Air Filter Servicing on Extended Trips?

ODSC1 · 11-18-2012, 03:52 PM

I'm planning on heading to Central America for a couple months starting in December. I still have a long was to go before I'm ready but have things pretty much figured out. One thing I'm not sure about is air filter maintenance. The bike I'll be taking is an XR650R. I have a choice between a foam air filter or a K&N filter. I already have both. Both would require carrying oils, and maybe cleaners, etc.

How are you maintaining your air filter on the road?

Lone Rider · 11-18-2012, 04:36 PM

I'll offer a couple of things...
Foam filters can go many, many miles (think 20k or so), depending on the envirnoment.
I would not choose a KN for longterm travel.
Oils and tranny fluids to renew foam filters can be found most anywhere. You don't need a special mfgr's labeled brand.

Get a good one to start; and the factory filters are good.
I suggest thinking more about oil filters for your specific bike.

Without good filtration - air and oil (fuel may also apply) - the aliens can get in and ruin your fine bike in short order. The barrier, so to speak.

sorebutt · 11-18-2012, 07:13 PM

Put a prefilter on and you should be good for the entire trip with the foam filter.

catweasel67 · 11-19-2012, 03:56 AM

Personally I'd stick a post in the appropriate regional forum asking if an inmate, on your route, could offer assistance servicing your bike..help sourcing spares, advice on local availability a garage to work in.

It'd be a great way to meet new folks and it may mean you'd not have to carry so many spares. I did something similar when I rode around the US and met some great people.

kobukan · 11-19-2012, 07:10 AM

A couple drops of dish soap like Dawn in a little water will do a good job cleaning a foam filter. Re-oil with a little bit of motor oil and you're all set. Neither one should be too hard to find or carry.

redneckdan · 11-19-2012, 07:26 AM

I have heard of using a zip lock and some camp gas or kerosene to clean the air filter. Squeeze out the excess solvent then douse it with a shot of gear oil and squeeze again to get ride of the excess. The remaining solvent will help the oil disperse into the filter and then will evaporate.

wbbnm · 11-19-2012, 07:38 AM

I ride a KLR on long trips, but I don't know about the XR. But the KN filter for the KLR is totally unacceptable for long trips on dirt. It clogs with dust too easily. And my bike will not run.

I carry two spare preoiled foam filters. This can get me 3-4k miles whithout having to clean one. They can be scrunched up to less that a couple of cubic inches each.

Cleaning them using gasolene in a plastic bag works pretty well too.

The prefilter sounds like a good idea too, but I have never tried it.

ODSC1 · 11-21-2012, 06:58 AM

Thanks for all the tips. I think I'll stick with a foam filter and bring an extra. The XRR filter is just a flat piece of foam so it packs small. And I'll bring either a small can of spray filter oil or pour some regular filter oil into a sealed container.

Brian

miguelitro · 11-23-2012, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ODSC1

Thanks for all the tips. I think I'll stick with a foam filter and bring an extra. The XRR filter is just a flat piece of foam so it packs small. And I'll bring either a small can of spray filter oil or pour some regular filter oil into a sealed container.

Brian

any bike shop in latin america(they are way more plentiful in mainlnad mex than baja and south of there) will be able to clean and oil your filter using gas and oil you will buy at the store nearby. they will likely have grease for the rim of the 650r filter as well which i always felt made a big difference. i woul dnot expect to pay more than a few bucks for that service.
Mike

Lone Rider · 11-23-2012, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ODSC1

Thanks for all the tips. I think I'll stick with a foam filter and bring an extra. The XRR filter is just a flat piece of foam so it packs small. And I'll bring either a small can of spray filter oil or pour some regular filter oil into a sealed container.

Brian

Unless you're traveling in uber dusty conditions for long periods of time, and have a need to change filters quickly, you should not need an extra air filter, imo.
You can easily find oils locally. There's no need to carry extra, imo.
It is a good thing - wanting to care for your bike.
You'll find you're own groove after some time.
Best of luck to ya...

kingofZroad · 11-24-2012, 09:19 AM

I always carry a spare that is pre-oiled and ready to go on long trips. I keep them in a "stronger" gallon sized zip-lock bag until I need them.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

11-18-2012, 03:52 PM	#1
ODSC1 ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2003 Location: Ontario Canada Oddometer: 125	Air Filter Servicing on Extended Trips? I'm planning on heading to Central America for a couple months starting in December. I still have a long was to go before I'm ready but have things pretty much figured out. One thing I'm not sure about is air filter maintenance. The bike I'll be taking is an XR650R. I have a choice between a foam air filter or a K&N filter. I already have both. Both would require carrying oils, and maybe cleaners, etc. How are you maintaining your air filter on the road?

