[twincamrt]

Anyone running an aftermarket air cleaner like K&N or other brands? Was thinking K&N as it can be cleaned and used over and over again. Thoughts and advice please.

 

[lkraus]

I put a K&N on my previous bike ('82 Yamaha XJ650RJ), mainly because it was renewable and I was anticipating trouble finding parts for a 27 year old model. K&N claims of better breathing and performance were attractive, too. I'm not convinced the bike ran better.

Two years and about 6000 miles later I started having carb trouble - slow or no return to idle when warm. I was dismayed to find the carb throats and intake side of the slides were completely dark brown from a thin coat of dirt, stuck to the surface by a film of red filter oil. I eventually traced the idle problem to leaky throttle shaft seals, so I cannot say the K&N caused any damage. Nonetheless, I switched back to the stock paper filter.

I suppose it is possible that a standard paper filter passes the same fine dust as a K&N, but without being oiled by the filter, it just passes through the engine. I prefer to think that the paper filter is actually stopping the dirt.

Larry

 

[hopz]

Sorry but I need to revert to my rant mode... but I will try to keep it really short.

Do not use a K&N Air Filter on your bike.

K&N's are sold as high performance... which translated into plain English means... "Does not stop much Dirt"

Less filtering means faster air flow= higher performance.

So, if you are running a speed run at Bonneville Salt Flats it might be good idea. If you are riding a BMW on the street and hope to ride it more then a few thousand miles... stick with a real air filter.

 

[Wolfgang]

Sorry but I need to revert to my rant mode... but I will try to keep it really short.

Do not use a K&N Air Filter on your bike.

K&N's are sold as high performance... which translated into plain English means... "Does not stop much Dirt"

Less filtering means faster air flow= higher performance.

So, if you are running a speed run at Bonneville Salt Flats it might be good idea. If you are riding a BMW on the street and hope to ride it more then a few thousand miles... stick with a real air filter.

100% right!!! Listen people!

 

[TeSmSp]

Hopz:

Hope you are still in rant mode before you answer this one:

Does that apply also to the oil filters they make?

 

[bikebits]

Hopz:

Hope you are still in rant mode before you answer this one:

Does that apply also to the oil filters they make?

According to this, I wouldn't risk buying one:

http://www.calsci.com/motorcycleinfo/FilterStudy.html

 

[kellenbenz]

I did a cross reference check and found the Mann C1635 filter. They seem to be hard to find in the US. Here is one site:

http://www.filterspro.com/detail.cfm?part=509119

 

[hopz]

Hopz:

Hope you are still in rant mode before you answer this one:

Does that apply also to the oil filters they make?

Absolutely.... my personal vote is to use OEM filters or the Mann equivalent.... and not K&N for the same reasons.

Regarding Mann Oil Filters... yes they are the only non- BMW labeled* filter I like but what do I know. You can purchase then in packages of 3 from beemerboneyard. Good filter, good price, good service.


* notice I said "labeled". it is thought that the OEM filter is made by Mann but I have not heard this as factual.

 

[dshealey]

I always used stock BMW filters, just was not worth messing with anything else for the ridiculously small cost per mile to take a chance on anything else.

A friend had a [email protected] in his RS, and when servicing our bikes at my home one day he removed his filter, got some soapy water, cleaned it, dried it, got his oil bottle out, oiled the filter, then washed his hands in the soapy water. All that work and fuss for WHAT?. A filter that does not filter as well as stock, that is what.

I would not touch a [email protected] product with someone else's 10 foot pole! Poor products, for more money, for the very gullible in my opinion.