bottom case: We avoid the typical thick powder coating that tends to look clumpy, instead adopting **ultra-thin powder coat that preserves every casting texture and factory stamp edge without flattening detail**. We maximize chip and chemical resistance while recreating a finish more refined than factory-new.
Inner tubes: We generously replace corroded tubes with new ones. Through metal bushing clearance adjustment and seal contact surface prep polishing, we build a silky initial stroke with zero friction resistance!
Shop owner’s note: Under the clear post-typhoon sky, this 40-year-old classic’s front end has regained breathtaking transparency!
When it comes to inner tube re-plating and finishing, Toyo Hardening is the name. They finish it like new.
But it’s not just plating and polishing— they finish this long piece from top to bottom within the sweet spot and even provide the numbers. Plus they always do runout correction, which is incredibly helpful.
We place absolute trust in them. Lead time is about 1–2 months.
I’d heard from various acquaintances that they’re amazing. Seriously. So I decided to give them a try.
I requested powder coating this time. And I was blown away by the finish. Powder coat this thin? I was genuinely shocked.
My image of powder coating used to be something thick and clumpy, like it was wrapped in vinyl tape—a sad finish. When you apply it to frames, the numbers disappear, and that’s how it used to be.
Because there’s a relentless pursuit of coating quality, it keeps getting better and better. Even if it takes time, it’s reassuring to work with someone who pursues excellence and is trustworthy.
Discontinued decals from Speed Shop Itoh
Our shop quietly has a lot of STD-close-to-stock builds. Original decals like these are non-negotiable… but most are discontinued, which is really frustrating. You can probably find them overseas, but the cost and time make it incredibly risky. True enthusiasts! Speed Shop Itoh.
Their product range is so vast it’s like a galaxy…
My favorite: the cylinder rod type
Honestly, if you’re just going to cruise around normally, you don’t need cartridges. That’s kind of where things are heading these days.
We cleaned every part and assembled it so everything slides smoothly.
Since it’s air suspension, lift the front and pressurize to 0.6–0.7. *We’re sourcing nice clamps. This isn’t an oversight.
Having this pump makes it easy to add air. It’s like that thing before you get a shot… small volume, fills up quick. Whatever you do, don’t use a tire compressor for this.
Complete front fork restoration featuring ultra-thin powder-coated bottom cases and brand-new inner tubes. Details: Happy Wednesday night from the Decoboco tech bay! Following yesterday’s passing typhoon, crisp autumn air greeted our workshop as we tackled a total front fork overhaul on this legendary Kawasaki GPz750F. Over four decades, pitted chrome had destroyed the fork seals, while the original outer cast finish had degraded with white aluminum oxidation. We applied an ultra-thin powder coating to the fork sliders—delivering heavy-duty chip and chemical resistance while preserving the raw textured casting grain and sharp factory casting stamps without ugly paint buildup. We then installed brand-new mirror-finish inner tubes, replaced all internal slide bushings, and dialed in fork oil levels to absolute perfection. Verdict: Zero-stiction stroke action meets flawless tactile craftsmanship. Essential under-work revives the precise, confidence-inspiring road feel this classic 750 deserves!
ポチップ
