Under tank vs 3x Air filter

It's time to change out my stock air filter and I need some sage advice from the wiser-than-I on this board. I have an '06 Standard with Stock Air filter and Staintune Exhausts. No other intake or exhaust mods. Running the standard Triumph aftermarket pipes tune.

I can't justify a PCIII or Tuneboy at this time so that's another constraint.

I know that I want to open up the airbox so I'm looking to at least go the Undertank K&N route. From what I have gathered on this forum that a 12-min tune should suffice after this install. Is that a correct assumption?

Of course my pref would be to go the 3x under bearclaw install and remove the secondaries but I understand that this will result in a too-lean situation that the 12-min tune can't adjust for. A PCIII or tuneboy would be required with this install. Is that correct?

Is the undertank route my best option for the time being?

Under tank or under seat?

I think I am on the same path you are on, but I want to make sure.

You are considering changing out the stock underseat (not undertank) air filter with a K&N. Should breath better but you do not gain the storeage underseat by going with the 3 under the bearclaw.

I don't want to go with the underseat K&N. It seems like a waste. I will go with at least the undertank K&N in order to gain the storage space.

I'm looking for confirmation that the 3x under bearclaw option is not really an option for me right now since I won't be able to change the tune via PCIII or tuneboy right now.

Thanks, I did not know that was an option. I would like to gain that space as well. I am not quite ready for Tuneboy either.

You can do that, but I would be hesitant. You are going to be running pretty lean and hot. Personally, I would wait until you get Tuneboy or PCIII. Without either, the performance gain would be minimal and I wouldn't chance any engine issues for a small amount of storage.

All other factors being kept equal (tune included) the under-the-seat K&N filter is a definite plus IMO . If you want more breathing (and can stand a heck of a lot of add'l INTAKE noise BTW), the left-of-the-tank triple K&N's are appropriate. But, yes, they demand serious retuning work.

BTW, to newbies : NEVER use the under-the-seat area, be it with the OEM filter or the single K&N unit, as storage room. Air flow from that under-the-seat area up to the injectors is awfully constrained in the first place (just remove the bearclaw, look at how scarcely and tortuously air gets fed into the injectors and you'll no doubt understand what I mean)

Either way, I'd encourage you to contact (PM) my good friend and occasional supplier SidecarFlip (a member here) for details and quotes.

Jamie

Jamie...Thanks for the plug.

My take on intake.

If you don't want to go the cost and aggrivation of the Tuneperson (politically correct) or PC, I too would stay away from the undertank because of the ambient temperature issues. You'll be cooking the filter over the engine, like a pig (no offense meant) on a BBQ.

If you require the room under the seat for storage, the triple filters are the way to go but again, you need the PC/Tuneperson so factoring in the filters plus the Tuneperson / PC you are in for about 700 bucks for maybe 12 horses and a lot poorer fuel mileage, something to ponder if an when (I should say when, not if) King Obama gets his Cap & Crap initative rammed through the senate. I'm afraid we'll see 6 buck gas then. Me, I'd rather get 40@ $6.00 than 25@ $6.00. I know, we didn't buy the R3's for mileage did we? Or didn't we? I like a mileage figure better than my cage anyway. Last time I checked I was getting 40.55 (GPS) MPG. Don't forget, I ride like the old fart I am.

Coincidentially, the restrictive portion of the intake tract (limiting CFM) is the plastic neck under the tank....that stays with the undertank filter anyway.

That's a lot of FRN's for 12 horses in my book, but then, I'm cheap.

In as much as I don't need 12 extra horses or be 700 bucks lighter, I just replaced the underseat filter with a K&N. Interestingly, the OEM pricing on the pleated paper filter is very close to my price on the website for a 'last as long as the bike' K&N. (TB2204) $64.97 plus my usual cheap shipping. The recharge kit is 12 bucks and change as well.

I went K&N TB2204 because after the OEM, the second filter covers the price of admission. If you want periodic mega-power, but a go bottle on with some foggers.

Anyway, the filters are on site. I believe I only have one in stock but it's usually no longer than a week wait for K&N to fill my orders.

That's the kind of sage advice that makes this board so valuable. It looks like I'll be staying with the underseat for a while longer. My brother has a tuneboy cable so all I need is an extra key so the cost of admission will be better when the time comes.

Now for the follow up question: Being the dumbass that I am, I took the word of the salesperson who said the previous owner had installed a Uni filter. So I have a nice Uni clean and recharge kit sitting at home but a perfectly stock paper Triumph filter in the bike. Is the underseat K&N filter THAT much better than an underseat Uni filter?

Tdragger,
If you go with the "under the seat", or the "single" K&N, and keep the stock plenum, you can get a dry NOS setup for very little from Nitrous Express Fuel Injected Dry Power Kit - Tobefast and you'll be able to smoke most everyone... well except for Hombre and his loyal followers of blower junkies..

They are located in eastern Kentucky.

Thanks for the tip but I'm not looking for a big performance boost at this time. NOS is way over my head and pocketbook anyway. I'm a touring rider that likes to have fun every once in a while so I want to keep my mileage and reliability.