What Is Carbon Fiber ?
A carbon fiber is a long , thin strand of material about 0.0002-0.0004 ” ( 0.005- 0.010 mm ) in diameter and composed mostly of carbon atoms . The carbon atoms are bonded together in microscopic crystals that are more or less aligned parallel to the long axis of the fiber . The crystal alignment makes the fiber incredibly strong for its size . Several thousand carbon fibers are twisted together to form a yarn , which may be used by itself or woven into a fabric . The yarn or fabric is combined with epoxy and wound or molded into shape to form various composite materials . Carbon fiber-reinforced composite materials are used to make aircraft and spacecraft parts , motor cycle structural elements , wheels , racing car bodies , golf club shafts , bicycle frames , fishing rods , automobile springs , sailboat masts , and many other components where light weight and high strength are needed . Carbon fibers are classified by the tensile modulus of the fiber . The English unit of measurement is pounds of force per square inch of cross-sectional area , or psi . Carbon fibers classified as “ low modulus ” have a tensile modulus below 34.8 million psi ( 240 million kPa ). Other classifications , in ascending order of tensile modulus , include “ standard modulus ,” “ intermediate modulus ,” “ high modulus ,” and “ ultrahigh modulus .” Ultrahigh modulus carbon fibers have a tensile modulus of 72.5 - 145.0 million psi ( 500 million-1.0 billion kPa ). As a comparison , steel has a tensile modulus of about 29 million psi ( 200 million kPa ). Thus , the strongest carbon fibers are ten times stronger than steel and eight times that of aluminum , not to mention much lighter than both materials , 5 and 1.5 times respectively . Additionally , their fatigue properties are superior to all known metallic structures , and they are one of the most corrosionresistant materials available , when coupled with the proper resins . legendary Bonneville Salt Flats . Like all the best products and manufacturers , R & D and testing are at the heart of the process . “ A traditional metal wheel manufacturer uses one wheel per test , but our wheels are engineered to withstand four tests - cornering fatigue , radial fatigue , torsional fatigue and impact testing - all using the same one wheel ,” Gary explained . The company has been ISO 9001 certified since 2003 , audited by the German TÜV , the JWL in Japan and the DOT in the United States ( BST wheels are DOT E certified ). When I met him at EICMA ( the ‘ Milan Show ’) last year , Gary told me that as far as he is aware , his company is the only OEM certified supplier of carbon fiber wheels in the world , and by far the largest aftermarket supplier with four different styles of wheels in sizes ranging from 12 ” to 23 ” and over 200 individual fitments for 20 different manufacturers . One of the common questions about using carbon fiber wheels concerns the effects of UltraViolet light . The testing and certification processes that BST wheels have been through , such as that with the German TÜV authorities , includes both salt spray and UV degradation testing , and the result of that testing was that BST wheels show no noticeable degradation in connection with either . Applications for BST ’ s ‘ Black Star ’ 5-spoke wheels range from selected Harley Touring models through Twin Cam Softails and Dynas to V-Rods and Sportsters . Recent OEM contracts include the ( initially ) limited-edition 1200 cc , 200 bhp V4 Norton VRSS / RR ( BST also produced the V4 ’ s carbon fiber fuel tank , which has been reinforced with Kevlar and chemically treated to safely hold gasoline ) and the
Arch ‘ 1s ’
The limited-edition 1200cc 200bhp V4 Norton VRSS / RR
even more limited-edition Ariel ACE R . The wheel of choice for Confederate and Ecosse cruisers , BST also has a long standing “ wheels and more ” relationship with American V4 Sport-Tourer manufacturer Motus , was the wheel chosen by San Francisco based E-Bike start-up Alta Motors for its Redshift ST Street Tracker concept , and will be the stock wheel on the production version . Most recently Gard Hollinger and Keanu Reeves chose BST wheels for the 2018 Arch Motorcycles S & S Cycle engined KRGT-1 update and the new Method 143 and Arch 1s . Another of BST ’ s most recent successes has been with Ducati ’ s new 1299 Superleggera , said to be the first ever factory bike to be equipped with carbon fiber wheels as stock . Gary says Ducati chose carbon fiber “ to lighten the load and provide a reduction in rolling resistance ” and settled on BST as their carbon wheel of choice “ over all other manufacturers , including some on their own doorstep in Italy and elsewhere in Europe .” BST wheels have not only become a default choice
www . AMDchampionship . com AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE DEALER - FEBRUARY 2018 29