The air filter is the cheapest part on your bike and one of the most important. Every bit of air the engine breathes passes through it. A clean, properly oiled filter traps dirt; a dry or torn one lets grit straight into the cylinder where it grinds your piston and rings to death.

How Often

Clean it after every ride in dusty or sandy conditions, and at minimum every couple of rides otherwise. It's the single highest-payoff bit of maintenance you can do.

Cleaning the Filter

  1. Remove the filter carefully and stuff a clean rag in the airboot so nothing falls into the engine.
  2. Work in a dedicated filter cleaner or warm soapy water — kneading, not wringing, to avoid tearing the foam.
  3. Rinse until the water runs clear, then squeeze (don't twist) the water out and let it fully dry.

Oiling the Filter

  1. Apply foam-specific filter oil evenly across the whole filter — work it in until it's uniformly tacky, with no dry white spots and no dripping puddles.
  2. Put a light smear of waterproof grease on the sealing edge where it meets the airbox. This creates a dirt-tight seal.
  3. Reinstall, making sure it's seated squarely with no gaps.

Common Mistakes

  • Installing it wet. Solvent left in the foam can wash into the engine.
  • Too little oil. A dry filter doesn't trap fine dust.
  • Skipping the sealing grease. Dirt sneaks around the edge and bypasses the filter entirely.

Keep two filters on hand so you always have a clean, dry one ready to go.