| Author | Message | ||
     Rocketsprink |
On the Buell Web Site, the Air Cleaner is black, but when I checked one out at the dealer, it was the same sickly light blue as the stock one. The only difference is it has a mesh around the cleaner element and a different looking material the element is made from. Was the dealer trying to sell me a updated model of the stock version, or is that what the Pro Series looks like? | ||
| Buellin_ri |
I believe on the pro-series, on the rubber gasket it has a small "K+N" mark. Mine does anyway. BTW My gasket is black. | ||
| Captjim |
Ahh, This has finally surfaced. I installed a 2005 race kit. The filter I got is just as you described blue frame, metal mesh around the filter, and dry paper for the filter. I tried to get an answer as to what this filter is. But I could not get anyone to return my calls or eMails with an answer. I suspect the factory dropped K&N and is now selling these as performance filters. It would be nice to get an official word on this. I will probably just buy a K&N from an aftermarket source like American Sport Bike. The filter that was included in my race kit is most definitely not a K&N. | ||
| Kevinfromwebb |
I believe that the 'agreement' between K&N and H/D ended a few months ago. Before that you couldn't buy a K&N except for the Buell branded ones... It does make you wonder who's making the 'new' race filter??? Kevin | ||
| Jedwele |
Yea I just ordered what I thought was going to be a K&N and got the blue filter that looks similar to stock. I don't really notice any power differance from the stock filter. I wonder how well it really flows. | ||
| Midknyte |
The filter I got is just as you described blue frame, metal mesh around the filter, and dry paper for the filter. The Pro K&N is a cleanable / reusauble filter. Is this new one not? If so - how much did it cost? To tell the truth, "I'd" rather not futz with the thing. If this is a single use Pro that we're talkin about, I *might* be talked into a trade for [my] K&N. | ||
| Onebuell |
hell i washed my stock blue gasket filter ! ran it still wet and i hell that little bit of water vapor acts as cooling agent... | ||
| Daves |
The Buell race filter is no longer made by K+N. The new one, I've been told, flows as much air as the K+N, is washable you just don't have to oil it after you clean it. You can use the K+N brand cleaner or mild soap and water, rinse, air dry and put it right back in. | ||
| Kevyn |
...I think there may be as much controversy about air cleaner elements as their is about oils... ...some folks won't touch a K&N; "sure it flows alotta air, but the 'holes' are so big that the dirt passes through too" ...I've heard 'racers' say they wouldn't use anything but a K&N oiled filter..."just hold the throttle open for a second or two and it gets sucked through the filter and right on out the exhaust..." ...some folks swear by 'oiled foam' ...and then there's alway the question of where you're riding...dirt roads? Dusty conditions? Highway? 'Round town? Gee, ain't motorcycles fun? | ||
| Al_lighton |
What Dave said. That said, I've stopped carrying the Buell race air cleaner for the time being, and am carrying the K&N equivalent. My new sourcing now allows for me to drop the price from $64.95 to $56.95 for the exact same filter that used to come in the race kit. See here I was told the new filter flowed as much as the K&N. I have no reason not to believe this, as that has always been true, a K&N doesn't really flow more air than a paper element, WHEN NEW. However, the filtering methods are not the same. Paper elements filter by labyrinth, that is, dirt particles flow thru the labyrinth in the paper, and get trapped on sharp edges along the way. As that labyrinth becomes more clogged, flow is reduced. I have some reservations about the ability to remove said dirt from such a filter afterwards. K&N filters use sticky oil to catch the dirt without requiring it to flow thru a tight labyrinth. Not cleaning and reoiling a K&N filter regularly can cause them to let more dirt pass as the oil becomes less sticky and "saturated" with dirt, but the flow rates remain higher. Washing the filter with the appropriate detergent and reoiling restores them to full filtration capacity again. I'm not so sure that it is possible to get back to the same level of filtration with a cleaned labyrinth style filter. YMMV. Al | ||
| Kevinfromwebb |
Al, I know it would depend a lot on the conditions but what frequency would you suggest cleaning the K&N filters??? By the way, the above answer was pretty clear and informative.  Kevin | ||
| Midknyte |
and what oil to re-oil it with? | ||
| Dbird29 |
Maybe I should clean the air filter at the 10K service. | ||
| Buellj79 |
You can get the cleaning and oiling supplies from anyone that sells the K&N PRODUCTS or equivalent. Not to expensive either, just follow directions. J | ||
| Al_lighton |
I personally use the oil change interval (2500 miles is what I use, I have no idea what the manual says) as a minimum air filter cleaning interval. 10K? That seems way too long. But you're right, it's a bit of a a "how long is a rope?" question. Ride it in dusty conditions all the time, clean/oil it often. Ride in clean dust free air most of the time, clean it less frequently What to clean and oil it with? One of these Al |
