| Author | Message | ||
     Mtjm2 |
Thinking of an Air tech . Tired of my knee resting on the ham can . Or is force better ? | ||
| Upthemaiden |
Are you referring to the triangle shaped one that's made to fit in the frame? I haven't used it personally, but I do have the forcewinder, which I really like. At 5'8, my knee doesn't hit it at all, and I think they look decent on the bikes. As far as the Airtech vs ham can, I'm not sure you'd get much benefit. I'd be willing to bet the ham can is a little bit wider, but the Airtech come back just as far, and looks like it's also a few inches wide, but you're probably going to be hitting it with your knee as well. Performance wise I can't say much of the 3 options, but I don't think it gets much better than the forcewinder for knee clearance. | ||
| Mtjm2 |
I’m 6’1 , and it’s just enough to get old after riding for a while . I was also thinking of the Force, just looking at options. The ham can is great on right turns. But not left turns . And it’s awkward always having to ride with my right leg hanging in the wind . Thanks much | ||
| 89rs1200 |
Question, The stock tuber Helmholtz resonator airbox gets in your way? The ham can was on the RS/RSS 1200 and the S2. I still prefer the stock Helmholtz airbox as the air filter is protected. Note, the Force will fit inside the stock box, as seen here on BadWeb. | ||
| Ggggary |
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| Upthemaiden |
I had the stock airbox on mine for a while, but I can't remember how it was with my knee. If my memory serves correctly... I think my knee could touch it, but it wasn't always in the way. Even when I touched it, it wasn't in the way, I could just feel my knee touch it. The forcewinder by comparison, my knee never touches. | ||
| Mikes_bikes |
I'm 6'3" and my knee clears the stock airbox (breadbox), no interference at all. Having said that, the airbox is so wide that it sometimes scrapes against the garage wall when I am wheeling the bike away! The Air Tech looks good but I worry about it being so close to the frame rails, with the engine moving around so much. (Message edited by Mikes bikes on May 29, 2020) | ||
| Genesisclimber |
I know people hate on it - but the stock air Helmholtz box is the way to go - I've tried them all on my M2 - it's carefully calibrated to provide the perfect air mix to your HD lump - Plus, my 6-3 brother rode my M2 and said he hated the CF ham can - it leaked hot oil on his leg and his knee butted up against it. He said the stock intake quieted everything down a bit and stayed out of the way...seals for it are getting hard to find, though...I'm not sure of the veracity of it, but I read somewhere that the stock box cover is intended as a sacrificial guard in case you go down - the force intake and the ham cam rip your carb right of the bike.... | ||
| Captainkirk |
My CF Buell 'Race Cleaner' hits my knee...and I'm no Stretch Armstrong at 5'11". It used to bug the snot out of me, to the point where I was strongly considering a Forcewinder...and would have, but for the price (Yikes!) These days I have seemed to adapt to it.  | ||
| 89rs1200 |
Why not go back to the stock airbox? that will be out of your way. Cheaper on Ebay or Badweb than a Forcewinder. Heck, I could probably sell you all the bits from what I have in my personal stock of spares. | ||
| 34nineteen |
Was the original airbox considered to be a performance bottleneck or just an eyesore? I've noticed that most people couldnt get rid of it fast enough back then, but now it seems like they are coming back into favor. | ||
| Captainkirk |
The original Helmholtz was designed as a still-air chamber to allow for maximum breathing unaffected by ram air turbulence, rain and other factors and performs remarkably in that realm. In fact, most aftermarket installations probably lose a bit of edge over the Helmholtz. People took them off due to looks. | ||
| Captainkirk |
It also kept induction air noise within EPA regs. | ||
| Mtjm2 |
The bike came with the race filter on when I bought it, so I never rode it with a stock breadbox. And I didn’t get the original one from the PO . I like the look of the Air tech much more than the original , and even the Force winder . Thanks for the input fellas. | ||
| Upthemaiden |
My bike came with the forcewinder and V&H exhaust. I found an exhaust and original airbox and put them on the take down the noise a bit. I eventually switched back to the forcewinder but left the stock exhaust. I didn't have any issues with the airbox, it was just a bit ugly, and I figured as long as I already had a stock exhaust on to restrict the air flow, it wouldn't really change anything if I switched the intake. Maybe I'll try it again someday. | ||
| Captainkirk |
