How Motorcycle Air Filters Work

[@paulm4137]

I'm really enjoying the videos about the batteries, fluids, filters that the average person can do without taking the bike to the shop. Good info!

[@YouMotorcycle]

Just came across this comment years later. Thanks Paul, hope you've been well man!

[@reigndown]

I think it really depends on what you value, filtration or performance. OEM Air filters are designed for the most part to trap nearly all particles 5 microns and larger. In the automotive field, the ones that tend to do that the best (as of today) are Purolator and Wix aftermarket filters. K&N and other oiled filters don't do a great job at filtering by comparison; Project Farm measured nearly 3000 particles per .01 cubic foot of air passed through the filter in their large particle test, compared to less than 150 particles per cubic foot for any paper filter, with wix and purolator both passing 0 particles per cubic centimeter. If you plan on having a "forever bike", one you plan on never selling, paper filter is the way to go, but most people don't keep cars or motorcycles long enough to see them reach the end of their useful life, so most will probably opt for more performance. It won't do catastrophic damage to run a K&N, but the extra silica will certainly reach your oil through blowby and you'll see it in oil analysis and that it gets dirty faster. However, it's not such a big problem if you keep up with your oil changes. Bottom line, do whichever you feel more comfortable with. I'll run a cotton oil filter in my maxi Scooter, but a paper in my 90's Jeep. The Jeep I want to keep forever, the Scoot is for fun. Jeep has 309k miles, the scoot only 1500. There's no right or wrong way, just make an informed decision armed with the best knowledge you can find, and know the trade offs. Cheers!

[@YouMotorcycle]

Great comment. Thanks for contributing 🙏

[@TheBadMadMan786]

It is shocking to see how few videos actually cover this. I am literally mocked by some in the bike groups in my area for running an OEM filter on my 07 CBR600RR (btw I run stock exhaust with OEM cat/servo motor setup). Of course everyone else runs a tune, slip on and K&N / BMC. But these guys are either changing bikes so fast they wouldn't ever notice or they are constantly having mechanical issues on their 15 year old bikes, so the filter is likely not focused on.

[@TheCanadianBubba]

A girl I know took her car to a quick lube shop and they threw out her K&N and replaced it with paper element... it was months later when I noticed the decal on the housing and asked her about it. They did nothing for her to remedy their mistake..

[@YouMotorcycle]

Yeah they come with TWO stickers that say DO NOT REPLACE or something along those lines. For sure they knew better and just wanted to sell her the new part. People suck!

[@cagr4249]

In fact the only fault is that they didn't return the K&N-sieve to you friend. Assembling an original filter is the best they could do for the engine.

[@twin_xplorer]

Informative video, thanks. One question abt cleaning, for cone type filter we should rinse water from outside to inside or vice versa. Air flow from Inside the cone.

[@YouMotorcycle]

Thanks! Spray the dirty (outside) part and then rinse in from the inside out

[@glaicogobbo4046]

Realmente o K&N filtro coloca a filtragem da carburação ou injeção logo após a invenção da roda. Os outros passaram para antes da roda. Ótima alimentação sem provocar pneumonia.

[@YouMotorcycle]

Pneumonia?!

[@glaicogobbo4046]

@@YouMotorcycle yes, pneumonia, as the engine cannot breathe easily.

[@davidcann8788]

Royal Enfield paper filters cost $6. K&N or DNA filters can be $100+. Is the difference worth it?

[@YouMotorcycle]

Are you doing any performance mods or mapping or tuning it? If not, no.

[@izmesamsung2581]

You're wrong in stating that a cotton-gauze filter filters almost as good as a paper element - the latter wins hands down! By all means use a K&N but know that the lifetime of your engine WILL be shorter!

[@YouMotorcycle]

Ok