Are pod(cone) air filters any good on motorcycles?

Question

Hi, I was wondering are the pod(cone) type of air filters any good on motorcycles? Do you get soggy and/or fall apart?Would they be ok if they are under the sidecovers? I have a 1980 Yamaha xs 400 motorcycle and the air filter that fits in the air box are hard to find. Does anyone have pictures of them on hteir bikes already? Thanks

Answer 1

Do not throw away the airbox. Older bikes have trouble with ethanol fuel and cold air intakes.

You can get replacement air filters from denniskirk,com

Answer 2

As much for looks as anything they let you get rid of those big air boxes  Im not talking about the later model bikes just the old ones esp the old j*p Choppers we used to build I never had any trouble with them falling apart there is a wire screen on the outside of them

Answer 3

They are less restrictive but are no good in rain and are much louder.  It's called "intake honk".

Answer 4

Pods work fine but keep them dry and rejet the carbs.

I have tried both and K & N replacement for the OEM filter worked out the  better option.

Answer 5

Individule filters (1 on each carb) offer better performance because they allow air to be drawn 360 degrees around each carb. The biggest producer of cone filters is a company named: K&N.  Their products offer a million mile warranty. Instead of replacing them when dirty, they can be cleaned and reused over and over again.  Typically the cost 4 times what a OEM filter would but if you are keeping the bike it is well worth the extra money.  I doubt there will be much of a power increase on your specific bike but on newer, more powerful ones- gains can be over 6 rwhp which isn't too bad for a simple air filter change!