Aftermarket A/C with stock Slim cover, performance difference?
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
From: Minnesota
Aftermarket A/C with stock Slim cover, performance difference?
Morning gents, so I'm looking to get an aftermarket air cleaner to complete my stage 1, and I want to reuse my stock air cleaner cover... I think it just looks like it's supposed to be part of the bike to me, and I don't really like the look of the more naked filters or aftermarket covers.
I know there's a few that allow you to use the stock cover, but what I am curious about is the extra performance of an air cleaner going to be somewhat or totally negated by using the stock cover? All I seem to be able to find is if it can or can't be used, not if it hinders flow. Thanks everyone.
I know there's a few that allow you to use the stock cover, but what I am curious about is the extra performance of an air cleaner going to be somewhat or totally negated by using the stock cover? All I seem to be able to find is if it can or can't be used, not if it hinders flow. Thanks everyone.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,342
Likes: 8
From: Milwaukee, WI
I have the Fuel Moto Pro Billet air cleaner on my Slim. When I first installed it I ran it naked, but after a few weeks, I threw the stock cover on. I couldn't tell any difference in performance between the two setups. Maybe there is, maybe there isn't, but my butt-dyno told me there was no difference.
If you ride your bike on a daily basis where you could get stuck riding in the rain or end up having your bike sit in the rain for minutes to hours, keep the air cleaner covered. I ran naked until the first time my bike coughed and sputtered from water getting into the engine.
On that note, I would recommend weird the FM Pro Billet air cleaner or the DK Custom 587 air cleaner. Both can be run with or without a cover and I've used both in the past.
Let's see some pics of your Slim!
If you ride your bike on a daily basis where you could get stuck riding in the rain or end up having your bike sit in the rain for minutes to hours, keep the air cleaner covered. I ran naked until the first time my bike coughed and sputtered from water getting into the engine.
On that note, I would recommend weird the FM Pro Billet air cleaner or the DK Custom 587 air cleaner. Both can be run with or without a cover and I've used both in the past.
Let's see some pics of your Slim!
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
From: Minnesota
Thanks for the reply! That makes me feel better, I was kind of under the assumption half the performance was from the filter element being more exposed.
And I'll post some to the slim thread once I get a couple more toys for it! My LP bags are at the dealer waiting install when the new rear o2 comes in. I'm also going to get a luggage rack to serve as a fender guard and strap things to when I go camping this fall. I'm also toying with the idea of trimming down the turn signal relocating kit so the lights don't stick out so far.
And I'll post some to the slim thread once I get a couple more toys for it! My LP bags are at the dealer waiting install when the new rear o2 comes in. I'm also going to get a luggage rack to serve as a fender guard and strap things to when I go camping this fall. I'm also toying with the idea of trimming down the turn signal relocating kit so the lights don't stick out so far.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 244
Likes: 1
From: Southeast Louisiana
I have the FM also with the stock cover. I like the way it looks. PS I put an extra thick washer under mine to get a little more clearance as my AC was sitting up against the billet parts and I didn't want to chip the paint on the AC.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,342
Likes: 8
From: Milwaukee, WI
Even running my Power Vision on autotune has shown no more than a 1% change when running a cover versus no cover.
Throw those bags on now and ride! 5 minute install. Did you get the LP bags with the longer straps?
If the turn signal bar is anything like it was on the Sportsters, the ends of the bar are threaded and you turn the signals on to those thread. I'm not sure if trimming the ends would work then.
Throw those bags on now and ride! 5 minute install. Did you get the LP bags with the longer straps?
If the turn signal bar is anything like it was on the Sportsters, the ends of the bar are threaded and you turn the signals on to those thread. I'm not sure if trimming the ends would work then.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,342
Likes: 8
From: Milwaukee, WI
Also to add about the DK Custom 587 kit; If you get the kit with no cover and use the stock Slim cover, the stock cover does Not make contact with the front of the filter element. The folks at DK Custom assured me that there would be no issue because of that, but it bothered me too much knowing that there was not a full seal keeping dirt, dust, and other particles from my engine.
Last edited by sioux565; Sep 6, 2014 at 10:53 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 824
Likes: 2
From: O'fallon IL
Morning gents, so I'm looking to get an aftermarket air cleaner to complete my stage 1, and I want to reuse my stock air cleaner cover... I think it just looks like it's supposed to be part of the bike to me, and I don't really like the look of the more naked filters or aftermarket covers.
I know there's a few that allow you to use the stock cover, but what I am curious about is the extra performance of an air cleaner going to be somewhat or totally negated by using the stock cover? All I seem to be able to find is if it can or can't be used, not if it hinders flow. Thanks everyone.
I know there's a few that allow you to use the stock cover, but what I am curious about is the extra performance of an air cleaner going to be somewhat or totally negated by using the stock cover? All I seem to be able to find is if it can or can't be used, not if it hinders flow. Thanks everyone.
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Morning gents, so I'm looking to get an aftermarket air cleaner to complete my stage 1, and I want to reuse my stock air cleaner cover... I think it just looks like it's supposed to be part of the bike to me, and I don't really like the look of the more naked filters or aftermarket covers.
I know there's a few that allow you to use the stock cover, but what I am curious about is the extra performance of an air cleaner going to be somewhat or totally negated by using the stock cover? All I seem to be able to find is if it can or can't be used, not if it hinders flow. Thanks everyone.
I know there's a few that allow you to use the stock cover, but what I am curious about is the extra performance of an air cleaner going to be somewhat or totally negated by using the stock cover? All I seem to be able to find is if it can or can't be used, not if it hinders flow. Thanks everyone.
I forgot to add that too. 1/8" extra was all it needed.
Also to add about the DK Custom 587 kit; If you get the kit with no cover and use the stock Slim cover, the stock cover does Not make contact with the front of the filter element. The folks at DK Custom assured me that there would be no issue because of that, but it bothered me too much knowing that there was not a full seal keeping dirt, dust, and other particles from my engine.
Also to add about the DK Custom 587 kit; If you get the kit with no cover and use the stock Slim cover, the stock cover does Not make contact with the front of the filter element. The folks at DK Custom assured me that there would be no issue because of that, but it bothered me too much knowing that there was not a full seal keeping dirt, dust, and other particles from my engine.
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,593
Likes: 11
From: Mass/NH
I put the rk series open intake from jp cycles. I got the one with the bigger filter. Works great. You can use your stock cover. I put on a kuryaken scarab cover which fits perfect, same size as stock.