LOUDMOUTH QUICK CHANGE AIR FILTER

   

WHAT IS IT? The Loudmouth is a CNC-machined airbox ring that replaces the stock airbox ring and air filter mount.

WHAT’S IT COST? $150.00 (Honda, Suzuki and Kawasaki), $190 (Yamaha)—            (631) 445-6865       or www.loudmouthmx.com.

WHAT’S IT DO? For a simple air box ring, the Loudmouth air filter system has its feet in a lot of fires. It makes the air filter easier to access. It eliminates the bulky and restrictive filter cage and mounting bracket. It does away with the backfire screen (and replaces it with a fireproof foam No-Toil air filter). And it claims to increase horsepower, torque and throttle response.

   The Loudmouth kit consists of a CNC-machined aluminum adapter plate that replaces the stock plastic airbox intake plate. It many ways it is similar to the aluminum plates that have been sold to eliminate leakage around the front of the air boot. The difference is that the Loudmouth goes inside the airbox housing, where it serves as a new mounting point for a No-Toil Super-Flo clamp-on filter. The filter is held in place with a large hose clamp that goes around the extended lip on the aluminum ring. To remove the No-Toil filter all you have to do is loosen the hose clamp and pull the filter out. With the LoudMouth, you eliminate both the blockading filter cage and restrictive backfire screen.

WHAT STANDS OUT? Here’s a list of things that stand out with the Loudmouth quick change air filter system.

   (1) Performance. Although designed for ease of use, the Loudmouth’s airy design does have performance
benefits. The wide open intake opening allows for a larger volume of air to flow into the engine, and with no cage, wire screen or cage mounting bracket, the air is unrestricted into the carb throat. On the dyno the Loudmouth actually showed a horsepower increase, across most rpm settings. On the track, test riders felt the power increase as more transitional power across the midrange. We didn’t have to re-jet.

   (2) Installation. MXA tested the Loudmouth on a 2009 Yamaha YZ450F, and thanks to the simplicity of Yamaha’s airbox design, it could be installed in less than ten minutes. It takes longer on a Kawasaki, Honda or Suzuki because their airbox rings bolt on. It is necessary to seal the plate with Hondabond or Yamabond.

   (3) Air filter. Every Loudmouth system uses the same air filter whether on a CRF, RM-Z, KX-F or YZ-F. It uses a rubber lip-style filter (called a green weenie decades ago). It is easy to change and the extended lip of the Loudmouth ring makes it impossible for dirt to fall into the carb. Best of all, you don’t have to fish around with the wing nut bolt to get the filter installed. 

WHAT’S THE SQUAWK? No complaints. We’d run the Loudmouth just because it makes cleaning the filter easier. The improved powerband is a bonus.

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MXA TEAM TESTED: SPLITSTREAM FUEL FILTER

A 25-micron, nylon fuel filter that hangs from the filler hole of the fuel tank to strain out dirt and debris that could clog the injectors

WHAT IS IT? It's a sock-like, 25-micron, nylon fuel filter that hangs from the filler hole of the fuel tank to strain out dirt and debris that could clog the injector or fuel pump of a fuel-injected bike.

WHAT’S IT COST? $29.95.

CONTACT? www.split-stream.com or             (503) 830-6433      .

WHAT STANDS OUT? Here’s a list of things that stand out with Splitstream’s fuel filter.

(1) Dirt invasion. Look in the bottom of that trusty old gas can that you have been taking to the track for years and you’re sure to find a few chunks of dirt at the bottom. The same is true for your bike’s fuel tank. Your bike’s fuel-filter system can withstand quite a bit of dirt, but it will eventually clog and start to starve the engine in high-demand fuel situations. Simply put, clog equals bog.

(2) Installation . The Splitstream fuel filter is a snap to install. Unscrew the filler cap. Drop the nylon Splitstream filter into the tank and lightly press the plastic pieces down. That’s all there is to it. It can be left in forever.

(3) Manufacturers. After their first generation of electronic fuel-injected bikes, many of the OEMs have seen the need for a better fuel-filter system. Some have utilized an extra screen, repositioned the system at a more accessible angle and/or created more space below the intake for dirt to accumulate. But none have solved the problem.

(4) Race teams. Factory mechanics use filter-equipped funnels when refueling the bikes of the stars. Factory KTM is doubly cautious, using a filter funnel and a Splitstream filter. Race teams also clean their gas cans, gas tanks and fuel-filter systems between races. Most weekend warriors don’t want to bother with funnels and time-consuming maintenance. The Splitstream unit is the easiest option.

(5) Testing. Our Splitstream filters fit well and didn’t create any sealing problems with our gas caps. The fuel permeates the filter quickly; we didn’t have to pour the fuel any slower. It was more difficult to check the fuel level, because the filter blocks some of your view of the inside of the gas tank. When the tank is half full, the fuel starts to pool above the bottom of the filter and becomes clearly visible.

(6) Applications. The Splitstream filter is available for CRF250s, CRF450s, KX250Fs, KX450Fs and 2011–12 KTM 250/350SXFs. We think that dirt is more prone to being knocked into the KTM gas tank, since it has no raised threads. The quick-fill/dry-break refueling system used by offroad guys has a tendency to dump a lot of dirt into the fuel tank and could really benefit from a Splitstream filter—but no such luck.


WHAT'S THE SQUAWK? Splitstream doesn’t make a fuel filter for Suzukis or Yamahas.

 
In the mudslinging sport of motocross, dirt will get into absolutely everything. Splitstream’s fuel filter is cheap insurance without the inconvenience of having to use a funnel. 

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