Air filter cleaning

[fiveover]

I'm new to this and just got an '05 400ex. I was wondering how often I need to clean the air filter. A buddy of mine who races dirt bikes says I should change the oil and filter and clean the air filter after every ride. I'm thinking this is a bit overkill. The owner's manual suggests every 20 hours. I ride in fairly dusty (dry) conditions here is so. cal. I rode it a couple hours last weekend, looked at the filter and it looked brand new...well, I guess it is brand new.
Great site and look forward to being part of the community.

[BlasterEaten250]

Changing the oil, oil filter, and cleaning the filter after every is verry overkill. I can see cleaning the air filter after certain rides, but changing the oil.:rolleyes: Just clean the filter when it gets dirty, and I change my oil 2-3 times a year.

[fiveover]

I figured as such. My manual basically says do nothing for 20 hours. I figure then I'd at least clean the airl filter and possibly the oil.

[426exThump]

I change my oil about once a month. Or about every 4 to 5 good rides. And i also clean the air filter at the same time. Its a K&N so its not at all to difficult or messy. You can never go wrong by following the Clymer manual.... I had one for my '86 250r and i have 1 for the 400ex.

[ATC350X 85]

Clean the air filter when it is dirty, but change the oil and filter every 20 hours or less. Oil is cheap, piston and rings is not.

[250r4life]

you could probably go a month or more on the oil, just depending on how and how often you ride... however, i tend to change out my air filter pretty often after every good ride... it is one of the key elements to a good bike as obviously it regulates how much air comes in, as well as filters out all the bad crap... if i'm leading the whole time and it has rained recently, i met let it slide... if im at the dunes for a couple days, i actually have 3 different filters and i'll change em out while im down there... the bike runs better and less chance of sucking sand/dust... if youve got a K&N it really only takes about 10 minutes to clean it, granted its over a space of time... spray it down for 1 minute, come back 20 mintues later and spend 8 minutes wrinsing it all out, let it dry for a day, and spend another minute oiling it, and then wait another day for it to dry up...

[426exThump]

A little tip to help that K&N dry faster.... I have seen people use an old hair dryer. It was rigged using some PVC pipe, some type of flex hose, and Racing Tape(duct tape)... An hour or so and it was dry.... My self I use the top of the pizza over at my mom's shop... Set that thing up on there and in no time it is dry and ready to be oiled! The longest part about using the top of the oven was convincing my mother to let me do it!!!!!

[250r4life]

just a little tip in drying your K&N, i wouldnt use a hair dryer and especially not an oven to dry my K&N. it specifically states not to do it in the instructions. i dont think it is a good idea to expose it to a lot of heat, there are glues and other stuff in the filter and i wouldnt want to get those things melting... plus a lot of that ir rubber and you dont want to warp that either, also that pinkish material doesnt look like it likes heat too well either... i think i'll just go ahead and keep air drying it like i have been... i'd reccomend that to others as well, but each do what he feels good about... its another $35 for another K&N, might as well buy another one and rotate em so you can do em right...

[trx400exxracer]

I would clean the airfilter every 2 rides and change the oil every 3 to 5 rides and change the oil filter every other time you change the oil

This all depends on how much riding you do

[fiveover]

Where are you getting K&N's for $35?? Do you have to re-jet if you go K&N?

[250r4life]

rockymountainatv.com

thats where i order a majority of my stuff...
for the 250 a k&n is 29.99 plus shipping, for the 400ex its 35.99 plus shipping... im not sure about your 400 if you'll have to rejet, depends on if you just switch to the K&N with nothing else and how closely you are dialed in right now... i think you'd be alright with our jetting, and if not nothing major like maybe bump it up to the next jet size...

[fiveover]

Thanks. I'll check out rockymountain!

[fiveover]

I've heard K&N type filters aren't as good as foam in sand. Any truth to this?

[250r4life]

this is a debated topic... you can talk to a lot of different people and you will get a lot of dfferent opinions... i personally prefer the K&N. i think the UNI is a decent filter, but i think the K&N breathes better and is a more consistent breath. K&N is a lot easier to service and clean, and... i just prefer the K&N... you just gotta make sure and clean it real good, as well as oil it real good. i use an outerwear and i dont have a problem with sucking sand... i also swap out my fitlers if im gunna be at the dunes for a few days... but like i said, i oil miine good and take good care of em and theyve always taken care of me...

[250r4life]

ps, i also do have a UNI for my R in addition to my 2 K&Ns... i use it once or twice a year when my K&Ns arent clean and i dont feel like cleaning em if im gunna be off just messing around... but whenever i'm gunna be racing or riding serious, its only the K&N.... i had UNI pod filters on my banshee too, and they worked ok as long as you got em good and oiled... you gotta oil the crap outa the UNI for it to breath good...

[fiveover]

Thanks for the input. Any others?