Pod question....or two....

[Krooozn]

I am toying with taking out the factory airbox and replacing it with two pods....my questions are.....what alterations will I have to make to the carbs first off and secondly....what size Pods would fit my 450/L? Sorry to be so helpless, but this is all new to me and I trying to do as much of my restore/customization as possible myself.....don't have very deep pockets so it's almost a must that I try to use good judgement in my decisions....

Thanx for any help.....Anita

[KitKat]

im not sure about pod fitting, but i know you will have to do some extensive changes in the carbs jetting because of them

[doctorgonzo]

Don't know what size for sure, but you can measure the outer diameter of the intake side of the carbs, the pods should be listed my size.

As for the carbs, they MAY make a dynojet kit for that bike (which is $130, but saves the trial and error), but if not you'll have to guess and go from there. Everything will have to go up. The pilot jet, the main jet, and the needle clip position. A lot of us have a box full of jets lying around, so possible you might be able to get the right jets (if you knew what they were) pretty cheap.

[Turtleface]

I am toying with taking out the factory airbox and replacing it with two pods....my questions are.....what alterations will I have to make to the carbs first off and secondly....what size Pods would fit my 450/L? Sorry to be so helpless, but this is all new to me and I trying to do as much of my restore/customization as possible myself.....don't have very deep pockets so it's almost a must that I try to use good judgement in my decisions....

Thanx for any help.....Anita

Unless there's something dreadfully wrong with the factory airbox, or you're making enough internal engine modifications to necessitate pods, you'll probably be much better off using the stock set-up. You can pick up an OEM style K&N filter for it if you want, and call it a day.

Generally speaking, pods will take a good amount of engine theory and general motorcycle maintenance to install properly. You'll need to re-jet the carb. I've never put pods on a bike before, but I think you also need to drill out a part of each carb to install some sort of brass restrictor. Pods aren't going to make a whole lot of difference by themselves, you have to be able to get out all that air, so unless you've got a better performing exhaust, performance gains will be minimal. Pods are also more suceptable to crosswinds, with poor/irregular performance while riding in one. And that's all only if you manage to get the carbs tuned up right for them.

I've only been riding since the start of August, but I've been wrenching on all sorts of things for a goodly while now. My main focus on my own bike has been to inspect/fix/replace every item on my bike that needs it, with emphasis on safety items that affect handling, braking, etc. I'd recommend you do the same. It'll give you a good understanding of how the bike works, and you'll knock out some of the basic maintainace items that have probably been neglected by your bike's previous owners. After enough of this so called "basic" stuff, you'll have a better frame of reference with which to make performance decisions.

Essentially, learn how to make the bike work as intended, learn why it works like that, and then you can figure out how to make it work the way you want it to. After that, you'll be much better able to select the parts that will give you the most performance for your dollar.


Welcome to motorcycling. Be prepared for a great journey.

[doctorgonzo]

"Generally speaking, pods will take a good amount of engine theory and general motorcycle maintenance to install properly"

Not really. You're taking your hand off of the engines mouth and letting it breathe in. They look cool (IMO), and do give some measureable performance gain. That being said, it does take some effort (or a dynojet kit, and a little effort even then) to get the carbs set up right, but then they perform very well. You also have the advantage of never having to deal with that godawful airbox and it's damnable boots ever again. I can have my carbs off the bike in 3 minutes and back on in 5. It's a taste thing. Some like 'em, some don't.

[Nessism]

"Generally speaking, pods will take a good amount of engine theory and general motorcycle maintenance to install properly"

Not really. You're taking your hand off of the engines mouth and letting it breathe in. They look cool (IMO), and do give some measureable performance gain. That being said, it does take some effort (or a dynojet kit, and a little effort even then) to get the carbs set up right, but then they perform very well. You also have the advantage of never having to deal with that godawful airbox and it's damnable boots ever again. I can have my carbs off the bike in 3 minutes and back on in 5. It's a taste thing. Some like 'em, some don't.

I'm not so sure about the measurable power gains, but they will take a measurable amount of fussing around with jetting and cost before the bike will run right.

