Air filter and engine prep you need to know ! Restoring the IronHorse Ep2 

Dude, its really refreshing to hear genuine true biker wisdom from actual experience in the trenches. To many cake boys and squids that think its a hobby that they get into so they can impress whom ever is looking at them. Man, I wish more people got it. Real bikers love to ride and ride their machines well then learn to actually do as much of their own work as possible. And you just keep on learning to ride better and fix things along the way. And all that matters is you with your machine and the way. Pure serenity.

Easily one of the best bike channels on RU-vid. No bullshit real world stuff.

Always nice to learn about engines and engine maintenance - thanks Adam

Vielen Dank, Herr Riemann - thanks for sharing. Teaches ALOT

Hi Adam, really enjoyed that episode. The thing I find with your technical tips and hacks is they can be applied to whatever people are riding. That’s what makes your videos so good. Thanks so much. 👍🇦🇺

I have a 2000 Africa twin RD07, and the air filter is on top of the petrol tank. Taking clean air from the front of the bike. I guess Honda learned lessons along the way. Been a fan of the channel for years since I saw your first tyre change video in the Bush.

Adam , thank you so much for the Hiflo part number , this is necessaty thing ! I have аlready ordered on my RD04 in the middle of the video !

Those red scotch brite pads are good for evening out the finish on aluminum and stainless. Like rubbing a genie lamp, it releases magic to make more power and longevity.

Remember that the Regulator/Rectifier is located on top of the rear fender/mudgard. So the air going to the snorkel and airbox travels from the right side of the bike and cools the reg/rec on it's way to the airbox. I don't know the tolerance for lack of cooling over the reg/rec, but it's something to think of when changing the location of the snorkel. As some people have mentioned, on the RD07 the snorkel is under the tank, but the reg/rec is also relocated to another spot for cooling. Love the videos. Greetings from an RD03 owner in Norway :)

Just want to say thank you for the amazing no bullshit work you do.

Thank You for this tip with air filter 😊

I had a Africa Twin RD07 from 1995 in the green color. The best and most beautiful motorclycle a ever had. The RD07 had the airfilter on top of the gastank. I love your youtube movies. Keep up the good work.

I can watch These Kind of Videos all day long 🤩🤩🤩thanks for Sharing all this Stuff 🖖😊

Great tips on cleaning out the motor. I have a couple Honda NT650's (which basically have the same motor) so I'm using your tips as I rebuild my motors. 👍🏼

watching this channel has made me want to buy a bike and travel as much as possible.

I have that Haynes manual for my XL600V Transalp and I have to say, best investment I’ve ever made regarding bikes. I am, at best, a spark plug replacement level. And that manual is so good that I have been able to do all of the maintenance on my Transalp, which is minimal, in my garage. A true lifesaver

Adam, I'm really learning tons from your videos. Love your films also. Thank you.

I just swapped a 3 stage foam Unifilter (Australia) assembly into my Ducati DesertX a few weeks ago (at 9k mile service). Here in Texas we have some fine dust in the western area of the state. The DesertX pulls air from the cowl area, making for much cleaner air going into the engine. Was surprised to see the OE filter that was removed looked almost new. I'll gladly take the hassle of having the filter below the fuel tank if it only needs servicing every 10k miles or so. Very impressed with the Unifilter system, came with 2 sets of foam. Making it a simple swap now, clean/dry/oil later filter service.

Never a dull moment, always facsinating from a frustrated road rider

Absolutely loving the content for the xrv iron and war horse 👌🏼😊 so much so I’ve just bought an rd07 which arrives next Saturday 💪🏼💪🏼 in true reflection of the difference in our riding skill levels, I’ve named my one “cart horse” 😉😆😆 keep up the good work! Foam air filter and Haines manual on order 👌🏼😊 probably along with a mosfet rectifier, a facet fuel pump and a pinion output shaft front sprocket to reduce wear on the shaft. Hoping to find the bike is a comfy, simple rider loving bike that’ll take me back to Morocco again without the anxiety of all that tech and bollox 😆

That air filter is the best thing about a Polaris phoenix. They are actually produced by Aeon so you might find an air filter listing for them as well.

