Hey folks,
this is my first post here - so HI!

I have a restricted 2005 GS500F and I was wondering if anyone has any advice over K&N air filters.
I've heard so much stuff about them I no longer know what is fact or fiction!

I've heard they increase BHP
I've heard you NEED to rejet after fitting one
I've heard they make the bike sound better???

Bearing in mind my bike is restricted (for now), discuss!
Is it worth it for the time they last if nothing else?

Thanks in advance!

It could be argued that by fitting a K&N to a restricted bike you are attempting to derestrict it. No problem if you have got a full license, but if you are on "Ls" any clued up traffic cop, esp` a bike cop would be very interested. In terms of practicality I would be tempted to remove the restriction kit first, then start adding things like K&Ns, pipes and rejets........assuming of course you DO have a full license and its legal for you to ride a machine over 33bhp.
BTW I would also inform my insurance company, if they see an undeclared K&N on a bike they might get arsey if they have to payout.

The insurance company care about what air filter you have in your bike?

The answer to the license question is "no". I'm restricted until April 2010 due to stupid UK laws. 1 Year restricted is more than enough and there is no need for 2.

As far as i'm aware, the bike is restricted at the exhaust output, and the flow of fumes is restricted - at least that is what i've been led to believe. However I see your point that if the K&N filter will add BHP, then I will be over my legal limit of 33.

BHP is not really my interest in the filter - it is more the lastibility and possible noise difference. I'm screwed for BHP until i can de-restrict the bike anyway.

What sledge was saying is that installing a K&N filter will help airflow into the bike and thus in theory you will get a little more power.  If your bike is restricted then i would not touch it, esp since you are under that restriction until 2010.  If you were to be pulled and the officer saw the filter he may assume that you are running that for more power and trying to get past the 33hp, which i am sure is a fine of some sort but coming from a guy in the bigger is better country i don't really know.

in short: don't modify the stock restricted bike until your restriction is lifted or raised, you would be throwing away money at this point because it is restricted and the best modification you could do right now is to unrestrict it and try to get a whopping 40hp to the rear wheel

Quote from: henryscat666 on October 30, 2008, 08:12:12 AM
The insurance company care about what air filter you have in your bike?

Possibly.........they might see it as a non standard modification/addition and judge you to be a higher risk as a result. Its all about statistics. The filter itself wont increase the chances of you making a claim but by fitting it you become a Modder, and Modders make more claims than non-
Modders, therefore you become a higher risk. I would advise you check rather than assume.

QuoteThe answer to the license question is "no". I'm restricted until April 2010 due to stupid UK laws. 1 Year restricted is more than enough and there is no need for 2.

Nothing stupid about them, they are there to protect you and more importantly other road users. Its been proven many times that since the laws were revised the number of casualties among young and inexperienced bikers in the Uk has dropped and that statistically many lives have been saved........the fact you dont happen to agree with the 2 year rule is...... just tough sh** 

We have a UK member in here who tried to beat the system, he got caught and had his arse kicked big-time as a result. I am sure he will be happy to add his comments.....JW?

i completely agree that the youngsters should be restricted! And i agree that newer riders need to step their way up to a bigger bike and not just jump on a 1200 or whatever.
But at almost 30 years old, i really don't need restricted for 2 years. I'd like to think my learning capacity can handle moving up BHP a wee bit earlier than that. And yes, you're right - it IS tough shaZam!... but it's still stupid.

Quote from: henryscat666 on October 30, 2008, 09:54:57 AM
i completely agree that the youngsters should be restricted! And i agree that newer riders need to step their way up to a bigger bike and not just jump on a 1200 or whatever.
But at almost 30 years old, i really don't need restricted for 2 years. I'd like to think my learning capacity can handle moving up BHP a wee bit earlier than that. And yes, you're right - it IS tough oh my goodness... but it's still stupid.

Then why didnt you do the direct access?? Anyways it might be prudent to note that the majority of new motorcyclists happen to people who did direct access tests after 'riding bikes when there were no laws' and then go out and buy gixxers etc... THEY are the ones who have the accidents because they do direct access presume that because they are older they will somehow learn quick (wrong) and somewho have more self control and theyre the ones who account for the higher accidents. Not the 17 year olds on restricted licenses.


