Q for Owners of KewlMetal Performance Air Filter (or other smart folk)

[daveinva]

I rarely ride without earplugs, but had to make some short errands today so I left them out this morning.

I noticed a sound I haven't heard before, coming from the engine area through the panels: a faint sound almost like boiling/hissing/air venting out of a balloon. Sound only comes up when I roll on the throttle or stay open, and then it's intermittent, no discernible pattern. No codes, no issues with how the bike runs, nothing but the sound. Oil/coolant levels are fine.

Wondering if this is normal, especially with the airbox removed, and I just never noticed it before-- or if this is something I should be concerned about? :dontknow:

 

[mooneych]

Air intake hiss

I believe this is normal. Remember back in the high school days, you would turn the air cleaner upside down, and hear the carburator hiss? I've thought about putting one of those intakes on mine, but I already get enough growling from the dual-exhaust. Besides, I already wake up the neighbors when I idle down the block at 0530. I'm afraid if I'm any noisier, they'll slash my tires :yikes:.

 

[daveinva]

I believe this is normal. Remember back in the high school days, you would turn the air cleaner upside down, and hear the carburator hiss? I've thought about putting one of those intakes on mine, but I already get enough growling from the dual-exhaust. Besides, I already wake up the neighbors when I idle down the block at 0530. I'm afraid if I'm any noisier, they'll slash my tires :yikes:.

Thanks. Trust me though, an aftermarket exhaust is plenty louder than the engine with the aftermarket filter, it'll drown it out. (I'll have to show you, maybe this weekend if you're going to Skyline?)

 

[mooneych]

Skyline

The Missus is sensitive to temperatures below 80 degrees (from Jamaica), so I thought about either going up US50 West through Aldie, turning on the Snickersville Turnpike towards Route 7, then coming across the ridge by Mount Weather, back to US50. The ride will be about 90 minutes, plenty to watch the turning leaves and will free up more of the day for other activities.

Heading out so far, in relatively chilly weather, is not for her. Perhaps I can go solo.....

 

[CyncySpyder]

Teddy has this, but I haven't installed ours just yet but he found this comment 4 u

I have done this and I can't see any downside and the upside is a much cooler running conditions and a nice deep growl when you punch the throttle.

And I can't find the other post I was looking for, but it said something to the effect that with having the KewlMetal Air Intake installed, there is an almost "Turbo Spinning Up Sound" when you first roll on the throttle but that it usually goes away once you reach cruising speed. So yeah, with having your plugs out, your probably just noticing it for the first time

 

[daveinva]

I have done this and I can't see any downside and the upside is a much cooler running conditions and a nice deep growl when you punch the throttle.

And I can't find the other post I was looking for, but it said something to the effect that with having the KewlMetal Air Intake installed, there is an almost "Turbo Spinning Up Sound" when you first roll on the throttle but that it usually goes away once you reach cruising speed. So yeah, with having your plugs out, your probably just noticing it for the first time

Yeah, pretty sure that was *me* saying that. But that was a different sound, and in fact, a *bad* sound-- it was mostly the click-n-clack of the throttle body while running lean. Once I added enough fuel through my JB Pro, the clacking went (largely) away (it shows up now only when lugging, which is something I try not to do!). This sound? It's really faint, and I don't recall hearing it before (today wasn't the first time I ran without earplugs, so I *think* it's a new sound-- I'm just not sure).

That said, I'm a fan of the filter. Bike runs cooler, sounds a little meaner, and opens up the interior quite nicely.

 

[Kratos]

I wish I could get a break down on the "performance" addition of this mod. I know it sounds and looks better but does it flow that much more air than the green filter without snorkels?

 

[Bob Denman]

A little bit of intake honk can be a righteaous sound... :thumbup:

 

[major911]

I wish I could get a break down on the "performance" addition of this mod. I know it sounds and looks better but does it flow that much more air than the green filter without snorkels?

I'm interested in this topic as well since I started a comparison thread for the green filter vs kewlmetal intake. What did you mean with the comment "running the green filter without snorkels"? Can you elaborate on this? I have the green filter but haven't installed it yet cause i'm contemplating buying the kewlmetal intake. Still gathering some facts though before making my decision

 

[Kratos]

I'm interested in this topic as well since I started a comparison thread for the green filter vs kewlmetal intake. What did you mean with the comment "running the green filter without snorkels"? Can you elaborate on this? I have the green filter but haven't installed it yet cause i'm contemplating buying the kewlmetal intake. Still gathering some facts though before making my decision

On the right side of your airbox on the front face, there are 2 pipes that are travelling into the box. You can actually pull them out with very little effort. It's been said a time or two that pulling those snorkels out will allow the airbox to pull in more air.

It would be easy for me to test this out since I have the green filter and know my air fuel ratios very well. All I have to do is pull them out, run the bike, and check my air-fuel. If my numbers are leaner in some spots, then pulling them out adds more air. If my numbers are the same, then doing that has no effect.

If I get in the mood, I may do it.

 

[major911]

On the right side of your airbox on the front face, there are 2 pipes that are travelling into the box. You can actually pull them out with very little effort. It's been said a time or two that pulling those snorkels out will allow the airbox to pull in more air.

It would be easy for me to test this out since I have the green filter and know my air fuel ratios very well. All I have to do is pull them out, run the bike, and check my air-fuel. If my numbers are leaner in some spots, then pulling them out adds more air. If my numbers are the same, then doing that has no effect.

If I get in the mood, I may do it.

OK thanks for that explanation. Maybe someone out there is running with the green filter and snorkels removed and can attest to it's performance.:chat:

 

[aka1004]

OK thanks for that explanation. Maybe someone out there is running with the green filter and snorkels removed and can attest to it's performance.:chat:

It gets little louder and performance is better but mostly at higher rpm.
It seems to me that taking off from standing still, it's actually a tad worse but not by much, just barely noticeable.

Ken at Evo recommended that I pull the snorkels out when I bought the filter.

On side note, Km's intake must not be as loud as Evo. With evo's , I couldn't hear hindle over it at high throttle.

 

[Kratos]

It gets little louder and performance is better but mostly at higher rpm.
It seems to me that taking off from standing still, it's actually a tad worse but not by much, just barely noticeable.

Ken at Evo recommended that I pull the snorkels out when I bought the filter.

On side note, Km's intake must not be as loud as Evo. With evo's , I couldn't hear hindle over it at high throttle.

That low end lag can easily be tuned out. The only thing you can't tune out is the clutch, but if the lag is "air" related, oh yeah I can tune that baby to perfection.