K&N Filters - worth it?

[ManDownUnder]

I've been riding for a long time, never worried about anything other than stock/disposable air filters and I see K&N filters getting a good commentary on a regular basis... so I hit their website and there's nothing I could find that specifically says

10% more power, or 20% less resistance or... whatever. So my question is - what are your experiences/thoughts on them?

I see they can be washed and re-oiled (like a real filter... good!) etc, but

HP Gains to be expected on the RF (110hp at the back wheel)
Price?
Availability?

Problems?

Cheers

[idleidolidyll]

I've been riding for a long time, never worried about anything other than stock/disposable air filters and I see K&N filters getting a good commentary on a regular basis... so I hit their website and there's nothing I could find that specifically says

10% more power, or 20% less resistance or... whatever. So my question is - what are your experiences/thoughts on them?

I see they can be washed and re-oiled (like a real filter... good!) etc, but

HP Gains to be expected on the RF (110hp at the back wheel)
Price?
Availability?

Problems?

Cheers

Regardless of any claims for extra power, the fact that they last forever is enough reason to buy them. Basically the price you pay for them is only as much as 2 or 3 standard filters.
HOWEVER: Yes, generally they DO flow more air but unless you are fitting other items and/or rejetting/recalibrating injection map to suit, you may not notice much difference.

[The Stranger:Me]

I've been riding for a long time, never worried about anything other than stock/disposable air filters and I see K&N filters getting a good commentary on a regular basis... so I hit their website and there's nothing I could find that specifically says

10% more power, or 20% less resistance or... whatever. So my question is - what are your experiences/thoughts on them?

I see they can be washed and re-oiled (like a real filter... good!) etc, but

HP Gains to be expected on the RF (110hp at the back wheel)
Price?
Availability?

Problems?

Cheers

Ha ha, you really didn't use the search did you?

But despite the vehement negativity I have had quite positive results with them, including improved performance and fuel economy.

Plus they start and look quite reasonable when you consider the MASSIVE cost of a genuine Suzuki filter.

[pervert]

How much HP or % you would gain is an unanswerable question. That would all depend on the make/model of vehicle, and how good the factory filter is to start with.

idleidolidyll is right, they are worth it because of their longevity alone. Having only used them on cars I would say they gave a noticable increase in power, although that could always be a placebo effect caused by the increased induction noise they seem to give.

[Cajun]

there are other brands also BMC, DNA.

Both good, major reason i see is reuseable and, get a bit better air flow, and couple more hp but most people won't notice the difference, with some bikes it also changes the sound the ram air does make(did on the 600).

But still worth it for small out lay

[ManDownUnder]

Cheers guys.

Yes I did use the search and found bugger all - they mentioned the horsepower gains are mentioned under the part number of something - but the part number was there all by it's lonesome on the site (http://www.knfilters.com/search/prod...x?Prod=SU-9094)

Anyway. It does lead onto the next q - rejetting....

Costs? Benefits if done without the K&N filter change?

I'm a complete newb to this stuff (I just buy 'em and ride 'em) but I have to admit my curiousity has been piqued of late

[Crisis management]

Jetting gets into the messy area.....ideally it should only be carried out on a Dyno so that you can see results and adjust for optimum running. Thats not practical due to cost and possibility of mechanical damage to the engine.
Conversely you can buy Dynojet kits in various stages for most bikes so you can match, say, an RF900 with K&N filters & aftermarket pipe with a stage 1 jet kit.

However, what are you trying to achieve? A cheaper (long term) filter or a faster / better performing bike, better fuel economy or???

I would suggest a search of RF900 sites / references for what worked and didn't rather than relying on heresay from owners of different bikes as it is so dependant on the strengths and weakness' of the particular model of bike.

You are probably onto something that will net real gains for you as my experience of Suzuki's has been that they are choked with restrictive airboxes and exhausts and jetted lean. However you may have to change more than the filter element and jetting to make it work.

[buellbabe]

Regardless of any claims for extra power, the fact that they last forever is enough reason to buy them. Basically the price you pay for them is only as much as 2 or 3 standard filters.
HOWEVER: Yes, generally they DO flow more air but unless you are fitting other items and/or rejetting/recalibrating injection map to suit, you may not notice much difference.

Totally agree!
And for the record... after having a Vance&Hines can and a K&N filter fitted (plus being mapped on the diagnostic machine cos airflow changed) it was then tested on the Dyno and I had a 10HP gain.

[NinjaBoy]

Regardless of any claims for extra power, the fact that they last forever is enough reason to buy them. Basically the price you pay for them is only as much as 2 or 3 standard filters.
HOWEVER: Yes, generally they DO flow more air but unless you are fitting other items and/or rejetting/recalibrating injection map to suit, you may not notice much difference.

Sorry to go off topic... but I'm thinking of fitting a K&N just for the extra life. I do a lot of commuting and the filter does need to changed quite often.

I was wondering whether you need to recalibrate after fitting the filter ? Also I have a Yoshimura end can and I don't think anything was recalibrated after it was fitted.

thanks

[Cajun]

ninja boy, nah your bike is FI so no real need.

[Motu]

You'll only see claims for K&N's air flow ability,not their ability to filter air - and um,surely that is what an air filter is for? There is a lot of controversy,and the only way to find out if the air filter is filtering air is to check the wear rate of the engine..Obviouisly you can't wait to wear the engine out and compare it to the last engine you wore out - su used oil analisis (UOA) is used.With a K&N there is always an increase in silicon levels,this means fine sand particals are entering the system.Sometimes there are increased levels of lead and iron....bearing and bore wear.But the battle still goes on.

I am using a Green Filter in my Pajero as I put a shit load of kms on it,the Green Filter is far superior to K&N as they use two different sizes of woven fabric,not gauze like K&N.I also made my own foam sock to go over the outside.I've only had it on for 5,000km,but will monitor the intake track for grit.Green Filters claim to filter down to 5 microns....

[vifferman]

You'll only see claims for K&N's air flow ability,not their ability to filter air - and um,surely that is what an air filter is for? There is a lot of controversy,and the only way to find out if the air filter is filtering air is to check the wear rate of the engine..Obviouisly you can't wait to wear the engine out and compare it to the last engine you wore out - su used oil analisis (UOA) is used.With a K&N there is always an increase in silicon levels,this means fine sand particals are entering the system.Sometimes there are increased levels of lead and iron....bearing and bore wear.But the battle still goes on.
..

True.
And if you search The Interdweeb properly, you'll find independent tests of K&N filters thatpoint out that they don't perform very well for filtering and don't let that much more air through. It's all HYPE.
They do let some more air through, because they have bigger holes, so let more dirt through too. If they do let more air through, then they'll make the engine run leaner, so retuning will be necessary.

You could do what I've done twice. I was impressed with the Unifilter on my VFR750, and couldn't get one for the VTR1000 (they don't make them), so I cut the filter out of the frame and made my own, use Unifilter foam. I did the same on the VFR800.

[N4CR]

motu made an interesting point many eons ago. he mentioned why the filter might be a bit better at 'flow' and that it might not be working very thoroughly as a filter... so put the k&n's in and get crap into ya cylinders? that might be the compromise. search it'll come up somewhere on kb.

gah just read the rest of the thread he's beaten me to it.

[aderino4]

Do you know who stock the K&N filter in Auckland?

Just finished tearing apart the NSR on the weekend and we found only half of the foam filter left in the airbox. The other half? probably has gone into the cylinder.

Plus I need one for the car.

[Motu]

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