K&N Filter? Pods? Stock air filter? pros and cons please!

[81GS1000L]

Hi All...
First off..thx again to all the members in this awesome forum...have really, really helped me learn a lot about my bike.
Another question...
I want to replace the stock air filter...it is the kind you have to oil, not the paper filter for my 81 GS1000L.
Haven't checked at the dealership yet, but am hoping the stock is still available?
From the search here, it looks like you need to rejet the carbs if going to the K&N pods and eliminate the air box...not wanting to do that.
But, i see that K&N has made a filter to replace the stock one..part number SU-1200... Has anyone used this? Better or worse than the stock one? Will i have to rejet?
Looking forward to your answers...pro's and cons.
thx in advance
Rick

[81GS1000L]

yes i searched first...lol

Hi again...
Yes i searched first, and yes i saw all the threads..but still didn't find out about the stock K&N filter...does a person still have to rejet using these?

[Nessism]

My 850 had a drop-in K&N until it was removed a few days ago – the bike ran well but the plugs were white so I switched back to a stock type foam filter. I haven’t run the bike enough miles to tell if the problem is resolved but the bike seems to run great.

[duaneage]

I don't think the KN will give note worthy improvement in horsepower, especially on a small bike. they are good quality filters and properly oiled will protect the engine from dirt. I use stock foam filter and oil it every year, works for me.

Pods require a certain amount of tuning and while they look fast and make it easier to remove the carbs, they are no run in the rain and have more intake noise. The airbox is designed to reduce pulsing between the carbs and provide air free from the turbulence of movement. There are velocity stacks inside the box that straighten the airflow and isolate each carb. Pods change this around and require different jetting and needle adjustments. You will probably get worse mileage from pods, not better since the mixture usually has to richen. VM carbs work better than CV carbs because they do not rely on airflow to lift the barrels. CV carbs, especially on smaller engines, are very sensitive to air flow and vacuum.

I recommend sticking with the airbox and either OEM or a KN filter. Of course there are plenty of folks who disagree with my thinking but that is par for the course.

[Nessism]

One thing to keep in mind regarding K&N’s is that they flow lots of air because they don’t filter as well as more restrictive filters. There are filter tests linked on bobistheoilguy.com if anyone wants to review. I can’t say a K&N is going to destroy your engine, but if ultimate engine durability is a goal, I’d stay with the stock filter.

[81GS1000L]

thx!

Hi Guys...thx very much for the information...really appreciate it.
Ordered the stock replacement from the dealer today...
Once again, kudo's to you all.

[brveagle]

K&N air filter picked me up .1 in the 1/4 mile.

I'd recommend it to anyone. Maintenance is simple. Just reoil once a season.

[Billy Ricks]

Hmm, I've run my pods in downpours with absolutely no problems. They tend to filter better as dirt accumulates on them. K&N even recommends oiling them dirty and washing maybe once a year.

[Nessism]

If any of you guys want to read about air filter performance check this link... http://duramax-diesel.com/spicer/index.htm

Bottom line: K&N filters don't filter very well. Paper filters are actually best but not many of our GS bikes use them. Uni filters don't fair very well either - I suspect a Uni is basically the same as a stock foam GS filter. Oiling a dirty K&N sounds like a good idea; the oil will allow more dirt to be collected and the dirt will provide a restriction, which should help the filter catch more dirt.

[BassCliff]

Hi,

Hmmm, so I shouldn't have washed my K&N? Cool. One less maintenance item to worry about.

I also have a foam UNI filter. I wash one while I'm using the other. I don't notice much, if any, difference. Of course, I ride like a grandpa most of the time.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[twinapache]

I would suggest staying as stock as possible for an everyday rider. With the drop in K&N, you can probably get away without rejetting, but you'll be running a little lean. Best to go up one size on the main jet.

If you're looking for more performance, best way is to buy a bigger bike.