Installation & Review of K&N Performance Air Filter on KTM Duke 790

I recently installed a Booster Plug on my KTM Duke 790 and in this video I follow that up with the installation of a K&N performance air filter and take the bike for a ride to assess the difference in performance.

[@Kingpin909]

All I need to hear was that initial reaction. Thanks for sharing.

[@troyjollimore4100]

Nobody's talking about how insanely clean the paper filter he removed was? ;)

[@TheBoltHoleBiker]

It was a damn clean filter, amazed me to be honest, like new. In fact I have kept it in case I need a filter in the future.

[@rushfactorygarage]

I just found your channel and I just subscribed! Love the reviews! I wonder how the filter will perform with the booster. I just did a video installing a Leo Vince Dual slip-on exhaust on my 2020. Let me know what you think! Oh and you have the most clever channel name ever! Lol

[@TheBoltHoleBiker]

Cheers! I've just had a look at your vid - cool vid, very cool pipe! The filter and the Booster work brilliantly together by the way. I look forward to your next ones!

[@scottie2wheels542]

Good to see you are happy with the K&N filter will be trying that next !

[@TheBoltHoleBiker]

In terms of bang for buck its probably the best thing I have done to the Duke.

[@johnDukemaster]

I have good experiences with DNA airfilters. I guess they make the same difference. So that would be my next move! Thanks!

[@joerocket3rider603]

See K&N splashed all over the YT-sphere, but figured the actual difference to be negligible... reckon your endorsement has convinced me to see what impact that filter can have on a Rocket... cheers...

[@TheBoltHoleBiker]

Joe Rocket3rider go for it! I hope it works, it certainly made a difference on the Duke.

[@rgthomson1]

I wonder if it would make the bike more lean than it already is which they do for emissions

[@patrickj5256]

Hi Bolt hole biker. I got the booster plug on the strength of your video about it. boy! am i glad,it made a massive difference as i do a fair bit of town and stop start riding and the low down hesitation was a bit of a pain. So the K and N filter will further improve this? Amazon here i come!! Thanks again. Pat

[@TheBoltHoleBiker]

Ha, ha, go for it, good old Amazon! Hopefully you will really love the difference the filter makes, it surprised me how such a simple change could make such a difference.

[@jacobleppard2039]

Hi, thanks for another great video. I also bought a booster plug after wathcing your previous video.... also a pet dryer from an even earlier one, which has changed my world when cleaning time comes!! 🙌Thank you! Am now also sold on this K&N air filter. is there a specific model/type that you used? looking online the price is very differnet on what looks to be the same filter?? Any help is greatly appreciated. 👍

[@TheBoltHoleBiker]

Hi Jacob, thanks for watching and I am glads that some of the videos are proving useful - I agree about the pet dryer, it is a complete game changer! The filter I used was the K&N KT 7918, here is a link: www.knfilters.co.uk/kt-7918-replacement-air-filter Well worth doing. Ride safe.

[@stuarthall2523]

I’ve used K&N filters on a few bikes in the past, some you can feel the difference, others, not so much. But it saves dosh come servicing time.

[@TheBoltHoleBiker]

I like the sound of that!

[@steve9287]

Great vids! Thanks for sharing! In your previous vid you listed highway speeds as a con for the boost plug. I'm wondering if you noticed that the K&N filter resolved that con by getting more air in there?

[@TheBoltHoleBiker]

I think it has, yes, I have certainly been using 6th gear again at motorway speeds.

[@steve9287]

@@TheBoltHoleBiker thank you

[@michaelmclarney1994]

Great channel and podcasts. I suspect the bike will run better in 6th at motorway speeds with the k&n fitted?

[@TheBoltHoleBiker]

Yes, it does, and I tend to use 6th more now, which I didn't so much before.

[@1Moggi]

Would I be wrong in thinking that the K&N would negate the effect of the Booster Plug in some way? Or are they both working at different rev ranges? I could be talking rubbish! 😂

[@TheBoltHoleBiker]

Hi, I have worked on the basis that the booster is giving the engine more fuel and the filter more air, so between the two of them they are effectively working together to create more bang. I could of course be talking rubbish as well!🤣🤣🤣

[@wilko527]

Thanks for the video mate. At low speed does it make the bike more or less hunty? As mine without the boosterplug is very jerky at low speed.

[@TheBoltHoleBiker]

Hi Wilko, cheers for watching, I'll be honest, I don't know the answer to that as I had already installed the booster plug before the k and filter, so my low speed jerkiness was already sorted by then. I would guess that it wouldn't make a huge difference at low speeds to be honest. The booster plug does because it adds fuel to a very lean mix but I'd say the benefit of the filter is going to be once you get going and the engine is wanting more air. Hope this helps!

[@wilko527]

Maybe the filter alone would make a lean mix leaner then.?

[@TheBoltHoleBiker]

@@wilko527 I don’t think so, at low speeds the engine isn’t trying to pull in air as much as the rpm is low.

[@patrickj5256]

Hi,just one thing about the K&N filter,Does it need to be oiled before fitting or is it of similar design to the original?Also searched for one online and did not get many hits. where did you get your one Bolt hole biker? thanks in advance 😀

[@TheBoltHoleBiker]

Hi Patrick, it comes pre-oiled, so there is no oiling to be done. It is very different to the stock filter that comes out of the bike though, that is like a soft cardboard/paper concertina. I just got mine directly from the K&N website, here is a link to the one I bought: www.knfilters.co.uk/ktm/790-duke/799/2018/ Literally takes 5 mins to fit.

