Stock Air Filter - RESTRICTED!!! Lose It, Replace It

Discussion in '7th Generation 2010-Present' started by JBzRed07, Apr 13, 2013.

  1. JBzRed07

    JBzRed07 New Member

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    After the knuckle busting process in my pursuit of access to the air box, I finally reached it.
    What a pain in the ass! My VFR800's air filter was certainly far easier to get to.

    Guys and gals, all I can say is Damn!...... Get that stock, snot-blocked, restricted, choking POS air filter out of your bike. I am surprised that any molecule of anything less than the density of Helium can get through that concrete wall??

    So, I installed a new K & N air filter... Put her back together,,, started her up and Smooooooooooth!
    My idle is steady, no fluctuations in RPM's whatsoever - Unbelievable!!!
    No wonder the throttle response was so labored.

    Between the Leo Vince EVO II exhaust, the BAZZAZ torque correction, and the K & N, I believe this is going to be a much happier bike.
     
  2. dublflush

    dublflush New Member

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    Thanks for that, my Metairie bro. How many miles on the stock filter? Was it pretty dirty, or just of the typical crap paper design?
     
  3. CBRent

    CBRent New Member

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    I will have to look into it. I must admit I'm not disappointed with throttle response.

    I have the Bazazz and a Two Brothers Exhaust. Those mods made a big difference.

    Brent
     
  4. JBzRed07

    JBzRed07 New Member

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    What's up 2xFlush!
    I had about 4k miles on the stock filter. It wasn't all that dirty, but man it is one seriously congested designed air filter. You will see what I mean once you've changed yours when you get around to it. For the life of me, I can't see how something that seems so 'air flow resistant' could be of any benefit to this machine, but a K & N or the like seems to be the ticket.

    Howdy Brent!
    I too did the Z-Bomb and agree with you - that was a necessary modification with good results!
     
  5. TOE CUTTER

    TOE CUTTER Mullet Man

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    OK, now I want to see a pic of this filter.
    :worthless:
     
  6. lshark

    lshark New Member

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    i found that the K&N air filter made the bike run even leaner and put the stocker back in until i added the Bazzaz ZF-i and remapped...now it's great!!
     
  7. Volfy

    Volfy New Member

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    If you leave the engine management system stock, the closed-loop feedback control with the intake Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor and the exhaust lambda (O2) sensors and should keep mixture control fairly consistent.

    Now, if you start bypassing O2 sensors with aftermarket fuel controllers, then that's another story.

    I haven't pulled the stock air filter on the VFR1200, so I don't know what it looks like. In general though, with all the computerized engine management systems with multiple sensors used in cars/bikes these days, I have found changing air filters to aftermarket (K&N, BMC, etc.) less compelling than it once was.
     
  8. dublflush

    dublflush New Member

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    Did the z bomb thing also. Probably the best bang for the $. I have 12k on the stock filter, so time to toss it.
    Hoping I can get away without a fuel controller till next winter, as it looks a bit time consuming to install.
     
  9. JBzRed07

    JBzRed07 New Member

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    photo.jpg photo_1.jpg photo_2.jpg
     
  10. JBzRed07

    JBzRed07 New Member

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    I agree, that Fuel Controller looks like a pain in the butt! :puke: It has leads to be routed all over the bike. I'm not about to pull the engine apart to install that thing.
     
  11. Can't get right

    Can't get right New Member

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    Only bad part is getting to the O2 sensors. I installed my fuel controller when I changed the radiator coolant..which should be done every 2 years or 24k miles (whichever comes first). Ended up taking the whole radiator off, and it became a piece of cake. Otherwise undo the 2 side radiator bolts and it gives you just enough room to not make you go insane.

    As for the stock air filter...it's not that bad, but it definitely doesn't let any crap thru (which is a good thing in my book). Bike runs great with the stock. If I was having issues, I might try a K&N...Hell, I'd try anything. I only use the Z-bomb when I go and do curvy roads. The fuel controller made my bike run silky smooth...using the Dyno PCV
     
    Last edited: Apr 17, 2013
  12. lshark

    lshark New Member

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    i had my Bazzaz ZFi fuel mgnt installed by the dealer while they were doing the valve clearance check....they only charged me for 1 extra hour to do ZFi...good deal
     
  13. Volfy

    Volfy New Member

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    The stock paper filter doesn't look all that bad. All the pleating unfolds into a lot of surface area for the filter medium.

    The other filter looks like it's built for combat duty, with a wire mesh and a perforated screen. It's mighty stout. The perforated screen does reduce the effective conductivity of the filter though.
     
  14. lshark

    lshark New Member

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    those pics are of both sides of the same stock filter
     
  15. Volfy

    Volfy New Member

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    Ahh... now I understand. Yap, I won't be buying a stock replacement then.
     
  16. Dangerous Dave

    Dangerous Dave New Member

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    What I'd really like to see is a pic of a big bright light on the metal side shining through the filter. That's the real test. If it passes plenty of light, then it passes plenty of air.
     
  17. lshark

    lshark New Member

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    stock filter $43.79 K&N $58.99 ...... stock filter ..throw it away when dirty.....K&N...clean and reuse for life of vehicle .....my '83 has the same K&N in it for 30 years...clean and oil it once a year good as new !!! def increases air flow...you can hear the diff...if you ever flipped the air filter cover on an old V8 car, you know that sound !!!!
     
  18. tinkerinWstuff

    tinkerinWstuff Administrator Staff Member

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    The great air fter debate was long overdue for the 1200.
     
  19. Dangerous Dave

    Dangerous Dave New Member

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    Few things you're not taking into account. Yes, the K&N is far less restrictive, but it also doesn't filter as well. Second thing is the filter oil...it's all too easy to over-oil a K&N prior to install. Very bad for an engine with a Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor. The oil coats and contaminates the sensor, so it doesn't see all the air that's actually being drawn into the engine. The end result is a lean condition due to all the unmetered air. I see it all the time in the shop. *FILTHY* MAF sensors and a check engine light with a code P0171 stored (lean malfunction).
    Like I said, I want to see the OP shine a big bright flashlight through that filter. If it won't pass light, it won't pass air. But if it does.... That's why I hate the furnace guys who try to tell me to throw away my clean furnace filter every month. Light tells you if it's bad or not. When I was taking Auto Tech in college, we did an experiment. We put an exhaust analyzer on a car with a fresh air filter and took readings. Then we covered 75% of the filter in duct tape and tried again. The readings were virtually unchanged. It takes a REALLY restrictive air filter to actually cause a problem. Manufacturers spend crazy amounts of time and money engineering airboxes. They're not going to flush all that down the toilet by putting in an air filter that won't flow. Don't judge that book by its cover. As for hearing the difference, noise does not equate to power...ask Harley Davidson (or BadBilly)
     
  20. JBzRed07

    JBzRed07 New Member

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    Anyone that has changed their stock air filter to a K & N or similar, have you or are you having any issues with your bike's MAF (Mass Air Flow Sensor) or is your bike throwing codes? iShark, any troubles with your VFR1200 since your mods?
     
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