How to install Pre Filters (Africa Twin)

In preparation for the trip to desert, I decided to install pre-filters on the air box.
These were the Uni Filter brand and came pre oiled ready for use on the Africa Twin.
I purchased the filters from Adventure Motorcycle Equipment and the parts arrived in a couple of days. Very good people to do business with.

[@BigBikeAdventures]

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[@NoWay-xu1ie]

After working around semi trucks for 40 year's and being familiar with air restriction gauges it would be nice to see them on motorcycles. And yes I know my 22 AT has 2 filters . You would need a hose coming off each air box and check them separately. Filters can look a little dirty but not necessarily need replacing. Unless you want to. I may even experiment with blowing air in the hose to see how much air and dust comes back out of the intake. Of course this would be after the filter. Nice to be retired so I don't feel I'm wasting time doing things like this.

[@joesphbest3120]

Thanks for info.

[@james28522]

Merci pour cette information

[@james28522]

Merci pour l'info

[@xforce52]

Hi Steve....I have since found on eBay uk the plugs for £30 each!... That's still £120 for 4 plugs because of 2 plugs per cylinder....but as you said petrol tank has to come off!...and the Honda mechanics said what a pig of a job!...so that's why I will leave it a little bit longer..well if one plug goes down you still have another one! lol.....well two plugs per cylinder can be traced back too WW1 planes... Helped get the old girls home!...."plane or bike both count lol".

[@returnrider4952]

I'll be interested to see how much crap they catch and what your main filters look like after the trip. I presume they get changed afterwards so maybe wash them out in a bucket and see what colour the water turns just for show :-)???????? Cheers.

[@BigBikeAdventures]

Return Rider will do mate. Any excuse to make a video. 😂😂

[@TheSweetasanut]

Top bloke

[@BalefulBunyip]

Did you ever do a follow up video? I would be very interested in learning how the pre filters worked. Have ordered an Africa twin, and live in Australia. Dust is a problem.

[@BigBikeAdventures]

There’s a couple of videos where I’ve checked the pre filters. It’s a good option but doesn’t save much in the way of panel removal. They refit do work, but don’t really save much work.

[@ianh4364]

Good way to get the extra mileage from the throwaway OEM filter, but you still have to take the fairing off to clean and re oil the pre filters. If you were using a serviceable filter like a K&N (not Foam) would pre filters still be worth the extra hassle?

[@BigBikeAdventures]

I’ve seen a bloke who has cut some inspection holes on the inside so he can see if they need cleaning before taking the fairing off. I’ll service the bike when I get back (I’d have to take the fairings off anyway) and I’ll cut the holes then.

[@mikedew380]

Will be very interested to see how the pre-filters work out. Have fitted K&N filters to my 2016 AT. Can you do a video on getting to the spark plugs?

[@BigBikeAdventures]

mike dew Haha, I’ve heard the plugs are a pain to get to on these bikes. I’ve not even taken the tank off mine yet.

[@mikedew380]

@@BigBikeAdventures Same here. I've done 65k and would like to check the plugs but reading the manual it sounds like a pain in the butt.

[@xforce52]

@@BigBikeAdventures Hi mate how are u long time not spoken too!... I've just done my airfilters and should have done a video to help people here in the UK.... Asked Honda how much for 2 plugs and they said no not 2 it's 4 plugs and they work out £200... What!... So as they don't need to be changed till 32000 miles I'll wait!... And yes Honda said they are a pain to change! All the best and keep up the great Vids.

[@BigBikeAdventures]

@@xforce52 Thanks Sy, yeah I knew they are a 2 plug head. $355 AUD for the plugs. Seems a bit rich.

[@nickabrahams1]

It will be interesting to see if it has any effect on fuel economy

[@BigBikeAdventures]

Nick Abrahams I will Be monitoring that 👍

[@itsallabouttheridekeepingi4449]

Hay mate were did you get the per- filters from ( the Air filter on my SWM 650 SD is very easy to access and change but a per- filter would also be great ) as the air intake pipe that exists the airbox - rear of bike looks similar in shape etc to the Africa Twin , saves me doing more filter changes when I’m only away for a 2 day trip or so . Means I don’t have to carry a spare oiled up filter . Regards Paul I know I don’t ride a AT but do love your channel and actually really like the AT .

[@BigBikeAdventures]

It’s all about the ride-, Keeping it alive only just seeing this now. Sorry mate, I try to answer messages where possible.

[@BigBikeAdventures]

Ps. I talk about where I got the filter at the end of the video.

