K&N air filters

[DRGSin393]

I've used K&N filters on my cars and street bikes and now I see they're available for the dirt. Anyone out there use them? Any benefits to their use?

[crfjedi393]

I'm a K&N guy. My most favorite thing about the K&N is the ease of cleaning. It's a piece of cake compared to the foam filters. When I first bought it, I was thinking it wasn't thick enough to really keep the fine dust out. I oil it well and clean it often and it's great so far. I recently had the chance to check my cylinder wall and there was no scoring on the intake side whatsoever. I think I even noticed a little bottom end bonus the first ride as well! The $72 was well worth it.

[DRGSin393]

The <cough cough> $72 <cough cough>was worth <cough cough> it? OUCH! LOL They DO make a great product so I was wondering how it did with trapping the fine particles, which it sounds like it does well.

[crfjedi393]

Hehe. And that was at a small discount. Very good product, though.

[Darren7878]

Originally Posted by DRGSin

I've used K&N filters on my cars and street bikes and now I see they're available for the dirt. Anyone out there use them? Any benefits to their use?

Any update on this? Are any of you guys using the new K & N filters in your MX bikes? If so how do you clean them etc? Notice any power gains? Thanks!

[FFRacing11x]

You will hear alot of negative responses about K&N. Most are from improper installation, improper cleaning and oiling, etc.
We use K&N exclusively on our 450s and 750s. Yeh but that is DT you say? Well, we just came back from a week of testing at the Springfield TT and 1/2 mile. The 1/2 mile is crushed limestone and sand. We had 3 bikes that ran over 100 laps each. Got back to the shop and NOTHING got past the K&Ns!! Besides the sand, Limestone is some of the nastiest and crappiest stuff yopu will ever run in and the K&Ns did a fantastic job.
The initial price is higher, but you get a better product that almost lasts forever, gives better performance and protection, and easier to work with. Besides K&N is one of the biggest supporters of MC racing out there. Tdub

[Darren7878]

Thanks for the reply. And how do you clean them properly?

[FFRacing11x]

With K&N filter cleaner and water. ALWAYS rinse from the inside out.

[Darren7878]

Originally Posted by FFRacing11x

With K&N filter cleaner and water. ALWAYS rinse from the inside out.

Would it be ok to use petrol to clean it?

[crfjedi393]

Originally Posted by Darren7878

Would it be ok to use petrol to clean it?

No! The filters come with a can of cleaner and oil. You just spray the cleaner on the outside, let it sit for a bit, and rinse from the inside out, as Tdub already said. It is WAY too easy.
One more thing. TWMX had a write up on them. They said the installation was a pain. They don't know what they're talking about. You just have to szueeze it a little to fit it inside the subframe on a CRF250R. I can't say anything about any other bike from personal experience. Istallation is easier than the foam filters in my opinion.

[TRXman86]

When I was helping a guy on his stock car, we used to clean our with as hot water as we could stand, and dish soap. It did work, but over time dries the element out badly. Use the K&N cleaner for it, as well as the K&N oil. Nothing works better for that. As for power gain, yea they help. Not a million times like a new exaust, but more air is a plus. Good low end gain over a Twin Air, Moose, or a UNI filter's. I have one one my 400EX and love(d) it. They trap tons more fine grime as been stated. as long as you oil properly, clean often, and get sealed around your boot good... to go... when oiling, spray the oil up and down with the element, not sided to side. it dont get as good a lube that way. up and down gets in between the element for more protection...

TDUB,
How was the mile this year? I hear it's going to be a dandy again...

[FFRacing11x]

We will find out in 2 weeks!! the Yamahas are looking good as we tested at Springfield this last week. Will let ya know. Of for $5 you can watch it live at [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

[TRXman86]

i may be in the infield been awhile since ive seen 'em. good luck either way and kick some but!!!

REPRESENT!!!! LOL

[Woody_393]

thanks for the info. I've often wondered about them, though, as one of my friends told me, I tend to WAAAAY over oil them (my boys xr50 has one).

[crfjedi393]

I remember the first time I oiled my K&N. Something red was all over the trailer and I was freakin' out! It was just dripping from my filter. I was use to oiling the foam filters.:

[Woody_393]

Me too, and I've done my boys filter a bunch of time, but I just can't seem to stop myself from drenching the thing....

[FFRacing11x]

Originally Posted by TRXman86

i may be in the infield been awhile since ive seen 'em. good luck either way and kick some but!!!
REPRESENT!!!! LOL

Make sure you stop by and say hello!

[paul reed]

k&n filter was a STOCK item on 1979 era Can Am motorcycles and i`ve used them ever since - my ducati even has`em - it is claimed by k&n that after a certain amount of dirt gets on the filter it actually filters better than when freshly installed and i agree with this claim - the recharge kit is only 10 bucks and contains the special cleaner and filter juice,enough to do many times-i reckon the cleaner is actually simple green or hondabrite or whatever you want put on your label but i go ahead and buy the recharge kit for 10 bucks-i rate them a 10 outta 10

[ossagp1]

I was pretty much a believer in them for a good many years. As Paul states, CanAms used to come witht them. I had a 79 as well as a few others. Some came with a foam overlay to the K and N. We have some really fine silt up here, and it did make it's way through. It makes it's way through lots of things. The only foam filters that I find that pass silt (ours is the glacial variety, very fine talcum like compound) on my CR500 are the No Toil. They work as well as anything else on everything else I own, but not the cr.

I used them in the 60's and they were the best thing available. Now, though for the price, they would be a little further down the list. I do still have a bunch of their slipon's though.

[MotoMan]

Originally Posted by ossagp1

The only foam filters that I find that pass silt (ours is the glacial variety, very fine talcum like compound) on my CR500 are the No Toil. They work as well as anything else on everything else I own, but not the cr.

Andy,

Just to clarify, do you think it was the No-toil filter or the oil that was allowing the silt thru? I have had excellent results with the no-toil products around this area, our worst soil around here though is sand...we tend to ride in alot of it.