Topic: Anoooother pod filter Q

[354cylinder]

Hello, I want to put pod filters on my '74 CB350F for a nicer look and a little more performance, has anyone here run these.....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Air-Filter-Honda-SYM-Kymco-Yamaha-PGO-MBK-50cc-35mm-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem45f91e08e3QQitemZ300532238563QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

[scottly]

Popcorn is being nuked as I type....

[Retro Rocket]

Popcorn is being nuked as I type....

  ,

Sorry dude but pods are mainly for looks on the SOHC/4 Honda's, you want a civilised, easy to look after bike that runs well right throught the rev range , then leave the airbox on....
There is no easy horse power fix, put a performance pipe on and some bigger jets and leave the airbox on or better still, buy a faster bike.....

Scottly, pass the popcorn mate.....

[camelman]

Stay away from the pods on a 350f. Your biggest flow restriction is your cylinder head, then your carbs, then your exhaust.  The airbox flows plenty for non racing applications and removal is more trouble and expense than it is worth.  Mrieck can work magic on your cylinder head for around $300. If you don't want to pull the head, then have Rick Denoon of denoonsp bore your carbs for a little less than $300. A new exhaust is nice, but won't show much improvement without other changes and will set you back well more than $300 and will still need to be ceramicoated.

One other option is to chop a loop off your timing advance springs, but check with hondaman for the particulars of that process.

PS: any new exhaust under $300 is not worth your time or money. Any pods without bellhousing inlets (nothing under $100) is worth your time it money.

Camelman

[Tete]

yes!!!

[354cylinder]

Well looks is really all I'm going for, I wouldn't mind to gain a horse or so but I'm not trying to make my 350 go like a 750, and as for exhaust I'm just running open headers and it seems to run good and sounds great! lol  I'm trying not to put side covers so I can see right through.

[354cylinder]

Here's a pic of my bike in progress....I would like to keep it looking as much like it does now as possible, without a big ugly tin airbox....

[MoMo]

Where do you live that you're allowed to run open exhaust?   Pods do look cool but not worth the effort. I have had 7 400 fours in the past couple years and tried pods on three-gave up, way too much work for no gain other than looks...Larry

[Roach]

  I think we can all say is you are barking up the wrong tree..but i guess everyone needs to find out for them selves...you probably won't even see that 1hp you speak of..the people here are very knowledgeable on performance. But ALL SHOW NO GO seems to be the usual around here these days... I would presonaly find a exhaust thats longer with some baffles it will help you with your back pressure and tuning.. as for the PODS.. SOME people say they work..but none have actual proof of them working ie.. a dyno before pods and after pods.. you will be driving yourself mental with tuning and will be in your garage more than on the road. Have fun re jetting!!!

[Bankerdanny]

What I don't see anyone telling you is that the trade off for the look is that you may not be happy with the way the bike runs. There are a few members that have had good luck with pods on their small 4's. But the vast majority of posts and replies I see are members comiserating over not being able to get the bikes to idle right, or flat spots or just general poor performance.

So while I agree that they look cool and the open center section would is also a good look on a bike like yours, a good running bike is (for me) more important that the cosmetic bit.

[camelman]

If you are only going for looks, then I have a brand new set if pod filters that will fit your carbs. No pods seem to fully clear the frame on the right side if these 350Fs, but the ones I have are pretty decent.

A couple points:
1) forks are flip flopped
2) I hope you are planning to run two rear shocks
3) make sure the starter solenoid is held in place well, because it has a large positive wire that you don't want to accidentally ground
4) I hope you kept your rear fender. They are worth some cash on eBay.

[bollingball]

You may only be going for looks but you will get the tuning problems that come with pods weather you want them or not. So be prepared for a lot of plug chops or buy some dyno time. Forget about HP.

Get the looks you want then put it in a showroom. Then get another bike not for looks an ride it


                              Ken

[354cylinder]

If you are only going for looks, then I have a brand new set if pod filters that will fit your carbs. No pods seem to fully clear the frame on the right side if these 350Fs, but the ones I have are pretty decent.

A couple points:
1) forks are flip flopped
2) I hope you are planning to run two rear shocks
3) make sure the starter solenoid is held in place well, because it has a large positive wire that you don't want to accidentally ground
4) I hope you kept your rear fender. They are worth some cash on eBay.

1) I didn't realize my forks are on the wrong sides, that would make mounting my brake caliper a little easier to have them in the right place wouldn't it lol
2) Why do I really need two shocks?
3) Ya I just had the solenoid sitting up therefor a test fit (no battery hooked up)
4) Yes I kept my fenders.

Thanks everyone for the input, I guess I'll try to use the stock box somehow.
Would my bike run much different with no filter or box than pods? Other than not filtering out dust and bugs

[camelman]

I hope you're kidding about two rear shocks. If not, then let's just say it will be squirrely abd dangerous. You might even fracture the swingarm without an even load on both sides.

