Riding without air filter

[wapam]

How much damage (if any) will happen if I ride without an air filter for a little until my filter I ordered comes? Streets aren't exactly dusty but then again who knows.

Thanks for any opinions

[bikerphil]

A.F.

I've done this before, bike still runs. I've also made a temporary one before out of a cheap round car filter. HTH

[jeffe]

Cleaning the air is just one of the jobs your air filter will do. It helps to keep the mixture correct. But the most important other thing it does is to contain any "backfires" thru the carbs. It smothers and contains any flames that might shoot out the wrong way. SO pleae be carefull!!

[Axel]

NEVER

I read that it only takes a small amount of dust to get into the engine and cause premature wear . The notice said NEVER run without an air filter .

[TADracer]

Chances are that if you ingest one grain of sand you are probably ingesting hundreds. It only takes one small grain of sand and a bit of bad timing (not bad engine timing). If an intake valve slams shut on a small grain of sand or the like, you may end up with a small scar in the valve or seat leading to a possible burned valve. If a grain gets through the valve then it is being slammed against the cylinder walls, piston top and combustion chamber until it is expelled on an exhaust stroke. If it gets melted in the flame front then it could deposit somewhere in your combustion chamber leading to a silica deposit. And like jeffe said, the filters have other chores too. They are actually part of your tune-up.

It is a gamble.

[SanDiegoMike]

Park your bike. Wait for the filter(s).

[79XS11F]

I also would not run without an air filter in place. The engine will inhale a lot of air even on a short run and that air will be DIRTY. As has been pointed out it does not take much to mess up the works including your carbs. I am guessing you pitched the old one already? If not use it until the new one arrives... or park the bike. Perhaps there's some other small job it needs while your waiting.
Rob