Air filter for Morocco???

[RegH]

Bike is due a service/filter change soon and I was planning to go for the K&N to let it breathe better.

Trouble is, I am taking the TA to Morocco in April and I understand the K&N filters are not too good for filtering out the finest dust.

Question then is which filter to put on?

• stick with Mr Honda and assume it will clog up quickly
• chance it with a new K&N (2 weeks in dusty climes)
• anything else?? (Pipercross??)

Cheers

Reg

[Paul-S]

K&N will be no good as the oil would clog up the filter

When I went on same year TA, I ran a standard filter and I only had problems at altitude in the middle and high Atlas where the bike stuggled to get above 80 mph but everywhere else it was fine. All the bikes I went with had the same problems at altitude.

I would not spend the money on the K&N till you get home. The standard filter didn't clog up. It was the small airbox causing the fueling problems. We also spent 15% of the overall mileage riding pistes and a section in the Dunes from Zagora to Merzouga so the filter had a fair share of dust and sand to contend with

[Austin]

How much desert off-roading are you planning?

I went to Morocco last year on my TA and of about 3,000 miles in Morocco only about 30-50 were off-road. All the rest were on good to medium quality tarmac roads which although dusty in the desert areas with sand swirling about a bit when it was windy it was never enough to make me worry about filtration. In the Atlas mountains - where I did most of what off roading I did do - the tracks were stony and no more dusty than a dry green lane in the summer is the UK. I ran a K&N and never gave it a second thought other than oiling it in the pre-departure service.

[jamie92j]

depends what kind of riding your planing, but i would keep standard filter if wher you, i have herd of the k&n ones not good in lots of dry sandy areas due to letting bits through

[StumpyFingers]

I would keep the original filters to be safe, you could always carry a spare incase it clogged up but if the Sand got through the engine would be buggered.

[Paul-S]

Hi Austin

We covered just under 800 miles off road so I was advised against the K&N for that reason - glad you had no problems though

See you Feb

Paul

[BobA]

DON'T DO IT!

I went to Maroc last year on a KTM 640 Adventure which had a K&N air filter, and 99% of my problems were due to the muddy/sandy gloop blocking the air filter. I used more petrol washing the thing out than I did on the whole trip I reckon!!

I would suggest running a standard filter, and if you're worried about dust, you could always cut and stretch some ladies tight material, lightly covered in K&N oil over the standard filter. When it gets gummed up, just remove it and discard/burn it. I haven't tried this, but it's just an idea.

Good Luck

Bob

[RegH]

Thanks for all the input folks.

I am doing the MotoMorocco offroad trip in April = 10 days (hopefully) in dry offroad dusty conditions hence worries about the filter.

Just been to see my spannerman and he said "definitely" the Honda part for the same reasons as your good selves. Given tha pain of removing the tank to get to the filter if it clogs up over there, a clean one now will be best and think about a K&N for next time.

Interestingly, he recommended also uprating the exhaust to get the most out of a K&N. His feeling is that the K&N alone will weaken the mixture a bit too much (rejetting??) but with the exhaust too, it is nicely balanced. All I know is that it will sound lile a "proper" V-twin so perhaps so I shall start saving the pennies for that .

Cheers

Reg

[Paul-S]

Hi Reg

Enjoy the trip. I looked at their routes and some of the pistes they take are very good especially the one over the High Atlas from Marakesh down to Ait Ben Haddu. The mileage you will be doing won't be a s high as we have covered but the off road will be about the same. When I looked at them they were looking at 40% or 60% off road trips. I think Spain went over with them once - have a look at his threads and ride reports from Jan 08

You could get away with a pattern air filter for the trip instead of the Honda part - might save some pennies for Tagines


Regards

Paul

[RegH]

Cheers Paul,

I found quite a few reports on this site but not that one. Most useful. The one titled "Mission Morocco" is good with a packing list and seems to have a link to a detailed GPS map for Morocco. Will try that and see if I can trash the Zumo

I very nearly went with the BikeTruck guys (Billy was a fantastic help) but they were originally planning a May/June trip which was too late for other committments. Shame really since it would have probably worked out a fair bit cheaper. In any case, I am planning to ride down/back.

There are loads of ride reports for MotoMorocco on UKGSer too http://www.ukgser.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=222
They have a dedicated forum on there.

Reg