International Dealer News IDN 141 February/March 2018 | Page 26

INDUSTRY EXTRA the weight is saved and the high strength - the lighter rim lowers the moment of inertia; this results in quicker response and reaction to the rider’s commands, faster acceleration and quicker braking. Sold with a 2-year factory warranty, the wheels are made in pre-preg carbon fibre with hubs in 6082 T6 aluminium and BST ultra high speed 90-degree aluminium valve stem and cap. The fronts are 3.5” by 17” (weighing 2.7 kg complete, with 388 kg impact and 155 kg static load rating), the rears are 6.0” by 17” (weighing 2.4 – 2.6 kg complete, excluding sprocket carrier and depending on fitment, with a 420 kg impact and 280 kg static load rating) and are available for selected BMW S 1000R/RR, Ducati models, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, MV Agusta, Suzuki, Yamaha and even the Bimota BB3. The cornering frequency is 38.1 Hz for the front and 36.9 Hz for the rear; front wheel torsion is 529 Nm, 1,030 Nm rear; bending is 514 Nm front and 719 Nm rear for 1m cycles; front bending stiffness is rated at 1,483 Nm/degree, front, and 1,636 Nm/degree for the rear; rotational inertia is 40,300 mm3 for the front and 37,300 kg mm3 for the rear. BLACKSTONE TEK Johannesburg, SOUTH AFRICA Tel: [phone] [email protected] www.blackstonetek.com 26 What Is Carbon Fibre? A carbon fibre 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 fibre. The crystal alignment makes the fibre incredibly strong for its size. Several thousand carbon fibres 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 moulded into shape to form various composite materials. Carbon fibre-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 fibres are classified by the tensile modulus of the fibre. The English unit of INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018 measurement is pounds of force per square inch of cross-sectional area, or psi. Carbon fibres 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 “ultra-high modulus.” Ultra-high modulus carbon fibres 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 fibres are ten times stronger than steel and eight times that of aluminium, 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 corrosion- resistant materials available, when coupled with the proper resins.