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Buell Motorcycle Forum » XBoard » Buell XBoard Archives » Archive through August 04, 2007 » 07 Airbox Confusion « Previous Next »

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Tm74
Posted on Thursday, July 26, 2007 - 01:19 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I've read the many 07 airbox threads and am still confused.

I have an 05 CityX and it seems like a hybrid:
- Stock Exhaust
- Stock ECM
- Hole in the frame with snorkel like the older models.
- Outer airbox cover with air inlets up near the gas cap like the newer models.

I purchased an 07 inner airbox cover as well as a K&N filter and have questions.

1. Will these decrease my mileage and if so do I need to get the ECM re-mapped?

2. Do I need to remove the snorkel and cover the hole?

3. Are they even worth installing if any of the above are true?

If little is gained or mileage is decreased a fair amount I would rather sell the airbox and K&N. Before I purchased them I found a few threads on the issue and thought it might be a nice upgrade. After purchasing them I ran into a few other threads that seemed to point to potential issues that need addressed for an older model.

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Etennuly
Posted on Thursday, July 26, 2007 - 02:48 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

1. Maybe and maybe. With my airbox mods the gas mileage went away until I got over the feel and sound that causes one to run it so much harder, so much more often. I didn't re-map mine, but it is a Uly and I didn't go with the K&N filter( I did that on my City-X though). It will let you know by how it runs after the changes, it will reset itself for the lean change, to a degree.

2. No, leave it there, more free breathing air.

3.Yeah, I think so. With the '05 City-x I had I put the whole Buell race kit on. It sounded and ran with noticeably more torque and power. The only problem I saw was cold idling would foul plugs. On my Uly I modded the '06 air box with 7 - 1-1/4" holes, with no other changes. It runs great. The air box mod made it feel more lively, and wheelie easier.

My fuel mileage came back to normal on both bikes as I got used to the differences and started riding them more normally. They use more gas when they are WFO because it feels so good!
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Starter
Posted on Thursday, July 26, 2007 - 05:56 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Jury is still out on the airbox mods in my garage, this is for a 2004 XB9R with full race kit. I replaced the stock airbox with a 12 version that was drilled with holes. No doubt it sounded mean with all the induction roar, but the bike lost the low down grunt and suffered from pinging 3000rpm thru 4500rpm when the throttle was opened more than about 30% under load. It wasn;t fuel dependant as I could use anything from regular to racing and get the same results. Up top I would have to say there doesn't seem to be any difference in power, it felt stonger with the modded airbox but I think it was noise placebo.

My wife was even able to notice the difference in low down grunt on the rare ocassion she rides pillion or goes on a solo trips. She was never convinced the pinging was not going to hurt the engine so is happier now as well. Since I'm pretty much convinced after a couple of months back to stock I think I'm going to cover the holes and run the 12 airbox stock. Just my experience here in Australia.

Based on my experience, I think I needed some more fuel between 3-4500rpm and maybe more up top to use the air better.

(Message edited by starter on July 26, 2007)
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Punkid8888
Posted on Thursday, July 26, 2007 - 06:25 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

What is the build date on your bike? and did you get it new or used?

I have an 06 city and you can clearly see where the hole in the frame should be, all they did was weld two caps over it, instead of the tube that was welded in place on the older models.

I did the open air box mod, I used a dremal and followed some contours for a factory look. ( I need to take some photos)

I agree with Etennuly the sound is the biggest change. I think the only other benefit was it seams healthy reving and it seams smoother at low rpms.

I will eventually do the K&N and race ECU but only after this winter, because I plan to do a Drummer
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Tm74
Posted on Thursday, July 26, 2007 - 07:22 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Punkit8888, I don't know the build date. I would have to check. I bought it used. As mentioned above, I've got the hole in the frame(I can see through it) with snorkel but I've also got the updated OUTER airbox cover with the air inlet up by the gas cap. The stock inner airbox cover is completely solid. No holes so it's the 05 inner airbox cover.

I think I will just sell the 07 airbox cover and K&N. I'm running the stock muffler so I might as well stay stock. If I were running an aftermarket muffler I would keep it. I really don't care much for small performance tweaks if I have to deal with possible side affects. I'm into farkles as much as the next guy but small performance mods just aren't my thing. When I ordered the parts I didn't think there were any possible side affects. I just want to ride.
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Ft_bstrd
Posted on Thursday, July 26, 2007 - 09:02 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I have the Race ECM with the 07 airbox and K&N. I believe that the airbox made a large difference wrt the top end as well as the low end. I did not lose any low end grunt others have described.

I would say that adding the inner airbox and K&N filter will help. A remap of the stock ECM will do even more.

The ECM has the ability to adjust the mapping to accommodate for the increased airflow. The mapping will provide a refinement of that mapping.
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Tank_bueller
Posted on Friday, July 27, 2007 - 05:54 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I ran a K&N, removed snorkel(keep the open hole thru frame), and stock ecm/pipe for a good while. It ran great.

It runs even better with the above setup plus a race ecm and Drummer though!
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Odinbueller
Posted on Saturday, July 28, 2007 - 06:05 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

If you want to run the open airbox, you need to get the 2006+ lower aribox to cover the inlet through the frame. Right now you have two sources of air induction that are not beneficial to the way the motor breathes, unless you go with one or the other.

The air coming in from the upper intake on the airbox is being negated by the pressure from the air coming in from the frame inlet. Personally, I'd go with the OEM setup for your model year. It's a larger inlet with a larger scoop, which means it flows more air. You would have to replace your airbox to the 2005 and earlier version.

The only reason the air inlet was relocated in 2006 was due to the fuel capacity increase related to eliminating the air inlet through the frame. If you want to keep that setup, get the 2006 and later lower airbox cover to cover the frame inlet, and it should be fine.

Any time you change the way the engine breathes, you need to either get a race ECM or have your stock ECM reflashed with a map for your particular setup. The Air/Fuel & Volumetric Efficiency tables on the stock ECM are set up for stock components. Too bad you don't live closer, we'll be hooking up with DirectLink & getting trained on it specifically for Buell applications this December.

Hope this helps,

Chris
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