Motorcycle Air Filters

Your motorcycle can be compared to a living organism, and its engine to a beating heart which needs enough oxygen to function properly. That is why motorcycle air filters are among the essential parts of any bike. An air filter must keep dust, insects, and other debris from getting inside the engine while allowing a sufficient volume of clean air to go through. Without air, the combustion process is impossible, so when your air filter is clogged with dirt, it negatively affects the performance of your engine and increases fuel consumption. It means that you should change or clean your air filter regularly.

If you often ride on dusty terrain, you have to shorten the maintenance intervals for your air filter. Check the owner’s manual to find out how to remove and replace the air filter on your motorcycle. It may be hidden under a special air filter cover on one of the sides of your engine, which makes it easy to reach. In some bike models, the replacement procedure may be a little more complicated – you may have to remove a gas tank to get to the air filter cover. Just don’t forget to switch off the fuel inlet and disconnect all cables before removing the tank.

All motorcycle air filters can be divided into two main groups – pleated paper-based or cotton-gauze air filters and washable layered polymer foam filters. A clogged or dirty paper-based filter cannot be cleaned, so you will have to replace it when the time comes. For most motorcycle models, this procedure must be done once or twice per year, depending on the usage and riding conditions. In case of a reusable pleated cotton-gauze air filter, you can simply blow off the dust from the inside with an air compressor. Such a filter may be reused multiple times, as long as it is not damaged.

Dual-stage foam filters are widely used in the off-road and racing environment. It works similarly to a sponge catching dirt particles. A coarse outer foam layer retains sand, bugs, and other larger contaminants, and the fine inner layer catches dust. The principle of operation of a foam motorcycle air filter is fairly simple. Polyurethane foam with opened cells is dampened with special air filter oil. It allows dirt particles to stick to the walls of the foam cell structure. Even when some cells become clotted with dirt, other continue to extract dust particles and let cleaned air pass through into the engine.

Many specialists agree that foam filters work better than their paper or gauze counterparts. You can utilize the entire thickness of the foam to get unrestricted airflow for up to 80% of the air filter’s service life. When it is time to clean your filter, you can easily wash it, let it dry, re-oil it and reuse multiple times. Cotton gauze air filters are preferred in high-performance applications since they can provide better airflow for higher horsepower and faster acceleration. Check out our extensive collection of premium-quality motorcycle air filters produced by some of the most reputable manufacturers in the industry, such as UNI Filter, aFe, K&N, Maxima Racing Oils, and many others.