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Buell Motorcycle Forum » XBoard » Buell XBoard Archives » Archive through October 02, 2005 » K & N versus Stock filter « Previous Next »

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Jcbikes
Posted on Monday, September 26, 2005 - 03:35 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Is the K&N filter ($65)an improvement performance wise over the stock filter ($25)other than the reusable part of it. This is on a stock 2004 xb12s.}
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Perry
Posted on Monday, September 26, 2005 - 03:46 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I have an '05 XB12Scg, and yanking the snorkel, installing the K&N and drilling some holes in the inner airbox made a very noticeable difference.

This was on a completely stock bike, no other mods.
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Scitz
Posted on Monday, September 26, 2005 - 03:50 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

It's supposed to have increased air flow and collect more dust. I've used K&N on other bikes and cars and feel it was worth the investment. A Badweb member posted not to long ago That Uni Filter is making a reusable filter for the XB. The price hasn't been mentioned yet but it may be cheaper the the K&N. I performed other upgrades at the same time I switched to the K&N filter so I can't say how much improvement it makes in how the bike responds. On the Buell I feel it's worth the investment so you can just clean and reuse it instead of having to wait on a dealer to order the stock filter.
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Gowindward
Posted on Monday, September 26, 2005 - 03:57 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I just purchased a K&N at the local Advanced Auto Parts. It was $41 plus $5 for shipping since it was a special order item for them. The store has a little demo unit (supplied by K&N) that has a ping pong ball in a vertical tube about 18" long with two small fans blowing air through an air filter into the tube. With a K&N filter in place the ball floats at the top of the tube with the fans on. Swap the K&N filter with what looks like a typical paper filter and the ball just floats at the bottom of the tube while the fans are on. That sold me!

(Message edited by gowindward on September 27, 2005)
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Jcbikes
Posted on Monday, September 26, 2005 - 03:59 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Perry,
thats the same mod's I have been looking to do. Where did it make the difference. Top end, bottom end, throttle response....was it considerably louder ?
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M1combat
Posted on Monday, September 26, 2005 - 04:17 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

K&N's are typically worth the money IME.
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Jerseyguy
Posted on Monday, September 26, 2005 - 07:26 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I think I paid $60 online for the K&N. I put them in all of my vehicles. Honestly I don't know how much improvement they offer. Here's a pic of the stock vs K&N vs Buell Race. I went with the K&N.


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M1combat
Posted on Monday, September 26, 2005 - 07:41 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Interesting...

I bought the "Buell race" filter in December of '03 for an '04 XB12R. I got the center one in your pic. It even came in a K&N box (and bag as you see there). I got it from a Buell dealer...

I didn't even realize the one on the right existed.
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Bikertrash05
Posted on Monday, September 26, 2005 - 08:38 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Maybe someone else knows for sure, but I don't think HD sells K&N anymore. The Screamin Eagle kits all now have those blue and white filters, too.
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Tq_freak
Posted on Monday, September 26, 2005 - 11:20 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

M1- Buell and harley have recently switched to using a different comp instead of K&N for there race filters, dont know why they did it but they did
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Aldaytona
Posted on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 - 07:56 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

To me the biggest improvement with the K&N is you buy 1 filter and that's it. I still have K&N filters in my 1983 Harley-Davidson FXRS and 1984 BMW R65LS that were installed within about a week after the bikes were new. I can tell you for sure they last over 20 years (they also look almost new). It's the 1st add on accessory I install on any bike I buy.
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Davefla
Posted on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 - 11:00 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I like my K&N simply because it seems to let so much more intake noise reach my ears. Can't say I've seen a real big change in fuel economy or power, but it sure sounds sweet once the throttle and exhaust valve have opened, and it's still quieter than swapping the muffler.

Meanwhile, I added a K&N and cruise control to my 1993 GMC pickup two years ago. I regularly get 18-19mpg (once, I even saw 20) on the highway, instead of the rated (and previously experienced) 15-16mpg. I think it's paid for itself in that case.
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Buelluk
Posted on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 - 12:12 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I have just retrofitted the original filter and snorkel to my XB9S prior to trading it in on a Uly.

The difference is very noticeable, it's definitely worth making the change to the K&N and desnorkeling your 12.
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Nsbuell
Posted on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 - 08:44 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Does anyone know who the new manufacturer of Buell race filters is? Are they as good as a K&N? My dealer says they're washable and have the oil addative and everything.
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Jerseyguy
Posted on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 08:04 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Ns - I was told the same thing by my dealer when I returned the Buell "race' filter. When I asked how to clean & re-oil it, he suggested the K&N products. It may be just as good, I really don't know. It looks very similar in design. I stuck with the real K&N.
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Beachbuell
Posted on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 07:53 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Hey, does anyone have a part number for the K&N filter, for a 04 XB12R?
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Gowindward
Posted on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 08:53 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

BU-9003 is the K&N p/n
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Emscityx
Posted on Thursday, September 29, 2005 - 07:35 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

is that the same part # for a 9S ?
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Gowindward
Posted on Thursday, September 29, 2005 - 09:34 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Yes

K&N Applications for BU-9003

Product Information and Specifications for BU-9003


2005 BUELL FIREBOLT XB12R 1200 - All
2005 BUELL FIREBOLT XB9R 900 - All
2005 BUELL LIGHTNING CITYX XB9SX 900 - All
2005 BUELL LIGHTNING XB12S 1200 - All
2005 BUELL LIGHTNING XB12SCG 1200 - All
2004 BUELL FIREBOLT XB12R 1200 - All
2004 BUELL FIREBOLT XB9R 900 - All
2004 BUELL LIGHTNING XB12S 1200 - All
2004 BUELL LIGHTNING XB9S 900 - All
2003 BUELL FIREBOLT XB9R 900 - All
2003 BUELL LIGHTNING XB9S 900 - All
2002 BUELL FIREBOLT XB9R 900 - All

http://www.knfilters.com/search/applications.aspx?Prod=BU-9003
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Perry
Posted on Thursday, September 29, 2005 - 04:46 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

jcbikes,

I noticed mostly because it seemed much quicker revving while stopped, and better response and more power on a roll on while riding. I guess that translates to more mid and high end as well as throttle response.

It wasn't a tremendous difference, just enough to be noticeable and clearly not imagination.

I honestly didn't notice any difference in sound as some others did. I don't hear any sucking or any real intake noise. I didn't even think about teh noise until it was mentioned by others here, so it was not anything I noticed. But I drilled only about 10 one-inch holes in the inner box, so it isn't completely open. I drilled the holes on the opposite side as the intake, figuring that would balance out where the air can draw from. I figure it more than doubled the area of intake compared to stock, but probably still retains a lot of the noise damping.

I live at around 5000 ft. elevation, which I believe makes a difference in how the intake system behaves and how changes to the intake affect performance.

(Message edited by perry on September 29, 2005)
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