 Unifilter?
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OP
Learned Hand
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Ok, I've finally got time to focus on my new toy (another 07 TBA). When I bought the original bike, I had the dealer install the Bubs and a Unifilter. I'm going through the stuff that was removed, for me, off my old 07 TBA. I have a foam type airfilter here but I don't think it's a Unifilter. I don't see how I can take it apart and clean and re-oil the foam. I was thinking it was a stock filter, but I just checked the air filter off my new 07 TBA and it has a pleated paper filter.
Sooooo...does Unifilter make both an oiled and un-oiled version?
Thanks
Update: Checking the Unifilter website and their maintenance instructions, they state to remove the filter frame "if applicable". I guess for this design, that's not applicable. The filter is very dry, does not feel like any oil in it. I wonder if the dealer failed to oil it in the first place.
Last edited by Conwy; 12/31/2009 12:28 AM.
Blue/White 2007 TBA, Thruxton needles, Unifilter, AI removed, Polaris Bellmouth, Bubs, Nology Coils/wires, Lightbar, Ricor Intiminators, Hagon Nitros, Tall Sissy Bar w/luggage rack, Dart flyscreen & Lowers. 130 Mains, TrueGel Battery MG12-BS.
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Re: Unifilter?
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,726
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,726 |
Steve, the Uni filter is very easy to oil and clean. You do not take it apart. You can buy the UNI oil and cleaner in a combo pack. To oil you just spray the oil evenly all over the inside and use your fingers to spread out. You really only need to lightly oil - too little is better than too much.
To clean all you do is spray the cleaner foam all over in and out and work in. Then rinse with a hose and let dry. If it still feels oily after rinsing, do it a second time. It's really very easy. I clean mine once a year.
There is no un-oiled version although some people choose to use the filter without oiling. IMO, I think lightly oiled is best.
Bob
2005 America, 904cc - sold. 2014 Trophy SE.
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Re: Unifilter?
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,354
Learned Hand
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OP
Learned Hand
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Bob,
Thanks for the reply. Yep, I bought the pack y'day. What was throwing me was in the cleaning instructions they said to take it apart to clean the foam. Obviously, it wasn't coming apart.
I cleaned it last night, still waiting for it to dry before applying the oil. I only had ~3000 miles on the Unifilter originally, but figured it wouldn't hurt to clean/re-oil it. It's also a good bonding exercise with my "new" 07 TBA. And I still wonder if the dealer oiled the filter in the first place, it didn't feel oily at all. That's why I asked about the "dry" filter.
Thanks for the feedback. Happy New Year!
Steve
Last edited by Conwy; 12/31/2009 12:28 PM.
Blue/White 2007 TBA, Thruxton needles, Unifilter, AI removed, Polaris Bellmouth, Bubs, Nology Coils/wires, Lightbar, Ricor Intiminators, Hagon Nitros, Tall Sissy Bar w/luggage rack, Dart flyscreen & Lowers. 130 Mains, TrueGel Battery MG12-BS.
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Re: Unifilter?
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,616
Check Pants
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Check Pants
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Steve, I think you should splurge for the Freak. Let them Bubs sing buddy! 
SOLD: 07 Black BA, 39mm FCRs, TPUSA stage 1 head, TPUSA 813 cams, TPUSA 10.8:1 pistons, TTP #3 igniter, Specialty Spares Long Cannons, Tsukayu Hard Bags. 82HP/55tq
NEW: 19 Goldwing Tour DCT
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Re: Unifilter?
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,354
Learned Hand
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OP
Learned Hand
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Z,
Maybe next year. Let me get my "riding" legs back.
Besides, I'm splurging on some other stuff (old & new). She (the old bike) was singing sweetly before and I didn't know she was still choked back with the snorkel.
Blue/White 2007 TBA, Thruxton needles, Unifilter, AI removed, Polaris Bellmouth, Bubs, Nology Coils/wires, Lightbar, Ricor Intiminators, Hagon Nitros, Tall Sissy Bar w/luggage rack, Dart flyscreen & Lowers. 130 Mains, TrueGel Battery MG12-BS.
