Hi TMF, I’m a retired HVAC mechanical engineer and know a little about air filtration. The reason Triumph specifies a particular paper filter element is because it is a commercially reliable system under “normal” operating conditions. K&N (and other similar companies) make washable filters which actually rely heavily on the filter oil/gel to remove dust particles. Once the oil/gel starts drying out, the filtration efficiency drops off proportionally and more dust particles are sucked into the combustion chamber. More dust means incremental damage to the engine. Each time you wash a K&N filter, you remove filtration particles from the media and therefore you lower the filtration efficiency and increase dust particles being inhaled into the engine. This is a dangerous recommendation. I’m also a passionate Triumph owner & rider and I will never use washable air filters. If you have a dirt motorbike, the washable filter is even less effective than the standard OEM filter. Hope this gives you and your viewers something to think about. The more informed you are, the better decisions you make.
used one on an airhead boxer for years worked well on dusty unsealed Australian roads (far more dust than in the U.K.). That is no dirt on the engine side of the filter. Very economical in the long run.
I used to use these things on my cars but after considerable research I don't any more. I would never fit them to my bike, however I don't think OEM vs K&N will matter much in the long run. It is a bit of bling that people feel good about spending money on...the sticker is everything 😄
I fitted a K&N to my ninja 205 (special edition). I did speed runs between two points on a road through pretty much the whole rev range in 2nd gear to compare the original OEM foam filter to the K&N. I found no difference in speed at the end of the run, with consistent results with both filters in the same conditions. (from runs to a filter change and back to doing runs - neighbors must have been pissed off by the end. I have found no difference in fuel consumption either. The OEM foam filter was also washable. The bike does crackle and pop in certain rev ranges more though, which I really like (I have an aftermarket slip on) All in all, knowing what I know, I'd have rather spent the money on other upgrades or more chain lube etc.
If the standard filer flows well enough for the bike, then there is little advantage to swapping. In fact, the K&N will let a little more stuff throw so for a dirt bike may not be such a good thing. If the bike is modified or is restricted by the filter (not so many) the K&N (or like) can help. I do have a DNA on my bike but it is modified so expect it may help but have not tested on the rolling road yet.
Yeah these seem to split opinion but I've had no issues with mine and I like the idea of not having to replace it any more - thanks for watching, all the best - TMF
I bet over there that the K&N filters might actually make sense to use because your roads might not be as dusty as here, or if all you ride is pavement. But here in BC, Canada our back roads get too dry and dusty in the summer, so along with more air flow the K&N filters let all the fine silty dust in as well. It might not be a big deal if you ride a motocross bike that you rebuild the top end every 30 hours or so, because any damage from fine dirt would be irrelevant in that short timeframe. But on a bike that actually is built to last a longer time I wouldn't risk wearing out the cylinder and rings early. Dirt and combustion chambers don't mix well. I used to use K&N filters on my vehicles religiously, I really thought it was the best thing ever...until I noticed i was constantly cleaning my Mass Air Flow Sensor and wiping fine silt dust off the inside of the air intake behind the filter, throttle body. K&N filters are designed for racing, which is why they exist.
Apples to apples, you're supposed to reoil and clean your foam filter after each ride same as the k&n. People neglecting either creates similar results. Don't oil your foam filter get dirt in your engine. Don't oil your k&n get dirty in your engine. Properly maintain either and still get some levels of silt in your engine anyway. Filters designed for race purposes simply do not filter as efficiently as paper would. This goes for your foam oiled filters as well.
I've always fitted K&N's to every vehicle I've owed. Yes they cost more but as you say, pays for itself after 3 regular ones and increases mpg so savings in the long run.
Glad to hear it - it seems my choice of K&N was a bit more controversial than I expected, split views on this one (but I agree, the economics make sense at least)....thanks for stopping by, all the best - TMF
Again for a guy like me very educational...last bike I had was a Suzuki GT 200 x5..and when I do get another it will be a Honda. I'm reliably informed that there very reliable. I know last ya said hurry up coz of my age but I'm very young at Hart. very fit..so hopefully I should be ok when I do. fingers crossed. I'm not and never have been a reckless rider..I rode my friends Yamaha 250 round block other day and it was ok..felt confident with gear changes to slow down instead of using breaks last minute which I did have a tendency to do..but that was a learning curve becouse the back brake just locked and I whent for abit of a slide. so I'm glad even with a prov license you still need to do the test. which I will. any way great upload as always fella R.S
Yes the exhaust is already changed, I could do with a bit more MPG though so will be interesting to see what happens on that front....all the best - TMF
Another great video! Missing my little Honda crf now I've sold it in favour of the beta xtrainer which scares the life out of me at the moment ! One thing I noticed about the k&n on the little Honda was the slight increase in induction noise when giving it a handful ! Loved that deep burp As ever very slick vid keep them coming! Would be good to know your bike history!
