Do spike intakes restrict air flow?
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Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 726
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From: Pacific Northwest
Do spike intakes restrict air flow?
I got my bike last fall, so I wasn't able to put very many miles on it before I added this knock off spike intake this past winter.
I have to believe this setup is restricting flow, maybe more so than the stock setup. The filter itself is small and the openings in the spike cover are small. I'm only getting about 30 mpg and she smells like she's running rich (carb'd bike).
Plugs look fine though (well, I think they look fine, at least they're not all black like I thought they would be).
I might cut away some of the cover to expose more filter. Or K&N makes a heavy breather type filter that should just hose clamp on to my 90 degree elbow. Might try that, although I like the look of the chrome spike.
Anyway, just wanted to get some thoughts and opinions. I like the look, but am wondering if my performance is being hurt. My gas mileage certainly is.
I have to believe this setup is restricting flow, maybe more so than the stock setup. The filter itself is small and the openings in the spike cover are small. I'm only getting about 30 mpg and she smells like she's running rich (carb'd bike).
Plugs look fine though (well, I think they look fine, at least they're not all black like I thought they would be).
I might cut away some of the cover to expose more filter. Or K&N makes a heavy breather type filter that should just hose clamp on to my 90 degree elbow. Might try that, although I like the look of the chrome spike.
Anyway, just wanted to get some thoughts and opinions. I like the look, but am wondering if my performance is being hurt. My gas mileage certainly is.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,395
Likes: 266
From: Southern California
Spark Plug looks like you do a lot of short trips and/or long warm-ups with the choke on . . . but when fully warmed up the mixture is correct. ie the color of the Center and Side electrode and ceramic look fine but the shell looks like more than normal carbon . . . but all have more deposit build up that I'd expect for normal operation.
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metaphysician
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Aug 20, 2012 06:54 PM
