[Bill55]

I am planning on removing the air box and installing new air filters directly on the carbs. Is there anything I need to know beforehand?

 

[Blindstitch]

You're going to have to rejet your carbs for the new air/fuel mixture or it will run like crap. Don't destroy your airbox in case you need to put it back on.

 

[bobttroll]

I know this sounds bad but I removed my airbox and have been riding my bike around without any airfilters. I am going to get some but for now I am just happy to be on 2 wheels.

 

[marshallf3]

riding my bike around without any airfilters -- Ouch! I sure wouldn't risk it with those carb slides being so precision of a fit, even the smallest of road dust (most of which was at one time sand) is going to muck things up in short order.



Without the stock airbox setup you'll end up running lean and the carbs won't respond normally. The CV carbs used on many bikes such as ours aren't very forgiving of not having a set amount of resistance in the intake path. Simply installing a K&N in place of the stock paper element is enough to upset things, so is getting the snorkel tube facing any way but towards the rear.



Pods may look cool but even if you're properly rejetted they'll shorten the life of the bike. The stock air box intake was strategically placed where it would receive the cleanest air possible. They really put a lot of thought into the design of these engines and as stock they're already pretty maxed out on horsepower with a smooth torque band.



People have tried a lot of intake and exhaust mods on these engines and I haven't heard of one yet that really gave much of a return other than sounding & looking different.

 

[philbrewer]

riding my bike around without any airfilters -- Ouch! I sure wouldn't risk it with those carb slides being so precision of a fit, even the smallest of road dust (most of which was at one time sand) is going to muck things up in short order.



Without the stock airbox setup you'll end up running lean and the carbs won't respond normally. The CV carbs used on many bikes such as ours aren't very forgiving of not having a set amount of resistance in the intake path. Simply installing a K&N in place of the stock paper element is enough to upset things, so is getting the snorkel tube facing any way but towards the rear.



Pods may look cool but even if you're properly rejetted they'll shorten the life of the bike. The stock air box intake was strategically placed where it would receive the cleanest air possible. They really put a lot of thought into the design of these engines and as stock they're already pretty maxed out on horsepower with a smooth torque band.



People have tried a lot of intake and exhaust mods on these engines and I haven't heard of one yet that really gave much of a return other than sounding & looking different.

What he said.

 

[Bryan]

Riding without an air filter is plain nuts. You cannot even see the stuff that is wearing away ay your engine's innards. You can expect the duration of your engine's life to be in a few hundred hours as opposed to a hundred thousand.

 

[Bill55]

I wasn't suggesting running without filters, just exploring the feasibility of using K&Ns or some other arrangement. (There was a sock for an air filter when I got the bike)

 

[marshallf3]

I think even the dealers still have the filters, if not there's a ton of them on eBay and the favorite sites we all buy from.



Do yourself a favor, try and keep that part stock.

 

[Bill55]

Thanks for the advice, I kinda figured there was more to it than there seemed.

 

[Bill55]

Thanks for the advice, I kinda figured there was more to it than there seemed.

 

[Blindstitch]

Even if you don't spring for air filters put something over the carbs. Anything actually. Pantyhose, a thin cloth held on by zipties or rubber bands. Something is better than nothing.

 

[marshallf3]

Lightly oiled burlap, a few layers of cotton gauze or fine foam also come to mind.



Air filter's easy enough to find though you need the interconnect in place that goes to the airbox.

 

[blake mccollum]

I speak from experience when i say that pods are a pain in the butt! If my airbox had not got busted on the side then it would have been reinstalled as soon as things started going wrong! I rode my bike for a week til i got my air pods without filters and there was so much gunk on my piston that i couldnt even get it to fire! In my opinion worst mistake ever!!!

 

[TREV2010]

I've seen it done and seen the cock up it causes. In short keep the stock airbox and fit an K&N filter. The stock box draws cooler air than cones could ever, that is why you pull from under the seat as an example...placement is as important as "filter box tuning".

 

[marshallf3]

Some say even going to a K&N filter will slightly upset the mess to where you've got to jet a tad richer.

 

[Bill55]

I will be staying with the air box, enough issues to deal with without introducing one more variable.

 

[marshallf3]

True, and make sure the "snorkel" part that's on top of the airbox faces to the rear, even that makes a difference.



Dozens of highly modded cars in my life, many a modded bike but not one with CV carbs as sensitive as these seem to be.