| Author | Message | ||
     Father_of_an_era |
There seems to be some debate on weather or not we should use it. So, I thought I would take a pole on using the K&N filter on our bikes. What do you all think?  | ||
| Jules |
Depends on your reason for wanting to. You won't see any increase in power, but it's "nice" not to have to replace a filter if you don't have to. Most (if not all) of the race bikes still run a stock filter, it's no more restrictive than the K&N | ||
| Stimbrell |
When I have a vehicle I like I tend to keep them for a long time, I have owned some cars and bikes for over twenty years, when I buy a K&N it is because the vehicle is a keeper and I can change a throw away part to a serviceable part. My 1125 now has a K&N. In some applications there is a performance benefit, I use a 3" K&N on my 1250, stage 2 Sportster, over twice the size of the standard unit as it needs the extra air. | ||
| Juniorkirk |
I would say get the K&N now before you cant....or cant get a stock air filter anymore. They dont make Buell's anymore, and i'm guessing its only a matter of time you wont be able to get anything for them unless it's off another bike (this is decades down the the road). I run the K&N cause its reusable. every 10k miles, take it out, wash it with hot soapy water and respray it with the K&N oil and it's good for another 10k miles. The filter may cost a little more off the bat, but in the end, it cost less. $20 for a recharge kit and i can clean my filter 3 times with it. so it comes to about $6.50 a filter. | ||
| Father_of_an_era |
Well, I do have a K&N on the R but there seems to be a conflict of opinion about the filter's ability to keep out debris. So, I wanted to get a ruling from the majority and based off of that, I will make my decision on weather or not I continue to use it. While I have not noticed any HP gain, I have noticed that the bike is quieter at idle and the bike seems to run a little more smooth with the K&N on over the stock standard. That being said, I don't want any unnecessary and avoidable issues that may or may not come buy using the filter. I am so confused!!!! lol | ||
| Carbonbigfoot |
Can't hurt. R | ||
| Tbowdre |
anyone wanna get rid of their stock air filter?? Ill taker it off your hands  seriously, send me a PM todd | ||
| Bueller4ever |
It's been said the K&N lets by more dirt, but Jules says The stock filter isn't any more restrictive than a K&N. You can't have it both ways. Either the K&N flows more air and dirt or it doesn't. I for one believe it does flow more air and lets by a miniscule amount of dirt over the stock filter. Keep in mind that no air filter can filter out all dirt. I think a lot of people would be surprised how much dust in the air gets through a paper filter. | ||
| 46champ |
I think a lot of people would be surprised how much dust in the air gets through a paper filter. And I'm thinking that if the dirt is small enough to get by a good filter it probably doesn't matter. | ||
| Dannybuell |
I have used K&N on my cars since the seventies. An engines service life with paper or a K&N will likely be the same. There might be more important things to consider: engine oil warm up, oil/filter change frequency, fuel filtration and 'fuel conditioners'. HD says no on fuel additives/conditioners. Do you put fuel additives or conditioners in your 1125? My car sure likes the stuff. Whenever the car seems to idle roughly I throw in a can of injector cleaner and it smoothes right out. | ||
| 1_mike |
For racing sure...put the must have K&N on. For street...why? No reason to let grit into the cylinders. I've messed on and off with K&N for many years, they are still the same as they were 25+ years ago. That is...they STILL let in fine dirt/grit. Just because you can get 2 or 3 top end HP...wop-de-do... Or is it bragging rights (to the unknowing !). And yea, you can wash the K&N rather than have to buy a new filter every 15,000 or 20,000 miles. Another big deal... My CR is coming close to 14,000 miles and has no need of a new filter yet (checked yesterday). It'll take most people years to get to 15,000 miles. That's plenty of time to save for a real filter. My 2 cents. Mike | ||
| Father_of_an_era |
I don't put additives in my fuel but I have considered it. | ||
| Tbones1125r |
I put a K&N on my 1125r...it came with my HMF pipe...easy to install and clean...last filter I'll ever buy for it. On my birthday, I fill it up with Cam2 unleaded...around 100 octane I think...noticeable improvement...love the smell... | ||
| Jng1226 |
One source I trust on these matters is E_B_R. According to them, Danny Eslick's 2009 DSB Championship Winning bike was running a stock filter. 'Nuff said for me. (meaning when my currently installed K&N gets dirty I'm going back to the stock filter) | ||
| Augustus74 |
Hesitant to try it on the bike as most state it will inundate your motor with bad stuff but every car I have ever changed the filter to K&N on has run so much smoother!?!?!? | ||
| Augustus74 |
Jng1226 - I could be wrong but I am pretty sure that the KEDA-DESIGNS exhaust made more power then the Erik Buell Racing?!?!?! | ||
| Mountainstorm |
THere was a film of grime on my throttle bodies after a few thousand miles using the K&N so I went back to the stock filter. Throttle bodies still look clean to me. | ||
| Father_of_an_era |
How did you clean the throttle bodies Mountainstorm? | ||
| Easyrider |
Father_of_an_era, I tested them in 2008 in this article, take your time to read it: http://www.twinmotorcycles.nl/artikelen.asp?aid=53 On 2/3 of the article it begins. and yes it gains HP. | ||
| Bueller4ever |
There is no question that paper filters better, but is it so much better? http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest3.h tm | ||
| Jaimec |
Spoke to a racer a few years back (Tom Cutter, Rubber Chicken Racing Garage) who is also a BMW Airhead Guru. His advice was to stay away from K&N filters, especially on a bike you plan on keeping for a long time. As stated above, the stock filters flow more than enough air. | ||
| Dirty_john |
The only benefit of a K&N over the OEM air filter is the reuse, they both flow more or less the same, I fitted a K&N just for this reason, no other. | ||
| Dirty_john |
An upper cylinder lubricant may help in the fuel but may damage critical fuel components, I used Castrol valvemaster plus in my Firebolt for many years but just use Shell Vpower or BP Optimax in the 1125R exclusively | ||
| Dannybuell |
Bueller4ever - The 'Bob the Oil guy' link was interesting. THX | ||
| Chameleon |
I've used a K&N on my 1125R for more than 1 year and have 60,000 miles on the bike. She's running great and I intend to keep using the K&N. I do still have the paper filter that I took out and intend to send it to Tbowdre. | ||
| Zac4mac |
I'm a cheap SOB, that's why I got one. At 26k I'm about to break even. It IS dusty here so I watch it pretty close. Clean throats so far, don't be LAZY when sealing the filter. Really, paper air filters and spin-on oil filters with dinosaur oil is all good. If you replace everything every 2500 miles. Z |
