I have an 08 Sportsman Touring 500 and want to replace the stock air filter. What do you suggest?

 

K&N if it's not too dusty where you ride or a UNI if it is. I have both and like them alot.

 

I like don't mined the stock paper Filter,I do take a air hose or vacuum to it a couple of times before I replace it. To pricey to toss out every single time it gets dusty. I just think the paper type holds off dust very well.

 

I agree with using the stock paper filter. Seems to hold it out good. That type is what is used on some heavy equipment where it is very very dusty.

 

I use a K&N air filter with a prefilter. That way all the dust stays out.

 

K&N=More Power

More Power= More Air

More Air = More Dust

Was my thinking anyways.

 

A few things on this...

First, with the pre-filter installed on the K & N, I doubt that it really flows that much more air than a paper filter with a pre-filter. As a matter of fact, the pre-filter is pretty much a slap in the face to K & N's theory that their filters are safe to use and "filter better".

Anyhow, even after saying that, and as crazy as it sounds, I've switched to a K & N with the pre-filter on my quad. Here's why...

After about 25 hours on my ATV, I took the plug out, and it was partially fouled. I was pretty sure I knew the reason why, and I was right. When I took the stock air filter out, and compared it to a new filter by holding it up to a bright light, I could see that the filter that came out of the quad had lost at least 1/2 of it's air flow ability... at least according to the amount of light that was getting through. Same thing at about 45 hours... but this time I put the K & N in.

On their own, paper filters do filter better, but they also loose the ability to flow extremely fast... not necessarily because of dirt, but simply from being exposed to the constant air flow, humidity, gas fumes... etc. After all, it's just PAPER!

The K & N will not deteriorate like that. I learned this a long time ago with my cars and trucks, and should have known that it would be no different with a quad.

With that said, I switched to K & N, and will keep a clean pre-filter on it. The pre-filter will do most of the work, and the K & N should catch the rest. I'll keep a decent paper filter around for those times when I think I'm going to get into some real dusty conditions.

So, I'm using the K & N not because of "increased performance"... but for long term "consistent" performance.

 

Thanks guys, I think I'll go with the K & N at the first filter change. Not too much dust where we ride.

 

Yep, I would run the pre-filter just to be safe.