Aftermarket air filters

stillwater · Jun 12, 2020

Been looking @ K&N Air Filters for my XS.
What experience does anyone here have with them?...

There are many different ones available.
My concern is- The open element ones, Are they affected by rain?
Don't know much about that situation. I've used them on cars well enough, but being protected by the hood might make a difference...Needing some input on people's experience with them. I'd love to get my carbs some nice fresh air, but I don't wanna drown out my bike in the rain either Lol!

xschris · Jun 12, 2020

Your stock setup will offer the best of all those things. Any open filter will be affected by rain, dirt more. If your only option it pods I would use black foam uni's on the stock H-pipe. K&N are ok but wont offer better filtration and will cause more turbulence which these carbs don't like. I have read lots of tests done on filters and most "performance" ones are very poor at filtering dirt. They are ok on race type setups as those are not used for every day use and get rebuilds more often. Also require much more air than factory built motors.

stillwater · Jun 14, 2020

xschris said:
Your stock setup will offer the best of all those things. Any open filter will be affected by rain, dirt more. If your only option it pods I would use black foam uni's on the stock H-pipe. K&N are ok but wont offer better filtration and will cause more turbulence which these carbs don't like. I have read lots of tests done on filters and most "performance" ones are very poor at filtering dirt. They are ok on race type setups as those are not used for every day use and get rebuilds more often. Also require much more air than factory built motors.

Thanks! I was concerned about airflow as well, on cars it seems anytime air is forced directly into the carb, it causes more trouble than good. They have always pulled better air from the side/back. As if pulling water in wouldn't be bad enough! :smoke:

Aftermarket air filters

stillwater

XS400 Member

xschris

XS400 Guru

stillwater

XS400 Member

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