To change your air filter or not...?

[HilltopMark]

While there's no doubt that changing your filter to an aftermarket one can increase airflow, do these free flow filters clean the air as well as an OE filter? Based on the rather cynical idea that there's no such thing as a free lunch I would say 'no', and that if an aftermarket design cleaned the air as well but flowed it better than the paper filters that all OEs currently use then filters of said design would be standard fit on all bikes in the blink of an eye. Anyway, someone has actually been to the trouble of testing some of these filters. Good for them (and us):

https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest1.htm

 

[CPJS]

As the GS is not a revvy bike I don't think that there is any real benefit to be gained.

 

[ChazzyB]

Having cleaned a thick, dark, slightly oily deposit from the throttle bodies on a Tiger 955 fitted with a K&N, I would never fit another one to anything.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Paper in a GS, all the way

Washable foam for dirtbikes only

 

[HilltopMark]

Having cleaned a thick, dark, slightly oily deposit from the throttle bodies on a Tiger 955 fitted with a K&N, I would never fit another one to anything.

You were lucky that it didn't coat the airbox sensor and stop it working!

 

[matchlessman]

I don't see that air filtration is that critical. The air goes straight through the engine, pausing briefly to be mixed with Petrol and ignited. If there is a little dust in there it's unlikely to do much harm. My pre-65 trials bike has run for years without a filter and the only casualty has been a worn carburettor slide.

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[CPJS]

I don't see that air filtration is that critical. The air goes straight through the engine, pausing briefly to be mixed with Petrol and ignited. If there is a little dust in there it's unlikely to do much harm. My pre-65 trials bike has run for years without a filter and the only casualty has been a worn carburettor slide.

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You better write a letter to all the vehicle manafacturers telling where they have gone wrong, you can save all of them a fortune in R&D.

 

[matchlessman]

You better write a letter to all the vehicle manafacturers telling where they have gone wrong, you can save all of them a fortune in R&D.

If I was living in a desert with major dust issues I would expect problems. I just think in a relatively clean environment it is much less important. What items will get additional wear from the microscopic dust particles that flow through the engine hardly touching anything?

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[WaterMonkey]

If I was living in a desert with major dust issues I would expect problems. I just think in a relatively clean environment it is much less important. What items will get additional wear from the microscopic dust particles that flow through the engine hardly touching anything?

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Have a look at the crap on your radiator grills on your car or bike and come back and tell us it was all microscopic!

 

[matchlessman]

You better write a letter to all the vehicle manafacturers telling where they have gone wrong, you can save all of them a fortune in R&D.

Manufacturers build machines for use around the world. They have to design for the worst conditions, poor quality fuel, third world roads (here in the UK). In the vast majority of cases the bikes can run much better if they are set up for the conditions they will be used in, which is why Hilltop etc can improve the performance so much.

The manufacturers already know this, they are just building for the world market and variants are very expensive because of all the approvals testing etc. so they produce a machine which can cope with the worst.

My bike will spend most of its life in England. It will spend some time in Europe (mostly France) but is not likely to venture into a harsher environment. I guess 90% of UK GS's will have similar lives.

 

[matchlessman]

Have a look at the crap on your radiator grills on your car or bike and come back and tell us it was all microscopic!

The crap in my airfilter is microscopic, apart from a few flies which I am sure the engine could digest without a problem.

 

[Blackal]

The big difference - is that the mesh-type filter will maintain the flow throughout its service period. The paper filter gradually blocks.

Of course - each type will block just as quickly with large items like leaves etc.

Al

 

[roamer]

I do believe any dust entering the engine will cause slight abrasive wear and will stay with the paper air filter,
The motorsport washable type that are oil saturated , were i thought designed for extreme conditions,
Allowing quick maintenance for maximum airflow without having a pile of paper type filters ,
Modern engines have electronic throttle bodies and sensors in the airflow, (gs wc and any fly by wire engines)
the dust sticking to any oil resdue/ deposits from filter oil can cause issues ,
One feature for a smooth engine stop, is the throttle butterflies fully close to block airflow ,they can stick stripping gears if contaminated,
My gs lc is out of warranty , it has a re map, and headers to delete the sticky exhaust valve,
Not saying there is any right or wrong in any choices to use different air filters or performance aids,
its a personal choice/ risk,
Roamer,

 

[ChazzyB]

Dust is abrasive. You don't want it inside your engine.

 

[Andi_archer]

Having more free air flow by a less restrictive will affect you engine mixture hence why there are many threads an rejetting and cutting filter boxes on bikes that run lean from factory i.e. Suzuki DRZ400 and the Harley MT350.This said some bikes CDI`s can automatically adapt to the change if apropriate sensors are factory fitted and some not, however the non-paper filter i.e. Oiled filters gains extra airflow by allowing larger particles through the media which can degrade the engine and cause carburation jetting problems.

 

[Blackal]

Oiled filters gains extra airflow by allowing larger particles through the media which can degrade the engine and cause carburation jetting problems.

Any feel for what size of particles, because I'm not seeing that.

 

[HilltopMark]

I don't think that K&N even claim that their filters clean the air as well as OE paper filters. They choose their words carefully. Anyway, here's some more detailed testing:

http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/kn-vs-oem-filter.html

 

[Alan R]

I don't think that K&N even claim that their filters clean the air as well as OE paper filters. They choose their words carefully. Anyway, here's some more detailed testing:

http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/kn-vs-oem-filter.html

K&N filters, if washed after each race, are great for what they are designed for: stopping good ole boy's nascar engines ingesting tumble weeds. American snake oil. Avoid.
Alan R