The main reason (besides looks) that I went with the CF 'ham can' setup is because Buell worked very hard to develop an integrated system for maximum performance. The CF "race cleaner" with it's K&N filter was developed after lots of track testing to work with the Po Series race exhaust system, Pro Series ECM and HSR series carb, IIRC. Since I have the HSR flat slide and the super-long duration Andrews N8 cams installed, I figured this thing needed to breathe, and rather than playing musical chairs with performance parts, I figured why not go with a system that has been proven to play well together? I do still have all the original parts if I ever decide to de-tune it. | ||
| Led |
My bike also has the "Forcewinder" intake.....and a "Vance & Hines" muffler....although all the packing has been now long ago, been blown out. The "sensory" sounds between the two....are breathtaking!! I would not have it any other way now! (Message edited by Led on June 15, 2020) | ||
| Ratbuell |
You WILL have it another way, if you don't pack that muffler soon. It'll shake itself to pieces without proper packing inside... | ||
| Tom_s |
I see that like me some of you still kept your stock ‘breadbox’ air cleaner. After spending most of my riding on another bike I’m anxious to get back on my ‘96 S1. Whatever air filter I’ve had in it is shot. Searching around on the net I’m finding that there are plenty of overpriced air filters. Oh, BTW, like the excellent K& N oil filters but I refuse to use their air filters. Those K & N air filters do offer a lot of flow but they can also let in a lot of dirt. Where are you guys getting your air filters? Man, I haven't posted here in many years! Thanks in advance for any leads on affordable air filters that can be shipped to Alaska. via the USPS! | ||
| Upthemaiden |
I have a Drag Specialties filter in mine. No strong opinion on it, I just got a good deal on a new one when I was putting the breadbox back on. I do need a new filter for my Forcewinder. The one on there is looking pretty rough. I planned on replacing it with a K&N, the replacement from Force costs a bit more. | ||
| Mikes_bikes |
I use an oiled gauze filter element in the standard, breadbox air cleaner. I agree that the paper element does a better job filtering, but only for a few miles before it becomes uselessly soaked with engine oil from the breather. Mine is not K&N, it is an Italian version that is about half the price of the K&N and it fits well in the airbox. | ||
| Hawgford |
in my experience the reusable cotton cheapies seem to be the best the 7-8in round in a stock round airbox that should fit any CV type carb with the 883 1200 brackets on the head breather bolts,its the same for big twins 84-99..Badly oiled filters are another problem as bein head breathers theres a seal in the rocker box somewhere failing/failed,no?. All Harleys are head breathers as of 1992,no more puddle of puke under the shovelhead at 530am coffee in hand fixin to fire up to head to work,lol oh the stories.. | ||
| Hawgford |
forgot to mention the brand name for the round filters/boxes that work for me[6'5,36inseam.Its Ultima,they are like $18 and the breadbox/ham can maybe a lil more.I think I do have some evo sporty air boxes stashed around here. Theres alot of small 4in filters on evilbay,some even with see through front plates that are designed for Cv carb on evo sporty, but they are so small theres no still air, which is the whole point!  I know theres chinese cheapies available. I heard tell lowbrow customs has a quality one,or maybe it was T C bros... I gotta figure out how to put up photos. | ||
| Hawgford |
I also think that Ultima makes very decent replacement filters for the Forcewinder, beside the 7in round and the ham can, plus the old breadbox from shovels, lets not get those confused.. Ultima is the USA name for a line of parts from the UK under the name zodiac..Some of you might know as jireh or mid USA...Another brand to check is hardrive but I think thats chinese as well... | ||
| Bobbuell1961 |
I have a Force somewhere I can part with, PM me if you're interested and I'll see if I can dig it up. | ||
| Tom_s |
Thanks for the replies! I got the idea that I might be able to find & adapt a reusable foam filter that I might be able to find locally. I didn’t want to wait for shipping to Alaska. What I ended up doing was to rip out all the old deteriorated foam out of the inside of what I believe is a UNi filter. It took one of those little round steel wire brushes that fit in a drill to get the foam around the edges cleaned out, it’s glued in there pretty good. I found this UNI foam material at a local independent moto shop. There is enough to cover 3 of these filters. 5/8" is pretty thick. After oiling it I wondered if it was even necessary. My bike has never puked out much oil from the heads.   I removed the snorkel years ago   (Message edited by Tom S on June 24, 2020) |
