review=Arlen Ness "Big Sucker" intake
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Seasoned HDF Member
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From: Colorado Springs, CO
review=Arlen Ness "Big Sucker" intake
Hey guys another review...
I went down to the dealer early today to talk to them about the SE intake upgrade for my new FXDI. I wanted to know if I could get it with a K&N filter instead of the paper filter. What I found out is that all the SE kits have paper filters!! But then he told me that the same kit was available with a K&N filter, and it's a wider filter than the SE paper one as well. Anyways, it's made by Arlen Ness and it's called the "Big Sucker" air intake kit. It goes for $115.00 before taxes, and includes all the hardware needed for installation. When I enquired about if it would work with the Stage I re-calibration, they said they just the other day put it on a bike with the Stage I re-calibration and some S&S slip on pipes (which I also ordered, they said they sound even better than the SE II's !!!), and then they ran it on the dyno. The A/F was good, and it made 75 horsepower and 76 foot pounds of torque!! ( this was a dyna twin cam, and as stated only had the air intake, re-calibration and S&S slip on's)
So I got it and brought it home. Everything went together extremely well, and had no fitment issues. The back plate is a relatively sturdy piece of aluminum with the Arlen Ness logo on it. It bolts to the throttle body with screw-in studs that are screwed themselves into a sleeve that has a female end on the other side that the filter then screws on to with nice little allen head bolts. I re-used the football factory cover, and it really works,and fits well!!
My S&S slip on's will arrive in a few days, I can tell you that they only come in a "baloney cut" style. They sell for around $250-$260 bucks. They also supposedly have the s&s emblem on them towards the rear. The guys there install SE II's all the time, and they said these pipes sound even better!!! I'll write a review once they're here.
joe
I went down to the dealer early today to talk to them about the SE intake upgrade for my new FXDI. I wanted to know if I could get it with a K&N filter instead of the paper filter. What I found out is that all the SE kits have paper filters!! But then he told me that the same kit was available with a K&N filter, and it's a wider filter than the SE paper one as well. Anyways, it's made by Arlen Ness and it's called the "Big Sucker" air intake kit. It goes for $115.00 before taxes, and includes all the hardware needed for installation. When I enquired about if it would work with the Stage I re-calibration, they said they just the other day put it on a bike with the Stage I re-calibration and some S&S slip on pipes (which I also ordered, they said they sound even better than the SE II's !!!), and then they ran it on the dyno. The A/F was good, and it made 75 horsepower and 76 foot pounds of torque!! ( this was a dyna twin cam, and as stated only had the air intake, re-calibration and S&S slip on's)
So I got it and brought it home. Everything went together extremely well, and had no fitment issues. The back plate is a relatively sturdy piece of aluminum with the Arlen Ness logo on it. It bolts to the throttle body with screw-in studs that are screwed themselves into a sleeve that has a female end on the other side that the filter then screws on to with nice little allen head bolts. I re-used the football factory cover, and it really works,and fits well!!
My S&S slip on's will arrive in a few days, I can tell you that they only come in a "baloney cut" style. They sell for around $250-$260 bucks. They also supposedly have the s&s emblem on them towards the rear. The guys there install SE II's all the time, and they said these pipes sound even better!!! I'll write a review once they're here.
joe
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Seasoned HDF Member
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From: Colorado Springs, CO
RE: review=Arlen Ness "Big Sucker" intake
Hi,
I'm getting the download next weekend. I'm not riding it now, as I'm waiting fo my S&S slip ons.....will take it REAL easy on the 3 mile trip to the dealer for the download. Since my bike only has 16 miles on it, I'm taking it easy anyways.....
joe
I'm getting the download next weekend. I'm not riding it now, as I'm waiting fo my S&S slip ons.....will take it REAL easy on the 3 mile trip to the dealer for the download. Since my bike only has 16 miles on it, I'm taking it easy anyways.....
