Air Filter

[Harv]

How often do you clean (K&N) or change your air filter? I have the K&N and have about 22k on the filter.

[flash2002]

I normally clean mine in the spring, then I'm good for the year. I guess it depends how dusty it is where you drive.

[vanagon40]

I replaced the OEM (not K&N) air filter on my 2001 Standard twice. First in 2009 at 20,000 miles and the second time in 2014 at 36,000 miles. Neither time did the filter look dirty enough that I felt I should have changed it sooner.

[sandy]

K&N says clean every 50,000 miles.

[98valk]

I replaced the OEM (not K&N) air filter on my 2001 Standard twice. First in 2009 at 20,000 miles and the second time in 2014 at 36,000 miles. Neither time did the filter look dirty enough that I felt I should have changed it sooner.

Exactly.  

I have 27k on an OEM filter right now and still runs great and plugs show no sign of richness. They look the same as they did 10k miles ago.

[F6Dave]

This is a big issue on GL1800s because the filter is difficult to get to with so many plastic parts in the way.  It takes 3 hours or so.  So owners would not change it earlier than necessary.  I mention this because the Valkyrie's filter is similar in size and placement to the GL1800, so it probably collects dirt at a similar rate.

From what I've read on the F6B message board, the filters don't need to be changed until around 30,000 miles.  Many owners push it even longer.  A drop in fuel mileage is often a warning sign that it's time for a change.

[Led]

Yes.....K&N says the DIRTIER it gets, the better filtering properties there are.  I also cringe at that thought, and goes against what "normal" thought should be.......????

But that seems to work..........

[98valk]

Yes.....K&N says the DIRTIER it gets, the better filtering properties there are.  I also cringe at that thought, and goes against what "normal" thought should be.......????

But that seems to work..........

that is because the dirt is part of its filtering abilities. so just realize how much dirt has to pass through it first into your engine before the filtering efficiency goes up. k-n has always posted their efficiency numbers which were attained at the end of the standard dirt test right when it was about to fail to flow any air due to the dirt amount.
search spicer airfilter test and u might never use a k-n ever again unless u are racing.
the oem filter is a synthetic fiber/paper blend, which results in high flow and high filtration.

[cookiedough]

I'm not so sure any of us should do K&N's 50K cleaning/rinsing and re-oiling, more like 30K tops is all even if OEM honda air filter, time to replace or clean for sure.

My 2001 I/S had the stock honda air filter and at 18K miles was pretty darn buggy and dirty I thought it needing replacing then when I bought it in 2007.   I replaced with K&N against what others think to stay stock air filter since I got it on clearance rack for like 30 bucks at a Honda dealership trying to get rid of parts in a bin no longer of value.    I don't think dust or dirt is an issue with K&N air filters on street bikes vs. say ATV's being thru more dust by a ton, but regarless,  50K which K&N claims is pushing it in my book. 

I think for sure some 30K miles later or so,  would be a good estimate of when to clean it again,  that is my opinion, NOT 50K miles UNLESS higher mileage driver putting on say 10K miles or more per year. 

When I replaced my stock air filter around 18K or so from 2001 to around 2007 or so,  was defintely not white paper element left and TONS and TONS of bugs all over pretty bad.   It wasn't horrible by any means, just thought for sure needing replacing before 20K miles and 7 years or so.