I'm Puzzled! if everyone reckons K&N filters are so bad, why have they been the best selling automotive filter for almost 50 years? and why have I installed them in about 15 of the 22 bikes ive owned and never had a problem?
+stuart fillingham Funny how these things split opinion isn’t it! I guess we’re all grown up enough to draw our own conclusions eh? Thanks for watching - TMF
A filter can ONLY do one of two things (think about it)- they can either let more air in or restrict air flow. One will weaken your mixture, the other will enrich your mixture. Either of these situations will effect a carburetor quite strongly; either of these situations should (depending on your ECU electronics) make no difference to a fuel injector. So, if you have carbs, K&N will let more air in, weaken the mixture and make low end pickup more lumpy\ high end run out of BHP before RPM limit is achieved.
stuart fillingham Not too complicated, they are acceptable for the street, but not offroad. Not one offroad racer will use them without a foam wrap on top of them. K&N sells them and claim it's to keep the cotton filter cleaner longer. B.S. It's to make up for the lack of protection of the cotton filter. Not one OEM will spec them for a reason. The stock paper is best, followed by a foam filter, then the K&N. If you want better intake flow on the 250l, open up the air box. Lots of info this.
I have a K+N filters on my Mustang, but I wouldn’t recommend putting one on a dirt bike. They probably do help the engine breathe easier, but I’m not convinced they are better for your bike in the long run when you are dealing with so much potential dust. And you don’t get the backfire protection screen on a K+N like you get on recommended filter. Ever had a bike catch fire while out on a ride in the woods? I have, and I don’t want to do that again!
Now that's done ;) what you might consider now, is reprogramming your EJK. It does give you more power and acceleration. Keep the video's comming, great work
Washable filters just mean you only buy them once. Performance gain are debatable but I just put a PiperX in my 98 VFR and can genuinely feel the difference. Mind you the stock filter was pretty filthy anything was gonna be an improvement!
Another good video. I fitted a K and N to my Sprint 1050 along with Iridium plugs. The induction noise has increased, the bike does feel a little different.
Robert Parker i put one in on my fz6r totally different sound @ 5000rpm or less i love it small increase in power but thats not why i got but all around excellent addition to mt bike
Good vid but apparently not straight forward will ask my friend and get back to you on this but he is a motorcycle mechanic who works on repairs motorcycles 6 days a wk and on 2 occasions in the last month he has fitted these filters and the last 2 bikes have not run very well not sure if they were cared or fuel injected but one bike was a super black bird ,,,,will get the details and get back to you but on the blackbird he had to refit the standard filter either way as usual very good video Cheers Shane
Love the vlog, try not to miss any of them. I think I'm right in your target demographic. 2013 R1200GSA rider, (ex S1000RR and K1300S) and 45 years young. :-)
Thanks Neutrino, glad you find them of interest and I appreciate your support! Not sure I have a "target demographic" but I seem to attract old blokes!!!! .....I guess not surprising given I am one too.... :0)
Old? Our last 55 years on this planet should be the best. We'll look back on our forties and fifies as a golden age. Don't forget Ted Simon rode solo around our planet age 44 :-)
You don't need to remove the seat to take the side fairing cover off, just remove the allen bolt, pop out the fairing from the back side and slide it back from the front.
Not only OCD but guess red is your favourite colour? Red on the Honda, BMW and of course the Ducati, red tool box, looks like a red paddock stand, red trainers and even the air filter is in a red box!! Think you need to see someone 😀😀😀
...nope coincidence and an over enquiring mind on your part I think - Blue or green has to be my fave (funnily enough I have 2 cars, one green and one blue!!!)
Quick question on peoples opinions if you wouldnt mind. I have an efi engine and im wondering whether the ecu will adapt if i take off the airbox and just keep the filter on. Most people probably wont know the bike as its only sold in asia but for whst its worth, its a honda 150 dohc engine and the filter is directly under the seat. Thanks
I considered changing the filter in my mt-07 but after a lot of reading decided against it, performance difference would be unnoticeable and these filters let a lot more particles through into the engine which wouldn't be ideal and especially so for a bike like your crf.
According to research I've read these filters do a better job of, err, filtration......but we are of course all free to choose! Thanks for watching - all the best - TMF
These types of filters need to be oiled to properly function. Otherwise, if not oiled you would be right that it wouldn't filter the air particles. The people complaining most likely washed them and didn't re-oil the filter, or didn't oil it when they bought the filter.
