I recently picked up a 2007 Street Bob for a good price. The previous owner had added a whole bunch of goodies and add ons. Among them is the Screaming Eagle Heavy Breather air filter. I have always run K&N filters in my bikes but I have always kept the original "football" air filter cover in place. My question is since the Heavy Breather has an open element what should I do if I get caught in a down pour? I'm sure a little rain wont hurt it but I once had to ride 190 miles home in a rain storm from Ocean City Maryland. I would think the open filter would eventually get saturated and start sucking water...???

 

Rain Sock

 

This is what Coolaid is referring to

http://www.harley-davidson.com/store...-sock-29493-05

 

I have an open filter for 5 years now, and never had any issues in the rain.

 

I just looked in the sissy bar bag and theres the rain sock... DUH! Guess I shoulda checked it when I got the bike

 

Ride.

If you properly oil your filter, it wont get saturated.

I have an open AC and I've been in some biblical rain, no issues.

 

Lightly spray a hose on that rain sock and you'll see that the water goes right thru it. I've been caught in heavy downpours without the sock and have not had any problems. I think it's one of those things that might make you feel like you're doing the right thing when you put it on but in reality, all it does is help to keep the bugs from splattering on your filter element.

 

^^^^^
This.

Been running mine for 6. Never had a rain sock. Ride in downpours all the time. Never had an issue...

I just love all the overpriced doo-dads that cater to and profit off of people's paranoia..

 

I've always had some sort of uncovered filters on my bikes and I've never had an issue.. And I've been in some downpours..

 

I guess the water will get through to the combustion chambers with just about any AC, ..... it will do a bit of de-carbonising.