I have the SE air filter that was installed when I did my pipes, tuner and dyno. I have always removed, washed and dried when I serviced my bike.


When is it recommended to replace the filter?


Replace with the SE or K&N equivalent?

 

If it's the K&N style then it should last a long time and as long as there are no holes in it I wouldn't worry about replacing.

 

When I bought my 'King, I went with the Stage One, RC Xhaust Slip Ons, Heritage Bars, and the SE Air Filter. Mine clearly was stamped "Do not oil". But somebody had oiled it with the red K/N Oil at the dealer. I washed it a few times and got lots of it out, but when held to the light you could see the filter media was not uniform as well as I would have preferred.
My advice is YOU be the judge. When you clean it, if the gauze in it looks like it is moving around and not nice and uniform, replace it. Keep check on it.
I went with the A/N Big Sucker that came with their "Million Mile Filter" that sure looks K/N to me, and uses the same cleaner and oil (Recharge Kit). I also like the extra chrome, smoothed intake, and little oil passages that has stopped the slow drip onto the filter I used to experience. It all fit under my stock cover, and got the deal from Eastern Performance.
IMHO, the K/N type filter is far superior to the SE, and the A/N is a superior intake.
Good luck!

 

Unless it's in uncleanable condition or damaged in some way it shouldn't need to be replaced at all. The newer SE air filters are the K&N type, the older version is the white cotton. I have both, I started with the white. What I did is buy an extra so I'd have a clean one at all times. When the K&N version came out I picked one of those as well so now I rotate all three. Frankly I like the original better, it seems that no matter how careful I am I must be over oiling the K&N version as I get little specs of oil on the side of the bike.

 

Thanks for the replies.

 

Yea your def over oiling it. they dont take much and i generally let mine sit for a day after oiling. I made that mistake the first time i cleaned mine now there is some permanent specs on my black exhaust covers.