You don't need to oil the new filter, or if you do then tmf didn't. I don't know what to say the first couple of pages when you search are all either forums, tests carried out by different people on different types of vehicles and all are of the opinion that they are not better at filtration.
A lot of companies sell pre-oiled, and non oiled filters. Some people prefer to used there own kind of spray on, or soak oil rather than the company's oil. I'm not arguing that it has better filtration, it could be worse, or just the same as a competitor's filter. The main selling point of these filters is simply better air flow to the engine. This doesn't mean more power, it really just means better fuel efficiency so you can ride (or drive) longer without having to stop for gas.
Dont be temptedto fit one on your 1200GS. its a lean burn engine and thats an ubnderstatment. The ECU will compensate for most changes but the K&N will be asking a bit too much of the ECU. We did a test on K&N filters years ago at a company I worked for, yes they do flow more air but they also flow more small particles. The micron size dust and grit particles will do as much damage to an engine as the larger muck. In some ways the larger bits that pass through a filter do less harm as the tend to pass out of the engine with the exhaust. All that said 1000's of riders use them and seem happy so you pays your money you takes your chance.
Hi, just a quick question really. I am about to buy the crf rally and just wonndered if i should consider the crf250L before i go ahead. I do slightly prefer the more traditional dirt bike look, but the rally in the flesh looks pretty smart. So am i buying on looks or do you think it would be a more versatile bike. I do no wht the physical differences are, but just wonder if the l might be worth considering. Kind regards, Simon
All of the mechanics at my local dealership DO NOT LIKE K&N filters. They say that they see engine damage fairly regularly on customers bikes that have them because the filters don't fit properly and leave small gaps that let dirt through. I had one (claimed by K&N to be the appropriate one for the bike) on a Kawasaki Drifter that was too large and getting it to fit made the seal pucker slightly, not allowing it to seal completely. After a few hundred miles I could see where dirt had been getting past it. Binned it!!!!
Blimey! Funnily enough my mechanic reckons they're good and I had no issue getting this one to fit easily (as you saw)....time will of course tell! Thanks for watching, the heads up and for stopping by once again - TMF
It might depend on where a particular filter is made. Just be sure to inspect the airbox inner edge at the seal point once in a while for telltale streaks of dirt, or bits of grit on the bottom of the airbox....Cheers!
Nothing wrong with a decent pilchard (though that tin is nearly 30 years old and came from my kitchen when I was a student - so don't much fancy trying them).....
Great overview - Have you had any issue with dirt ingress? I've just got a pair for my Porsche V8 - but i'm reading a lot of horror stories. (My old Jeep had one most of its 8 years i had it and by 100k miles it would whisp blue smoke on idle - may or may not have been a fault of the filter)
No I haven't had any issues at all with it, these things certainly seem to split opinion and provoke discussion. I've used them on several bikes in the past and have never had a problem with them....thanks for the kind words, all the best - TMF
+iVlog - Save yourself the money and most important the motor of your Porsche V8. Have you ever wondered why MAF's get dirty with the oil? Have you ever wondered why not one single motor manufacturer use them if they are so good...Oh! And on top have you ever wondered why no HP gain is shown in any independent tests. Oil and fine dust just make a very good grinding paste. Some food for thought. Be well. ;-)
Another helpful video, and quite timely as I just ordered a K&N oil filter, and that got me considering this mod for my Street Triple... the video really needs a segment on whether you noticed any performance difference though... (I see you felt you did in the comments). Another mod I'm considering for my St Triple is weight-saving lithium-Iron battery, have you thought about that? Maybe most relevant to the Panigale...
I think any weight saving due a lighter battery is more than offset by my liking for pork pies and sausage rolls.....the seed is planted though, may take a while to germinate.... :0)
Will look to get one for my crf250l. I have the same setup fm4 ,mega bomb and elk. Let us know if it makes any difference and if you decide to change the settings on the elk. I have currently left mine stock from the factory. Bike now rides and sounds great. Riding mine more than the blade and GSA!
...I do think it makes a difference, it's marginal and maybe wishful thinking...but I was trying my best to be objective! I know what you mean about fun on these machines too, you can't beat them for grins per £ in my experience....
great video K&N all the way m8.... it has made my crf feel like it can breath at last... but of course you need after market exhaust, like a yoshimura, or fmf.....
Hi, do you feel an performance boost with this oil filter ? Does the CRF250L have more power with it ? Got a crf250l myself and i would love to add something that it got more power.
Hi, just purchased a new street tripple r and was wondering where the best place would be to get one for my bike. By the way keep up the good work, I'm sure I've watched all your vids.
