how do you get to it???

take off the seat, remove the 2 bolts on either side about where the seat meets the the fuel tank, slide the tank backwards till it clears the clip in the front, lift up the tank slightly to turn off the fuel valve on the tank with a screw driver, remove the 2 fuel hoses and the vent hose from the bottom of the tank, take the tank off and set it aside.  You'll now be able to see the air box/filter.  To remove just the airfliter, remove the screws holding it in.  To remove the airbox (if you're changing to a lunchbox or pod air filters) remove 2 more bolts on either side, loose the hose clamps securing the box to the carbs, and lift out the box detaching the PCV hose and airbox drain hose (remove the drain hose if you're getting rid of the airbox). 

You didn't say why you're trying to get at the air filter, but this old cleaning air filter post might give an extra clue or two.

If your hoses are truly too short to let you get much space under the tank, you may need to unhook them ... AFTER turning the under-tank petcock to the OFF position (slot is horizontal) like LimaXray said.

On my 2002 I find that I don't need to remove the tank.
Just lift the tank and stick a tennis ball or baseball in there to keep it up.
Keep an eye on the fuel hose to make sure you don't rip it off.
You can get to the filter that way.
You might need a stubby phillips screwdriver or a right angle one to get
the screws out.

im replacing it with the K&N drop in.  thanks a lot guys

I remember reading somewhere that someone just twisted the tank and rested it on the frame to get to the filter. I haven't tried this yet though.

You can just twist the tank, but the K&N drop-in didn't exactly fit as well as the stock filter on mine.  I had to completely remove the tank to access the screws and make sure the thing was seated properly.  It was worth the effort.

-Patrick

Yeah, you can most certainly turn the tank and balance it on the frame to avoid disconnecting the fuel hoses and be able to change the filter.  Personally, unless you have someone to make sure the tank doesn't fall off the bike, I think it's a lot easier just to take off the tank completely, but my bike is pretty new and the hoses come off pretty easily so it only takes an extra 2 minutes

got the drop in installed, smelled like gas, lol, but i got it done, now its boggin down, im gettin it rejetted...