A lot of people frown on this filter because it's made in China, unlike the discontinued 16097-0004 which was made in Japan. Are these concerns misguided? Also includes a quick review of the second time I've used magnets on the oil filter.

Kawasaki 16097-0008 Oil Filter review & Using magnets 2nd look (in case embed doesn't work)

(edit fixed embed)

* Last updated by: VicThing on 1/24/2015 @ 5:23 PM *

nope embed no worky (WTH is up with that? I can't embed vids anymore either).

Link just takes me to my own videos.

Thanks Rook. Looks like the link at least works now. Not sure about the embed...

I'd trust either one. They're both OEM. I have pretty much confidence in Chinese stuff these days. The problem is shipping if there is need for a return but that's not a factor if you buy Chinese stuff purchased from an American vendor.

I won't go as far to say I trust grey market or aftermarket Chinese products but sometimes it's worth a try. As far as these filters I mainly trust them because they are Kawasaki. Kawasaki is in the market to sell motorcycles, and selling junk filters that make their motorcycle products blow up and look bad just doesn't make business sense.

There were lots of customer comments on product listings "no way I'm using these since they're made in China". I even read people saying they weren't threaded correctly so don't buy them! You can still see the 0004's on Ebay at premiums out of the "fear" of these filters. There's no need for this, these filters are solid.

Chances are, these are a much better filter than K&Ns these days and probably a few other aftermarket filters that are chosen in the name of high quality.

Where'd you get that filter?

IIRC correctly BikeBandit, or Motorcycle Superstore. There's dozens of online retailers that have them.

Well...if Kawasaki is allowing China to fab these things..then they're probably fine."made in China" actually doesn't necessarily mean..."made".It COULD mean...'assembled'...but that most likely would be printed on the outside there.

The latest Kawasaki filter, p/n 16097-0008 has superseded the former 16097-0004 as noted and it is now manufactured in China rather than Japan. Keep in mind that the filters are still manufactured by Denso and are still a top guality product. The basic filtering media is a completely different design but the construction is still top grade.

I personally pay $8.14 for my OEM Kawasaki filters (16097-0008)and see no reason to use anything else. Add in a drain plug gasket (92065-097) for $.23 and a high quality motorcycle oil (Silkolene Comp 4) and you have the ingredients for a flawless oil service.

I use Wix filters. they are made right here in Illinois. They make many of the 'repacksged' filters marketed under other brand names.