Love your video's adam its great to see you talking about the Engine and it working love this Stuff great all round channel. much love from Scotland keep it coming 👌👍

Hey hey! What’s shaking Adam! Always a pleasure getting some new content from ya. Means I’m about to learn something new. 🙏🏽 Keep up the good work buddy!💪🏽 🏍️💨

Thank you for all the information and inspiration, Adam!

Adam I doubt you get to read all the comments on here But I’m sitting here in my home made off grid house in the sticks in Yorkshire England I drove round Australia with a friend in an old banger when I was 19, (2001)and worked on stations in the NT with all its adversity break downs ,I’ve had many other adventures since, I was lucky enough to have a child hood that sound similar to you and I get the greatest pleasure I know from self reliance, I get such good vibes from you and your super videos, I’ve ridden bikes all my life Take no notice of any bollocks people post, your sending positive and meaningful ripples round the world,maybe the bikes are a useful conduit for you but I feel it’s the spirit of what your doing and how that is most powerful and relatable, in an ever increasing synthetic world you reflect the earthy real the world greatly needs and has forgotten Anyway enough flattery Kindest regard’s A wee Ferrell Yorkshireman Ben

Hello 😊 Love your videos. I have completely restored an RD03 and an RD07 myself. Simply amazing machines. May I ask what oil you use? I use Motul 5100 10w 40 on both and am very happy with it. However, if there is something better, I would be happy to hear about your experience. Cheers Tobi

Fantastic

Thanks a bunch! Sterling stuff! Notes taken, for my shopping list! (Restoring a 1984 VT500C)

Always informative and well put together. Thank you👍

All good tips. We die when we breath dust, so will your motor. Good vid.

I like your videos and explanations.

Cheers Adam, enjoying the journey with you 😀

Great information in this video, going to buy the same foam filter for my 1998 Transalp. Regarding snorkel positioning: Having the air intake in the front isn't all that lucrative if you're behind others in a sand cloud though

Spot on mate. Had many an argument about paper v foam and the best answer is both! My GS1200 runs OEM paper with aftermarket lightly oiled cone socks in the air intakes. When youre riding in large groups and constant dust clouds this works perfectly. Change out a spare pair of socks every 1k or so. My KTM690 is all foam with a gauze oversock, swap that out every 500km or 2 days. Ive dusted this bike so I talk from experience! Lol.

I always enjoy watching your videos, greetings from austria

Interesting hack, thanks. Pity my old Transalp has already a K&N air filter. It's the same size. What I like about this video: Your way of thinking about problems. It's not buy this or buy that and the world will change. Happy days, Günter/Nürnberg

Since I started watching you a couple years ago Ive put tens of thousands of miles on my Vstrom 1050xt I love my adventure machine and also travel every chance i get. Thanks for these

So helpful. Thanks a lot! Maybe it fits for an RD07 - i'll test it.

Very interesting.

I have witnessed that you have valuable information and useful practices tips Thanks Mate

Honda rectified the filter issue with later models. RD07a has air filter undr cover 'on/in' top of tank (space) behind handlebars - swap your tank to get your clean fresh air :)

Hi Adam, that must be the reason why they change the designe on the RD07 by the fuel tank. Thanks for the video Gus, from Wales UK

Hey, love the videos! Best big bike tutorials out there. Also as far as intake, is there room under the seat? Could even mod the seat pan a bit to get some room. If it's plastic you could probably do it with a heat gun. Would be higher and even more out of the way.

Great update Adam.....All the best from CANADA!

Yes Adam I always run 2 filters for my bikes makes it easy when your on the go its not hard to carry a oiled pre filter in a zip lock plastic bag , and as I'm sure you will when your redesigning the air intake to always think of water crossings .. Nice work something else that runs in dusty environments is ridemoweres check out there air filters they are very similar with a pre oiled foam filter covering a paper one 🙂🤙

Awesome Video, looking forward to all the insight you can give us

I run the GUGLAtech Rally raid stainless air filter in my RD04 ...no more buying paper filters

Serious and meaningful talk. 👌

There was talk about the snorkel and airflow to cool regulator/rectifier. Ive had both the RD04 & RD07, and they both had an aluminium plate made under the regrec to act as heat transfer, might help a little, but the airflow is a must, i never had a problem with these bikes, but previous owners told to always keep spare fuelpump and regrec onboard. Solid bikes those Twins, both of mine had 150-200k on clock.

