Check & replace your air filter?

Steps

1. 1
   1

   Find the airbox & get access

   The airbox usually sits under the seat or between/under the fuel tank. Getting to it can mean removing the seat, side panels or lifting the tank. Take photos as you go so reassembly is easy, and keep track of your fasteners.

   Warning

   Warning
2. 2
   2

   Open the airbox & note the orientation

   Undo the airbox lid fasteners and lift the cover. Before you pull the old filter, note which way round and which way up it sits - a filter fitted backwards seals badly. Lift the old element out.

3. 3
   3

   Inspect, then clean or replace by type

   Hold it to the light. A paper/pleated filter that's dirty or oily gets replaced (you can't properly clean paper). A foam filter can be washed in the correct cleaner, dried fully, then re-oiled with filter oil until evenly tacky (not dripping). A reusable cotton-gauze filter follows its own clean-and-oil kit. When in doubt, replace.

4. 4
   4

   Keep debris out of the intake

   With the filter out, the engine's intake is wide open. Stuff a clean rag into the intake throat or keep it covered while you work, and wipe out any dirt or leaves in the airbox base. Anything that falls in here goes into the engine.

   Danger
5. 5
   5

   Fit the filter & seal the airbox

   Seat the new or cleaned filter the correct way round so its sealing lip sits fully home all the way around. Refit the airbox lid and any fasteners (to torque if specified), then reassemble panels, tank and seat. A poor seal lets unfiltered air bypass the element - as bad as no filter at all, so double-check it's square and closed.

Fits these bikes

All motorcycles