KNOW YOUR........................................
K&N teach us the ins and outs of air filters.
FB: How good is a standard air filter nowadays?
CP: Quite good as it goes, or for what they’re designed to do anyway. Technology has not moved on as substantially with filters as it has with other aspects of bike development, because the part functions as it’s meant to for typical day-to-day use on the roads.
That’s okay if you’re content with minimal performance, but it’s also the reason you should look to upgrade a filter if you want to unlock the potential of your bike because it will make a substantial difference.
FB: What is the biggest gain from an aftermarket air filter?
CP: Performance and longevity. A cotton gauze filter such as a K&N will flow more air while still capturing the same volume of harmful particles. Yes, it costs slightly more than an OE replacement filter, which will need changing at the recommended service intervals, but that’s where the K&N’s second advantage comes into play; it’s a washable and reusable item. So in the long term it’s actually cheaper to invest in a performance air filter, because it’ll last forever.
FB: Wha at is an aftermark ket air filter actually made m of?
CP: It de epends on the brand. Ch heap OE copies are paper and often do not flow enough e air through, which w will strangle the bike of o oxygen and hamper performan nce. High quality performan nce brands tend to be cotton gau uze or foam (especially in the off- road market), where the gauze or foam is lightly oiled with h special filter oil to enhance it ts dust capturing capabilitie es. This design is a trusted a and proven type that’s earned its crust on road bikes and, more importantly, dirt bikes where they’re really put to the test.
FB: How easy are they to fit?
CP: It all depends on the access to the air box. Every bike is different, but it’s the kind of modification that most people can tackle, tackle especially so because it’s a simple case of removing the existing item and directly replacing it with the aftermarket one. If in doubt, ask a knowledgeable friend or local garage for assistance. It’s important that the air filter is correctly fitted, else air and debris will be able to sneak its way into the airbox.
FB: How does an air filter work?
CP: The magic happens by stopping harmful particles of dust and debris from entering the intake side of the engine while still trying to allow as much air as possible to flow in an uninterrupted way. The trick is to provide as little restriction as possible while cleaning the air, and this tends to be done by increasing the surface area. When you look at it this way it explains why a lot of performance filters have a ridged surface looking like a griddle, as