Drilling the air filter?

[BigFootIsBlurry]

I've just been servicing my bike pre MOT and noticed that the previous owner had drilled 6 holes into the top of the air filter. I've swapped it for a new one anyway but I was wondering if anyone knew why this would have been done? I've heardof drilling the air box on cars top liven up the induction noise and possibly a little power, is this the same principle?

maybe they were gonna snorkel it but gave up
anyway, i tried it, it was well rubbish

[yorkie_chris]

Desnorkel works a little but only with other mods as well. If you're going to the trouble, then might as well fit a proper reuseable filter.

Not a lot of point drilling holes...

Just to probably enhance the induction sound as you said.... You actually loose power as it is no doubt sucking in warm air instead of cold i know thats the principle on my car, wen i had it, it had a drilled airbox before i got an induction kit and put it at the furthest point from the engine to suck in as much cold air as poss combined with a cold air force feed leading from the front bumper to the filter.

[yorkie_chris]

Huh? It's sucking air from exactly the same place.

[the_lone_wolf]

Am missing something obvious hear, doesn't drilling holes in your air filter kind of negate it's primary function, a bit like drilling holes in your breakfast bowls?

[Sid Squid]

Originally Posted by the_lone_wolf

Am missing something obvious hear, doesn't drilling holes in your air filter kind of negate it's primary function, a bit like drilling holes in your breakfast bowls?

I believe the OP was referring to holes drilled in the upper section of the airbox rather than the airfilter itself, which is intended to increase the induction area available - much the same as desnorkling the air filter box.
I know this has been tried on some SV1000s, I think the general concensus is that without other mods it's not effective.

[yorkie_chris]

On a curvy that would result in sucking in unfiltered air.

I think what he means is drilling the top of the filter around the cone on the top side of it. Like a half rsed job of desnorkeling the filter.

People did it years ago on LC Yamahas, then wondered why the thing went like a bag of poo then siezed.

I know you can buy a ring thing that does away with the top of the airbox but I wouldn't fancy riding in anything but bone dry weather with one.

[yorkie_chris]

Running lean. If you desnorkel air filter on SV it will also run badly.

No idea how susceptible they are to water. I have had no problems with waterlogging of an open top filter on naked SV.