air "pods" vs standard filter

[mobilebay750]

NEED a new filter found a set of 4 air filter pods on fleabay for cheap.   

Has anyone tried these instead of the standard filter?

Pros/cons?

Obvious weight savings dropping the air box.  But do they "do" anything other than look cool????

[jerjohn]

Pods won't work on the type of carbs on your bike. Our bikes have constant velocity carbs that rely on the air box to deliver the same amount of air to each carb. Changing out to pods will jack with the airflow to each carb. Others can explain it better than me.

The weight savings gained with dropping the airbox is pointless. The average rider can drop the same amount of weight by buying lighter boots, helmet, gear, or just loosing weight. Save yourself some time/trouble and go with the stock filter.

Dont get a K&N either because it will lean out your fuel/air ratio. cheers  

[Laminar]

They're possible, but if you do install them, be sure that you dyne tune before and after to make sure you're not killing your power in some part of the RPM band.

[mobilebay750]

I was afraid of EXACTLY everything you said.  I thought the boys at Honda had a "reason" for the airbox, size intake opening style design etc. etc. etc. and "knew" what they where doing.

I was concerned I was opening myself up for "issues" if I tinkered with it.

Thank you very much for the info jerjohn.   

[jerjohn]

No problem. As Laminar pointed out they are technically possible but extremely hard to get dialed in right. Most people dont have access to, or the expertise (I know I don't) to properly set up air pods on cv carbs. One guy on here was able to get them to work on his bobber but he had to fabricate a custom manifold with some pretty cool curves to balance the airflow. They are definetly not a "bolt on" and go modification. Glad we saved you some trouble.  

Like you, I trust the honda engineers.

[talespin]

Honda pays engineers hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of dollars per year to design Honda products. It's possible that some little company somewhere has the personnel and resources to do better than the Honda professionals, but I'm skeptical about their claims.

[ariwhiteboy]

I've never seen pod filters on a CV setup that didn't cause the owner major headaches, cost them mucho bucks, and still only yield mediocre results.

[gammer]

The trick with CV carbs is that they need to have a common point for the air to enter. Meaning, the intake of air has to be from the same spot. Having 4 separate air intakes or 4 separate pods would cause the slides to operate completely different.
If you absolutely had to remove the air box, I'd recommend setting up your intake to be something like what guilleand did on his bobber...all 4 carbs feeding from one cone filter:

[muttstang]

I'd bet that multiple filters would be alright if they all went into the same chamber before entering the carbs

[Cafe Nighthawk]

From what I know, the bike will run like crap..

[mike20]

I don't know if that k&n filter opinion is all true I went from a stock filter to a k&n reusable filter and the bike was night and day. What a difference in power. No black smoke or hiccups experienced. So I think the k&n air filter is based on personal preference. That's why guys say don't do the pods but I'm more of a I gotta see for myself kind of guy so I'm gonna buy the pods and stage 3 jet kit and see what happens.

[mattrowe19]

I don't know if that k&n filter opinion is all true I went from a stock filter to a k&n reusable filter and the bike was night and day. What a difference in power. No black smoke or hiccups experienced. So I think the k&n air filter is based on personal preference. That's why guys say don't do the pods but I'm more of a I gotta see for myself kind of guy so I'm gonna buy the pods and stage 3 jet kit and see what happens.

Let us know how it goes. MANY have tried, and most of the time it fails. Just search "pod filter" and you'll see quite a few posts about it. Best of luck to you. I'm curious to see if it works.

[mike20]

I am too and I wasn't trying to sound like an a$$hole. I was just stating how I felt and sometimes it comes out more blunt then I realize so my apologies to who I've offended. But I will definitely post pics of my cafe racer project as soon as I start and will do a post on what difference I experienced with the pods vs airbox.

[cb650]

I put pods on a couple of my 81's and they did fine.  But also at 5000 ft now and the CV's those years are different.
Yes honda did a design that works well but has to consider many laws and uses.   I wouldnt willingly take my pod bike out in a downpour even though I have.  My long distance bike still has a stock box but a K&N replacement.

[mattrowe19]

No offense taken whatsoever. I'm just very curious to see how this turns out.

[Blade]

i put chrome air pods on my 1986 450 rebel chopper and it helped alot on the performance and im gonna do the same with my 82 450 nighthawk. all i had to do was adjust the air mixture screws. i already went to 1 3/4 straight pipes. now i have a problem with keeping the front tire down taking off.

[Option13]

Did you run the bike with an air/fuel ratio sensor or do plug chops to ensure you weren't creating a flat spot anywhere in the powerband? That is what is truly needed to say the pods made an improvement.

[cb650]

I drag raced mine for a few years and played with the jetting there.

[Blade]

i just played with the air adjustment screws till she ran smooth

[Option13]

Did it just idle smooth, or actually have a consistent a/f ratio throughout the powerband?

The only way I can see it working is when the pod is clamped to the air horns. That should let all cylinders get the same airflow and keep the airflow in laminar flow through the carb. It's been done a few times on the late model 750's, but never with actual results. Most people just say "runs good enough", and call it a day.

[jerjohn]

Pods may work on the 450 since its a twin cylinder. Isnt the problem running pods on the inline four cv carb bikes that the outer two carbs disrupt the flow of air into the inner carbs?
 I am not sure about the early 80s cb650s vs mid eighties nighthawk 650. I think I saw a post by bumblebee or someone else extremely knowledgeable that said the earlier carbs (650) were of a  slightly different design than later carbs. What year were the cb650s that you ran pods on cb650?

edit: Just saw that cb650 said he ran pods on 81 cb650's.

[cb650]

Yes the 81 82 650 CV carbs are a way different animal than newer.