R3R Air Filter Installation & Removal.

Well guy's I am wondering how easy it is to remove and install the air filters on the R3R. While we're on the subject of air filters, can K&N filters fit under the chrome cover, or do they have to be exposed like I've seen on some Rockets??? I do most of the mechanics on my bike that I have now, and when I get a Roadster it will be the same.

What are the stock filters like on the Roadster, are they paper??? This is a picture of the filters off my bike. These things are a PITA to get out and install.

TOMCAT said:

Honestly I wish I would have left my stock induction set-up alone. Fitted the K&N's when I replaced the cam chain (at 96,000klms) .. mainly because I couldn't be f#cked putting all the stock plumbing back on .. has proved to be a mistake in my case. Induction noise doing my head in now. Lined my bear-claw with body deadening bitumen sheeting trying to shut it up but it hasn't worked. Really hoping one of the prototypes being worked on at present is going to be the solution.

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The K&N noise was enough for me to take them off. The chirping, but more so the slapping sound. I went back to a single filter on the inner plenum but it's just as awkward for maintenance.

The spare plenum (that you sent) that I subsequently modified is better than both the above imo. But still a bit clumsy to remove for maintenance. And I have my doubts as to how much it flows at HIGH rpms. More than stock - maybe not as much as K&N's.

The RAMAIR did whistle a bit at first - but as I ride the PC5 is reducing this. No slapping. It just drops on - like the K&N's but no fiddling to get the rear one lined up to avoid. What's a bit odd is the the exhaust note has sharpened up a bit too. Early days - but I can live with the noise even so. And the engine spins up into "silly" rpms very smoothly indeed. Here's hoping Wayne and Nev can be more quantitative.

I didn't really mind the induction noise of the K&Ns but found the chirping a little annoying, although I got used to it. I felt that they made the bike run a little better but the biggest plus for me was not having to put the plenum back on. Having read some of the comments about flow etc I can see that they maybe do restrict intake a little. 3 filters seemed to make sense but really allow significantly less flow than a larger single filter. The way I see it now, as only one cylinder is sucking in at a time, the amount of air flowing through the one big filter is far greater at any given time than can flow through each of the smaller ones.

I put "Cobbas" intake on initially as a temporary gesture but noticed immediately that the crickets had gone, the exhaust note went to deep roar and the induction noise disappeared except at full throttle (at which time I LOVE it). Not saying it's better or even as good as some of these newer designs but I do agree with the principle they are all employing. My bike now, with nothing more than a 12 minute tune after fitting the intake, pulls much stronger than it did with the triples (and attracts a hell of a lot more attention). If I didn't have it I reckon I'd be going for something like the one Les (Ozrider) is developing.

Just Cruizen said:

What are the stock filters like on the Roadster, are they paper??? This is a picture of the filters off my bike. These things are a PITA to get out and install.

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Stock Rocket filter is nothing like those. It sits in an oval shaped box under the seat and draws air in from behind the seat to the inside of an oval shaped filter tube. The air then runs through large diametre pipes under the tank to an large plenum that sits under the chrome bear claw on the side of the tank. This plenum has two inlet openings and three out that attach to the top of the three throttle bodies. It is a monster pain in the arse to refit it if you ever have to take it off. The filter itself is dead easy to change.