[doctorgonzo]

I'm not so sure about the measurable power gains, but they will take a measurable amount of fussing around with jetting and cost before the bike will run right.

Think we had a LONG thread on this once. Couple percent, 2 or 3 maybe. Significant, no, measureable, sure. Fiddling, for sure. With a dynojet kit, you'll have to pull them 2 or 3 times to get them right. Without one... hope you got some time, a place to do plug chops, access to a dyno, or a friend who put them on the exact same bike. It only begins to be worth it if you're doing it for the aesthetic reasons (and getting rid of that spawn of satan airbox)

[67fire]

They look cool (IMO), and do give some measureable performance gain. That being said, it does take some effort (or a dynojet kit, and a little effort even then) to get the carbs set up right, but then they perform very well. You also have the advantage of never having to deal with that godawful airbox and it's damnable boots ever again. I can have my carbs off the bike in 3 minutes and back on in 5. It's a taste thing. Some like 'em, some don't.

I doubt very seriously that you will see ANY improvement in a tiny, stock 450.
Stick with an after-market air filter as stated earlier.
Now, if you have a 750,850,900,1000, 1100 or 1150...
It also depends a lot on if you ALSO are doing camshaft change, compression increase and exhaust improvements.
They all combined, work in harmony for major improvements!
On automotive sites, everyone is afraid to dive into their carb. (fear of failure perhaps.)
I have three different brand carbs that I set up for one of my cars and had the rare
opportunity to change each of them, on the same day at the track.
The difference between all three was less than .03 of a second, in the 1/8 mile!
In other words, they ALL worked flawlessly, regardless of brand, because they were tuned to the car.
Once you get it tuned correctly, you are set!
So what is the problem?
And as Doctorgonzo stated, you can have them off and back on in minutes.

Eric

[Krooozn]

I really had no idea that it was that involved....with the carb rejetting and such....heck...I just liked the way the darn things looked...! So I am going to keep the airbox intact just as it is and put in a K&N filter if I can find one and call it done! I am not a mechanic in the realm of being able to rejet carbs, etc...I can do tune ups, oil changes and very basic stuff.....but that's about it.....

Thanx to all of you for your prompt responses and your honesty...that's what I like about this forum, you guys shoot straight from the hip.....

Anita

[qwqb]

In another light, putting new jets in the carbs is actually a lot easier than you may think. If you follow the take a look at the The Carb Cleanup Series it will give you a really clear idea of how to work on your carbs. I am actually in the process of it right now, and after the first one, the rest are a breeze. Just a thought in case you wanted to make this venture, I'm sure it would prove to be a great learning experience as well.

[Nessism]

One other clue, forget about the K&N. The 450 filter is a piece of flat foam, go to your local motorcycle shop and pick up a piece of the fine mesh filter foam and cut one out for yourself. Done. K&N's are expensive and don't filter as well as OE filters. Why do you think they flow so well? No restriction and poor filtering.

[Steve]

You also have the advantage of never having to deal with that godawful airbox and it's damnable boots ever again.

A lot of guys brag about this, I just haven't figured it out.

What's "to deal with" about the airbox? Clean the filter every once in a while.

Five years ago, I rebuilt the carbs on my wife's bike. The airbox has never been off it since then. If there were pods on there, I would have to remove FOUR pods and replace them (if they were cheap pods) or clean them and oil them (if they were K&Ns). As it is, all I have to do is remove ONE K&N insert, clean and oil it, re-install it, I am done. NOTHING to do with the airbox. Why is everyone having to remove (and re-install) the airbox so many times?

.

[chef1366]

If they don't make a jet kit for the 450 I wouldn't mess with it.
These are 34mm CV carbs so the pods that fit the Yamaha XS650, GS750, GS1100 and GS1150. The latter three will come with four filters.
The Dynojet kit # 3133 will also fit but it is intended for an 1100 so I'm not sure if it will work. I don't see why not but it will come with enough for four carbs.

[Richharr]

sorry I have no argument or comment, just an answer to the question


48mm

[67fire]

Z1 Enterprises, will also sell you each individually.

Eric