All of a sudden my 1996 gs was running very bad. Today I had some time to check things out and found this...

I guess the PO had put a foam filter in there, i hope nothing too bad got sucked in there!

Ouch! They tried to stick that in the stock airbox?

Why not??  It appears to be made for the GS.  Just like a K&N, you have to clean a foam filter.  Clean it up real nice, make sure the bottom lid is back on tight and throw it back in as long as there are no rips.

I was hoping to just fix it up so i can get back on the road but one spot near the flange is pretty thin a semi melted. The guy i bought the bike off of had no idea about the filter so who knows about its maintenance i am hoping someone in town has a filter tomorrow.

Get a new one, or put a paper one back in. Paper ones can be washed in gas and reused 2-3 times.
Cool.
Buddha.