Moto Towl

MOTO TOWL

CW EVALUATION

A motorcyclist's Handi-Wipe

IF THERE'S A DOWNSIDE TO BEING OUTdoors on a motorcycle, it's that you tend to get dirty. Road grime and suicidal insects accumulate on your faceshield like helmet-law protesters on the state capitol lawn. And don't think for a moment that this phenomenon has gone unnoticed by motorcycling's vast aftermarket; there are a bizillion gizmos designed specifically to combat Deadly Dead-Bug Buildup.

One of the simplest—and, at 98 cents, one of the cheapest—is the Moto Towl (available from Giant Industries. 900 N. Westwood Ave., Toledo. OH 43607; 800/633-4565). Measuring 1 square foot, the Moto Towl is made of Sontara, a cloth-like paper product developed by DuPont. Because it's pre-moistened with flammable isopropyl alcohol, the manufacturer recommends that the Moto Towl be kept away from fire. Leather should also be avoided due to the fact that alcohol robs leather of its natural oils.

A simple product, the Moto Towl works as claimed, though we found the foil package more than a little difficult to tear open. We also felt that the towel was too wet to simply wipe off a faceshield, as it leaves behind a residue that must be wiped away with a clean, soft, dry cloth. Wringing it out or leaving it to drv briefly improves matters significantly.

Though the Moto Towl works best on faceshields, it also does a good job of cleaning the inside of helmets, and leaves behind a refreshing lemony scent. The Moto 'fowl's material is highly resistant to tearing, and there's enough surface area available to do an effective job of wiping down the painted surfaces of your bike, should you wish to spruce up its appearance on the road. The towels are non-abrasive, and won't scratch glass, plastic or painted surfaces.

Since we discovered Moto fowls, we've kept one under the seat of every streetbike we've ridden. S3