If you're like us, your bike's stock catalytic exhaust is probably hanging from the rafters and you chucked its charcoal canister in the trash. While binning that stuff might be good for making power, it's bad for the environment. Here are a few simple products that'll help offset your carbon footprint.
Cajun Shine All
The traditional method of washing your bike-with soapy sponge and hose-can use up to 50 gallons of water. Cajun Shine All gets the job done quickly with less than a gallon, saving time, money and natural resources. Just wet the special micro-fiber cloth, pour on some of the product and wipe clean. Cajun Shine All's unique blend of micronized waxes, polymers, moisture-repellants and UV-blockers gives your bike a glossy shine and a long-lasting protective coating. A mere $17.95 buys a detailing kit with two ultra micro-fiber cloths and one 12-ounce bottle of liquid.
www.cajunshineall.com
Bayes Waterless Cleaner
Don't be a hoser! Bayes Waterless Cleaner shines up your bike using only the water in the product itself, keeping contaminated runoff from polluting rivers, lakes and oceans. Bayes cleans and protects painted surfaces, glass, chrome, vinyl and rubber in two easy steps: spray and wipe. The advanced biodegradable polymers encapsulate dirt and lift it away without scratching the paint, leaving your bike with a lustrous shine. Made in the USA, Bayes Waterless cleaner costs $10 for a 16-ounce bottle (larger volumes available at a discount), good for as many as a dozen washes.
www.bayescleaners.com
Reware Juice Bag ES200
A great option for the environmentally conscious commuter, Reware's ES200 Juice Bag holds your stuff and doubles as a wearable powerplant. Made in the USA from recycled 2-liter soda bottles (each bag keeps eight bottles out of landfills), the ES200 features a large, flexible, external solar panel to harness free energy for use in your cell phone or other electronic devices. The main compartment provides 1255 cubic inches of storage, there are several internal gadget pockets and the solar panel is removable for remote use. The ES200 sells for $249.99 and is available in black, gray, yellow and green.
www.rewarestore.com
Solio Hybrid 1000
When you're on the road, power for your gadgets is crucial, but it's not always readily available. Whether you're deep in the Alaskan Yukon or high up in the Peruvian Andes, as long as there's sunshine the $79.95 Solio Hybrid 1000 will keep the juice flowing. The Hybrid boasts a powerful solar panel and internal battery in a slender (about 8 x 3 x 1 inches) case, and can power all your electronic devices with the included adaptor tips. A fully charged Solio will revitalize a cell phone or give up to 10 hours of MP3 music.
www.solio.com
Dynamo LED Flashlight
A flashlight is an integral part of every tool kit, but it's useless if the batteries are dead. With the Dynamo flashlight from EGear, you'll never be caught without light, and there's no need to tote extra batteries. Powered by a three-phase alternator and rechargeable NiMh cells, the Dynamo will provide 10 minutes of illumination from just over a minute of cranking. Great for touring riders and camping trips, the $20 flashlight is always ready to go and helps keep disposable batteries out of landfills. At just 7.5 inches long, the Dynamo is small enough to stow in a saddlebag or under the seat.
www.essentialgear.com
Bean Clean
Petrochemical degreasers are undeniably bad for the environment, releasing all sorts of nasty substances into the atmosphere. Bean Clean is a biodegradable, non-flammable, low-odor degreaser that's gentle on the planet and tough on grime. Made from 100 percent soybean oil, it melts caked-on crud as aggressively as the best petrochemical cleaners, without the harsh odors or damaging vapors. Bean Clean is safe for use on O-ring chains, sprockets, engines, rubber and plastic, and its emulsified solvents rinse off with water, leaving a clean, residue-free surface. It's an effective and intelligent alternative to tradition degreasers. And at $6 per can, it's cheaper, too.
www.chaindrain.com
Joe Rocket Hemp Jacket
Frequently confused with its psychoactive sibling, the harmless hemp plant's versatility rivals that of the celebrated soybean. With a tensile strength on par with leather, the fabric used in Joe Rocket's new Hemp Jacket is a smart alternative to synthetic and animal-hide apparel. The jacket's casual appearance is enhanced by its thick fabric, which conceals CE-approved armor in the elbows and shoulders. Joe Rocket's new BigAir venting, which extends from the neck to the waist, provides maximum cooling in hot weather. Priced at $249.99, the Hemp Jacket is as easy on your wallet as it is on the environment.
www.joerocket.com
Aerostich LP Bag
Few things plague the roadsides, treetops and beaches of the world like the loathsome plastic shopping bag. Aerostich's LP (Lighweight Portable) bags are an ideal replacement for those single-use items so readily dispensed at supermarkets, and can be carried like a shopping bag or worn as a backpack using the included synch straps. Made from strong and durable nylon, the $25 LP bag is made to strict Aerostich specs, with tacked, bound and reinforced seams and straps. Become part of the solution by removing yourself from the "Paper or plastic?" equation.
www.aerostich.com
Chopper Couture Apparel
Created in collaboration with Arlen Ness, Chopper Couture cranks out motorcycle-inspired, post-ride garb for the eco-conscious female biker. A mixture of chopper culture and haute couture, Chopper Couture clothing is fair-trade-manufactured from organic and renewable fibers. Each piece is silkscreen-printed by hand using inks free of harmful chemicals, enabling the brand to carry the coveted EU flower environmental stamp. New collections are constantly being designed, and most garments sell for around $60.
www.choppercouture.com