After 2.5 years, 21 countries over almost 50,000 miles on the road, it takes just a lick of sense to stay selective about what we carry. And often times, it has to be double-duty: less is more and size does matter. Namely space and weight will always be at a premium when living out of two panniers and a roll bag. Thanks to Star Brite making us field staff, we have tested and bettered both our bikes and gear with nifty products such as the Screen Cleaner & Protectant spray with PTEF, Enzyme Fuel Treatment, Ultimate Xtreme Clean and CIO2 Hard Surface Disinfectant.

Screen Cleaner & Protectant spray with PTEF

Purpose of the product

The Screen Cleaner and Protectant spray has been formulated for use on all marine electronics and all plastics. It removes fingerprints, smudges and salt deposits. And the PTEF® polymers help protect against UV damage and can be used on watertight phone cases. What’s more, the liquid acts as a leak finder in pinhole tyre punctures, doubles up as a lubricant when changing / mounting a new tyre and in the words of Stephen Fry: “Suck my pants and call me Noreen”–smells just like Pina Colada! Confirmed by all with a sense of smell. As an aggressive soap on just about everything including plastic, it’s environmentally friendly to boot.

Results of using the product

I can vouch from firsthand experience that the spray alone doesn’t bat an eyelid in:

• leaving a high shine on my helmet visor (designed for use on the inside and out);
• disintegrating the carnage of bugs left splattered on the helmet and moto (without affecting the exterior or paintwork respectively);
• effortlessly cleaning the glass on our camera ensemble, the laptop, iPad and iPhone to a high shine without affecting the touchscreen performance;
• eliminating the smudges and smears on our sunglasses;
• and removing the dust and dirt, mud and crud, and even the calcium chloride (including to Dust to Dawson and back) from the windshield, headlights and mirrors.

Did I say double-duty? I meant multi-purpose, this spray product is the Leatherman of motorcycle maintenance liquids and one I’ll always carry in my back pannier pocket.

Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment

Sounds almost futuristic in a Trekky kind of way, if not scientific on a molecular level, well, on the latter it is. Essentially, it’s a fuel additive that taps into enzyme technology to improve the performance of just about whatever machinery you might hold dear: it works not just in your trusty motorcycle but all engines and all fuels such as: cars, trucks, mowers, ATVs, boats, farm equipment, lawn equipment, oil burning furnaces, chainsaws, generators and other small engines.

Purpose of the product

As a fuel additive, Star Tron’s Enzyme Fuel Treatment performs the following good deeds:

• cleans any gum, varnish or carbon build-up in the fuel system when the fuel is starting to get old;
• cleans carburetors and injectors too;
• reinvigorates the fuel, keeping it fresh–stabilzing it for up to two years;
• restores fuel that has gone slightly stale;
• and extends the fuel range by five per cent, which in turn improves mileage.
• Removes water or any other contaminant in the fuel;
• behaves as a parts cleaner where a little goes a long way due to its concentration;
• and acts as an octane booster in developing countries whose fuel isn’t always on a par with the western world’s.
• Makes engines start more easily and keeps them running that much more smoothly;

According to Star Brite, its Enzyme Fuel Treatment also:

• “helps prevent phase separation by dispersing water throughout fuel as sub micron-sized droplets that are safely eliminated while the engine operates.” And is
• “the best treatment for ethanol-blended fuel.”

Results of using the product

As far as firing up Pearl (my BMW F650GS) first thing is concerned, once we’d juiced her up with a little Star Brite Go Go Juice, she turned over more like a keen little pup, as opposed to coaxing her into getting going in a somewhat sluggish manner. For me, that was evidence enough. It convinced Pearl, anyway.

Ultimate Xtreme Clean

This stuff simply “does what it says on the tin”–it cleans like no other.  It claims to be the toughest cleaner for the toughest grime and stains although I’d say that’s a weak term from coming to realize just what this product can blow out of the water. Anything from fish blood, human blood, spilled oil, greasy marks, just about any stubborn stain known to man, woman, child and dog.

Purpose of the product

What’s more, the appeal is broad. We’re talking a quick and easy application on cleaning not just our beloved motorcycles, but those with boats, cars, ATVs, snowmobiles, sled, lawn mowers, tractors, chainsaws, RVs and your home. The list goes on. It’s a biodegradable formula on top, without the use of any caustics or acids, so is environmentally mindful as much as it’s safe to use on: seats, decks, fenders, frames, exteriors or well, just about anywhere there’s a mess to remove. It’s powerful enough to loosen and dissolve grease and, or grime so follow the two simplest of instructions and lightly wipe down and repeat if required.

Health warning

NB: Testing on a small inconspicuous area of the more delicate surfaces, such as your fabrics, decals, boot stripe take or painted areas for example, or where it may drip so as to avoid decolouration, is recommended. Fair enough.

Results of using the product

Cleaned everything on and in my motorcycle to a high shine, including a friend’s red wine stain on her Jeep’s upholstery. Seriously, what’s not to love?

CIO2 Hard Surface Disinfectant

Just as the product informs us, PERFORMACIDE® Hard Surface Disinfectant is geared up for: hard, non-porous surfaces as a Disinfectant, Sanitizer, Tuberculocide, Virucide, Fungicide, Algaecide, Slimicide, and Deodorizer. It basically harnesses Chlorine Dioxide (ClO2) that’s generated by adding a sealed pouch to a pre-determined amount of water. The solution can then be diluted for use as a sanitizer on both food contact surfaces and non-food contact surfaces.

Purpose of the product

As a disinfectant it kills MRSA, Staphylcoccus aureus, Listeria, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Enterococcus faecilis, Salmonella and TB. As a virucide, it also kills HIV-1, Hepatitus A, Herpes Simplex-2, Rhinovirus, Influenza-A, Coronavirus, Norovirus, Poliovirus*, Adenovirus, Rhinovirus, Canine Parvovirus, feline calicivirus, and Vaccinia virus. As well as odour causing bacteria mold and mildew.

The product is registered for use in hospitals, medical laboratories, rehabilitation facilities, diagnostic centers, clinics, first responder facilities, and equipment, veterinary hospitals, medical equipment, pharmaceutical facilities, and laboratories. Or just about anywhere that requires a decent level of cleanliness and hygiene.

Results of using the product

Heck, this stuff even worked a charm on Jason’s athlete’s foot. The mother of all athlete’s foot if truth be told. And believe it or not, the skin-friendly disinfectant eradicated years worth of a fungal infection into the bargain, giving way to the sweetest of foot-rot free toes. Now there’s a visual I like.