A quick question.

While recently cleaning and oiling my K&N air filter, i noticed that as well as my filter being filthy, there was also heaps of crap in the air box area below the filter (bugs, small leaves, etc).
I had to vacuum out quite a bit of undesirable matter.

It seems to me the wire grill across the front air intake has a mesh that is too large and lets through more than it should.

Are there any replacements for this grill with a finer mesh that will not allow so much rubbish, especially bugs, into the air box area and make the filter work so hard?

Or would that restrict airflow too much?

* Last updated by: yannih on 11/17/2014 @ 3:38 AM *

never heard of anything used to replace the stock screen. If it really is a problem, I would expect whatever stuff is passing through there would clog a finer screen. You'd might have to clean that pretty often. As far as restriction goes, I think a smaller screen would be okay but not if it gets blocked with bugs.

How do u remove the wire grill or get behind it to clean and detail?

I think it's attached to the duct there...pops off after removing the front cowl.You can't get 'behind it'...it's part of the Ducting assembly.Can you pull the ram ducts back from the cowl?IDK.I don't think so.Front cowl needs to come forward and off.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 11/17/2014 @ 10:19 AM *

You have to remove the front fairing or remove air box and suck outdebris with a vaccum cleaner.. Pinta..

I know reinstalling that cowl IS a real ...well...you know;)

I am a tad curious here though...the ducts flow into the airbox...into the airfilter...which catches any stuff.I've got LOTS of bugs here where I ride...the filter has LOTS of em stuck in there when I go to change.BUT...I never see anything in the airbox...like just sitting there....I have the factory screen in mine...sounds a tad odd what's being described here.The BIG bugs get caught in the screen.My 07 never had any problems with the filter/airbox deal either....only a small amount of bug remains(dry)and some dust around the bottom slide of the filter when removing...so ya gotta be careful when pulling it out.Maybe that's what you were seeing on the airbox floor?

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 11/17/2014 @ 10:29 AM *

If you ride slower, the bugs won't be forced through the mesh in little pieces. I'd suggest 10MPH or less.

Problem solved.

How do u remove the wire grill or get behind it to clean and detail?

There is also a dip in the ram air tube on each side to collect water. It's also probably got a lot of debris in it if the bike is a few years old. You'd have to remove the ram air tubes to get that out.

* Last updated by: Rook on 11/17/2014 @ 11:44 AM *

Hi guys,
just for your information, I didn't remove any fairings. I simply removed the air filter and then taped a peice of garden hose onto the end of my vacuum cleaner and inserted it into the air filter slot.
It seemed to get out pretty much everything and the flexible hose got into pretty much all restricted areas.

And Jimmymac, I like the "10MPH or less" suggestion.
At least the bike would remain spotlessly clean with minimal wear!
And the wife would be extremely happy as well...

I think vacuuming the rails the filter slides into is wise any time you remove the filter. If you really want to get everything out, I think you'll have to remove the access doors under the fuel tank. If you use a flashlight,you will see the critters in there stuck in the little divets.

...just leave the air filter in so nothing accidentally falls down the intake ducts.

Your bike is 7 years old, is this seven years of build up? If so I don't really see a problem. Or did this debris build up quickly?

Hi wfox,
No way would I leave that buildup for 7 years!
I do it at every service interval (6000kms) when Im cleaning and oiling the K&N air filter.
The reason I did this in between service intervals recently was I wanted it sorted before I installed the Hyperpro steering damper...

* Last updated by: yannih on 11/18/2014 @ 3:53 AM *

Yannih's - on my Hayabusa I put smaller mesh (purely for looks) in and apparently the air don't suck in fast enough, so changed it back to the bigger mesh again.

I also have plenty bugs here in deepest darkest Africa, big and small going in there. Especially locusts and bees. And not mention dust. I vacuum it out and no hassles, just do it more often. Like the idea with the hose pipe.

Cheers

I agree with Yannih,except attach hose to outlet on shop vac .Personally think a good blow job cures everything

Darryl, how the hell would I know?
I'm married...

* Last updated by: yannih on 11/21/2014 @ 9:17 AM *

Ya me too,but we can still dream

Off the subject but the old popular theory.

When she was your girlfriend, every time she provided any kind of sexual favour no matter what it may be, you put one M&M into a large jar.
But after you marry her, every time she provides any kind of sexual favour, you take out one M&M and eat it.
Guess what?

You go hungry and the jar never empties...

* Last updated by: yannih on 11/21/2014 @ 9:16 AM *

Aint love Grand boys?;)

First few years of marriage sex every where,kitchen, bathroom , car, workshop you name it.Next few years only the bedroom ... After that hallway sex,as you pass each other in the hallway you say fuck you

...at least you get hallway sex. Being divorced, I have to stand on the front stoop for the same routine.

LMAO!!!!!Next'll be sign language.....

Sometimes it's just doggy style.
You sit and howl at the hole and she rolls over and plays dead.

Well this thread has taken a slight detour from its original subject matter.
I'm still trying to work out the ease at which the transformation occurred...