Are K&N air filters washable?

[garynortheast]

Am I right in thinking that the K&N replacement air filter for the SV is washable?

[Dave20046]

yep
Mine says "wash every 50000 miles" on it (:o)...I wash it at every service though.

[garynortheast]

Thanks Dave.

[rictus01]

don't forget to re-oil it though.

Cheers Mark.

[garynortheast]

Just bought a K&N clean and re-oil kit for the vast sum of £8.50p!

[daveyrach]

They are indeed, you will need the K&N cleaning kit.

[hongman]

When I first dropped my bike, my K&N had wicked oil up from the airbox.

Took it out, cleaned it twice with the kit over a couple of days, re-oiled it, back in, and it made naff all difference that I could see/feel!

[toxic]

A bottle of dry cleaning fluid for cleaning my K&N, bike has one and my car has one...
Altho I haven't cleaned either of them yet!

[Dave20046]

When I first dropped my bike, my K&N had wicked oil up from the airbox.

Took it out, cleaned it twice with the kit over a couple of days, re-oiled it, back in, and it made naff all difference that I could see/feel!

I imagine that's because your bike (and few others) will be at a state of tune where they don't require the K&N. K&N's probably let more air through dirty, than a clean standard one.
But they're cheaper and easier to have over a number of services.

[hongman]

I dont think mine needs a K&N per se, all it has is a slip on and the K&N.

But it came with one and yes it's cheaper long term! Better induction noise too possibly?

[Dave20046]

I dont think mine needs a K&N per se, all it has is a slip on and the K&N.

But it came with one and yes it's cheaper long term! Better induction noise too possibly?

oops I meant don't require a sports filter!

but yeah, as you say. I'd rather have one, be saving a wee bit of cash & effort and give it air available to breath (if it needs it).

[toxic]

When I had a curvy, slip on and K&N made it run lean, according to the dyno. A dynojet kit sorted it out.

[hongman]

I had wondered actually if mine was running lean, due to increasing air flow but not fuelling. But last time I changed the plugs they looked as I think they should (crisp, tan/brown colour, no gunk or white spots) so I've just left it.

[daveyrach]

Yeah i have slip-on and dynojet and i don't have any problems with K&N

[hongman]

Dammit, now you lot have me looking at dynojet kits.

[daveyrach]

Well worth the £90 odd or whatever they are these days, make sure you get it set up properly.

[toxic]

I had wondered actually if mine was running lean, due to increasing air flow but not fuelling. But last time I changed the plugs they looked as I think they should (crisp, tan/brown colour, no gunk or white spots) so I've just left it.

mine was only lean further up the rev range, 8K onwards, but I spent quite a bit of time up there trying to catch my mate's bikes.