If you’re looking to turn your motorcycle into a cafe racer, scrambler, or chopper, you may consider adding a set of pod filters. However, before you do, you should know a few things.
They’re supposed to increase airflow by replacing the stock airbox with an individual pod filter. Pod filters will work best when paired with performance exhaust and tuning.
Airflow
Pod filters typically replace the factory air box and filter on custom bikes. They can be a great way to add an airflow boost to your engine without spending much money. However, they aren’t perfect and can have some drawbacks as well.
Firstly, they aren’t good at stopping dirt and dust particles from entering your carburetors and engine. These small filters usually only have one layer of small wire mesh and don’t do a very good job of preventing this debris from entering your engine.
Another issue is that they can soak up water from the road. If you ride in the rain a lot, this can be an issue as the water can soak into your engine and cause damage to it.
It’s important to note that this problem only occurs with cheap filters that don’t have precision and are not genuine. Keeping your motorcycle clean and oiled is essential to keep these high-flow air filters in good working condition.
Ultimately, the performance of your engine depends on several factors, including the amount of air and fuel it gets into the cylinders. It is why you should always tune your bike after installing any high-performance component.
Pod air filters from Purpose Built Moto are a great way to boost your engine, but they should be coupled with proper tuning and a good exhaust system to get the most out of them.
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Noise
If you have ever ridden a motorcycle, you know the stock air box is a black box with a small air filter inside. It is designed to improve airflow, reduce intake noise, and help keep rainwater from entering the engine.
Pod filters are another popular choice for improving their bikes’ performance and aesthetics. While they look cool, there are a few things you need to know before making the jump from your stock air box to a pod filter.
First, most motorcycle pod filters do not have a built-in air filter like your stock airbox. They have a layer of tiny wire mesh that slows airflow and prevents dust and debris from entering the engine.
These small filters can cause a few problems, however. A poorly constructed or poorly matched pod filter can block air “bleed” jets at the mouth of your carburetors, which is bad news for EFI bikes.
Also, a poor-quality pod filter can introduce chronic leanness into your bike’s engine. This issue can’t be corrected by putting in larger fuel jets and will likely require you to retune your EFI.
You also need to be aware that some bikes are prone to having an overly large opening on their pod filter, which can result in an increased amount of air leaking into the engine. It can increase the risk of engine failure, particularly when riding in wet conditions or when it rains hard.
Finally, don’t be fooled by the marketing campaign on many cheaper pod filters. These filters aren’t nearly as effective as their higher-priced counterparts, which can be found in most auto parts stores.
A high-quality pod filter can be a great addition to any custom bike, but the best way to ensure it is doing its job is to use a maintenance kit to help you keep the filter clean and dry. These kits usually come with the pod filter and a bag of cleaner that you can spray on your pod filter to get it squeaky clean before you put it on the bike.
Aesthetics
A lot of people choose pod filters for their aesthetics, and it’s not a bad idea to do so. They help make a custom motorcycle look more custom, and they’re also a great way to add a little style to a stock vehicle without making it look too expensive or tacky.
Some people go all out with their pod filter modifications, and the results can be spectacular. The best part is that it’s not expensive to do it yourself, and the results are often well worth the extra effort.
The most important factor in getting the most out of your pod filter is ensuring you have a good quality one that’s correctly jetted for your particular engine. Using the wrong-sized or improperly designed filter can result in much-wasted horsepower, and you might end up with an underperforming machine that’s worse than before.
The best way to avoid this is to purchase the highest-quality pod filter. Then, clean it with a commercial cleaning solution or soap and water.
Performance
If you want to add some performance to your motorcycle or dirt bike, a motorcycle pod filter is the way to go. These small air filters attach to your carburetors and throttle bodies and allow more air to be pushed into the engine.
Despite their small size and low price, a good pod filter will provide significant performance gains. Typically, you’ll see an increase in horsepower by up to 5%. It is not much, but it’s worth it if you’re into racing or want to make your motorcycle more efficient and get better gas mileage.
You’ll also want to tune your motorcycle after installing a motorcycle pod filter. It ensures that your extra airflow is balanced with the fuel injected into your engine.
