newbie question...what's the advantage to a lunchbox over stock filter box?

[damiencovington]

So what is the advantage of a "lunchbox" over the stock filter box?  What is a lunchbox for that matter?  I understand the concept but have never seen one.

[The Buddha]

Lets see ... the airbox is like trying to breathe through your fingernails.
The Lunch box is like breathing through your nostrils when someone is holding a pillow over your face.
Either case its painful, but you'd succeed in the latter but fail in the former.
The pipe is like over boring your ass ... no more constipation ... booya ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[sanjay]

Yeah, what srinath said.  Cool.

It just allows the bike to breathe better, or pull in air with less resistance.  Tends to make the bike "peppier".  This is usually combined with an exhaust upgrade to give you a few more horsepower and a more agressive sound. 

Here are some pics of the different air filters

[Jughead]

Lets see ... the airbox is like trying to breathe through your fingernails.
The Lunch box is like breathing through your nostrils when someone is holding a pillow over your face.
Either case its painful, but you'd succeed in the latter but fail in the former.
The pipe is like over boring your ass ... no more constipation ... booya ...
Cool.
Srinath.

I'm guessing the Breathing thru fingernail thing is with fingers inserted into Nose? 

[damiencovington]

Yeah, that's kinda what I figured.  I think my bike has a Vance and Hines can on the stock pipe, but the make plate is gone (probably from getting banged around when the guy was stunting on it).  I have looked at every single picture in the wall of fame and looked all over the internet and V&H is the only ones that come close to what it looks like.  [track check] Anyhoo, any suggestions on a good lunchbox?  Can someone post up a picture of one for me?

Thanx
Damien

[galahs]

I like this one. Has the highest air flow rate of any lunch box I know







other wise if you actually mean a K&N RU-2970 "Lunchbox style" air filter (which I doubt you do ) check out this link

http://cgi.stanford.edu/~sanjayd/gs500/Upgrades/AirFilter

[pres589]

I never did anything scientific like actually putting the lunchbox and the stock box on a flow bench, so who knows what they *really* flow like in comparison to one another.  I wanted a cleanable element and figured I might as well go whole hog and loose a couple pounds in the process.  I do believe the Lunchbox does flow more as it requires a rejet to make sure the bike performs well with this change.  It also does allow more noise out of the bike; you may or may not like this, I did.

What I would advise, and this is somewhat baseless so take it with a grain of salt, but I would get pods and not the full lunchbox.  Why?  Because the throats of the carbs where they mate to the airbox (or Lunchbox) are oval shaped.  The Lunchbox inlets are round.  It's easy to get the Lunchbox to mount on one carb, but to get it on both is a hassle.  I dread pulling the airfilter off of the carbs at this point, it's a pain. 

Pods would probably be the same oval/round interference, but since you can work them on one at a time I would imagine they're going to be a lot easier to deal with.  Another board member who actually owns pods should be able to back this up, or blow holes in this theory.

One other thing to keep in mind is the PCV system.  There's a hose running from the cam box on top of the cylinder head over to the factory airbox.  You'll have to run this open if you go away from the airbox.  This isn't a big deal, at least in states where they don't do emissions inspects, and I don't know how close bikes get looked at even in California, etc.  For mine, I wanted something to stop debris from entering the engine, so I got a Wix branded PVC filter and glued the cotton element into the thing (otherwise it could simply slide out).  I took the hose with me and just asked a good auto parts store to see what they had that would match.

[dgyver]

.....

What I would advise, and this is somewhat baseless so take it with a grain of salt, but I would get pods and not the full lunchbox.  Why?  Because the throats of the carbs where they mate to the airbox (or Lunchbox) are oval shaped.  The Lunchbox inlets are round.  It's easy to get the Lunchbox to mount on one carb, but to get it on both is a hassle.  I dread pulling the airfilter off of the carbs at this point, it's a pain. 

Pods would probably be the same oval/round interference, but since you can work them on one at a time I would imagine they're going to be a lot easier to deal with.  Another board member who actually owns pods should be able to back this up, or blow holes in this theory.

It really is not that bad. The first time is a little difficult but after they get heated several times, the rubber will contour to the carbs. I have used this filter on 3 bikes and removed/installed them plenty of times.

One other thing to keep in mind is the PCV system.  There's a hose running from the cam box on top of the cylinder head over to the factory airbox.  You'll have to run this open if you go away from the airbox.  This isn't a big deal, at least in states where they don't do emissions inspects, and I don't know how close bikes get looked at even in California, etc.  For mine, I wanted something to stop debris from entering the engine, so I got a Wix branded PVC filter and glued the cotton element into the thing (otherwise it could simply slide out).  I took the hose with me and just asked a good auto parts store to see what they had that would match.

Cut a hole in the back of the lunch box filter and install a fitting so to breather hose can attach.