[@patrickj5256]

The Bolt Hole Biker Thanks again

[@rempel29]

Great video, thanks for the content!

[@TheBoltHoleBiker]

No worries!

[@carlabrahamsson5093]

Could you please make a video of the top 5 best mods for the 790? Don't wanna spend a fortune but I'll accept 2-3000 to make it a sweet running bike🙌 might upgrade to 890 or 890r next season when they dropped more in price and are in dealers with tech pack and other goodies😍😍

[@TheBoltHoleBiker]

Hi fella, I've had to move my 790 on recently, I'm afraid and I am missing it I can tell you! But if I had to pick the best mods for that bike in my opinion I would say full Akra system, re-map to suit (or if that is out of budget then Remus end can and a Booster Plug), K&N filter, upgraded Galfer wavy discs and sintered pads, upgrade the steering damper and, if finances allow, then upgrade the suspension to adjustable and get them set perfectly for your weight. But, having said all that, the 790 is bloody excellent straight out of the box, just depends how far you want to go! Have fun though!👍👍👍

[@carlabrahamsson5093]

@@TheBoltHoleBiker thanks!🙌 got aftermarket can but would cat delete work same as full acra and a map on top of that? Cheers

[@TheBoltHoleBiker]

@@carlabrahamsson5093 If you decat then you will certainly get more useable power, as the cat basically strangles the engine a bit to keep the emissions down, but it will affect the fuelling, so a remap would be a must if you take that route. Basically the same as the Akra, yes, and a lot cheaper. You could also look into a Power Commander as well as another option to the remap.

[@carlabrahamsson5093]

@@TheBoltHoleBiker is pc recommended over map?

[@TheBoltHoleBiker]

@@carlabrahamsson5093 I don't know for sure, I'd guess that KTM would recommend a bike specific map. I'd check with them to be on the safe side.

[@GGKtm]

Hi do you use any aftermarket ECU?... After installing the k&n does it need any mapping or just plug n play

[@TheBoltHoleBiker]

Hi, no there's no mapping required, just put it in and away you go.

[@mrskitz338]

But He has instaled an booster plug which makes a diffrence

[@PerfectTimeTIPS]

Thanks for the video mate

[@TheBoltHoleBiker]

No worries, thanks for watching!

[@DarrenStarr]

Yes riding in first and second under 30mph Jenkins around all the time is a nuisance. Will look into this!

[@TheBoltHoleBiker]

Nice one! It worked for mine.

[@Shmack_]

I ordered one but sounds like everyone is saying it makes the bike slower. I ordered a power plate to go with it

[@TheBoltHoleBiker]

Didn't make mine slower!

[@Shmack_]

@@TheBoltHoleBiker When your riding do you notice a nice sound from it? I know when adding a cold air intake on my car I heard the sound it was nice! I also got a coober air lid to go with my K&N so it should be flowing alot better

[@TheBoltHoleBiker]

@@Shmack_ I'll be honest, as far as I can hear it hasn't made any noticeable difference to the sound, but my bike is pretty loud, so I might not hear it even if it did!🤣🤣🤣

[@irockz9723]

What's does the booster plug do? Never heard of something like that before

[@TheBoltHoleBiker]

Hi, without going into the ins and outs of how it works, it is a device that plugs into the ECU and basically alters the fuelling to run slightly richer, which smoothes out the snatchiness of modern bikes at lower speeds, as they are set to run very lean, and when combined with a freer flowing air filter can give the bike a bit of a boost throughout the rev range. Here's how it works, from the Booster Plug website: www.boosterplug.com/shop/cms-how-it-works.html

[@BraapBanana_]

Makes the ECU think the air is colder, so denser, so more oxygen per cm3. If the air has more oxygen per cm3 you also need more fuel it get the correct air fuel ratio. So it runs a bit richer since the ECU thinks there is more oxygen per cm3.

[@piotrgabrys9208]

Hi what the exhaust on your 790 thank you stay safe

[@TheBoltHoleBiker]

Cheers, you too! The can is a Remus, sound lovely, especially with the baffle out. Here’s a link www.ebay.co.uk/i/124289470230?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&itemid=124289470230&targetid=938411950707&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=1006886&poi=&campaignid=10199631508&mkgroupid=97153663850&rlsatarget=pla-938411950707&abcId=1145987&merchantid=9752624&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIneiuzq_o6wIVDevtCh2WZg2vEAQYBSABEgKnr_D_BwE:

[@adityajaveri3840]

What's the model number of the K&N air filter for the 790D?

[@TheBoltHoleBiker]

Hi, it is KT-7918.

[@adityajaveri3840]

@@TheBoltHoleBiker Thanks mate!

[@DarrenStarr]

Can you guys tell me which is better. Rapid bike easy or booster plug?

[@TheBoltHoleBiker]

Hi Darren, I've only used the Booster Plug, so I can't be any help on that one, I'm afraid.

[@DarrenStarr]

@@TheBoltHoleBiker Thanks mate

[@MarkNKent]

I don't think I need the booster... what about just the filter?

[@TheBoltHoleBiker]

Definitely. If I was going to just do one it would be the filter, letting the engine breath freer is never a bad thing.

[@MarkNKent]

@@TheBoltHoleBiker Thank you! And the link said for 18/19 model year... mine is a 20. Do you think it's the same?

[@thomasperl1172]

Thanks vor the Vid! Ps. video quality is really awfull, sy mate

[@TheBoltHoleBiker]

Cheers. I'll have a look into the video quality, cheers for the feedback.

[@thomasperl1172]

@@TheBoltHoleBiker Ur welcome 😊