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[SBB]

I was looking at pictures of the breather on members bikes on this site.
Some breathers have the rain sock on them and some don't.
I have never run it on the 11.5 SEUC or on the 12 SERG but keep them in the saddlebag waiting on that hard rain.
I have run the 11.5 SEUC in light rain without the rain sock and it was fine. (or so it seemed)
How many use the rain sock? How many leave it on all the time?
I think it looks better off than on, what do you think?

 

SBB

[DESERTBEAR54]

Let it Breath!!!! I even got caught many times in downpours and Kasper never missed a beat with the rain sock off. I did pull filter and clean it and re-oil it. Sock looks cool but that is about it!!

[LovemyCVOgirl]

I don't like the look of it on but I do carry it in my saddlebag.  I suppose on a trip if I see heavy dark clouds ahead, I'll pull over and put the darn thing on.

[dayne66]

I think an oiled filter may have a bit more 'resistance' to water than the dry filter on the '12. I just have the sock handy for any torrential downpours.

[Wild Card]

I put it on when I wash the bike...that's about it.

[dayne66]

I put it on when I wash the bike...that's about it.

Good call...didn't think of that one!...but makes perfect sense.

[Midnight Rider]

I've never used mine, Chip, and I got in some hellarain both on the way up to Ribfest and on the way back home.  I was running interstate when it was raining so hard, but the motor never complained about water on the filter.  And it rained HARD for a good 35 miles both times.  I'm still running the stock paper filter until it wears out.

Maybe it's more of an issue if you are going slow or are in traffic during a downpour...  I keep mine wadded up in the lower glove box just in case.

[D-N-D]

No Sock here never had a problem without it in the rain.

[ultrafxr]

Never used it but my dealer (Tim Bumpus) was riding his SERGU last year to a dealer meeting and got caught in a downpour.  He said the filter got so wet that the motor bogged down.  So it can happen under the 'right' conditions.  But if it's raining that hard I'll probably pull over and wait it out for a while.   

[smkymtnboy]

i do not run the sock. BUT my bike is so fast it can outrun the rain!!

[SBB]

i do not run the sock. BUT my bike is so fast it can outrun the rain!!

That's true.
But don't tell Judy.
She doesn't realize how fast those "Blues" are.
(even with the rain sock on)

 

SBB

[Heatwave]

I have the SE ventilator on a 2010 SEUC. I got caught in a wicked downpour on the highway and the bike actually stalled at speed and I had to glide to the side of the road without power. The engine wouldn't restart. I didn't have the rain sock on. So even though the "horses were out of the barn", I installed the rain sock on the breather. It struggled to start but after 5-6 attempts I was able to get it relit. It was still a downpour but with the rainsock on, I was finally able to get back on the road and headed home.

Do yourself a favor...if you're likely to get caught in a downpour, put the rainsock on. Losing power at speed on the highway is not a fun experience.

[ice6900]

I must be the odd one out here, I have had a SOCK-ON all the time from new. I didnt care for the Pink colored air cleaner, although now after 4 years the Pink has Greyed somewhat, I still keep the sock on. I have replaced the sock during the last winter as the original was looking a bit shabby.

[JCZ]

I don't like the look of it on but I do carry it in my saddlebag.  I suppose on a trip if I see heavy dark clouds ahead, I'll pull over and put the darn thing on.

I carry it in my bike "just in case" also.  But the latest trip......hours of snow and ice, and hours of driving rain on our final day.......I get home and start unloading everything and see it in the bottom.  Oh yea, forgot to use it.    Bike never missed a beat but my back sure did.

[grc]

Besides the obvious advantage of avoiding the stranded by a sudden downpour situation, there is a secondary advantage to running the sock all the time.  It will act as a prefilter so the big stuff won't get to the real air filter.  This will extend the service interval and the service life of the air filter.  You might want to buy a spare sock so you can rotate them.  Look on the K&N site, they may have one that will fit in other colors to suit your mood or to coordinate with your bike or your wardrobe.   Chip could get the blue for instance, and the guys with the really fast bikes could get the red.
http://www.knfilters.com/search/wrap.aspx


Jerry