joe
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Seasoned HDF Member
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From: Colorado Springs, CO
RE: review=Arlen Ness "Big Sucker" intake
Hi,
As far as width, it seems to be the same, and the cover covers the filter, so it looks just like the SE filter. It comes with everything needed. Make sure you use the grease to hold in the rubber O-rings on the mounting points, I didn't and then you have to fiddle around to get them to stay in position when you tighten it. One is kinda out of position, so later I'll go out, slightly loosen the bolt, and use the point of a knife to push it back into position all the way, then re-tighten. Anybosy else would just leave it, but I guess I would like it right. (I'm talking about the two "arms" that reach out and bolt to the heads. The factory rubber O-rings seal the bracket to the head, it's like a small breather port, but the aftermarket bolts kinda block it off, meaning the bolt has a hole that goes halfway in to no-where
. The SE kit is the same, from what I've seen. These kits look virtually identical
Joe
As far as width, it seems to be the same, and the cover covers the filter, so it looks just like the SE filter. It comes with everything needed. Make sure you use the grease to hold in the rubber O-rings on the mounting points, I didn't and then you have to fiddle around to get them to stay in position when you tighten it. One is kinda out of position, so later I'll go out, slightly loosen the bolt, and use the point of a knife to push it back into position all the way, then re-tighten. Anybosy else would just leave it, but I guess I would like it right. (I'm talking about the two "arms" that reach out and bolt to the heads. The factory rubber O-rings seal the bracket to the head, it's like a small breather port, but the aftermarket bolts kinda block it off, meaning the bolt has a hole that goes halfway in to no-where
. The SE kit is the same, from what I've seen. These kits look virtually identicalJoe
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2005
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RE: review=Arlen Ness "Big Sucker" intake
traveler writes:The factory rubber O-rings seal the bracket to the head, it's like a small breather port, but the aftermarket bolts kinda block it off, meaning the bolt has a hole that goes halfway in to no-where .
Just got my Sucker kit and the bolts are hollow and a hole in middle that matches a hole in each support to allow breathing like the 2 small hoses that went into the stock filter unit.
Just got my Sucker kit and the bolts are hollow and a hole in middle that matches a hole in each support to allow breathing like the 2 small hoses that went into the stock filter unit.
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Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Colorado Springs, CO
RE: review=Arlen Ness "Big Sucker" intake
Hi,
The O-rings are re-used from your factory airbox. The trick here is to use the grease supplied in the kit to hold the O-rings in place when putting this on. Your packet has 2 sets of bolts, the large bolts are for evo's and the smaller one's are for twin cams. Make sure you wipe off the surface of the throttle body before you stick the gasket on, and wipe out the inside of the K&N, and it should go right together. Glad to hear you went with this setup! I really like mine! Read my review of my pipes, and I'm gonna try to get down to the dealer today for the re-calibration.
Yea, i know, it's kinda surprising they essentially block off the breather port, the Sreamin Eagle kit does the same thing.....
joe
The O-rings are re-used from your factory airbox. The trick here is to use the grease supplied in the kit to hold the O-rings in place when putting this on. Your packet has 2 sets of bolts, the large bolts are for evo's and the smaller one's are for twin cams. Make sure you wipe off the surface of the throttle body before you stick the gasket on, and wipe out the inside of the K&N, and it should go right together. Glad to hear you went with this setup! I really like mine! Read my review of my pipes, and I'm gonna try to get down to the dealer today for the re-calibration.
Yea, i know, it's kinda surprising they essentially block off the breather port, the Sreamin Eagle kit does the same thing.....
joe
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 189
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From:
RE: review=Arlen Ness "Big Sucker" intake
joe writes:Yea, i know, it's kinda surprising they essentially block off the breather port, the Sreamin Eagle kit does the same thing.....
No Joe they do not block off the breather as it breathes thru the banjo bolts same as the stock setup. I went with the DFO and what a friggan hauler, easy setup also. put on about 100 miles this morning and it is a completly different bike lol.
No Joe they do not block off the breather as it breathes thru the banjo bolts same as the stock setup. I went with the DFO and what a friggan hauler, easy setup also. put on about 100 miles this morning and it is a completly different bike lol.
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Colorado Springs, CO
RE: review=Arlen Ness "Big Sucker" intake
Im confused, ....how does it breathe the same as the stock setup? The stock setup has rubber hoses that go into the air box, and the "banjo" bolts have no vent to the atmosphere. joe