Pod filters

[ossjughead]

Hi all ok is it worth putting pod filters on other than getting ride of that huge airbox and having some extra room ?????

[bikerphil]

I've tried the pods on a couple of occasions, but I've always ended up going back to the stock airbox (modified) every time. More low end grunt. JMHO.

[trbig]

In the search option, type in Pod Filters and read to your heart's desire! lol. Almost as bad as a tire or oil thread.

Tod

[chrisso]

Hi, ive thought of Pods to but I like the chrome bit outside the airbox so im leaving it

[bobber]

they work fine on mine & look good too

[Ivan]

I can have the carbs off my scoot in two minutes flat, three if I have to look for the screwdriver.

I like pod filters for that reason, and that a set of emgo pod filters cost me less than a new OEM foamie filter.

[TADracer]

three schools of thought

There are three schools of though on pods. 1. They are great, 2. they suck, keep the stock box and 3. I dunno!

Have ot had the stock airbox on my machine since about 1982 or so. My pods work great (thats choice #1 by the way) BUT you cannot just put them on. As a rule of thumb, change one thing and others will surely be affected. You must tune for them with jets, timing, etc. If you are just going for the 'look' then it might not be worth the trouble. If you want the overall performance and the ease of removing the carb rack (mine are off in three minutes) then it is worth the change.

Its a choice and with this one you can always go back.

[excess11]

Pod filters

I did not like pod filters when I had them on my 78' standard. They made alot of noise,the noise was fun at first but got to be anoying after awhile.

The other problem with pods is washing your bike. It is hard to wash a bike and not get the filters wet. Riding in the rain is also a problem.

Another problem is no where for the crankcase breather to vent without factory box. I had a little pushin crankcase breather element. When stopped at a light or in traffic you could smell the crankcase gasses. Stunk bad on a hot day.

Once I switched back to the factory box I could not believe the difference in power. The bike ran alot better with the factory box.

I guess for the coolness factor. Having pods is tempting but as far as performance and everyday riding I found them not to be practical.

[CatatonicBug]

I have absolutely no experience with Pod filters, so my opinion is based only on the looks of it all. On my Midnight, I think it would be a sacrilege to remove the stock airbox and all the pretty gold that goes with it. IMO, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I really kinda like the way Yamaha used the airbox on these bikes to add a bit of accent color (gold or silver).

[Ivan]

The other problem with pods is washing your bike. It is hard to wash a bike and not get the filters wet. Riding in the rain is also a problem.

I must disagree with this statement. I have ridden in near deluge conditions (not by choice mind you) and the bike never skipped a beat. I also wash the filters with the pressure washer when I wash the bike, and have never had any troubles.

[excess11]

Good luck!!!

I must disagree with this statement. I have ridden in near deluge conditions (not by choice mind you) and the bike never skipped a beat. I also wash the filters with the pressure washer when I wash the bike, and have never had any troubles.

You can treat your bike any way you like!!! But I would not wash my air filters with a pressure washer or think I could ride in the rain with pod filters and not injest water.

[yamahansolo]

i have used pods in the rain many many times!!! never once did it ingest water. the only way you are going to have a problem with water is if you put it in A lake!

i used to live in va beach and i had a buddy with a big kn cai on his goofey neon it sat right in front of the radiator... down low. it rained one day and flooded laskin road i think??? and he went into the turning lane which was down and in the middle and hydro locked his motor!!! his whole filter was in the water.

you can take your filter box off and put a table spoon or so of water in your carbs a little at a time like carb cleaner and it steams the inside of the motor. tiny droplets of water won't do crap. havent you ever heard of water injection. they make it for some turboed cars it shoots a mist of water into your intake to cool the charge.
i rode for over an hour in the rain before with pods and it did not hurt a thing. however i think power washing might wear them out quicker...

[excess11]

All is well

I am glad to see that a person is not allowed to have their own ideas around here. The post asked for opinions on pod filters and I gave mine. If your opinion is different than mine thats fine!!

Off the wall comments about putting a bike in a lake is useless information.

Get back on topic and stop attacking my post!!!

[Ivan]

You can treat your bike any way you like!!! But I would not wash my air filters with a pressure washer or think I could ride in the rain with pod filters and not injest water.

I think we can safely say the proof is in the pudding.

I think you are sensing an attack from yamahansolo since you spoke authoritatively without actual experience to back it. In most social circles, that is a tad offensive.

The idea of the bike in a lake was not off topic and an exemplary method of reinforcement of the idea that it takes much more water than one might think to cause damage to an engine.

As far as having your own ideas, that is fine, but don't accuse someone of attacking you when they confront you with the truth.

[Guy_b_g]

I've had K&N style or UNI foam type pod filters on just about every bike I've owned (except dirt bikes which are sometimes ridden through streams) ...that's about 16 street bikes over 34 years of riding.

Never had a problem with water in any condition I've ridden in.

Used them on Karts with KT100 engines, racing on dirt tracks which were a wet muddy mess after the water truck got over-enthusiastic between heats...never a problem.

Most times didn't even need to re-jet, but sometimes did.

I would not power wash them however, if you hit the cotton fiber directly with high pressure water it can seperate the fibers enough to reduce the effectiveness of the filters, and perhaps more water than I want all at once in an engine may be ingested on startup (probably not as the butterflys are nearly closed...but why take a chance?).

I don't know if you gain much as far as performance since most bikes are very well designed these days...but they were worth a documented 2-3 hp on a MotoGuzzi 1000.

On a lot of bikes you will have a flat spot in the midrange after changing to pods...you may or may not be able to tune it out
.
Mostly I've always liked the look, the sound, and the ease of maintenance that they provide...but everyone has their own likes and dislikes
YMMV.

Hey Dan...relax...I don't think anyone wants to attack you here, everyone's ideas are welcome.