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Re: Unifilter?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,968 Likes: 1
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,968 Likes: 1 |
IMHO the freak is over priced and not worth the hassle. The fit and finish is marginal at best. Get a UNI and drill your airbox and the cut out the bottom of the UNI. Place a fiber AC filter between the bottom of the UNI and the airbox to keep large debris out. Remove snorkle. Viola, home made freak for a fraction of the cost. Guess what, your cheese graters and side panels stay on better. You won't have problems with wet pods in the rain.
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Re: Unifilter?
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,726
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,726 |
Steve, if your UNI didn't feel oily it probably was dropped in without oiling. When it's dry, spray the oil evenly all over the inside and work in with your fingers. It doesn't take a whole lot of oil and your oil & cleaner pack should last years. I clean and re-oil mine once every 6K miles or when I do my yearly maintenance.
I added a bellmouth to my intake where the snorkel used to be. I feel I'm getting plenty of air flow without doing any other modifications to the airbox. Take it a step at a time.
Bob
2005 America, 904cc - sold. 2014 Trophy SE.
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Re: Unifilter?
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,150
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,150 |
Quote:
You won't have problems with wet pods in the rain
Who has problems with wet pods Ronald?
Water is immiscible with oil. In other words they don't mix. Oil and service your pods properly and there is no problem. At least that's my experience and I have ridden my bike with K&N pods through some serious and prolonged wet riding.
Never been an issue for me and I believe I would have noticed by now if there was.
Perhaps any info of probs you have come across came from someone who didn't do the oiling of the pods properly in the first place, I dunno 
Or, Maybe the rain is different over here in Aus 
More importantly though, we take the info given by others seriously as it helps those less informed than others. We are all learning at different stages of our lives aren't we?
By all means encourage others to do what you have done, in fact the Uni Filter mod etc is a gooden and one I did myself initially with no problems.
Perhaps though if you are going to try and strengthen your point of view by pulling apart the positives of what others have done, some well sourced facts or better, some examples from long term and well respected members would IMHO give your arguement more cred. 
Btw, I'm generally more happy go lucky than how this reply appears but I do take the info said on here seriously. In fact just as seriously as I take riding my bike in the middle of Australia.
You want it reliable from the info given by others with more experience than yourself. That way if or when (in my case when) you are unfortunate enough to stop in the middle of no where, you might even have read enough from those that have been there before so you can fix your bike on the side of the road.
I reckon that's important don't you
Staintune Pipes, K&N Pods, 45 pilots, TBS needles and 145 mains.
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Re: Unifilter?
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
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Rain is same over here I have also ridden in some extremely heavy and prolonged down pours too with my pods on with no issues at all. Didn't even skip a beat and it was raining so hard I could barely see the tail light of the guy in front of me.That ride I have in mind was about 300 miles in the downpour.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Unifilter?
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,150
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
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Excellent Ian. I didn't think there was a problem
but it's always good to here perspectives from the old salts who have been there and can comment from real experience. Cheers mate.
Staintune Pipes, K&N Pods, 45 pilots, TBS needles and 145 mains.
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Re: Unifilter?
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Joined: Jan 2008
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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I rode from Albert Lea, MN to Madison, WI in a unrelenting rain storm this summer, no issues at all with the pod filters. Previous to the pods I had the unifilter with the airbox cut out and bellmouths top and bottom, lots of rainy miles and no issues with that set up either.
We do on occasion have this 'white rain' here in Wisconsin that adds a challenge to riding, however I have not attmpted to evaluate its effect on my pod filters.
05 speedmaster - 1100cc, 11:1 racing pistons, Carillo rods, thunderbike cams, ported and polished head, 2mm over intake and exhaust valves, Barnett kevlar clutch, scepter pipes, oversize manifolds, 45mm HSR's, TTP stage 4 firestarter
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Re: Unifilter?