[@itsallabouttheridekeepingi4449]

Big Bike Adventures ok Sorry must have missed that I emailed uni-filter anyway. Great channel

[@BTBSean0]

My only concern with these, is the prefilter clogging up and resting Air. Inturn increasing fuel consumption. I do agree its a pain to change the stock filters but in reality and the many many trips I have done it has really never been an issue. Hope they work well tho in real world test

[@BigBikeAdventures]

I track fuel consumption anyway and I’ll probably check them mid ride, (one side at least). If they are an issue I’ll ripe them out. 🤘👌

[@Nerb1]

Looks good. You didnt mention if they are oiled... maybe not?

[@BigBikeAdventures]

They are oiled. (I did a couple of versions, must have mentioned it in the other one that didn’t make the cut.) 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@MegaRich7]

It looks as though that these filters would restrict airflow quite a bit. Wonder how noticeable it would be on a Dino.

[@BigBikeAdventures]

Richard Bautsch Real world test coming up this week. Will keep you posted.

[@toddstephenson7154]

This is a question rather than a criticism, with the built in inconvenience of access to the air filter (which is weird considering how important air filter maintenance is to a dirt bike and Honda have always been a leader in ease of maintenance on their CR’s) what improvement are you expecting to achieve with this modification? They look rather restrictive when clean which to me means that they will be dirtier quicker and then restrict air into the filter, I don’t get it? I could understand it if you could remove and clean/replace them without having to remove all the bodywork on your bike, that would be great but it seems that you have to do exactly the same amount of workshop time only to find a filthy pre-filter that has been restricting airflow to your bike. Please explain lol

[@BigBikeAdventures]

Todd Stephenson there is a plan to drill some inspection holes on the inside of the panels to see how the pre filters are. I know from talking to those with the pre filters the air filters remain clean but you can’t see them and can’t cut an inspection window. So after the next service (when I get back from the desert) I’ll take the panels off check everything and then if I don’t need to change the filters I’ll cut some inspection windows for the pre filters , and only take the panels off when the filters need to be changed. That’s the plan anyway.

[@toddstephenson7154]

Thanks, let’s face it though of all the great things about the Africa Twin (nearly all big adventure bikes) ease of air filter maintenance is a fail and I don’t understand why.

[@BigBikeAdventures]

Todd Stephenson Wish I could answer that. I think everything on these types of bikes is a compromise, access to air filters is an example.

[@jimdoolan2277]

One good thing is if you going through deep water the air intake is high i have a DL650 2018 have to take tank off to get to air cleaner pain in the ass Cheers

[@BigBikeAdventures]

Jim Doolan I think they are making it harder to self service.

[@itsallabouttheridekeepingi4449]

Hay I know I don’t own an Africa Twin but would it be to much trouble to answer question below. As in were did you get pre- filters from ?

[@BigBikeAdventures]

Hey there. I talk about it at the end of the video.

[@itsallabouttheridekeepingi4449]

Big Bike Adventures thanks for reply

[@Hermano368]

Can we install the pre filters without the cut????

[@BigBikeAdventures]

Jesus É o caminho I suppose you could, but you probably won’t use the full surface area of the prefilters.

[@toby7504]

Fitting one of thise on my tiger, as its pain in the ass to change the main filter on the thing...

[@WulfOnTheRun]

Haha you beat me to it mate..

[@BigBikeAdventures]

Wulf On The Run aren’t you doing the home made version?

[@WulfOnTheRun]

@@BigBikeAdventures yes mate. But needed the workshop for work so rushed the bike back together and didnt film 😛

[@BigBikeAdventures]

Wulf On The Run you can do yours here and I’ll film it.

[@caroldave4037]

I suspect like bloody cars nowadays if it takes longer take apart service charges go up in dealerships. ..😟cheers from dave

[@BigBikeAdventures]

carol mc probably right. They don’t like people self servicing.

[@rossvette9928]

You slipped into talking up the 790 again...... just saying. Steve 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@BigBikeAdventures]

Ross Vette I drop them in to see if anyone is paying attention. 😂😂😂 No prizes though mate. 😂😂🤘

[@rossvette9928]

Doh!

[@johancarlbark]

You must build your own motorcycle to be satisfied unfortunately...

[@george1984]

Complicated air filter replacemen Honda's design is not good

[@BigBikeAdventures]

Totally agree.

[@Kushmosha]

Garbage disintegrated, and the oil went into the throttlebody don’t use

[@BigBikeAdventures]

The oil got past the air filter?