Fitting a K&N filter

[GSband]

Searching on the web I found a VERY interesting comparative test with a scientific approach.

These are the results :
- K&N initially have a higher airflow
- K&N clog fast
- K&N let through more particles.

Read the test and weep:
http://www.duramax-diesel.com/spicer/index.htm

 

[cockneyjanner]

This is all really interesting - I had never heard of any negative points before, and have certainly never experienced any problems myself, on cars or bikes.

Interestingly mine was bought from my BMW dealer on the strongest recommendation, to accompany my new Remus system! They advised me that I would need to fit a K&N to get the benefit of the exhaust ~ ie. got to get more air in, to benefit from letting more out.

 

[wadham]

Interestingly mine was bought from my BMW dealer on the strongest recommendation, to accompany my new Remus system! They advised me that I would need to fit a K&N to get the benefit of the exhaust ~ ie. got to get more air in, to benefit from letting more out.

Anyone know of a BMW dealer who has a dyno machine to test air/fuel mixtures. It surprised my dealer when I mentioned the results of my dyno on the new engines.

Avoid making them run leaner for 0.5 hp gains.

 

[Red King]

I know many track riders on other bikes that swear by them, but they have sports exhaust system and the engines are tuned accordingly. Also, they strip and rebuild the motors on a regular basis.

Just my humble opinion (I am not an expert or a mechanic) but I wouldn't use one again. Not worth the hassle for me but I am a lazy bastard...

 

[AndyW]

How's about some real life test results?!

R1200GS, 12,000 miles, around 9,000 miles since a K&N was fitted and not touched since (+ full Remus, PCIII), road use only all year round:

First off, a quick shot up the air intake pipe / snorkel.....needs a clean

Filter removed and a look in the air box, visually spotless...

Time for the white wrag test to be sure (kind of like Aggy does on How Clean Is Your House :lol: ), a quick wipe round the inside of the airbox....nothing worth mentioning, the very faint yellowish 'dirt' marks are most likely from fuel vapour condensing over time ...

Shot of the K&N (outside from the bottom end of the filter)...

...and outside again but from the top (this side of the pleats not nearly as dirty)

Inside of the filter......clean!

Filter reinstalled...before refitting I cleaned out the larger debris and dirt with a soft brush and small screwdriver to flick crap out but did not wash the filter (refer to previous links to K&N website reference cleaning;-)

The retaining clips (wedges) that hold the air inlet pipe in place can be a bugger to remove/fit.....I covered them in WD40 which will hopefully help

One last thing, if you look at image 1 you can see where the rectangular mounting plate has been bonded to the air inlet pipe theres an irregular 'flange' several mm high around the inside of the joint - I cut this back with a stanley knife and smoothed it off with a Dremel rotary sanding tool.......might get me 0.0001 extra BHP?!

 

[Aggy]

How's about some real life test results?!

R1200GS, 12,000 miles, around 9,000 miles since a K&N was fitted and not touched since (+ full Remus, PCIII), road use only all year round:

Time for the white wrag test to be sure (kind of like Aggy does on How Clean Is Your House :lol: ),

I deny it!!!! There's no proof! Okay, I at weekends in the privacy of my own home I MAY walk around in a pinnie and rubber gloves

 

[Aggy]

If you want more performance cut out all the pies........ simples

 

[AndyW]

I deny it!!!! There's no proof! Okay, I at weekends in the privacy of my own home I MAY walk around in a pinnie and rubber gloves

:lol .....the pinnie and rubber gloves come in handy for bike servicing as well

 

[OldCroc]

Just seen this.

How's about some real life test results?!
One last thing, if you look at image 1 you can see where the rectangular mounting plate has been bonded to the air inlet pipe theres an irregular 'flange' several mm high around the inside of the joint - I cut this back with a stanley knife and smoothed it off with a Dremel rotary sanding tool.......might get me 0.0001 extra BHP?!

Sorry about resurrecting an old(ish) thread. I saw this on my bike the other day when cleaning the bugs etc out of the filter and did the same thing!!!

What struck me was that the inlet snorkel has a very narrow mouth opening up to a cavern. This HAS to be restrictive for the air intake. Has anyone made any mods to this (shortened it, perhaps, or drilled holes in it??) to improve the airflow?

OldCroc

 

[Steptoe]

i ditched using a K&N after seeing the how effective it was at filtering out crap in morocco. Plus i've seen too many other bad examples on bikes that i service. I wouldn't recommend them.

Real life experiences, not taken from the manufactures own advertising.

 

[mechcanico lee]

I have fitted K and N filters to alot of the bikes i have owned over the years and never thought that they make a noticeable difference to the performance, sometimes it was just the" induction roar" that just made you think it was faster ,but in itself i liked the sound anyhow ...probably on a dyno there would be hardly any difference.
I fitted one in my 58 plate gsa and couldnt feel any difference, a decat pipe does alot more

 

[smartbear]

tight

i fitted a k&n not because of any minor power gains (does it really matter?)
but because i like the fact they dont need replacing

 

[Steptoe]

i fitted a k&n not because of any minor power gains (does it really matter?)
but because i like the fact they dont need replacing

So you buy and fit one for cheapness ? is the cleaning fluid free ?, is the K&N filter oil free ?, is the time spent fannying around cleaning and re-oiling free ?
How many standard air filters do you need to replace (and how many miles would you cover) before you spend the same amount of money as you would buying and keeping a K&N over the same mileage.

Do you use the same logic when buying engine oil.