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,354
Learned Hand
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OP
Learned Hand
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Stacka, Going off topic on my own thread but... You have rain down unda? I thought you were all having "The Big Dry"? I'm still not going to go with the Freak for now. It looks like my unifilter is finally dried out after washing (yes we DO have rain, lots of it, up here in the Seattle, WA USA area - took awhile for her to dry out), so I'll oil her up later and drop her back in. I'm going to get that Polaris bellmouth after I get back from Oman. And FWIW, what a difference in dealers around here. The dealer where I brought my original 07 TBA (I-90 Motorsports) put in the dry unifilter and installed my Bubs without any carb changes. I was at Triumph of Tacoma, the other day, talking about the Unifilter and the Bubs. The guy there (Bob) said I need to add some shims, add thruxton needles, change this & that, etc... I told them I-90 did none of that, even though I asked I-90 at the time. Whoa!! I was impressed. Either I will have them tweak the carbs or I'll get their suggestions and bribe Z to come over and help me out sometime later this year. Cheers to all!!  My "new" 07 TBA is shaping up to be a beauty, even if it does have those dang blued pipes!! It shows she was ridden before. I'm itching to take her out for a spin.
Blue/White 2007 TBA, Thruxton needles, Unifilter, AI removed, Polaris Bellmouth, Bubs, Nology Coils/wires, Lightbar, Ricor Intiminators, Hagon Nitros, Tall Sissy Bar w/luggage rack, Dart flyscreen & Lowers. 130 Mains, TrueGel Battery MG12-BS.
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Re: Unifilter?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,968 Likes: 1
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
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Quote:
Excellent Ian. I didn't think there was a problem
but it's always good to here perspectives from the old salts who have been there and can comment from real experience. Cheers mate.
Yeah, you guys really know your stuff. I would depend on your top notch advice, NOT!!
Why do you think they sell rain covers for the pods. It's not because they stay dry in the rain. Yeah the oil will keep out rain for a while but not that long. You guys spend lots of money on a freak and try and convince other guys it's the best thing since sliced bread. Reminds me of all the nology hotwire crap. I've challenged numerous guys on here to send me a before and after dyno with and without nology. After 4 years not one has come forth. Even nology doesn't post actual dyno examples. Sure the freak will give great airflow but with great airflow comes great dirt. There is always a trade off.
Last edited by Fishercat; 01/28/2010 8:42 PM.
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Re: Unifilter?
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,616
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,616 |
Quote:
Quote:
Excellent Ian. I didn't think there was a problem
but it's always good to here perspectives from the old salts who have been there and can comment from real experience. Cheers mate.
Yeah, you guys really know crap. That's why this site has seen better days. Why do you think they sell covers for the pods. It's not because they stay dry. You guys spend lots of money on a freak and try and convince other guys it's the best thing since sliced bread. Reminds me of all the nology crap. I've challenged numerous guys on here to send me a before and after dyno with and without nology. After 4 years not one has come forth. 
WTF does your comment have to do with this thread. This is about Uni with a recommendation from myself to Steve about the FREAK (which I own and have ridden in the rain and HAVE had an issue with, BUT I think it was more an issue with the vent tube than the PODS). No issues with fit or finish and the bike performs just fine.
Dont ask me for a Dyno run cause I don't have one...yet. BUT when I do get one it will be to get my bike tuned to the set up I run and not to provide before and after info to YOU.
What I can tell you is that I now have two bikes (07 Americas) in the stable, both have SS pipes, one (mine) has a FREAK and the other (Karens) has a UNI. I just rode both (no not at the same time you @sshat) and I can say from the "seat of pants feel" that mine (FREAK) seems to pull a little harder and sounds a little deeper.
Dont like this site....go to RAT.net and enjoy the Harley ads between every post....
SOLD: 07 Black BA, 39mm FCRs, TPUSA stage 1 head, TPUSA 813 cams, TPUSA 10.8:1 pistons, TTP #3 igniter, Specialty Spares Long Cannons, Tsukayu Hard Bags. 82HP/55tq
NEW: 19 Goldwing Tour DCT
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Re: Unifilter?
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,150
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Dec 2006
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Ronald, Thanks for your Constructive comments. I'll be sure to take onboard whatever you say from now as being "the telephone engineer's" Gospel Particularly as I seemed to have missed the experience with pods bit.  Mind you, your defensiveness IS deafening  Btw Quote:
After 4 years not one has come forth
sounds like you enjoy challenging people behind your laptop.
Last edited by Staffo; 01/29/2010 2:24 AM.
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Re: Unifilter?
