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Biomechanic
Posted on Friday, March 20, 2009 - 01:18 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Just wanted some opinions on the open airbox mod?

I know this has been discussed before but I was hoping for some feedback.

American Sportbike website says that this "assumes the muffler servo has been removed" - not sure what that is about and does it have to be done?

Is the mod worth the cash? I have some extra dollars for some bike mods or gear so I am trying to decide how to spend it.

My bike has the K&N already but no pipe yet - I will be going with Special Ops most likely and then get this all tuned when they are both done.

Thanks in advance for any help here.
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Ustorque
Posted on Friday, March 20, 2009 - 06:35 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

always start with gear....there are plenty of freebie DIY mods around here for ya!
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Lllbmanlll
Posted on Friday, March 20, 2009 - 07:20 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Biomechanic,
It looks like you have a XB9S. The 9 doesn't have servo. The 12 is the only one that has it because the exhaust on the 12 has an interactive valve in it that the servo moves.
I'd agree with Ustorque about the gear. You want to be safe out there.
Mods can come as you have the extra cash.
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Sam_07
Posted on Friday, March 20, 2009 - 07:49 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I made my own open air box with a dremel and an 1/2 hour of cutting time! It's not worth the cash if you have the skills. This mod is easy.

Solution, DO IT YOURSELF and spend your cash on new gear.
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Fastxb12r
Posted on Friday, March 20, 2009 - 08:08 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

X2...what sam_07 said
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Gunut75
Posted on Friday, March 20, 2009 - 09:12 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I'll be cutting mine, and gettin a K&N soon. Ill post pics when I do it!
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Froggy
Posted on Friday, March 20, 2009 - 12:05 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I love the open airbox, it helped smooth out the low RPM running. Best part is, in sunlight the light pases through my Hero Blue airbox and leaves a blue shadow!



I love just seeing the filter, confuses the Jap bike guys! : )

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Biomechanic
Posted on Friday, March 20, 2009 - 08:00 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Thanks for the help so far guys. I guess I should have mentioned that I have enough cash for a new pair of armored pants and would have some left over. That is why I was thinking about the air box mod. But I may just wait to see some pics of someone that has done it already.

Sam, you got any pics you could share?

Gunut, I will be waiting for those pics...
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Ustorque
Posted on Friday, March 20, 2009 - 08:38 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

homemade open airbox, jigsaw and 20 minutes....poof viola!










there are alot of really cool aftermaket mods out there, but in my opinion some of the coolest buells are owned by the guys that aren't afraid to just start cuttin and see what happens. you can always buy a part if it doesn't turn out well.

(Message edited by ustorque on March 20, 2009)
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Paint_shaker
Posted on Friday, March 20, 2009 - 10:21 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I believe the only reason it talks about the servo being removed is because the stock inner airbox cover also serves as the servo mount. Thus when the open air box mod is done, there is nowhere for the servo to mount.

If you are somewhat handy, you can make your own out of a stock one. If not, pony up the $$ to American Sportbike. You will also need to install a catch can for the breather hoses.
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Sifo
Posted on Saturday, March 21, 2009 - 07:54 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

My personal opinion is that I don't see the point, other than they look kick @ss under a translucent outer air box. The stock air box can be opened up plenty for no cost at all. This is supposedly not even necessary from '07 on. For an '03 like yours isn't there a snorkel mod that helps performance? Might want to check that out.

Here's what I did for my '06. The original holes had 2 full size holes in the middle and 2 half width holes on the ends only on the right side. I opened up the end holes to be full size holes...



Then I copied that pattern on the left side...



That should provide more than 2.5 times the breathing capacity as my stock air box. I can't imagine what engine mods I could do that would require that much air. I still have good water protection at the front where the air comes in at the front of the outer box (I think this is different on your '03 though).

I say what ever you want you will have the most satisfaction doing it yourself. It's an easy place to start if you aren't comfortable modifying things yet and the worst case is that you may wind up buying a ready made kit if your mess yours up too badly.
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2008xb12scg
Posted on Saturday, March 21, 2009 - 09:58 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

This is supposedly not even necessary from '07 on does that mean it won't give any benifits to an 08>?
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Sifo
Posted on Saturday, March 21, 2009 - 10:09 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

does that mean it won't give any benifits to an 08>?

That is my understanding. In '07 the factory added better breathing to the stock air box. I doubt it would hurt anything though and would let out more intake noise. The intake noise took a big jump when I opened up my air box.
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Etennuly
Posted on Sunday, March 22, 2009 - 11:11 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

For '07 the factory opened up the air box to look like what you see above. Several '06 owners bought the '07 air box so they wouldn't have to carve up the original one.


The air intake scoop on the left side went up through a hole in the fuel tank on the left side. The '06 Uly and SS with their larger gas tanks had those holes capped and that helped increased the fuel capacity. The air intake was moved to above the gas cap with a screen in rubber.
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Biomechanic
Posted on Monday, March 23, 2009 - 12:15 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Thanks for all the pics so far guys. I think that for my 03 there is no point in opening up the whole box since you can't see it anyway - just as someone pointed out. I have black plastics and don't plan on getting the translucent.

Plus I don't want to have to get a catch can right now if I do the mod.

Sifo and Ustorque - great ideas and I think I will do something very close to that. I can handle a job like that on plastic - shouldn't be a problem.

I'm glad I asked - and I love the fact I can get help quickly here on BadWeb. Plus it saved me some money
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Dongalonga
Posted on Monday, March 23, 2009 - 10:11 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

You dont have to get a catch can if you dont want to. Look up crankcase breather re-route. All you need is some 3/8" fuel line, a 3/8" vacuum T, and a 3/8" breather filter.
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Gunut75
Posted on Monday, March 23, 2009 - 11:00 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Starting the chop today. I put a couple questions in the KV if someone could help me out.
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