I just looked and saw that K&N does indeed make a filter for my 01 200. I hate cleaning foam filters, I know some folks say they don't filter quite as well but I am interested in hearing from those who have used them. I know the ones for my cars are much less messy to clean than foam filters and oil. Comments?

For foam or cloth filters a filter skin can greatly increase maintenance intervals. They're easy to remove, clean, and put back on. KTM sells them in the Hardparts catalog.

That is a really good thought, do they still sell them for the older bikes? 2001.


I've got a DT airfilter that I like cleaning and oiling much more so than the two piece filter I have, so this might be a great idea, especially since the K&N is $100

Good thread. I was about to ask the exact same thing as I saw an actual COTTON typical K&N air filter (looked like the one in a car) for my 1998 honda cr250. Everyone and their brother uses the foam? So, it must be the clear better right? I would love to find out for sure. I know there is a video on youtube comparing the 2. I'll see if I can find it, in the meantime someone come in here and tell us why foam is 99.999% more popular than the cotton filters?

I mean check out this video! This is basically saying cotton is way better than foam. I dunno what to believe anymore. I wish I had a filter tester myself.

I have used K&N filters for years and love them. I have never had dust get through to the engine. I put one on my then brand new XR600 in '94 after thousands of miles of CA desert, CO mountains and UT and ID trails it still runs as strong as ever.

I have not used one on a two stroke.

I tried a k&n filter in an 83 CR480 Honda. Properly oiled and greased around the seal, it pulled LOTS of dust through it. I would not recommend a k&n filter for any off road use. Just my personal experience, I'm sure several others will disagree.

Thanks jeffro that is all I needed to hear really, and I mean really just look at the obvious: All the riders and pro's out there use foam no toil, uni, twin air, etc...It should be obvious that foam > cotton/paper for dirt bikes.

I tried K&N in my truck and one dirt bike.. My take.. Too much trouble to clean and oil..

As for which filters better? Depends on who's sellin em..

i know my friends truck had a K&N replacement for the stock airbox and it looked like it was lettin dust through. ive never had issues with the foam ones. yea the cleaning and oiling sucks but maybe just go with the filter skins. i was thinkin of gettin one. just clean that after every ride.

zilla, on 31 January 2012 - 05:46 PM, said:

Interesting that you think the K&N is more trouble to clean and oil. It seems to be the opposite for me. K&N is much easier to clean and oil vs. foam IMO. I think I'll buy a K&N and try it when it's not dusty and see what I find. On my car's and trucks it's never appeared to allow anything though I'm optimistic.

k and n no doubt flows more air (and dust) than oiled foam I put them in and had bikes fall on their face lean on the top end and jumped up quite a few sizes on the main jet to sort it out.

On bikes where the airbox intake and exhaust is somewhat restricted they didn't do much.

highmarker, on 31 January 2012 - 06:49 PM, said:

Yep that's no good. Might be okay on a road bike, or vehicle, but not a DIRT bike LOL I'm fine with cleaning my foam no toil and UNi filters every single ride. Good peace of mind anyway.

they dry out quicker and then pass dust, foam will do it too once it dries out, so that is the key

I had a K&N filter for my 04 CRF250R and I tossed it after two rides...They're great...for sucking in dirt!

I bought my bike used. It included the K&N kit but not the stock parts.

I disassembled the K&N frame and greased where it mated to the rubber air box boot. Then greased the filter seal to the frame. I also always ran it with a Hardparts dust cover, also oiled with K&N filter oil. I always wiped the inside of the boot with a clean towel to check for dirt when I cleaned the filter. Nothing appeared to be getting through.

YMMV. I took it all off because one spare K&N filter was more money than the OEM filter setup complete. I like to have a spare clean filter ready to go. The clean/dry/wait process with the K&N took too long for me.

So here's my offer. Pay for shipping and you can try the kit. It's just sitting on a shelf presently. I recommend getting this as well:
http://www.ktmworld....cexc-98-10.aspx

If you like it, keep it, send me a few bucks. Lemme know.

Just take a oiled foam and oiled cotton K and N out and hold them up to the sun. You'll see the difference. OK with them on the street, ice, snow, water. But not in the dust. If your racing and don't care they might be worth it?

I know in cars, K&N definitely lets through more dirt than paper filters and to top it off it oils the dirt it lets through and fouls the MAF to boot. Pure junk!