I have two air cleaner setups and I can't decide which one to run. One is more performance oriented and the other is purely for the look. Below are a few pics of the performance rig I have on there now. It is a 'Ness Big Sucker II with their trick back place and a Jerry-rigged cover plate from an old clutch cover. I don't notice too much additional performance but I assume it works. The bike is an '05 FLSTNi with a 95" kit and PCIII and dyno tuned custom map, SE203 cams, SE flat tops, and Big Boys ported heads at 9.7:1 making about 100/100 at the RW on the dyno so it needs to breathe. The other rig is your basic K&N and HD nostalgic round cover on a chrome SE backing plate and integrated breathers (you've seen it a million times but I can post pics if needed). The Big Sucker does contact my knee but other than that it works well. It just looks out-of-place on the Deluxe especially with the classic Royalite bags. The HD cover really fits the nostalgic look of the bike so I am torn between the two. Which way should I go?

 

Here's the classic look for anyone who's been in a cave since 2005. I actually switched it back to this today after riding for an hour with my knee up against the Big Sucker madly trying to keep my right foot from sliding off the brake peddle.

 

I think your "Jerry-rigged" clutch cover looks cool as hell. Looks like you have a 2 into 1 pipe which is usually more performance oriented than a 2 into 2, unless you want more topend power. With all the money you have in the motor for "performance" I'd leave the the ac in the first pics on. Just my opinion.

 

Oh-pinions are what I'm looking for here, thanks. I ran SE Pro IIs for a little while then V&H modified Big Shots with Big City Thunder baffles for a long time but these Pythion 2-into-1s definately out-performed the V&Hs on the dyno time after time. Biggest difference (dip-to-peak) was 22 hp! And they sound better (in my opinion) especially on the throttle, like a NASCAR built V8. The modded V&Hs (Dr. Dyno washer baffle) sounded like a Mac truck coming down the pike.

 

i, too, like the look of the Ness. the bigger issue sounds like the comfort factor of riding with your foot on edge. i think the nostalgic look would work with the deluxe, and solve the foot issue too. for me, that's the way i'd go. good luck and let us know how it turns out.

 

Go with the Ness. Looks better, just get a rain sock for it.

 

The Clutch Cover looks great, but comfort is very important. I think you are going to have to make the call on this one.

 

go with the Big Sucker...it looks better do

 

Have you tried to put the Nostalga cover over the Ness unit?
I have one on mine, not a Ness, but close enough with no leg interferanceproblems as its only slightly, very slightly thicker than the stock football. And I'm a short old fart.

 

Keep the K&N and sell me the first one you posted.