Pod filters. Worth it?

[JimmyR]

I'm doing up a Suzuki GS1100 in a sort of cafe/brat style and want to get as much empty space in the frame as possible. The normal thing to do in this case is get rid of the big airbox and use trendy pod filters, and that's what I want to do. Today I spoke to a guy at The Bike Doctor on Scarb beach road and he scorned the whole idea of pods saying that you get no power increase but use a helluva lot more fuel. He basically said it was a dumb idea. I don't really care so much about the no power gain but don't really want to use more fuel if I don't need to.

But when I set up my old Harley I found the freer flowing air filter, Mikuni carb and better pipes really made a huge difference to how the bike performed. Does anyone here have much experience with pods vs airbox? I am open to any suggestions. I love the look of the empty frame but maybe it's not such a great idea if I use way more fuel and get no benefits...

[g0zer]

I'm doing up a Suzuki GS1100 in a sort of cafe/brat style and want to get as much empty space in the frame as possible. The normal thing to do in this case is get rid of the big airbox and use trendy pod filters, and that's what I want to do. Today I spoke to a guy at The Bike Doctor on Scarb beach road and he scorned the whole idea of pods saying that you get no power increase but use a helluva lot more fuel. He basically said it was a dumb idea.

i think there is no reason why a motor with pods wont run efficiently. if the needles are profiled tuned to match an airbox and you radically change this, you will probably need to compromise on the overlap between the needle and the main jet more than the factory did- and this makes the bike run worse.

but that doesnt mean it cannot run just as well, and minimising intake vacuum is a way of getting more oxygen into the combustion chamber. so how can it be true that a restrictive airbox is required to get maximum power.

[darkfibre]

If the carbs are CV (constant velocity - vacuum slide) removing the original air box can cause mixture issues. Re-jetting quad carbs is not for the faint hearted.

I would search on the net for people who have done it successfully before committing to the idea.

[JimmyR]

Yeah the carbs are Mikuni CVs. I was wondering about using some flat-slide Mikunis instead... Would they cause fewer issues? I am looking at the Mikuni RS 36s.

[Falcore]

what dark fibre said.

unless you really really want to then dont

[Slipin]

The pod filters do look sexy when done right though !

[mac69]

iv ran k&n pods with rs mikuni`s my old bikes gs1000,and gsxr1100s ,go for the rs mikuni carbs if u can ,as thy will giv better performance with the pods,and sound so good,just pay attention on the size ur after as the bigger the carb the more top end ,smaller carb better grunt ,and the rs carbs are easy enough to set up, u can use the old oil cooled gsxr carbs on the gs ,never tried them ,but lots of ppl have

[pearcey]

As above really. I've got an old GS1000 with pods fitted by prev owner. They do look cool but are difficult to set up and as its a bit of a difficult job there's not that many in Perth can do it well. I've got new carbs on mine - I get good top end - its happy when the throttle is open but a bit lumpy at low speed. I'm still learning to be honest.

Old air boxes and the rubbers aren't easy to get hold of so hang on to yours.

[pearcey]

Have you checked out The GS Resources site? Basically a career's worth of information there at least on GS's.

[Dirty32]

Speak with Rex Havoc on here...
He has a couple pod filters sticking out on the kawasaki iv seen him riding around on.
Looks mint, sounds mint!

Theres probably a picture or 2 floating around on the site, might be able to find some in one of the old 'in the loop threads' - Goodfellas hotrod run, that was on a couple weeks back.

Not sure of what he has had to do to make it work, but maybe he can lend some advice!

[Jamathi]

The GS resources webside is the one to get the base jetting from plus where to get the kit and you go from there!
different exhaust system requires mixure adjustments , so Pods might as well be incoropated as well.
Just be carefull with the CV carbs not to damage the intricate parts that make them work so well for street use.

[Evil Dwarf]

...

[valvolux]

there are probably of couple of hundred honda's on the SOHC forum that run pods. Everyone know airbox's work better, laminar air into the carb and all that, but they are butt ugly if you trying to achieve a less cluttered look. Someone out there would have done it before and would be able to share with you needle/jets size with ya.

[JimmyR]

I agree completely that the pods look so much cooler. And that's why I would like to run them. So my plan is to get my bike running with the stock carbs and airbox to start with, do all my other mods to the bike and see hw it looks. I have already taken the chrome sides off the airbox and may get the black metal sides underneath powder coated to match the rest of the bike.

Then, if I think I do really need to go with pods (purely for the look) then I'll get some Mikuni RS36 flat slide carbs to go with them. There is indeed a wealth of info at the GS resources. My goal with all of this is not to go drag racing. All I want is for my bike to look really really cool! :-)

[ratman]

I have just done this with a gpz750. jetting was a bastard job, but is now done and is running well.