As Motorcycle enthusiasts, we are always looking for different ways to improve the power output of our engines. One of the fastest and cheapest way to more horse power is to replace the restricted OEM Paper element Air filter with aftermarket ones. Many aftermarket companies now manufacture and offer high performance air filters. Most claim a power gain through increased airflow without compromising filtration. Air filters are designed to achieve high, virtually unrestricted airflows, while maintaining filtration levels critical to ensure long engine life.
BMC Air Filters
Life is full of choices; there are so many different brands, different type of air filters available. You may opt for a free-flowing, low-restriction filter. But this decision usually means poor filtration ability, sacrificing clean air for horsepower. The downside may be shortened engine life due to dirt and grit getting into the engine.
Or you may choose a filter that has very good cleaning capabilities but chokes out a few of those ponies you may have paid dearly to get. So what type of filter should you use? To better answer that question, you have to first understand the advantage and disadvantage to each option.
There are a few different types of filtration elements among the air filters available off the shelves. They come in the form of Paper, Foam or Cotton Gauze.
Paper
Paper filters are generally used as OEM Air Filter because they are inexpensive and disposable. Due to its characteristics, good air-flow is sacrificed for good filtration and therefore as a whole is never consider for high performance application.
Foam
They look very much like a sponge but are not as dense. These filters offer very good filtration and reasonable airflow. They are washable and are quite durable if reasonable care is used. The downside is that they can be damaged very easily and are prone to tearing if not handled with care.
Cotton Gauze
Cotton Gauze is generally regarded as the best material for air filters because of its excellent filtration and high airflow. This is because the “holes” in cotton are much looser than paper, giving high airflow, but because of characteristics such as interception; impaction, and diffusion, cotton fiber filters can block particles much smaller than the actual “holes.” High performance air filters use oiled layers of cotton gauze. Dust particles held suspended in the cotton gauze actually “becomes” part of the filter medium to all the more increase filtration without obstructing airflow to the engine, thereby outlasting paper filters in service life and performance. Although cotton filters are pricey, they can be cleaned and re-oiled at a long service interval.
BMC Air Filters are Made in Italy
Since inception in 1973, Italian firm BMC was essentially a motorcycle accessories distributor. In 1995 BMC started producing his own air filters due to an inquiry of F1 air filters from Ferrari Team. BMC air filters are designed and produced by Italian Engineers, from racing air filters in F1, 24 Hour Le Mans to World Superbike Championship, BMC give you the highest performance to be used in extreme conditions. BMC air filters have proved to be the leading product in the category for its quality in material and construction.
Performance
BMC air filters are designed and produced to ensure a higher air flow than original paper filters. BMC’s filtering material is composed of a special cotton gauze soaked with low-viscosity oil to give you the best air permeability, minimize the loss of air flow pressure passing through the air filter; this way ensures the best conditions for full exploitation of maximum power. They are made in a single piece with no welded joints in the corners, thus avoiding breakage or risk of leaks. Therefore, the benefits of replacing the original paper filter with a BMC cotton air filter in your motorcycles are evident.
Design and Materials
Qualified engineers using advanced software and expert technicians using the latest technologies produce the BMC air filters. A F.1 air filter, for example, must be very light, must be made of the best materials and must improve performance. For this reason, also for motorcycles filters we use only alloy mesh with epoxy coating to ensure protection from petrol fumes and from oxidization due to the humidity of the air. BMC incorporates parallel pleated cotton fabric and special filter oil to offer flow rates of up to 900 CFM. Let your Engine breath easier and faster with this top-of-the-line air filter from BMC.
BMC CRF
The “C.R.F.” Carbon Racing Filter is BMC’s new high performance sports air filter designed for road and competition vehicles. It features a 100% carbon fibre support structure with a cotton filter element.
The CRF has been designed and produced entirely by the BMC Racing and Advanced Composite Division, which is wholly concerned with the development of air filters and aspiration systems for the racing world: Formula 1 / MotoGP One / World Superbike.
The CRF has been created from extensive BMC knowledge acquired through more than 10 years experience in the racing sector, which has brought high level results and increased performance to super-sports engines.
Principle characteristics of the CRF:
- The CRF air filter makes use of innovative technical solutions to optimize the flow dynamics of the direct air into the engine. The geometry of the CRF has been devised with the objective of using the entire available volume of the standard air-box thanks to an extended filtration surface. The result is better air flow passage in the intake phase thereby maintaining constant air-box pressure.
- The structure of the CRF is made of carbon fibre which interfaces directly with the original air-box, providing a perfect seal and easy mounting. The structure is manufactured with pre-impregnated carbon materials which are cured in an autoclave. Thanks to this the CRF air filter presents a much reduced total weight whilst having excellent characteristics in terms of rigidity and mechanical resistance.
- The filtering element is made of a special multi-layer filtration material in RACE configuration which is impregnated with low viscosity oil held between epoxy-coated (to prevent oxidation) aluminium mesh. This enables increased permeability and low air flow resistance guaranteeing highly efficient filtration.
- The CRF filter was conceived with the objective of withstanding the vibrations and heat produced in movement both in normal road and intensive track use.
- The CRF filter, as are all BMC filters, can be regenerated and reused. Once the saturation level has been reached the filter can be regenerated through a process of washing and re-oiling using a special BMC kit.
- The CRF air filter is a patented product with a deposited industrial model.
- The CRF filter was created for those who require maximum return and performance from their motorbike. It is the definitive filter for those who look for:
1) enhanced quality;
2) technical development derived directly from the world of racing.
All this is available for the very first time as an aftermarket product.
This is the same branded air filters which Ben Spies uses. Namely they are a professional air filter manufacturer for big bikes but just for the Malaysian market, they have come out with a racing air filter for the Yamaha 135LC!
The price for the BMC Air Filter for Yamaha 135LC (FM624/04) is not cheap at RM248, but the official Malaysia distributor, QBEE Motor Group S/B (previously known as Yoshi Marketing) in collaboration with MotoMalaya are offering this at a discounted price for only –> RM198! Until 31st July 2011 only.
You can order this directly by sms/call 016-7211291 or email [email protected] to purchase the air filter. Please put in this quote: “I read MotoMalaya.com” to get this special price.
Therefore, there isn’t really option to choose from, the choice is pretty much obvious.
BMC Air Filter. If Ben Spies trusted it to campaign for WSBK championship, what about you?
For more info: http://www.bmcairfilters.com
