Hey guys,

Until now I was convinced I wanted the soon to be released V&H Grenade Intake (matte black to match the iron):



But now I've seen some really cool RSD ones, specifically the Turbine.



How do these manufacturers stack against each other? Clear winner or much of a muchness?

 

Damn. Now was convinced the S&S black teardrop was for me, but now that V&H ones is looking like it where I'm headed!

 

They both look cool, are well made, and will flow enough air.

However, they both also feed hot, oily, oxygen depleted air into your combustion chambers, sacrificing performance and longevity over an air cleaner that lets only clean dry air into the engine.

You can get an air cleaner that will out perform them for less $.

However, if stuck on one of those two looks, both of them can be converted to use external breathers so that they only let clean dry air in. The V&H will convert a bit easier.

 

Could you explain the clean dry air thing to me in a bit more detail?

 

Have a look at this thread and you'll see cause and effect! https://www.hdforums.com/forum/screa...od-enough.html

 

Unfortunately the EPA mandates has Harley-Davidson and almost every aftermarket air cleaner company pushing the blow-by into the air cleaner.

What comes out of the breathers is primarily exhaust gases and oil, it is also hot. This is counter-productive to performance & engine longevity. Harley engines perform better with cool dry air & gasoline, not hot, oily air and gas.

Additionally, the exhaust gas has a lower oxygen content, displacing oxygen on each combustion stroke.

Cool, dry, oxygen rich air makes a difference you can feel. See the improvement in power in the dyno chart below-




Regarding engine longevity...pics are worth a thousand words-








You can read more about Performance intakes at this LINK


There are only 3 companies that I know of that are making True Performance Air Cleaners for Harley's-

DK Custom Products
NRHS
Hammer



For an endless amount of reading on how important cool air is to any engine, you can do a google search of "cold air intake" and find a months worth of reading.

 

Very interesting, so is modifying intakes such as the above an option?

 

So will this work for my 2013 1200C? Currently it has the stock hollow mounting bolts. I modified the rear air box cover to let the K&N get full air behind the hamcan cover. So the length of the bolt remained stock length.

DK-BB-AB-TC

Seems much easier than hoses and dangling filter.

I also have 2006UC. Will this item work on it? I'll have to check how it's done. Has Stage1 and open K&N but I can't remember how that filter is supported.

These are venting the hot/oil air to atmosphere right?

Thanks!

 

Both of those (especially the RSD) are over priced and not worth the money. I would get the DK Customs with the external vent setup, better setup and cheaper.

-Chris

 

I was torn between the VH Grenade Intake and the RSD Nostalgia Venturi Intake, to go with my soon to be had VH Grenade Exhaust. In the end I settled on the RSD for the aesthetics. I'll soon be converting it to vent externally. I know what I will be using the bike for, and absolute power is not needed. Which is why I chose a 2-2 exhaust. In the event I change what the bike will be used for, I go for a bigger intake (Hammer Perf) and a 2-1 D&D Bobcat (Patriot Defender hangs too low for my taste)