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Air filters for desert riding. Air filters for desert riding.
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North Africa Topics specific to North Africa and the Sahara down to the 17th parallel (excludes Morocco)
Photo by Sean Howman, The Pamir highway in an unseasonably cold late October, Tajikistan

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Sean Howman,
The Pamir highway in an unseasonably
cold late October, Tajikistan



Trans Sahara Routes.

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  #1  
Old 8 Oct 2008
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Air filters for desert riding.
Are air filters a dire problem in the desert? I have searched the HUBB site, but cannot find any reference to air filters - so is this not something to worry about overly?

Geoff
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  #2  
Old 8 Oct 2008
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Not really
I wouldn't say so, in my opinion.

I cleaned mine at each 5,000km service and inspected at each 2,500, having done about 8,000kms in desert conditions.

I had bigger worries in the desert sand with my chain - but then that's my fault for trying out the 'no lube when in desert sand' argument. There are obviously products for this which I should have used.

Mark
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  #3  
Old 8 Oct 2008
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Hi,
I reckon the best thing you can do is get yourself a copy of Sahara Overland, its all in there and a whole lot more. Highly recomended

Sam
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  #4  
Old 9 Oct 2008
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depends on your bike
I've found some bikes are better designed than others and their filters stay cleaner for longer. Spinning the wheel and riding behind other dusty vehicles makes it worse but cleaning every 5000km (the average Sahara trip) is stretching it a bit in my experience. I would check/clean every week depending on the riding conditions. Take a pre-oiled spare and grease the airbox insides too.

Ch
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  #5  
Old 9 Oct 2008
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Filter Skins (or swiming pool prefilters) can be good

as can prefilters .. avalible for some bikes ..
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Old 9 Oct 2008
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I think that next time I will use a self-cleaning filter like this:


Many bikes have installed the filters vertical and vibration and vacuum will make dust pass the filter – after a while.
So far I have only greased the inside of the airbox when ridig in extreme conditions and it works.
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Old 10 Oct 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AliBaba View Post
Many bikes have installed the filters vertical and vibration and vacuum will make dust pass the filter – after a while.
BMW airheads are Horozontal with the air flow downwards ... so dust and dirt sit on top of the filter with graveity and vibration aiding the passage through the filter.

BMW K series (pre 1200) are reversed - the air flow is upwards through the filter - so gravity and vibration work to keep the dust off the filter .. not to mention water ..
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  #8  
Old 10 Oct 2008
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Thanks
Thanks to everyone for their comments. It has been most helpful.

Geoff
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