If we had to guess the key to Tough Craft’s blistering success, we’d go together with consistency. Frontman Winston Yeh’s dedication to his signature aesthetic is unwavering, he employs the identical gifted craftsmen on each challenge, and he solely makes use of elements from a fastidiously curated pool of top-shelf firms. A type of firms is the carbon wheel specialist Blackstone TEK—generally generally known as BST.
Winston first used BST carbon fiber wheels on ‘Jab Launcher’ [below]—a Ducati Scrambler café racer with an emphasis on efficiency. The look of carbon fiber wheels matched the glossy black look of the bike, and their low weight helped so as to add lightness.
Choosing BST’s wheels particularly was “a no brainer,” in accordance with Winston. “It’s the most effective carbon fiber motorbike wheel that exists, plus they’ve many alternative sizes and types to suit my wants.” (When requested why he’s by no means switched to a different model of carbon fiber wheel, he merely quips “similar as above.”)
Jab Launcher was specced with BST’s Mamba Tek wheels, measuring 17×3.5” on the entrance and a beefy 17×6” on the again. The Mamba Tek is a traditional seven-spoke design, primarily designed for superbikes, drag racers, and touring bikes. The rear wheel is available in ‘typical’ and ‘offset’ choices; Tough Crafts picked the latter to match the single-sided Ducati Monster swingarm that they’d fitted to the bike.
The only-sided Mamba Tek rear wheel is a factor of magnificence; its seven-spoke design seems virtually sports activities car-like. That’s no accident both—BST can be well-versed within the artwork of automotive wheel constructing, and provides bespoke wheels to prestigious boutique manufacturers like Ariel and Donkervoort.
Based in Johannesburg, South Africa 23 years in the past by Gary Turner and Terry Annecke, Blackstone TEK is a pioneer within the carbon fiber business. Their wheels characteristic a hole spoke design, utilizing a pre-preg carbon fiber course of borrowed from the aerospace business. They’re impossibly gentle (the Mamba Tek entrance wheel weighs a paltry 2.75 kg [6.06 lbs]), however additionally they meet with DOT E, JWL, and TÜV requirements, dispelling any fears of carbon fiber elements being fragile.
BST produces a number of off-the-shelf choices, a few of which you’ll discover on manufacturing bikes from MV Agusta, Norton, and Arch Bike. However additionally they produce wheels to spec for business heavyweights like Ducati.
Should you’ve ever ridden a motorbike with carbon fiber wheels, you’ll know the constructive impact they’ve on acceleration, braking, and dealing with—even for those who’re not an skilled. “I’m not the most effective rider,” Winston admits, “however even I can inform immediately the responsiveness and dealing with are improved. Even simply pushing the bike out of the storage, you possibly can really feel the distinction.”
These advantages—and the sharp look of BST’s rims—are why they typically discover their manner onto Tough Crafts’ extra performance-orientated builds. The Mamba Tek can be seen on the store’s ‘Bologna Dogfight’ Ducati Monster 821 and ‘Flatout Titan’ Ducati XDiavel S.
Different BST-equipped Tough Crafts Ducati builds embody the ‘Igneous Ripper’ Hypermotard 939 and ‘Apex Assault’ Monster 1200S [above]. Each of these bikes use BST’s split-spoke Speedy Tek hoops, designed for superbikes and hopped-up V-twins.
For his rowdy ‘Oriental Uppercut’ Honda CB1100 RS [above], Winston opted for the traditional five-spoke design of the BST Twin Tek. Initially designed for cruisers and scrambler builds, it’s an understated wheel that’ll go well with nearly any construct.
Placing carbon fiber wheels on high-performing Ducatis and neo-retro café racers is an apparent transfer, however Winston has been imbuing Harley-Davidson customs with that very same efficiency vibe of late. “I’m obsessive about the thought of ‘neo-vintage,’ ‘efficiency retro,’ or no matter you need to name it. With the ability to combine one thing cutting-edge like carbon fiber wheels with a vintage-styled customized construct is an enormous plus.”
One of the best instance of this method is ‘Sovereign Raven’ [above]—a customized Harley-Davidson Fats Boy that may greatest be described as a efficiency bobber. Winston fitted it with Öhlins suspension, Beringer brakes, Rebuffini switchgear, and a particular set of BST wheels.
The entrance wheel is the model’s catalog Twin Tek merchandise, measuring 3.5×21”. However the stable 8.0×17” carbon fiber rear wheel is a one-off. It’s an older design that BST now not produces, however nonetheless has the mildew for—so that they whipped it up particularly for this construct.
Winston’s discernment is well-known by his shoppers, which is why they typically depart the trivia of every challenge as much as his discretion. “I often determine what elements to make use of on the bikes,” he explains. “And so long as fashionable efficiency is a part of the theme, I’ll squeeze the price range for a set of BSTs—it actually does make an enormous assertion.”
Produced in partnership with Blackstone TEK | Fb | Instagram | Tough Crafts | Photos by JL Pictures and BST