So anyways back to the restricted license thing. I did it and had a restricted ZXR400 and despite what everyone says the restrictors make the bikes run like shaZam!. Second thing, don't start installing K&N and new exhausts and rejetting on a restricted bike. You won't make that much power, you will have to rejet to the restricted settings then when you take the restrictor off you will have to rejet all over again to make it run right. Also you are violating your restriction by increasing the performance. Funnily enough the restrictor kits are 'standard' for the standard bike out of the crate, they don't adjust them to reach a 33bhp limit for your particular bike, i think your meant to only be able to get to 95mph or something like that according to the certificates. Well my ZXR400 was a tuned ex race bike. They stuck a 33bhp restrictor in it for me and i could do 110 still lol.

All bikes are restricted different ways, mine was restricted in the carbs, with special washers which reduced the amount of fuel air mix you could get in, no matter how much you opened the throttle. This reduces acceleration but more noticably top speed. FI bikes are somtimes chipped or throttle restrictors. ANYWAYS, Theres no way for a bike cop or traffic cop to tell on the side of the road whether your bike is restricted or not. They can't even prove it by how fast you were going (although this will make them question it). More than likely if you are caught speeding, which you can easily do with a restrictor in you will get bollocked for the speeding regardless of whether you have a restrictor or not. IF they are being picky they can request proof of restriction and force you to have your bike dyno tested, and bring that report plus your certificate of restriction to the police station like you would with your driving license. Ive never heard of it done yet tho.

Many people (right or wrong) have a restrictor fitted and then remove it themselves at home (they are easy) and then keep everything in a safe place to put it back on if they need to get tested. This all depends on your morals, do you want to drive around being illegal (i don't btw and although i had my bike in bits many times i could have just lifted those washers out with my finger) plus if you have an accident, then insurance companies being how they are might request proof of restriction, or strip the bike in which case your insurance is invalid. And because of that your illegal as well!

Why should age come into it? What matters is that you lack experience and in that respect you are no different from any other learner regardless of your age. The idea of the 2 year period is that it gives you the chance to gain experience under reasonably safe conditions, by which I mean on a 33bhp bike, not 133bhp one. If you dont agree with the laws I suggest you write to your MP and complain to him instead of ranting on about it in here, you might get a better result.

I dont agree with paying 30% of my salary to the Inland revenue every month but I dont rant on about it. Why? because I know the situation will never change and more importantly it makes me look pedantic  

On the subject of learning capacity.........When you do get a bit more experience (and after you have had a few near-misses) you will realise that overconfidence is a big factor when it comes to accident causes. The tip is learn where the limits are and dont confuse overconfidence with ability.

You could move to the USA, their learner laws are far less stringent than ours   but unfortunately their KSI (killed/seriously injured) rates are far higher.

I aint ranting on about anything - you questioned me and i answered.

And just so you know, even if I had a full license, I was still going to step my way up the BHP. I aint stupid enough to jump straight onto a beast of a machine with only 5 months of riding under my belt. I know my limitations and have a young family to consider. I am on a restricted full license - I have passed my test but can only ride up to 33bhp bikes cos i sat my test on a 125cc.

I did that because I couldn't afford to rent a bigger bike to do lessons on. I bought a 125 cos i wanted as much saddle time as i possibly could. People with more money that me can jump straight onto any bike they want, unless they are under 21, in which case they are restricted as well. Technically I could go sit the DAS now as I have a bike to do it on, but the government won't be seeing anymore money from me in that sense.

I won't be going illegal either. The bike will stay restricted until my time is up. She will then either be sold as a restricted bike, or de-restricted just to satisfy my curiosity of what i am missing out on.

I try my best to keep out of other peoples situations, and i always assume people WILL cut me up or screw me over so I keep as far out the way as i can from them. The bike is great fun, but i'm not an idiot. Don't assume because I am reasonably new to riding that I don't "get it". I know I don't have enough years under my belt, but i also know that any decent rider is ALWAYS learning no matter their experience. Ignorance and arrogance will get you killed. I come from a family of bikers but i was a late starter.