Your content is always top notch. I say pull the whole air box out and get it to a savvy guy with a CAD program and a 3D printer. You can sell the design to the other 9 owners of the IronHorses in Australia....but seriously consider 3D printing a new air box....loving this restoration keep the videos coming.....@StanForAdventure

Adam, when out in remote areas where Crap gas is pretty likely, what about adding some Denatured Alcohol to the petrol ? I add one US gal. to about 30 US gals of (non-garbage) fuel in my V8 van on Emissions Test days. I have never even been close to the threshold legislated for my 20yo engine. Cannot state empirically that it is due to the Alcohol, but, the step has never failed me on any (older) vehicle emissions in a highly restricted US state. The tip came from an engineer that I had worked with in aerospace, as we both shared an automotive fanaticism. Cheers 🍻

“The big GS gets nothing but clean air coming in those long snorkels” 😮 Easy for you to say riding at the front 😉 In all seriousness though, I think in traffic the rear facing inlet could be the cleaner option 🤔🤷🏻‍♂️

Good video Adam. Honda must have recognised the air intake as an issue - on my RD07A the air filter sat up next to the fuel cap.

Hey Adam. Ship that thing to austria when you are ready, let's do the TET Italy (start at austrian border and go to sardegna). Greetings from sunny Burgenland, Alex (enthusiastic RD07 Rider/ 112.000km) 🤠

Having my own warehouse i'd love to have more hot tips on this bike from you ! Cheers Adam ! :)

Dude, you got the hard cover! Fancy, ooh lala. Essentieel reading material 2000 TA 🇳🇱 NL.

Adam you've reinforced what a Yamaha race mechanic once said to me - "engine oil and air filters are the lifeblood of any engine".

About the output shaft you talked about in last video, the shaft is made of not hardened steel for some (good) reason. If you want it to last long you have to buy the original small gear from Honda, because all the aftermarket gears are hardened and will destroy your output shaft.

🙏🏼Nice hack, Adam. Looking forward to the solution for your RD04 air intake. Luckily Honda moved the air box to the front of the tank with the RD07 models. I will try to find some filter foam for a rectangular air filter to fit my standard RD07 filter. Riding gravel roads through Italian and French alps you catch a lot of fine dust with goes everywhere. It has some sort of quartz to it that’s also bad for surfaces of mobile phones and navi devices. It will definitely be inhaled by „the old girl!“🤙🏼

Thanks! Seasons going to warm up in Canada soon!

My dad used to fill the crankcase of old cars with diesel fuel and I believe transmission fluid and let them idle in the driveway for an hour or so. Said it was an old mechanics trick to do a cheap refresh on an engine with higher miles or something thats been neglected to clean out the bottom end of the engine.

Really like the war horse series. There is an issue with meiwa brand air filters, they're not suitable for high altitude drive, just go with k&n and it's a breeze.

Cant wait for ep 3!

Honda Africa twin is amazing Bike. No doubt I travelled to whole GCC countries. I travel almost 20,000 km. Just I change engine oil that’s it nothing else❤❤❤❤

Amazing insight

All good stuff totally agree with what you r doing , good advice for any bike I've done just that, cheers great video mate 👍

Great video Adam, looking forward to seeing seeing you at the ABR festival….

Would have been nice if we in the US got the War Horse. All we got was the TransAlp 600. I have a 1988 NT 650. Same motor with different bore and stroke. Also I have a 2013 VT 750 RS. Same motor but different crank pin arrangement. Great motors. Cheers. Happy building.

Great info, awesome channel....thanks Adam!🤘

Air is everything mate the xlv 700 intakes just behind the neck stem up high filter change is a pain it’s under the tank but I haven’t dusted it yet and always try to pick a line out of the dust if possible you’ll be able to snorkel it some how up under the seat or tank keen to see how it goes great vid adsy cheers

Perfect timing with this video! I’m doing a Baja ride in March so putting the foam pre-filter on my 890 just went from probably to absolutely.

Excellent tips mate, cheers! Now I just need an RD04 haha

I do the same trick with the air filter. Greetings from Poland

The Africa Twin we had was an unusually modified one. It was a cammed 750 motor in a 650 frame. The air filtering was 2x pancake filters, one directly on top of each carb. It was loud and quite an aggressive engine but might be something for current owners to look into...

