Air filters instead of air box?

I was looking for some advice on this one.

I've seen more than a few times on different vehicles when you replace the air filter with something more sporting you remove the airbox and mount the air filters directly onto the carb air intakes.

Is there an advantage to that setup over the airbox?

Also, does anyone know the parts required to do this to my motorcyle? (a K1 sv650)
I understand there is a system to condensate the evaporated engine oil to allow it to drain back into the engine. If there were any advantage I'd be prepared to come up with a different solution for the oil.

I'm mainly talking conceptually, but I am interested in a solution like this, it seems so much nicer than refitting the airbox on the sv, it's always so ruddy awkward!

[G]

I have removed the airbox and fitted pod filters on my ducati. I have a full 2 to 1 system and race ECU that is mapped for a performance airbox and I've had no issues. I was a bit careful in torrential rain yesterday though!

So they're called pod filters instead, that has helped a great deal. Managed to find a lot of information on the search across both the org and svrider.

I'm not really prepared financially or time wise to put the work into the 'tuning' of re jetting etc.

Cheers G

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by Elltg

I'm not really prepared financially or time wise to put the work into the 'tuning' of re jetting etc.

Forget about changing air filters then!

Though actually it's not that hard, just fire in some main jets big enough to stick a knitting needle through and job's a good 'un

Or save even more time and money and desnorkel the std air filter that's in your bike now. Then bang in 162.5 mains.

C

I'll confess. I'm more worried about rain water on open pod filters. So I am more inclined to go the route of de snorkeling.

Trouble is all the guides I see of what part you cut away etc are all so old the pictures have gone down. Anyone able to help me there?

Also, whilst searching about changing the jets, i saw people mentioning changing two different types of jets and some people using a different size in each carb. I'm more than happy to read through a lot of literature to find out, I would just kindly appreciate which direction to start.

P.S. My bike is looking long overdue for new spark plugs. Reckon I should make those my priority and then go to changing things at the carbs. (The reason I'd like to get more airflow is my bike seems to run rich from time to time.)

[yorkie_chris]

Seppos go on about changing pilots as well of mains cos their bikes have 15 pilots. We get 17.5 pilots as stock which work fine.

You don't need 2 different sizes, some say it helps, lots run fine without split mains.


If you're thinking of changing air filters to cure rich running you are going about this in a completely assbackwards manner. Cure the rich running, don't try and tune it as you'll just end up with the same problem needing solving (poor mixture) but it may be up top, down low, rich, lean... and you STILL might have the same clogged filter or sticky choke or wrong float height that was causing the same problem!

[embee]

There are 2 basic principles for using an airbox.

First it provides the carb or throttle bodies a reasonably well controlled stable "atmosphere" from which to get the air which enables the tune to be better controlled and more consistent under different conditions, road speeds etc.

Second it allows a relatively smaller intake spout to be fitted while still providing good flow/pressure drop characteristics, which enables the intake noise to be controlled (regulated).

An airbox is broadly speaking a desirable feature, to the point that some clubmans type racing categories ban them on bikes which didn't have them originally. F1 cars have that big box over the intakes for a reason.

Leave it on.

[yorkie_chris]

Only if the airbox is actually designed properly. On old GSXRs you can get a couple of ponies over stock with no holes in the power or anything, 'cos the stock airbox was designed with the "oh we forgot that bit" principle and shoved in there.

Intake noise With proper air filter on 1gen you can't actually hear the exhaust over the snort from under the tank


On the SV I don't know anyone has used them TBH, or what they've gained. TWF racing has used them and they used #220 main jets (162.5 for my very free flowing aftermarket single air filter!). Not sure about other mods and I've never seen dyno readings of them.

Some other people report misfires in crosswinds with them though, so not all gravy.

[embee]

You'll probably have to run it a lot richer without the airbox just to make sure the turbulence generated A/F variations don't make it misfire randomly. For road use I would keep the box every time.