I think a year is long enough, you don't. Each to their own!

Do you know that your posts are very patronising Sledge? especially to a new forum member that you know nothing about.
I feel like I am having to defend myself for some reason.
I was looking for some advice and have been made to feel like a bairn (that's scottish for child)  that should be seen and not heard.
Everyone has their opinion - and I am entitled to mine.


Anyway, I didn't do the DAS because I couldn't afford it. The cost of renting a bike everyime just wasn't an option - sorry for being poor! 
My restricted bike can also do 110mph btw. You need to get the head down, wind behind you and be on a downhill slope, but she gets there.
Sits nicely at 80mph on the motorways tho. But up against an unrestricted bike you see how sluggish your one is on the throttle!

So the K&N is pointless then? Fair enough - that is what i was looking to find out. I never wanted the BHP from it, I just wondered if it was a cheaper option in the long run.

Quote from: henryscat666 on October 30, 2008, 04:47:06 PM

I know my limitations and have a young family to consider.

My restricted bike can also do 110mph btw. You need to get the head down, wind behind you and be on a downhill slope, but she gets there.
Sits nicely at 80mph on the motorways tho.

Oh dear....have I noticed a very hypocritical and contradictory comment?

Ermmm....this is the way I see it....you were the one who claimed the law was stupid and seemed to think that because were 30 and sensible..... (hhhmmmm)......that there should be a special dispensation just for you....being a mature, sensible and experienced biker I disagreed with you and now you have thrown your dummy out of the pram as a result 

You do what you want pal, its none of my bizz and I really couldnt give a feck either way......besides that you are 30 and are a big boy? why should the opinions of a total stranger bother you?

Yep , dont try and beat the system , i lost .... and im paying for it , 2 more years before i dont have to declare my conviction , so hopefully my insurance will be fair , with or with out my 2 years no claims *So far*

In short dude , its about being safe , i dont mind saying i was Stupid, just so stupid, i didnt even think what if i hit somebody , or what if i messed up , i didnt think that ,

mhmm a 300 pound fine , a year ban , and costs , *lucky , they hadnt brought in the law that they take ur bike if its un insured* as i wasnt due to incorrect power , it was a full power Gs , i didnt have the lieince , and it was when i was caught speeding *ironicly* that i couldnt produce a restricted certiiate , thus my punishment

had i waited , i would have been fine , i had a blast of my 125cc's i had , the Yamaha Tzr was one of those

Sledge Is Far wiser than me , and you by the sounds of it , a lil older    but is highly respected and doesnt judge , Rather we didnt have another Number of a list of road accidents

You could of easyly just taken your DAS! a K and N lunchbox is 50 pounds , that is enough to hire a bike... Foolish..

yeah sledge i already clocked you for one of those "i've been riding longer then everyone else in the world and nobody knows better then me" klinda guys.
I'd see a surgeon about removing that chip on your shoulder mate.

"You could of easyly just taken your DAS! a K and N lunchbox is 50 pounds , that is enough to hire a bike... Foolish.."
I have money now as I am back working again - at the time i was a full time house husband which doesn't pay too good.

I would have loved to go straight for that DAS however this thread has completely lost its way - I am NOT looking to get more power from my bike - PERIOD!
And i am not looking to be slagged off by someone who thinks they know me from a few posts on a forum.
"but is highly respected and doesnt judge" - although he is calling me a baby and stupid....



I just need to know the consequences of putting a K&N filter into the bike!

"besides that you are 30 and are a big boy? why should the opinions of a total stranger bother you? " pot...kettle....black   

yeah yeah yeah, heard it all before...yawn.

How you can suggest I have a chip on my shoulder when at the same time you are whinging about the learner laws is comical.....you really are a Hypocrite 

Anyway, as I said earlier, you carry on pal and stop mistaking me for someone who gives a fu**.

If you've heard it all before then maybe you should step back and wonder why that is!#

If this is the kind of reception you receieve at this forum, you're welcome to it. Enjoy.

My god, bloody women. This forum rocks. Get used to it if you have 8506 members at least 2 of them arn't going to get on. Peace out