Every motorcycle comes with an air filter or air box as part of its stock design. Over the years, many riders ditched them for something smaller, such as an individual pod filter.
An air box controls how much air gets inside the carburetor, uses a built-in filter, and protects against precipitation intrusion. It’s more efficient than the standard pod filter.
If you’re thinking about getting rid of that big and bulky black box, the pros and cons of pod filters can help you see if this decision is right for you.
The Pros and Cons of Pod Filters
Pod filters are particulate air filters made of fibrous and porous materials to remove mold, pollen, bacteria, and dust from the air. Some items contain catalysts or adsorbent materials, such as charcoal, to remove gaseous pollutants and odors. They attach directly to the throttle bodies or carburetors of vehicles.
When pod filters are attached to motorcycles, they’re typically used as a replacement for the factory air box. The updated design improves the aesthetics of the bike while contributing small gains to its overall performance.
Motorcycles have unique challenges to consider that other vehicles don’t face. Manufacturers create an air box to place the stock air filter, ensuring airflows remain smooth while the intake noise is reduced.
This design element also prevents rainwater from getting to the engine.
Electronic components are sometimes mounted on or in the airbox to maximize space and functionality.
The problem that bikers and customizers have with the factory specs is that they rarely look good when you start stripping things down to the bare essentials.
Although removing the air box to install pod filters is typically straightforward and reasonably simple, it isn’t always as easy to have the motorcycle perform as expected.
That’s why it is essential to review the pros and cons of pod filters before attaching them to a bike or another vehicle.
What Are the Pros of Using Pod Filters?
1. Pod Filters Look Better
The primary reason that many bikers decide to upgrade to pod filters involves aesthetics. By getting rid of that stock air box, it’s much easier to restyle the ride into something more customized.
You can turn the motorcycle into a bobber, a chopper, a scrambler, or even a racer with the alteration.
When you have a vintage bike that needs an upgrade, going with a stripped-down look by using pod filters can deliver a timeless look.
2. It Can Be More Economical
Some motorcycles are old enough where it is next to impossible to find a replacement air box if it becomes damaged.
If it has gone missing, or the product is too rare to be economically feasible, rolling with pod filters can help make sure you’re getting back on the road without sourcing expensive OEM parts.
You’ll notice that a different taper needle might be needed since the bike can react faster with pod filters installed.
You might even need air correction jets or to enlarge the air bleed hole on the side to avoid a flat spot in your midrange.
3. Service Intervals Are Similar
The service intervals for foam and oiled gauze pod filters are approximately the same as what the stock air filter requires.
You can check your owner’s manual to see what schedule applies in your circumstances. That makes it much easier to stay on top of your regularly scheduled services, even if you’re transitioning to a more customized look.
Most pod filters can be cleaned and oiled again for use instead of requiring a complete replacement. You don’t get that option with the paper products that come on most motorcycles.
4. More Airflow Occurs
Most pod filters allow the bike’s engine to breathe easier because the stock air box restricts airflows to the engine.
When you can get more air into the system, the result is often more power – especially if the air-to-fuel ratio is correct.
That issue can also lead to problems with sand, dirt, or grit getting into the system if it has been a while since the last service window, so you’ll want to think about your driving environment carefully.
5. Nearly Universal Compatibility
It doesn’t matter what motorcycle you drive because pod filters work well on almost every design.
Although you’ll need to be careful about moisture exposure to prevent hydrolocking. Pull the spark plugs if something got into the carburetor. A small vacuum hose or a flexible magnet can help you remove the unwanted fluid.
If you’re unable to remove the water or think there is still some in there, take the bike to a mechanic to prevent a cataclysmic breakdown from happening.
What Are the Cons of Using Pod Filters?
1. More Than a Simple Replacement
It’s not unusual for bikers to see a severe reduction in power and operating quality after changing over to pod filters and throwing the mufflers away.
You have to do more than replace the components. The fuel system must get retuned to compensate for the extra airflow that occurs.
2. Exhaust Choice Makes a Difference
On motorcycles with carburetors, going up one pilot jet size is usually enough to correct performance issues.
You’ll still need a reasonable understanding of the carbs and RPM ranges affected by the various circuits.
That allows you to adjust the lean or rich conditions based on where your issues are in the revving range. If you don’t have the right exhaust setup after all that, it’ll still run poorly.
3. EFI Bikes Don’t Always Self-Adjust
Although EFT motorcycles use their sensors to self-adjust to a certain extent, this technology isn’t always perfect.
Pod filters with a free-flowing exhaust sometimes need fuel adjustments that fall outside the stock ECU ability to compensate.
That’s why you’ll need to consider aftermarket fuel tuners if the intake and exhaust modifications aren’t enough to get things to where you want them to be.
4. Rain Can Enter Pod Filters
It’s much easier for precipitation to enter the pod filters than it is to run with the factory air box.
Although rain socks are available to use, most people don’t want to put them on the bike. If you end up riding in rainy weather most of the time, it’s probably better to avoid this modification.
When the filters get wet, the airflow gets heavily restricted. It’s not unusual to see your revs get capped below 5k.
PC Racing creates filter skins that work with full-size filters of various sizes, providing three per package without making the bike look ridiculous in the process.
5. Electronic Component Relocation
It depends on the make and model of the motorcycle, but there could be several electronic components that must be relocated once you get rid of the air box.
Parts like relays, fuses, sensors, and regulator rectifiers are typically on, in, or around this area with the stock setup.
If you get rid of it for the pod filter, you’ll have many crucial items that need to find a new home.
Custom Vehicles Should Run as Good as They Look
The best pod filters can deliver increases to performance and aesthetics while reducing gaseous pollution or other unwanted effects from driving. Although cheap options are available, the best models prevent grit and dirt from getting into the engine’s cylinders with a guaranteed construction.
The first time I rode on a motorcycle was with my stepfather. I was maybe eight years old, and he thought it would be a bonding experience. Truthfully, I was terrified.
There was nothing between me and the pavement while we sped along at 60 miles per hour except my ability to hold onto his waist.
As I got older, I realized that my issues were more about not wanting to put the control of my circumstances into the hands of someone else. I had no problem riding my own motorcycle.
When I started looking for ways to improve its look and performance, swapping over to pod filters made a lot of sense. A high-quality product is worth the investment, especially if your goal is to improve airflow and filtration.
I think a custom bike is a great thing to ride, but it should provide an experience that is better than what you’d get from a stock experience. If it doesn’t, you’re only paying for improved aesthetics, and that’s only half the fun of having a bike.