So what's wrong with the stock filter? I know K&N breathes easier but filters less contaminants. Seems like a bad choice to me for longevity of the engine. Am I willing to give up a horse or two at top RPM for engine durability... YES! Did the engineers at Harley just design a crappy intake system? On purpose? Or are they just incompetent?

http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/kn-vs-oem-filter.html

 

I have a Screaming Eagle air intake, too flashy for my liking. In fact I was contemplating removing it when I bought the bike. After riding the Street Glide, I have decided that although it is Butt Ugly, it is staying. I really like the fact that it is out of the way for my right leg, I can hug the tank with both legs without fighting the stock air cleaner. My impression is two thumbs up to this Butt Ugly air cleaner.

 

It's not the filter as much as the stock air box being to restrictive. Any open element AC will be an improvement over stock. The reason for the Stock design is the epa not harley engineers being incompetent or designing a crappy system on purpose.

 

I like the stock box with the K&N

 

Sometimes its worth a little extra cash.

 

The S&S single bore tuned induction system is probably one of the best(and expensive)systems . It Makes power top to bottom.

 

Check your "facts" the reason has nothing to do with EPA. If so then why would the CVO bikes have opened up air intakes?

Stock box and K&N filter is the best bang for the buck hands down.

 

I had the Big Sucker and liked it a lot but even with the short element I had to sell it to put speakers in my lower fairings.

I went to the SE Ventilator but felt that it was giving off more heat. Maybe it was the way it directed air around the engine or maybe it was acting as a heat sink to the engine... in either case, I didn't like it and sold that.

I now have FuelMoto's setup and like it as much as my old Big Sucker.

 

I believe the reason for the stock air cleaner housing is to quiet down the intake noise, probably for the EPA mandated noise standards on vehicles. When the twin cam originally was designed, it was made so most of the covers did not support moving parts (unlike previous H-D engines) to quiet the engine down, to meet EPA mandated requirements. Many years ago on here this was all discussed.

As to why the CVO's have open air filters, I can't answer that. Maybe because they are limited production?

 

Didn't you see the latest edition of Consumer Reports?