Bjerager

Just bought a very nice old Banani steel bike. I need help identifying the wheelset. It says "Black Inc Twenty" on them, but they look like aluminium wheels and not like carbon even though "carbon" is written on the rims.

PeteHski

They are carbon with an aluminium brake track. Black Inc is a known quality carbon component brand linked to Factor bikes.

Camilo

Couldn't you easily tell if the rim is CF or aluminum by just tapping it with a coin or such? It's obvious the brake track is aluminum, but how about the rest of the rim?

Since I have a Black Inc seat post (nice post fwiw), i was curious about their wheels. I did a quick search and did find Black Inc Twenty wheels, but nothing that looked like those and no rim brake option. Maybe these are an earlier version? From the looks of their wheel naming, I think the "Twenty" refers to the depth of the rim, not the width.

Unrelated to the question, but I'm curious: Why would you need to use carbon-specific brake pads on an aluminum braking surface?

Bjerager

Well it sounds like the entire rim is aluminium, when I tap it with a key.

I don´t know why the sticker says that, and that is puzzling me.

Iride01 

That brand of wheel has a contact page on their website. Why don't you see if they will tell you anything about them. I wouldn't be too concerned with what they are or aren't. I'd just ride them and see if they give me the handling and road feel I want.

tomato coupe

I don’t see “Black Inc” anywhere in your photos.

seypat

That's a nice color for a Banani bike.

Bjerager

Its pantographed in to the hubs.

Bjerager

Thanks

tomato coupe

Got it.

The bottom line is that they're not Black Inc wheels. Sorry.

chaadster

They definitely don’t look like carbon fiber with a aluminum brake track, either. They look fully aluminum.

PeteHski

Top photo on the front rim at 1 o’clock “black inc” label. Also has “black inc” on the QR lever.
Could be fake of course, but not an obvious brand to fake.

tomato coupe

I only see "black"

On Edit: now I see it ...

PeteHski

I get the impression they are genuine Black Inc wheels, but from quite a few years ago. I don't know how old the brand is.

tomato coupe

Unless Black Inc existed as an independent brand before Factor, that seems unlikely.

PeteHski

Black Inc dates back to 2012 and here is a review of the deeper section “Fifty” version of these same wheels with same graphics.

https://cyclingmagazine.ca/sections/...black-fifty-c/

tomato coupe

Good find. Yeah, the graphics certainly match the OP's photos. And this ...

suggests aluminum wheels could have been part of their early product line.

PeteHski

True, but the label on the rim does say carbon fiber. The further comment about brake pads I think refers to only using pads recommended for use with carbon rims (just badly worded). Those deeper section rims in the review I linked to don’t appear to have an aluminium brake track (and they are clearly rim brake wheels), so maybe the label applies to those and they just stuck the same label on the OPs wheels despite having an aluminium track. That would be my guess. But I have no doubt now that these are genuine Black Inc wheels and probably are carbon given that the label says they are. The red “C” after the “Twenty” graphic might also be a clue.

chaadster

That apparent texture in the fairing portion of the rim, visible in the warning label pic, is unlike any CF finish I’ve seen, and exactly like many aluminum rim finishes. Also the fit of the fairing to the rim looks literally seamless. Could be the foto resolution, but man, those look full aluminum from here!

Bjerager

Thanks to all of you. I've found an article from 2015 in danish. Here is a translation of a part of it:

"Black Twenty
"Black Inc. is currently in full swing producing wheels for those who simply want an aluminum wheelset for the everyday enthusiast, who just desires a completely ordinary aluminum wheelset. The wheels will be marketed under the name All-Black. This means that the wheels will be entirely black, both in the rim and on the braking surface. Additionally, the wheels will come with Black Inc's own hubs. We don't know exactly when the wheels will hit the market, but with Black Inc. currently soaring ahead, it can't be too long before they also appear on the website."
https://danskcykelforum.dk/2015/05/b...ghty-hjulsaet/

So apparently they made a set of aluminium wheels back then with the same name as they use for their carbon climbing wheels today. It does not explain the sticker warning about using brake pads made for carbon wheels, but maybe its a factory error. The sticker is only on the front wheel, and not the back wheel.

tomato coupe

Good sleuthing.

PeteHski

Mystery solved. Now I can finally sleep well 😂