S100 Engine Brightener

S100 ENGINE BRIGHTENER

CW EVALUATION~

New life for old parts

TRENDS COME AND GO, BUT A CLEAN, shiny motorcycle is never out of style. S100 has capitalized on this fact, first with its Total Cycle Cleaner ("More riding time in every bottle") and now with its novel Engine Brightener. The latter is designed to renew blackpainted engine cases and cylinders, as well as spiff-up time-dulled plastic and rubber. Like the company's popular sprayon/hose-off bike wash, Engine Bright ener is extremely simple to use. In fact, the back-of-the-can instructions couldn't be easier to follow: "Shake well. Spray evenly onto cool, clean and dry surfaces. Allow to dry briefly. Wipe off any excess." No brushing, buffing or messy applicators required. A plastic metering tube makes it easy to avoid brake discs, electrical compo nents and tires, too.

We tested the petroleum-based prod uct on various bikes, from tired clas sics to current repli-racers, all with excellent results. Carburetor intake boots, cylinder fins, crankcase sidecovers, brake hoses, mirror stalks, etc. looked factory fresh. Better yet, En gine Brightener (available from Brookside Import Specialties, 550 E. Main St., Branford, CT 06405; 203/488-6569) is temperature-stable and detergent-resistant, which means it won't burn off and doesn't require post-wash reapplications. Even after multiple heat cycles, prone-to-corro sion header pipes looked glossy with a clearcoat-esque appearance. You won't get that with WD-4~

Downsides are few. You'll need plenty of soap if you get the stuff on your hands, and there's a slight odor, so stick to well-ventilated surround ings. Also, unless you're careful, it's easy to drain the smallish, 4.5-ounce can on a couple of bikes. Still, at $8 a pop, the product isn't terribly expen sive. Come to think of it, given the glossy glow it offers your bike, En gine Brightener is a sparkling example of a bargain.