Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Performance Mods Holes in BOTTOM of airboxes? What happen in rain?

Has anyone who has drilled out nice big holes in the bottom of their air boxes (and in the middle of their air cleaner elements) ever had water sucked in when riding they get stuck riding in the rain?

That's a good question Michael and one I was always concerned about when I did that mod. Anyway, a few months back my bike got well and truely tested in this way when me and a mate had to ride for several hours through torrential rain. I can safely say that it made no difference to my bike's performance and I had no stalling issues at all.

When I got home though I did check the filter and it looked a bit messy as one would expect so I guess as long as you make sure that when the filter is housed, it sits nice and firm so as not to let any seapage in, you should be fine. That's my experience anyway.

On my Winter to-do list is to install in a plastic mud flap to close the gap between the bottom of the air box and top of the swing arm, which will hopefully send the rear wheel fling & water to the ground instead of on top of the swing arm, where it can bounce up into the air box.

6 hours in the non-stop pouring rain on the way home from Arkansas last month, and I didn't have any issues.

Scroll around in Pat's site ( Dinqua ) , lots of stuff about Ghetto Freakin' . There is a step by step on that very issue .

I've ridden in a lot of rain with my airbox and UNI filter drilled out - no problem at all here.

Thank you all for your input. I will make the mod knowing I should never have a problem. I'm sure you are all like me - we don't WANT to ride in the rain, but sometimes we have no choice ie 220km's from home and down she comes! Kinda takes the gloss off all that "open road, freedom, hit the highway philosophy I like to live by!"

Thanks again.
>Mick M

I had no problems when I had the modded AB.

I did that mod three years ago. 25,000+ miles since then with no problems.

I've had the mod for 2 years and have ridden in the rain plenty with no issues.

I have pods, and I have ridden thru many a QLD thunderstorm, no probs.

Bobby or anyone for that matter. I've just bought the freak with the K&N pods and the instructions say to oil them after cleaning. Just thinking ahead for down the track as being new they are pre-oiled apparently so do I need to get the special K&N oil for this? I just wanted to know what others did with oiling that's all. Thanks for any suggestions

If they are red, they are pre-oiled. The K&N kit is only $10 here and comes with the cleaner spray and oil. So far, I've used it 3 times and it looks like I have 1 more go at it!

I never looked in airbox after it rained until I got stranded on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. I bet nobody else has looked in theirs, either.

Hey Lonzo,tell me more.Was it Soaking in there?
Ive just had the big bore done and am in the middle of Dyno tuning.
First run was way too rich with Tors and stock filter with snorkels removed = 52HP;57NM
Second run with K&N Filter,still way to rich with 55HP;59NM
So i still need more air and was thinking about drilling the airbox,but living in Germany it sometimes seems like it is raining from the ground upwards and i shall probably not bother and just rejet.

regards,Nick

I had no problem going through the occassional shower. This last trip was in torrential downpour for about 100 miles. Bike started losing power, then quit altogether. Bottom of airbox was filled with water to top of ring that holds filter, filter was completely soaked.
(sorry all, got the same topic on two threads)

Thanks Lonzo,that means that i wont be drillng then

Nick

Why drill the bottom and risk water entering when one can enlarge the top hole by a quarter inch around the perimeter. This is easy with a file or rasp and is cleaned up by scraping with a knife. The enlargement yields between one and two additional square inches of hole.

Just to add to the ongoing air box mod, I cut the hole and made a scoop from a shop vac crevice tool. I cut it in half and used the waste to fill in where needed. It fits in the indent on the bottom of box. With the scoop in place the air is drawn from the side away from the rear tire, seems to work fine no water problems!

I bit the bullet, and bought the Freak.
Thanks to all who responded.
I thought after REALLY OPENING up the bottom of the air box (huge oval hole same size as top) that the Freak would be a waste of time, and make no difference. But was way lean after Freak install. Had to increase main jet from 140 to 150, and actually "remove" 3mm of shim from under the TBS needles.
Am experimenting with replacing the original needles with some shims this weekend. STAFFO has been helping me out with some advice. (Thanks mate!)
Runs well now, but when "optimising" - looking for best I can get!