| Author | Message | ||
     09xb12r |
Hey Guys need a little help been doing a lot of looking and still got a blank mind, I am looking at the pipercross intake filter, and the K&N filter any suggestions or pros, & cons? I know that pipercross is foam and I believe K&N is paper, both are re-useable but anyone use the pipercross, or K&N got anything they can add to help me decide. (Message edited by 09xb12r on April 26, 2010) | ||
| B00stzx3 |
Pipercross looks good, but think you can only order from overseas (Britain). It's foam, while K&N is OIL paper filter. Must be cleaned and re-oiled every 5k miles or so. Not that big of a hassle though, pop open airbox, little soak, lil oil spray and good. | ||
| Froggy |
I wouldn't bother with the K&N. I recently picked up a foam Uni airfilter from my dealer. It looks similar to the Pipercross. | ||
| 09xb12r |
ok I was leaning more towards the pipercross just because it was foam thought that might hold up better then the oil paper would they give you about the same hp increase | ||
| 1_mike |
What's wrong with the stock filter? You loose 1/2 a hp...do you..? While the K&N (NOT paper!) will let big "stuff" thru it...the foam filters block too much air at moderate to higher rpms. I had it proven to me on my own bike a few years back. Unless they've drastically changed....! A large foam filter with a small cc engine..probably ok. Unless you race your bike/car...I wouldn't use the K&N (or the many similar) if it was given to me. In fact the XB12S I just bought (used)...I removed the fresh, clean K&N and put the stock filter back in. Why....I like the rings to be happy and smooth sliding up and down the cylinders....not acting like a grinding wheel..! Mike | ||
| 09xb12r |
Ok that is why I am asking to get knowledge from the more experience crowd. I just want to check everything before I make a decision that I am not happy with or end up regretting. Thank you for your help and information. | ||
| Midknyte |
I tried a K & N for a while too. Found no real benefit, and if you have a stock configuration / ECM, it'll just run even leaner and hotter. | ||
| 09xb12r |
I am getting my exhaust mod done by hawk performance exhaust and he send me a dyno with K&N and his exhaust mod that put out close to if not 92hp and 74 or so tq will have to check what my stock did at the dyno run will post the diff. | ||
| Irideabuell |
I have the Pipercross and love it. To each their own I always say. It was purchased from overseas and was expensive, but worth it to me. | ||
| Blake |
"(K&N fiulter) Must be cleaned and re-oiled every 5k miles or so." You missed a zero there amigo.
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| Blake |
"(K&N filter) Must be cleaned and re-oiled every 5k miles or so." You missed a zero there amigo.
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| Jbird11 |
I took mine out after 6-7000 and it was filthy! | ||
| Blake |
Then the same would be true for a standard filter and it'd need replaced then too. Of course conditions matter. Riding through filthy air will cause the filter to become filthy sooner. | ||
| Gunut75 |
I have 5k on my stock filter, and it's still very white. I'll still replace it this year.  | ||
| Sloppy |
K&N Filters DO NOT filter as well as paper filters. K&N's do flow more air because there is less filter media and since it is a surface filter, it needs to be cleaned more often. Paper filters are depth filters and thus can run for longer periods before replacement is required. Pros and cons to both, but for better engine longevity, paper is the way to go. Return on investment on K&N is quite low. The ONLY reason I would use a K&N is if my paycheck was reflective of where the bike placed. But if I was pro-racing, it wouldn't be a Buell anyways... Remember, different riders have different priorities so I'm not knocking anyone that uses a K&N because they may have different priorities than I. | ||
| 09xb12r |
so if I am changing to exhaust I dont really need to change the air filter do I? | ||
| Blake |
"K&N Filters DO NOT filter as well as paper filters." I've heard that stated before. Do you know what evidence it is based upon? I've seen videos of testing where the K&N performed impressively. What type of media do the K&N filters use? It looks much like paper to me, but I've never looked that closely at it. | ||
| Froggy |
Blake, some reading here: http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest3.h tm | ||
| Terrys1980 |
09xb12r - so if I am changing to exhaust I dont really need to change the air filter do I? No | ||
| Sloppy |
If you're not sure if K&N's filter as well as OEM, then simply ask K&N this question: "Does a K&N filter as well as the factory OEM paper element?" The responses I have consistently obtained were: "it filters well enough" and from their website: "We design air filters to provide low restriction throughout the filter's service interval. We seek the best balance between airflow and filtration recognizing they are inversely related." As K&N summarizes correctly, you can have better flow with more dirt or less flow with less dirt. Is it enough dirt to cause engine damage? I don't know. But I DO know that I had more dirt / grit in my intake when I ran a K&N vs. paper! I dyno'd a paper filter and a K&N equipped bike a number of years ago. The K&N DID make more HP (I think it was ~ 2%), but it was ONLY AT THE LAST 500 RPM of the engine range. Based upon the fact that very few people ride their bikes at this engine speed, I recommend that riders save their money and stick with paper filters. If you want a faster bike, then I suggest riders take a track day. It will make you a FAR faster rider than ANY air filter can. Like everything else, there are pro's and con's. Let the buyer decide which is more important for them. | ||
| Fast1075 |
The filter media in a K&N is oiled GAUSE...my first experience with them was in the 70's when I started working at Honda....The first K&N filters were made of window screen and medical cotton gause. Little has changed since other than materials. Properly oiled they do flow more air than an identical paper filter...over oiled they flow less... | ||
| 09xb12r |
Yeah I think I am going to just leave it as it is for now and continue to think about it. thank you guys for all your advise and wisdom. |
