What air filter?

[gsxbarmy]

My bike has always run perfectly with 3 diff types of filter.. Cant remember thoughts/sound on stock paper. When K&N fitted i could notice diff sound even though its a long way from ears.compared to smaller intake/tube down inside type. No testing but also think fuel mileage is better and revs easier above 6k. No test or figures to back up but quite happy with it.

From memory grog, when we 'tested' a stick and K&N on a dyno, the difference was negligible, the K&N gave 1 bhp less over stock. The view then was that unless you did high mileage, then probably the K&N wasn't worth the outlay over using a stick air filter, i.e for low mileage riders, there was no benefit to be gained from replacing a good standard stock filter. That was all.
Clearly for the high mileage boys, or those that live in dusty conditions, then being washable, there would be a cost benefit over the years.

[Hooli]

And yet my bike runs just fine with the HiFlo air filter fitted..
Mind you I dont tend to screw my bike everywhere I go so maybe thats the difference.

Mine seemed to run fine, with a bit more induction noise when wound up to the bits of the rev counter you don't visit. But when tested on an unrestricted autobahn it was suffering a massive lack of top end...

[Hooli]

My new filters turned up today (I ordered two) side by side with the original they are identical as you'd expect for something that came in a suzuki box.
Can you tell which is which?

[KiwiCol]

it would have been hard for the girl to breathe through that black one.

[Hooli]

Aye. The black one was taken out years ago, but kept to compare pattern ones too. I only refitted it last week as a test to prove it was the pattern one causing the issue.

[Jakemate]

Hi Guys my bike came with a K and N filter installed when i brought it and was one off the first things i got rid of when i serviced the bike , im 57 year old and have had road and dirt bikes all my life . i dont give too shits what they say about the fibers vitiation when the engine is running that makes K and N good. there is no performance gain and as for what is saved in re using the filter is lost in buying the product to service it, a total waste of time and money . unless your ridding down dirt roads stick to the factory paper element , i mean the boffins in japan worked all this out didn't they.
BTW have run K and N on a DRZ 400 and found fine particulate passing into carburetor body. on 2016 WR450 with foam oiled filter nothing.
in saying that back in the lat 80s i had a 900ss Ducati that had nothing but a belmouth on 40mm delortos carbs.
its where you ride and hat u suck in but i i will be happy to send anyone my near new K and N air filter if they want to pay the postage i dont want it.
for me its what that jap boffins worked out paper   

[seth]

The standard Suzuki air filter the bikes came with new flowed slightly more air than a K&N replacement( proved many years ago on a dyno) but it's probably the next best thing if you can get a Suzuki standard air filter.
Most pattern replacement air filters seam to flow much less air causing some folk to have issues with the bikes smooth running .

[Irish in Oz]

I have a K&N in mine and when I changed from standard I didn't notice any difference.

[grog]

Jake, i had oil/foam on my 900 Duke back in 80s. Parked up o/ nite at mates place and his Blue Heeler ate them. Well lubed dog that one.

[DP1400]

Standard every time for me - many years ago i tried K&N`s on my Z1. Disaster, couldn`t change back quick enough, they completely changed the power charcteristics of the engine - a significant loss of low down power, which is exactly where you want it!

[grog]

DP, have had oem, klaas and K&N. Klass is like hi flow, top end less. Stupid tube down the guts. Cant tell diff between other 2. I agree paper is good, we fit to every car we service at work. Also K&N works for me. Service kit just $20, gives about 5 cleans & oils. Bike runs perfectly, all i need.

[DP1400]

grog, good points.
I based my comment on personal experience many years ago. Its the old story i guess - if K&N`s were total rubbish, no-one would fit `em! They`re not for me thats all.
I really like `standard` personally - i base that view on the fact that Mr. Suzuki spent a long time and lots of dosh developing parts to give the `14 optimum `every day` performance, and i`m reluctant to mess with that! 

[grog]

So , if you owned a k7 youd still have bazooka fitted?

[Hooli]

I stick to standard & change it every 50k miles if it needs it or not, just like the plugs. Works for me & the bike runs fine.

[Irish in Oz]

So , if you owned a k7 youd still have bazooka fitted?

I have a K7, and it is totally stock except for the K&N which I reckon makes no difference, I also have Givi screen, rack and pannier brackets, but none of it seem to make it slower. Put a staintune on it but was too noisy was like riding without earplugs.