KN Filter

[b1rks]

Thinkin  of installng KN filter in Big Easy. Anyone have any issues good or bad. Never replace clean occationally. Little pricey though.

[al v]

Having tried it both ways, I've come to the conclusion that I prefer just putting in a new stock air filter. For no other reason then I don't like the extra time it takes to clean the k&n. I like to order several air filters so I always have one on hand, then if I have to take the tank off for any reason, I'm all set to change the air filter. I'm sure others don't mind cleaning it...

[Jess from VA]

Here's my two cents.  I ran K & Ns in many other bikes, where it was one bolt to take it off (cars/trucks too).  It is hard to beat a good, freshly oiled K & N. 

But pulling the tank is a little tricky, the interstate moreso with the fuel sensor, and getting your vent kinked is easy which can leave you on the side of the road (till you open the gas cap).  And it's a good idea to run the tank low before you pull the tank.   So, it naturally gets put off. 

The K & N oil dries up in say a year (doesn't it??), even if the filter is not all that dirty, and filtration suffers.  Past experience shows I do not usually get a really dirty filter in one year (yes it is partially dirty, but still OK).  So if I leave an OE filter in longer than a year, I still have good filtration, after the K & N has dried out.  So, I like the OE filter for what I think is a longer working life (between cleaning/oiling of a K & N not less than once a year.)  Yes it costs more, but laziness has a price.

A clean K & N (with or without prefilter) may give you one horsepower more than an OE filter....... big whoop.

BTW, when you forget to plug in your IS fuel sensor when putting the tank back on, the led dash flashes at you on empty in perpetuity....... in disgust at your forgetfulness.   

[sandy]

The K&N has larger pores which is why they flow more air. Even with oil, they don't filter as finely as an OEM filter.

[wiggydotcom]

I have the K&N and like the idea that I've bought one filter and I'm done. It's individual preference, I guess.

[NITRO]

I've used both and prefer the K&N just for the fact that I will never need to replace it (or remember to order a new filter). I clean the filter once each spring. I've taken the tank off so many times now for various reasons that it's not a big deal. (I added a little bit longer vent line to make re-installation easier)

[R J]

MGM has had a K&N in it for over 240+K and I'm only on my 3rd filter.  Put # 2 in, and forgot to do something, don't remember now, but in the process of taking the tank back off, I had a screwdriver in my hand, and something did not work like it was supposed to.   Filter got a big screw driver in it's middle and pulled toward me.     Costly loss of temper.

I clean the filter every time the tank is off of if 16 months have gone by.

My truck and the wife's Toyota Highlander also have K&N filters.    Pick up no noticeable change, the Toyota went from a slouch to a scalded dog.   Also got 2 more miles to the gallon.

[9Ball]

Here's my two cents.  I ran K & Ns in many other bikes, where it was one bolt to take it off (cars/trucks too).  It is hard to beat a good, freshly oiled K & N. 

But pulling the tank is a little tricky, the interstate moreso with the fuel sensor, and getting your vent kinked is easy which can leave you on the side of the road (till you open the gas cap).  And it's a good idea to run the tank low before you pull the tank.   So, it naturally gets put off. 

The K & N oil dries up in say a year (doesn't it??), even if the filter is not all that dirty, and filtration suffers.  Past experience shows I do not usually get a really dirty filter in one year (yes it is partially dirty, but still OK).  So if I leave an OE filter in longer than a year, I still have good filtration, after the K & N has dried out. 

This is an important issue to remember if you have a K&N filter....if you dig through their instructions and literature  you can find reference to the oil drying out and losing filtering effectiveness, especially in dusty environments.

Some think erroneously that since the K&N is a" million mile" filter that it doesn't require periodic maintenance to maintain the optimum filtering capability.  The million mile claim only refers to the material the filter is made of, not the routine cleaning and re-oiling interval.

Proper cleaning and oiling (it's easy to get over-oiled too) on a yearly basis is a good start to maintain the filter.  If you ride a lot in dusty conditions, then yearly may not be frequent enough.

[Misfit]

If a K&N breathes better (allows more air to enter the system) and you don't add more fuel to the mix you are leaning out a motor that was set to lean from the factory. If you run without the pre-filter you are further leaning out an already lean motor. If you use too much oil you will be reducing air flow. I have seen bikes so rich from a heavily oiled filter that they would barely run. I personally don't think they filter as well as the OEM paper filter. These filters were designed for racing applications. Folks that race will rebuild there motor sometimes after everytime they make a run. I don't think it's a deal breaker, but for my bike I like the OEM.

[Chrisj CMA]

If a K&N breathes better (allows more air to enter the system) and you don't add more fuel to the mix you are leaning out a motor that was set to lean from the factory. If you run without the pre-filter you are further leaning out an already lean motor. If you use too much oil you will be reducing air flow. I have seen bikes so rich from a heavily oiled filter that they would barely run. I personally don't think they filter as well as the OEM paper filter. These filters were designed for racing applications. Folks that race will rebuild there motor sometimes after everytime they make a run. I don't think it's a deal breaker, but for my bike I like the OEM.

I felt the same way for a long time.  BUT, my bike was running rich so eventually I tried a K&N and now its right on. 

If the lack of filtration of particles was a problem, then some of the thousands and thousands of non race vehicles using the K&N would have reported problems by now.  I have had mine in for 4 or 5 years now and Im at 135K miles with no problems whatsoever.