OK the SE Heavy Breather allows the motor to take in all the air it needs but being that my bike is more on the Blacked out side having the filter exposed kind of throws off the color scheme, my question, the Black cover that HD has for them allows limited air into the filter than if it was left off (the cover), but is it limited enough to defeat having the Heavy Breather? The rain sock looks far better than the exposed filter so am I better using that or buying the cover??

 

Dont know from experience but i would imagine you would still get info air intake with it, imo i like the SE rain sock look better

 

ib, it's my understanding that as long as you keep the "rain sock" clean you shouldn't have any problems with it hindering airflow. Being black it will easily show any accumulation of dust and dirt, so when it does get cruddy looking or suspect it can be cleaned with simple soap and water.

I'm the opposite of you...even though most of the metal on my bike is black 'cept the silver sheetmetal I think the burgundy color of my K&N filter looks nice against the black of the engine, so I don't run the cover. I also don't do much riding in the rain either, and there are many who have reported no problems without the sock in the rain ['cept for a deluge of course] so...I think yer pretty safe either way as long as you keep the sock clean.

=8^)

 

I keep my rain sock on about 95% of the time. I can't tell any difference with it off, and I prefer the black look, too.....

Just my 2 cents.

 

Keep my rain sock on all the time. Just get a new one about every 18 months or so. the elastic seems to wear out before anything else.

 

I really like the look of the exposed element on my iron. I usually have the rain sock with me just incase. But from what I understand it wont restrict air enough to notice.

 

I keep the sock on mine 24/7. Never know when you'll hit that "mobile bike wash" and I don't feel like stopping to put the darn thing on. You'll never notice and difference with it on or off. Remember, your motor will only take in as much air as it needs, and that filter can breath more than your motor needs. Now if you add a huffer or turbo ...............

 

This is good to know. I run without it on cause I had a buddy who said it made his bike hesitate with it on. Not sure if that was really the issue. But I thought I read on here that it does restrict air flow. I would rather have the sock on.