| Author | Message | ||
     Madsx |
Finished hacking up a new 12 air box. Unfortunately I wont really be able to test it due to the inclimate weather for the next 3 mo. We'll see. I may just cut out the lid when I rerout the breather lines. The Dremel worked pretty well although I went through a number of cutting wheels. They kept breaking although this may have been due to my lack of experience with it. The plastic tends to melt a bit when cutting so there is a bit of clean up to do after. Used a sanding wheel and then hand sanded to clean up the edges.     | ||
| Diablobrian |
I used a hole saw and a rotozip to do mine. worked like a charm. | ||
| Hogs |
I cut one out on mind and only left the top sealing part and held that down with a hunk of soft foam and when ya put the outer Cover on , it compress`s it nice and tight , I also did my Old lady`s and just cut everything off except where ever the stock mounting tabs were ,I ran up to the top sealing part about an inch or so wide and thats all I used All the rest Gone ..I think yours is basically the same except for one mounting tab, But all is great... | ||
| Rigga |
very fancy,but over complicated in my veiw,when all you need to leave is the top part with the nipple over the intake...does save having to drill the base to insert a fixing to keep the top on,or use foam between the top cover and the airbox..... well done,more patience than me  | ||
| Fullpower |
positively skeletal | ||
| Isham |
It looks neat but I dont see the point of doing that. Unless youre riding with no air box cover or your air box cover has a vent. Someone school me on the reason for doing this? plus before/after dynos. (Message edited by isham on December 17, 2005) | ||
| Keys |
artful.. very nice do yourself a favor and give it a spin before you put the outer airbox cover back on. that way you'll see the biggest difference possible in your first ride out. no air restriction makes a huge difference. Just get ready for the stares! seriously take my word for it - give it a spin looking exactly the way it looks in your pics. I do it all the time. freaks people out and the difference is big | ||
| Ralf |
I used to have an attachment for my soldering gun that was designed to cut plastic. It worked like a hot knife through butter. I'm going to have to try and find one. It leaves a nice rolled up/melted edge too. Thanks for posting those pics, can't wait to try it on mine. | ||
| Kootenay |
OK, I have the same question as Isham. If the idea is to get more air to the intake, what is the advantage of cutting the airbox without putting a vent in the airbox cover? And is there the possibility of actually reducing the airflow to the intake by introducing turbulence? | ||
| Madsx |
Well, just my theory is that the outer box is not sealed like the inner. So some fresh air, if only a bit, will come in. As for the turbulence, I'm not sure. Form what people here have said it allows the motor to spin up faster by relieving the restriction of the sealed box. I have not been able to test it yet so... who knows. For me its all speculation. Hope fully someone who has real world experience will chime in. It is winter here and I needed a project so I dont go insane. I also really like seeing the filter through the translucent outer cover. So there is a "just looks cool" factor for me. I also kept an intact box in case it doesnt work well and I'll switch it back. | ||
| Isham |
I'd like to see a picture of what it looks like on your cityx with the outercover on. Kootenay mentioned turbulence which is another factor that could decrease performance. Madsx, I doubt much air goes though the outer box. Also the scoop on the left side is what provides all of the fresh air. I really don't see how it could help. If people are feeling gains their delusion mine be due to the placebo effect. (Message edited by isham on December 18, 2005) | ||
| Dbird29 |
Look at the '06 models, no snorkels, the air comes from behind the gas cap and from the gap between the outer cover and the frame. Lots of surface area around the circumference of the outer cover. | ||
| Diablobrian |
even a relatively small increase in airbox volume can have perceptible effects on HP and throttle response. The reasons behind the volume and shape from the factory are primarily EPA noise regulations. | ||
| Keys |
dbird29 hit the nail on the head. Obviously Buell decided the 03-05 system was worthy to abandon. Here is some interesting reading about the benefits of more air. Or cooler air for that matter http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=3842&post=290422#POST 290422 http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=3842&post=289582#POST 289582 http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=17143&post=554099#POS T554099 The buells going into production are severely limited by EPA noise restrictions resulting in a restrictive pipe limiting air exhaust which completely has a direct effect on the design of the airbox. Air intake is choked down to match the narrowed (quieter) exhaust. The race kit only partly alleviates the choked airbox by removing the snorkel and moving to a high-flow aircleaner. And the race kit only works as designed if the ambient temp air in the airbox is normal. By that I mean if the air going to the throttle bodies perfectly matches the exhaust volume, once the air in the airbox is heated the volume of air decreases. Airbox cutting (inner or outer) helps decrease the heating and thus volume loss of air getting to the throttle body. Look at the gains innovativemotorcycle made to their bikes by just switching out to two throttle bodies and moving to their own direct ram air design. the potential of the buell engine is amazing by just increasing intake fuel and exhaust volume! When I first read about people drilling airbox and not relying on the stock ram-air setup, I assumed they would lose performance by sidestepping the compression of ram air. One day without any investment (just to see what would happen) - I removed the outer and inner airbox and secured the air cleaner using a very temporary setup. I went and took my usual corners using the same acceleration points that I always do. However I quickly had to adjust as I found full throttle while finishing a turn apex had the potential of putting me off the road whereas before full throttle kept me online very sedately. I also put my hand over the final stage of the stock ram-air setup (my hand over the opening of the frame) and could feel less force of air coming up through the frame as compared to the volume of air I could feel by just putting my hand straight out into the wind. this is all my conjecture mostly but give it a try and see. Until you try both you won't know. and read what the race teams have achieved with cold air induction. | ||
