Motorcycle air filters

Your motorcycle air filter cleans all the air the engine breathes and keeps dust, sand and insects out of it. This section has washable replacement filters for hundreds of models, from the TMAX or XMAX to the Africa Twin, Tuareg 660 or ZX-6R. Here is what types there are, how to clean each one and which suits the roads you ride.

They sit within motorcycle engine and spare parts, and for now they all come from Sprint Filter, which makes them in four ranges according to use.

Paper, oiled cotton or dry synthetic

• Paper: the stock filter on most bikes. It filters very well, but it cannot be washed: once it is dirty, you replace it.
• Oiled cotton: layers of cotton gauze between two meshes, soaked in a dedicated oil that traps dust. It is washable and flows plenty of air, but after every wash it has to be re-oiled, and not too heavily.
• Dry synthetic: a polyester fabric that filters without oil. It is reusable like the cotton type, without the oiling step, and it is the type of every filter in this section.

How to clean a motorcycle air filter

When you take it out, cover the intake opening with a clean cloth so nothing falls in. Then, depending on the type:

• A paper filter takes no water or solvents: at most, a few gentle taps or low-pressure air blown from the inside out. If it is still dirty, replace it.
• A cotton filter is washed with its own cleaner and lukewarm water, always from the inside out, left to dry naturally and then re-oiled, without soaking it.
• A dry synthetic filter is washed with water and mild soap, or the cleaner its maker recommends, rinsed and left to dry completely in the shade before refitting. It runs without oil, so do not add any.

Never use petrol or dry it with heat, and when you refit it, check the seal sits evenly all the way round the airbox.

Road, track or dust

For road riding and touring, a filter that balances airflow and filtration is enough. For track days with a tuned engine, you want one that puts airflow first, such as the P08F1-85 range. And if you ride on trails or in dry, dusty areas, one that holds more dust even if it flows a little less air, such as the T12. Each product page lists the bikes and years the filter fits.

Common questions

Does a high-flow filter add power?

On a standard bike, little or none you will notice: the fuel injection and the exhaust limit what the engine can use. It makes sense on an engine with a free-flowing exhaust and a remapped ECU; if you are pairing it with one of our exhausts, have your tuner check whether a new map is needed.

Why is there oil in the filter or the airbox?

If the filter is not a cotton one, the oil almost always comes from the engine, through the crankcase breather that vents into the airbox. The usual cause is an oil level above the maximum; if it keeps happening with the level right, have a workshop look at it. An oil-soaked filter breathes worse and needs cleaning or replacing.

How often should I clean it?

On the road, at the interval in your bike's service manual. If you ride off-road, much sooner: in dusty conditions a filter clogs up in just a few rides.