Keep the K&N Air Filter or not?

[JohnnyBoxer]

Just been doing a bit of spring cleaning on the 1150GS Adv and removed the K&N airfilter for it's annual service

Plenty of crud in there

Cleaned it all out and used the K&N service kit to degrease, wash and left it to naturally dry out

Once dry I'll re-oil with K&N oil and pop it back in

However whilst doing it, is there any engine or performance benefits to running a K&N air filter?

Bike has stock headers and collector box with CAT and a Remus Road Legal Can (no.............I'm not thinking about a Y piece -uggh)

I've run one for 7-8 years now and don't know if it's any better or worse

Should I go back to the paper BMW filter and just replace every 12-24k miles - the R11RT runs the stock BMW one and performance doesn't seem compromised

Road miles only - no offroad whatsoever

 

[JoeC]

This is a debate a bit like engine oil - we all have our own opinion.

Personally, if I intend to keep a bike for a while then I stick in a K&N to save money in the long run.
I don't think it gives any performance benefits - in fact some people say it takes it away.
I clean my K&N at least once a year (approx 8K miles) just because I want to. Some will clean it more often and some less often - depends on milage and conditions you ride in i.e. dusty, muddy, sandy etc.

Put yours back in and don't worry about it.

 

[david306]

I recently put in a K&N filter and noticed the mid range performance was much better. I also installed a pre filter fully covering the K&N which leaves it completely clean, its been in 6 months or so and there is no dirt whatsoever. I will be keeping mine in. I do get slightly less mileage tho, about 10/20 miles less per tank, but that could be my riding harder through the mid range. who knows. i really like it and it survived winter no probs.

I have the steptoes cat code jumper changed to straight through and a straight through can with baffle removed. so bear this in mind with your own individual setup.

Check your spark plugs and see if your engine is happy or not.

 

[Coolcarbon]

Keep it...

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Any other views

 

[JoeC]

Sell it and buy a new one.

 

[Steptoe]

Got rid of my K&N, noticed it let particules past after a morrocan trip, and you really don't get any performance benefit.

Gone back to original filter, £6 each ( even cheaper if you buy them in 10's) and throw them away every 12k miles. Which would cost £60 for 120K miles of riding, so i can't see how using a K&N would save you money once you've bought the filter, bought the cleaning fluid, and bought the K&N filter oil, and spent time fecking around cleaning it.

Then you also have the potential problem of premature engine wear due to the K&N.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Got rid of my K&N, noticed it let particules past after a morrocan trip, and you really don't get any performance benefit.

Gone back to original filter, £6 each ( even cheaper if you buy them in 10's) and throw them away every 12k miles. Which would cost £60 for 120K miles of riding, so i can't see how using a K&N would save you money once you've bought the filter, bought the cleaning fluid, and bought the K&N filter oil, and spent time fecking around cleaning it.

Then you also have the potential problem of premature engine wear due to the K&N.

You're da man, Neil

The unused BMW paper one is going back on and I'll change it yearly

 

[motobiker]

What he says is very true and easy to test. just remove the KN and with a damp songe clean very carefully the airbox. Replace the KN - newly cleaned/reoiled. and ride the bike.. Then after a few months take it out and rub your finger round the inside of the airbox - downwind of the KN. You will be absolutely horrified by how dirty your finger will be. Thats the muck that adheres to the airbox - just imagine how much has got into the engine. The things are a menace on road bikes.

 

[Coolcarbon]

even cheaper if you buy them in 10's

Where from...?

 

[ianboydsnr]

Where from...?

Me to