Anyone fitted a K&N air filter to a 2009-2011 'blade? If so have you noticed any difference? I am trying to work out if there is any benfit to one over an OE version.
Yup I have one fitted but as I didn't dyno before and after I don't know if it makes any difference ....... sorry
I have used BMC filters on 2 of my bikes and have had positive results. The fueling of both bikes improved with BMC fitted. Also read this link for a guy that dyno tested filters. Stock air filter vs BMC race air filter - Honda Motorcycles - FireBlades.org
I used bmc a few times They're a better fit than pipercross and k&n etc as the filter body is ridged plastic so is perfectly matchedto the airbox instead of the foam on rubber frame type. I don't think they improve performance enough to warrant buying one really but you may gain a little bit if the fuelling is right. They tend to let more dirt past though.
Interesting I've just put in an order for a K&N on my blade will eventually get round to fitting it later in the month will be interested to see how she runs afterwards. I'm assuming that without a PCV or Bazzaz though my bike will continue in her hunt for the perfect idle or is there a map that the Dealer can put on that will take that away? Reason being is that when I had my Triumph Daytona 675 I could always put maps on for the exhausts etc to keep the fueling balanced but I am not sure does the standard blade ECU have this facility too?
If you want try a good product, i ve purchased a set of SprintFilter for my 12 blade, and i m selling one. In all way superior than cotton gauze. Since last years there was the original equipment of Ducati perf.
I don't think coming on a blade forum and posting this is the best way to sell something, we all know what kind of reputation ducati has
Lollllll Exact ! but it's a way to say if they was take by an manufacturer to be OEM equipment, it can be great. Even if they shine all over the world in big team and dyno.
sprintfilters are pure shit , customers service is a nightmare (plz do not tell me they are italians because also bmc is located in the same area) by the way bmc or k&n on oem bike are useless our bikes are already SUPERlean cause pollution
Run a K&N for 60,000 miles I think and after a clean comes up new - it stops all the crud and a quick clean up gets it looking new Will add some pics in a bit of how effective they are at catching dirt
Really ? Last year i ve bought my first sprint filter which have some defaults in plastic, i write them and 1 week later they send me a new filter without asking me sending the old, for me great service. All the way an air filter don't play much with AFR ratio.
Ive pass a lot of time on dyno , and is there is 3 Hp with an aftermarket air filter after fueling is the max we can expect, with a little in torque midrange. You ll see good gains only after big changes like an headwork and other.
On a different note, I used to sell K&N's for cars for 10 years.Brilliant sales of cone kits and panel filters in the boy racer era.But today its a different story not alot of demand for them now.Back in my early K&N days we used Barry at BD engineering for rolling road work. Most cars lost horse power midrange with the cones and no difference with the panel filter in the air box.Eventually it dawned on me that the bubble will burst and the sales will decline.My business partner plowed even more money into getting a bigger range where I had seen the differences and slowly got the range down to just a few left.I showed him the results, he didn't believe it.He lost £1000's and eventually folded up with me buying his stake in my shop to get him out of the mess he got himself into.Mines standard, btw.
So am I right in saying that the general consensus of opinion here is not to bother with an aftermarket filter then? Strange I always thought that people thought that they were good never had any issues with K&N on my cars. Not really interested in a power gain to be honest just wanted something to help the engine breathe just that bit better was all...
Power wise arguments aside a K&N has the advantage of being reusable so therefore can be cleaned more often if required to keep performance at it's optimum. Yes they cost more but if time for cleaning is not a problem then they are better value in the long term.