Interesting subject Adam love these old Africa twins

Good stuff, Adam!

From Direct experience with marine outboards. The Aluminium galvanic corrosion will continue, unless its treated with very hot water and vinegar, best to soak for days if possible. Then pacified with very hot water and bicarbonate soda and several hot soak/rinse.

I had a rather similar approach few years ago with the RD03 air filter...I used a knife to get rid of the paper of the air filter and rolled up standard foam filter tightened with zip ties and carefully covered with spray filter oil. The engine really "opened up" with a bit more airflow coming to it and no particles could penetrate the foam. However, I love your hack with the Polaris filter and would appreciate if you add in the part number in the video description.

I had rd07 1998 in red color. Nice catch with air box i was don the same. also need take a look at curb - new membrane is expensive and crazy hard to buy.

Thanks Adam

passed this veido to honda transalp uk group i adim of. i refubishing my transalp next wintere here in uk. lot your tips be passed on. i say air filter my frist thing to my mind i saw it. i get fome one. i love my rottwiler fitler on my 1190

Just stopped at home for some lunch and to grab a trailer... got a few minutes to kill, and Wha La: new Iron Horse video :)

Very useful information 👍thanks mate

You need and an RD07 with the air filter in front of the tank. Please make a video for suspension settings and height on XRV 750

Nice vidio ❤

They made old bikes so easy to service...new, as difficult as possible.

You can make up your own oiled-foam prefilter for just about any air filter, by cutting out some ordinary upholstery thin-sheet foam with scissors, and sewing the ends together with a needle and thread, being careful to ensure a snug fit. After a few solvent rinsings the foam will stretch, and you will need to pull in tighter and re-sew; or make up a whole new one. Also in the case of Honda lawnmowers, I was surprised to find that careful washing of the pleated paper air filter element with mineral turpentine will remove accumulated clogging, and give the filter a new lease of life.

Great tips Adam love the how and why’s I’ve got the Rdo7a which they changed the air box to the top of the motor with a plastic cover on the tank Also you can get a purpose made foam air filter from Rugged Roads Uk Looks like you have it figured out though , nice job

Always great vids! Fortunately that air intake was solved in the rd07. ✌🏼

Good point, because in front od rear wheel is low pressure spot so snorkle draws dust from rear wheel.

Best videos ever!

Another cheap hack for combatting dust and mud: Use a Chux disposable kitchen wipe and place it over your filter. This will work as a sacrificial/disposable layer to catch the big nasty crap before it hits your foam layer. Once it's spent, whip it off and throw another one on. Cheap, easy to pack for long trips, quick and easy to swap out.

About the air filter above and in the front the africa twin rd07 has it on top of the tank and you can replace is from the plastic cap behind your bars and on the fuel tank but the rd04 got the best looks ❤ On the rd 04 marathon bikes they got a rear fuel tank so they have to relocate the airbox by making it on the back of the fuel tank somehow maybe you can find a good solution like that

Hi Alex. I have a Honda XRV service manual. Not the basic Haynes book, the full on Service book.. Let me know if I can post it to you..

Everyday i check youtube to see whether you've released an episode or not 😅

Im still working on a solution for my KTM 890 Adv, horrible airbox design, and there’s been reports of engines getting dusted even with pre-filters or complete aftermarket set ups. Blows my mind some of these manufacturers can’t get it figured out on an “adventure” bike. But I think your Aussie spec KTMs come with a foam Uni filter from the factory. Should’ve bought an old warhorse I guess haha.

I'm interested to see how you open up the air box. I'm experimenting with a series of holes in the top side and front

Interesting - is that filter from a Lynx snow scooter? If so, it's a stark contrast in environments! Anyway, great example of thinking outside the box🕊

Hi Adam, great advise, i wanted to improve or ditch those paper airfilters before doing any serious off roading here in Victoria on an RD07. I am new to off roading so doing a course first.

Adam! Random question. Motorcycle riding wise, what do you consider your weakness(es)? What brings you fear and what to you still need to practice? Thank you in advance for any answer? Maybe a good topic for a vid? The rest of us know what we have to work on - EVERYTHING!