+wyn jones Thanks for watching all my vids Wyn, you have great staying power! I ordered mine from Amazon, I'm pretty sure you can get a Street Triple version from there too....all the best - TMF
They will ruin your engine dust and dirt will get past the larger holes in the cotton mesh than OEM .. hold one up to a strong light tells you all you need to know
What if I have stock exhaust but ebay slip on? I wanan get a KN for my 650. Yeah I know it doesn’t really improve HP but my ass dyno will see a mininmal difference
nice video 😉 can you feel a difference when you ride the bike? Power? engine sound? you should try one on your GS and explain us how it feels.... Cheers Tom
Well I think I can (or did on the first post upgrade ride). Of course it was marginal and may have just been optimism, but I genuinely felt the bike was a little more sprightly....
I don't tend too as I've experimented with that in my cars in the past and didn't notice any difference - maybe I should give it a go in the Panigale though...(I just filled her up at Silverstone circuit for £1.20/litre...and I think that was regular!)
+TheMissendenFlyer it makes my GS run smoother and it 'feels' a bit more perky, but feel is a very subjective thing! You should try a tank of it in your Panigale but don't buy it from Silverstone 😉
What the K&N filter or my Diet Pepsi collection?? A few people have mentioned it but I didn't even notice....must pay more attention when I'm filming these.....
Having recently moved (sadly away from your area!) and gained a nice big double garage to play in, I'm interested in what sort of flooring that is in yours? :)
+TheMissendenFlyer aha! I'd seen the flooring in Costco and had wondered if it was any good. Moved up Birmingham way from Aylesbury (bought a place with the better half)
I'm by no means an engineer, and I'm guessing Honda know better than me! But if the objective is to get air into the engine, why is it pointing towards the rear and practically inaccessible? That seems counter-intuitive. Genuinely curious, by the way.
Yes it is an odd choice, the intake itself (through the snorkel) is positioned vertically - I presume for water clearance - as these bikes in particular are more about off-road fun than high speed...so I suspect max power isn't the primary concern of the designers in this case. Good point though...thanks for stopping by - TMF.
mmm.. i am not against k&n filters or the like but have seen premature turbo failure due to the more open structure of these filters on car engines where they had been installed. often due to neglect on cleaning and oiling them... if not oiled sufficiently they tend to let alot of dirt thru destroying turbo blades in the proces.. these blades looked like they where sandblasted. furthermore i noticed u didnt say anything about checking the air/fuell ratio after install.... i had k&n filters installed on previous bikes and instantly after install both bikes ran way leaner (one actually had stutter problems) i had them both dyno d and turned out the filter was the problem.... more air in means a leaner mixture and u have to atleast check and/or adjust ur carb or injection accordingly... all in all alot of hassle and thats why i stepped away from them.... the performance gain on a stock motor is minimal and doesnt outweigh the cost/hassle u get when u need to have it dyno d and the mapping (or jetting) redone.....
+OperationFoxley19441 Well clearly I think not but these do seem to divide opinion. I just like the fact that it's not a throw away item when you come to service the bike....
if you plan to ride in dust or offroad, avoid this filter. my engine lost compression :( mechanic told me that this kn let dust specs in and destroyed piston, cyllinder. It's still in the shop but man i regret that filter so much.
I've had that tin of Pilchards for nearly thirty years - I'm not sure if they're still within their "best buy" date as it's rusted over...so will leave for another time
No much benefits just a hassle, and falling into the hope …they clog quicker and faster with oil, you have to clean them for the cost an OEM filter you can quickly dust off with air compressor or replace. Definitively not for dirt bikes unless you like cleaning them and spending money on the cleaning kit.
...for the same reason as Brucie says "Nice to see you to see you nice", it's sort of a catch phrase thing and according to You Tube research, people like 'em! Until next time, this has been The Missenden Flyer....cheerio...
+TheMissendenFlyer Please don't take this negatively. Your vlog presentation style is high cheese in a humorous way intended or not. It puts a smile on my face. From the patronising " Hi kids", your delivery is comedy gold. It feels like I'm watching a 70/80's infomercial presented by Smashie or Nicey. Keep it up man it's quality stuff.
Totally pointless video. Where is the before & after dyno bhp test? k&n filters sound better but don't necessarily increase bhp depending on if you install the airbox replacement (like you did) or the exposed cone type filter. External cone type filters suck in hot heat soak engine air thus reducing power! I've had & used on standard & modified vehicles.
the stock paper filter will flow as much or more cfm than what the carb can handle...its wasted money. trust me I've owned em. the foam filters only work for severe dusty race environments where they can still flow air compared to a more clogged paper filter. A mechanic for Dale Earnhardt changed me back to high quality paper
