Iv'e never use a rain sock. Been in plenty of hard rains, all day rains, etc. Never a problem for me.

If your filter is oiled properly, what little water that lands on it beads off anyway,

 

Thanks, I really like it because looking at the front of it, it looks like an old velocity stack.

I think I'll keep it nice and oiled, but will grab a rain sock for it just in case. I'm more worried about parking it in a heavy rain to wait it out and water pooling up in all the grooves of the filter which will water log it. I always check the weather before riding so usually it's just a passing shower I get stuck in. I think with the smooth rain sock on it will help the water just fall off the filter instead of pooling up.

 

Yes rain socks work if you're the type of rider who will be riding in all day rain that's interspersed wit toad stranglers. They actually make a decent pre filter just leave it on you aren't gonna hurt anything.

 

I do have one nice road trip planned this summer from CT to Kentucky so there's a chance I'll hit some bad weather. Like the old saying goes, better to have it and not need it than not have it and need it.

 

i carry one in my rain jacket pocket, that way i know where it is. im the type that will ride in any weather and have left the rain sock on for days at a time.

no harm other than it looks like crap.

 

Which is why I dont use one, because they dont provide any benefit.