| Isham |
I understand how opening the box up could work by seeing the ultimate airbox on trojans site. | ||
| Kdan |
I really like the open airbox that American Sportbike sells. That was the best mod I've made to my bike yet. | ||
| Tq_freak |
Madsx....I love it, it will look awsome under the CityX airbox cover, but when in rome ditch the snorkel too it will only add to the free-er flow of the cut box. And you can put it back it if you ever want to go back to stock | ||
| Madsx |
Tq, I was waiting for someone to mention that. Its actually a snorkelectomy. Cut off the top 2" to create a seal around the lower box and frame. Just thought it looked better than the open hole. Again with the looks, I know. But thanks for the advice. I knew I couldnt sneak anything by you guys. | ||
| Buckstar |
I just got my k&n in and decided to do the skeleton trick to the inner airbox. Awesome!!! I love the growl that my bike has now. This is a great way to give this bike more attitude,  like it needs any more. Thanks for the pics. | ||
| Robxb |
Your mom's box ?? what ??? | ||
| Kootenay |
Keys (and others who answered) I do understand the importance of increasing airflow, and keeping it cool. I also understand that the right-side air scoop is not a "ram air" system, it mainly moves air to cool the rear cylinder and incidentally has an opening up through the frame into the airbox--and also that the rubber snorkel in there is mainly to reduce noise (I desnorkelled mine right away, and also installed a dimpled 12 airbox). My question was, why drill or otherwise cut the airbox without also cutting the airbox cover, or adding a "scoop" airbox like the Trojan model? I'd consider modifying both the box and cover, but probably not just one or the other--I have a hard time believing enough air comes in around the cover edges to make a lot of difference (of course, I could be wrong...). | ||
| Keys |
As far as my bike in concerned, my inner airbox is gone and my outer has been completely vented. I don't have any air restriction now, whatsoever. For maximum gain, it's the way to go. | ||
| Lovematt |
Take a closer look at the edges....if you add up that area it can be quite a bit because the edge is so long. For example if it was 1/8" and the edge is ~ 3 feet long, that is 3 square inches...which is a nice addition to the snorkel inlet. But if you do start opening it up...you kind of have to really do it right and give the engine as much air as possible. Otherwise turbulance could occur and actually reduce the total air going into the motor (the motor has to work a bit to get its air rather than having it easily move near the intake). (Message edited by lovematt on December 22, 2005) | ||
| Keys |
I don't think I've ever experienced turbulence. Either with the OuterBox Off or On or Cut. Haven't heard/read anything else about turbulence either. Going through crosswinds or the blast cone when going around semi-trucks, my engine never bogged down from lack of air. (maybe just luck but my experience so far) Old carburated bikes I used to have with the small intake box and filter surface area would bog down if the air got real busy around me. If that was turbulence then It's no fun. | ||
| Madsx |
Not mine but an open air box kit ala American Sport Bike would look something like this.  | ||
| Madsx |
Well its 48deg here today so I took er out for a spin with the the new box mod. The intake is definitely louder. Its got more of a honk to it. The motor does seem to rev a bit faster, although I have no solid proof. Took er up on the highway and from 80mph to 115mph happens easier than it used to. Need to adjust primary chain though, got a bit of a vibration above 3 grand again.   | ||
| Alexfiggy |
do you need to cut both left and right side of the air-box? i cut mine on the right side kind like the factory pics i have seen on the web. i havent seen the left side?i took my snorkel out so air goes up there across the filter then out the slits i cut on the right side.its a little louder right now. i cant tell if its pulling harder. | ||
| Elff |
At first I cut mine then I decided to use a combination of the American Sport Bike and Trojan kits for this. I liked the single post of the trojan kit because you dont have to reroute your breather lines as the single bolt doesnt use those holes. It is louder and seems to smooth things out. But, I'll admit, I did it for the cool look. | ||
| Alexfiggy |
well does the bike run to lean if you dont have a race ecm or a pipe when you cut the box ? | ||
| Kevinfromwebb |
Mad, that does look good... I'm thinking of getting another box from Daves and doing either like you did or a swiss cheese version. I've still got the servo motor installed(odies pipe) and the idea of rerouting the oil lines seems to be a dirty idea to me. I do commute on my bike so some convience is weighed againest power gains... Nice work and thanks for the pics... Kevin | ||
| Tq_freak |
??? I wonder what would happen to an 05' and older of you cut the air box like so and then blocked off the snorkel input like on the 06 models? would this make the rear cylinder run cooler? | ||
| Madsx |
I was thinking about devising a mini scoop inside of the left scoop to direct more air up the frame opening. | ||
| Nlegrett |
When opening up the airbox cover, do you all have a race ecm + reprogram? I want to do this (I have a D+D pipe), but need to know if I need the race ecm. Thankx | ||
| Phantom5oh |
"I was thinking about devising a mini scoop inside of the left scoop to direct more air up the frame opening." That's a really good idea! | ||
| Madsx |
I would definitely get the Race ECM. More air needs more fuel. And if you already have a free flowing D&D exhaust it might be too lean w/o it. I would like to reprogram mine at some point using the new Direct Link that Al has been testing. But if I need dyno time to do it that might be a problem. I hope some one comes up with the right corrections with my configuration and then I can just plug them in. I dont know if that is how it really works or if each bike will be that different to tune. | ||
| Tq_freak |
with all this talk about the air box I went and swiss cheesed the heck out of mine this afternoon...it looks awsome. I have the race ecm but no pipe yet so I am waiting to put it in, hopefully I will have the money before it gets nice out again. I will post some pics when I get them off of my camera. |