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,150
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Dec 2006
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Steve, from what I've read the uni filter with a bellmouth works very nicely for those that have them. As far as I'm concerned as long as we enjoy what we have, all the rest is wasted keystrokes. I bet you guys must be starting to champ at the bit knowing there's light at the end of the tunnel. The light being SUMMER that is. Btw Steve, pm sent.
Last edited by Staffo; 01/28/2010 10:59 PM.
Staintune Pipes, K&N Pods, 45 pilots, TBS needles and 145 mains.
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Re: Unifilter?
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
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Okay, so all that stuff between members set aside... I hear Unifilters are pretty much on par with the K&Ns (the ones for the air box). Anyone know anything 'bout this?
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: Unifilter?
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,099
Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Let's play nice now boys!
Back on topic:
I have the UNI in a stock box, no snorkle, no bottom hole.
45, 135, 1 shim, stock needles, bubs. Specs in NH dyno thread.
Personally, without carb, intake, and head mods, I don't think
these enginges need the amount of air that the pods move.
I also don't understand folks who put on pods and big mains,
and run TORS. Big choke point in my opinion.
But, what do I know.
Uncle Charlie
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Re: Unifilter?
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,730 Likes: 5
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,730 Likes: 5 |
Quote:
Personally, without carb, intake, and head mods, I don't think
these enginges need the amount of air that the pods move.
I agree with you there 100%
Always remember to be yourself. Unless you suck. Then pretend to be someone else.
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Re: Unifilter?
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Joined: Feb 2008
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Feb 2008
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Quote:
...I also don't understand folks who put on pods and big mains, and run TORS. Big choke point in my opinion...
Why do you hold that opinion?
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Re: Unifilter?
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,730 Likes: 5
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,730 Likes: 5 |
TORs don't flow as well as an open exhaust system.
Always remember to be yourself. Unless you suck. Then pretend to be someone else.
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Re: Unifilter?
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,671 Likes: 15
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,671 Likes: 15 |
Quote:
TORs don't flow as well as an open exhaust system.
By open I take it you mean unbaffled/gutted, as late model long tors have "open" cores.
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Re: Unifilter?
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,730 Likes: 5
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
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Posts: 10,730 Likes: 5 |
They do have an open core, but it's only like a 3/4" hole, maybe an inch if I remember right. I would consider that restricted compared to Epco's Sceptre's, Specialty Spares, and others.
Always remember to be yourself. Unless you suck. Then pretend to be someone else.
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Re: Unifilter?
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964 |
Yeah, I'm running late model short TORS and I would not call them an open pipe. The inside core is small enough to be restrictive.
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: Unifilter?
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,730 Likes: 5
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,730 Likes: 5 |
For comparison, here is a pic of the Sceptre baffle  That is inside a 3 1/2" pipe. I would call that unrestricted.
Always remember to be yourself. Unless you suck. Then pretend to be someone else.
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Re: Unifilter?
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,616
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,616 |
Quote:
TORs don't flow as well as an open exhaust system.
I experienced that first hand recently...Karen had long TORS and was running great with 130/42 and a Uni....ran real good BUT I had a set of SS coming. Put the SS on and needed to up to a 45 pilot....runs SWEEEET now!
SOLD: 07 Black BA, 39mm FCRs, TPUSA stage 1 head, TPUSA 813 cams, TPUSA 10.8:1 pistons, TTP #3 igniter, Specialty Spares Long Cannons, Tsukayu Hard Bags. 82HP/55tq
NEW: 19 Goldwing Tour DCT
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Re: Unifilter?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13 |
Quote:
For comparison, here is a pic of the Sceptre baffle
That is inside a 3 1/2" pipe. I would call that unrestricted.
Dang. Your picture reminds me of basketball and imus. 
Here is a picture looking through the actual pipe 
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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Re: Unifilter?
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
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Quote:
Cool picture!!!
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: Unifilter?
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,730 Likes: 5
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,730 Likes: 5 |
That looks like the older style baffle there, it still has kind of a lip into the center. The new ones are how I pictured above, but here they are side by side. They managed to open up an open exhaust 
Always remember to be yourself. Unless you suck. Then pretend to be someone else.
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