I'm working on a "heavy breather" style air cleaner for my SGS and I think I've pretty much got it figured out. It's a lot less expensive than the current offerings and also weighs a lot less because it's not chromed or powder coated metal but plastic that looks like chrome. Reducing cost for obvious reasons, and reducing weight for performance reasons are always in my crosshairs.

Well a buddy of mine that was hanging out with me while I was working on this suggested that others might want this style intake for less cost and less weight too and would be willing to buy them. I was skeptical becauses I always thought the chromed plastic was taboo in harley circles and more accepted on metrics. He suggested I ask instead of assume, and to that I had no response so here I am.

Would you buy a plastic air cleaner if it saved you weight and money?

 

Nope! Not where it shows so obviously. How much weight could you possibly be saving, that would be made up for when your tank is 1/2 full, or you just got out of the restroom.

Oh yeah...but I did recently put a plastic chrome air horn on mine, but it is sort of out of eyesight. I wouldn't want it in a spot where it is in direct view.

 

Thanks for the feedback. You're right, the weight savings isn't going to be huge, but it also isn't nothing.

The main difference is in cost I think but obviously I wouldn't have any interest from those who just want to spend $160-$400 on an air cleaner.

 

Half the bike is plastic and no one seems to care. Half of the factory air cleaners are plastic.
So yeah... I would as long as it looked good. Plenty of metal air cleaners out there I wouldn't spend a dime on.

 

Wouldn't buy one, I hate chrome plastic anything. Anytime you have it expossed to the elements especialy in the south with the heat and sun they never standup. Check out a 4+yr Dodge/RAM grills while you're strolling through a parking lot they always peel. Not to upset RAM owners there are others that do the same I just seem to notice it more on the front ends of the RAMs.

 

Its hard enough trying to keep my Metal one together and on the bike. It would crack in 10min on my rattle can of an evo

 

It's funny how guys say they wouldn't have plastic...

Wonder what Harley they're riding.

I know MY Harley came FULL of plastic, INCLUDING the stock air cleaner, fairings, bags tourpak, lowers, side covers....

There ain't much iron in my horse is what I'm saying.

To the OP, I would much rather see a black AC....

 

I have noticed on these new Harley's all the plastic crap. I guess my bike is older than I thought. At least most of mine is metal Battery cover, horn cover. Even the cover for my choke is metal. Not much plastic if any on my bike. except those crap plastic chrome bolt caps. Which I hate.

 

You have a very good reputation on here and my respect, but the stock air cleaner cover on my 14 King is metal

 

I could do black too. Mine will likely go black down the road.

I'm sure he was referring to the stock backing plate, but yes the cover is metal.