11-19-2012, 03:56 AM	#4
catweasel67 BAN - Born Again Noob Joined: Aug 2009 Location: Vienna, Austria Oddometer: 5,524	Personally I'd stick a post in the appropriate regional forum asking if an inmate, on your route, could offer assistance servicing your bike..help sourcing spares, advice on local availability a garage to work in. It'd be a great way to meet new folks and it may mean you'd not have to carry so many spares. I did something similar when I rode around the US and met some great people. __________________ Planning NA 2010 NA 2010 Adriatic Loop August 09 Mandello Guzzi Protest Sept 09 "I've got the key to the gates of paradise...but I've got too many legs!!" Jeff "Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing." -- Robert E. Howard

11-19-2012, 07:10 AM	#5
kobukan almost gnarly Joined: Dec 2009 Location: Saco ME Oddometer: 1,481	A couple drops of dish soap like Dawn in a little water will do a good job cleaning a foam filter. Re-oil with a little bit of motor oil and you're all set. Neither one should be too hard to find or carry. __________________ '97 R1100GS, '99 DR350, '02 DR650, '03 DR650, '04 R1150RT A Few Days Solo to Copper Canyon A Maine Rider’s Arizona Day Trips A Few Days Solo in Baja

11-19-2012, 07:26 AM	#6
redneckdan Hold my beer & watch this Joined: Oct 2008 Location: Somewhere on da Iron Range. Oddometer: 527	I have heard of using a zip lock and some camp gas or kerosene to clean the air filter. Squeeze out the excess solvent then douse it with a shot of gear oil and squeeze again to get ride of the excess. The remaining solvent will help the oil disperse into the filter and then will evaporate. __________________ Fly Rods, Kids and a KLR

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: .
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

11-18-2012, 04:36 PM	#2
Lone Rider Registered User Joined: Jan 2002 Location: out and about Oddometer: 25,006	I'll offer a couple of things... Foam filters can go many, many miles (think 20k or so), depending on the envirnoment. I would not choose a KN for longterm travel. Oils and tranny fluids to renew foam filters can be found most anywhere. You don't need a special mfgr's labeled brand. Get a good one to start; and the factory filters are good. I suggest thinking more about oil filters for your specific bike. Without good filtration - air and oil (fuel may also apply) - the aliens can get in and ruin your fine bike in short order. The barrier, so to speak.

11-18-2012, 07:13 PM	#3
sorebutt Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2008 Location: Lewiston,ID Oddometer: 1,082	Put a prefilter on and you should be good for the entire trip with the foam filter.

11-19-2012, 07:38 AM	#7
wbbnm Beastly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2007 Location: Abq NM Oddometer: 1,203	I ride a KLR on long trips, but I don't know about the XR. But the KN filter for the KLR is totally unacceptable for long trips on dirt. It clogs with dust too easily. And my bike will not run. I carry two spare preoiled foam filters. This can get me 3-4k miles whithout having to clean one. They can be scrunched up to less that a couple of cubic inches each. Cleaning them using gasolene in a plastic bag works pretty well too. The prefilter sounds like a good idea too, but I have never tried it.

11-21-2012, 06:58 AM	#8
ODSC1 ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2003 Location: Ontario Canada Oddometer: 125	Thanks for all the tips. I think I'll stick with a foam filter and bring an extra. The XRR filter is just a flat piece of foam so it packs small. And I'll bring either a small can of spray filter oil or pour some regular filter oil into a sealed container. Brian

11-24-2012, 09:19 AM	#11
kingofZroad Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2009 Location: Montrose, CO Oddometer: 220	I always carry a spare that is pre-oiled and ready to go on long trips. I keep them in a "stronger" gallon sized zip-lock bag until I need them. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD