Airbox & air filter, is it really necessary? (1100 - '99)

[Muppet]

Having finally got my bike back on the road after replacing the gearbox (huge thanks to Vern for flogging me a mint 'box at a seriously good price ), whilst I was rebuilding it I was struck by how big the airbox thing is. And what a fecking pain in the arse it was to get it back in

So, can it be done away with? Obviously some air filters would need to be fitted, but I'm thinking a pair of conical K&N's fitted to the end of shortened trumpets on either side. My bike doesn't have a cat, so I don't think there'd be an issue there, but it does have some kind of sensor in the centre of the air filter. Is this a kind of air flow meter or temeprature sensor? Can it be done away with?

I'm aiming at keeping the stock silencer for now, although I may eventually go for a stumpy one keeping the centre box. I realise with no central airbos it's probably gonna run lean, so by removing the brown relay thingy that smooths out the running but pumps more fuel in (goes into closed loop mode?) will that take it back to normal (ish). Or will I have to do some jiggery pokery?

Rather fancy the look it will give without that mahoosive black lump of plastic stuck above the gearbox.

Your thoughts please gents.....

 

[Schtum]

Your thoughts please gents.....

Everything else being equal, you might gain some top end power at the expense of the bottom end.

 

[ricardo kuhn]

Everything else being equal, you might gain some top end power at the expense of the bottom end.

many years ago i try the K&N's with out the airbox trick and the power delivery was horrible, the low / mid range was gone (well 30% seat of the pants gone) and the top end was not that great to really compensate for, my idea was to used the space of the airbox for a extra tank but for sure not at the expense of driviablity so i when back to stock (never a K&N)...

i did try another experiment (two more) first with the K&N connected at the end of the "Trumpets" (stock tubes that go to the airbox) and then a pair of really long (80cms or so) radiator hoses (same diameter as trumpets) that let me located the two air filters at the front of the bike, yes for a little RamAir effect but mainlly because the FreAkiNg NoIsE that comes from the engine valve train is really bothersome.... with this sistem i did see a little gain on torque but was infimal..

anyway for my next project bike, i'm actually making a airbox that is about two times the size of the stock one, with a really big intake at the top (30 cms higher) for water crossing dutty
and features a really large and flat paper air filter (not K&N) of about 18cms by 35cms (more than two times the expose surface of the stock round filter) in hopes of improve the air intake with out lossing much of the torque that is what makes a GS so wonderful to ride...

i hope this helps..