Running without any filtering is common in racing applications, but causes valve and piston wear issues. Grit in the incoming air will deposit on the valve stems and work like sandpaper to wear the guides out. The end result will be oil consumption and stinky exhaust that will permeate your clothes whenever you ride.  Piston ring and cylinder wear can also occur, and possibly even cause serious damage if something solid is ingested by the engine.

[mlinder]

Run stacks, not pods.

Hope you know how to rejet.

The stock airbox has little rubber stacks alrady. You can pull those out and put those on for now.

Again, you'll need to rejet.

if you run only one spring on one side, you'll need to do some serious build up of the swingarm. Like, seriously serious. Trellis and gusseting.

[354cylinder]

I know what dust will do to an engine, I was just wondering about the flow of nothing vs pods.

I'm not questioning anybody's knowledge or saying I'm smarter than everyone else but I've ridden my CB with NO mufflers and NO air filters and it runs good, I wouldn't doubt I'll have to go one or maybe two sizes bigger on the mains to keep it a little cooler but I've re jetted many times before.

I understand what you guys are saying about the rear shocks, but I've run (HARD) two offroad bikes with one shock on only one side of the swingarm with no signes of problems.

[mlinder]

I know what dust will do to an engine, I was just wondering about the flow of nothing vs pods.

I've run stacks a lot. I don't find anything terrible about the wear on ROAD BIKES.

I'm not questioning anybody's knowledge or saying I'm smarter than everyone else but I've ridden my CB with NO mufflers and NO air filters and it runs good,

Without jetting? No it didn't. THat means you don't know what 'runs good' means.

I wouldn't doubt I'll have to go one or maybe two sizes bigger on the mains to keep it a little cooler but I've re jetted many times before.

'Cooler'? OK....

I understand what you guys are saying about the rear shocks, but I've run (HARD) two offroad bikes with one shock on only one side of the swingarm with no signes of problems.

This is not a dirt bike. It will handle very differently on asphalt than your dirtbikes do on dirt.

[mlinder]

You know, I think I can tell already. This is going to be another "I asked a question, but don't like the answers and only want to hear that what I want to do is a good idea, so I'll ignore the answers and tell them they're wrong" post, isn't it?

[y2kc0wb0y]

Experience is not for everyone.... :O)

[dave500]

you gotta be joking with the one shock thing?there looks to be a bit of corrosion on the forward pivot area of the swing arm,maybe from battery acid?how sloppy are the bushes,theres a thread here about the journalist who wants bikes banned,i hope hes not reading this thread,itll only give him ammo.

[camelman]

Son of a...  As a future PE, I'm going to protect myself from future lawsuits and say, "don't do any of what you are planning because you might die!"

Peace,
Camelman

[354cylinder]

Seeing as some people has to get side tracked and be a smart ass, why don't I reword my original question.... Would there be enough of a difference between these http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Air-Filter-Honda-SYM-Kymco-Yamaha-PGO-MBK-50cc-35mm-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem45f91e08e3QQitemZ300532238563QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
and k&n filters for the k&n to be worth an extra 100 bucks?

And for those of you who don't know that an engine runs hotter when it is running lean than an engine that is running richer....maybe do your homework before you start making fun.

[mlinder]

Seeing as some people has to get side tracked and be a smart ass, why don't I reword my original question.... Would there be enough of a difference between these http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Air-Filter-Honda-SYM-Kymco-Yamaha-PGO-MBK-50cc-35mm-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem45f91e08e3QQitemZ300532238563QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
and k&n filters for the k&n to be worth an extra 100 bucks?

And for those of you who don't know that an engine runs hotter when it is running lean than an engine that is running richer....maybe do your homework before you start making fun.

Of course it runs hotter... but that's not why you need to rejet.
I don't know if this is the correct thread for grading your homework, though.

Anyway, yes, the k&n's are well worth the money in comparison.

Or like I said, you could save yourself a lot of headache by running stacks.

[cameron]

every time someone with an unmuffled bike goes by, I just think "what an #$%*".

Every time.

I use K&N Filters on my 550. I dont remember them being $100. Maybe 60? They are cleanable, and have so far given me 5 good years. I recommend them if you are going with Pods.

And please, if you are going to ride where other people live.. put on a muffler.
If you dont, you are a criminal, and obviously dont care about other people's comfort, which gives us all a bad name.

Of course, if you live in the sticks somewhere and only ride the twisties, then more power to you

[Coyote13]

If you want pods, get pods.  If you want opinions on pods, ask your question and brace yourself for the barrage of answers you're gonna get.  If you don't want a barrage of opinions on why you shouldn't run pods, don't ask the question and figure out how to use the search feature. There are many threads on the subject.

Bottom line is this: Honda is a better engineer than most everyone on this forum (with the exception of a few, and they know who they are). You can run pods, but your performance will most likely suffer, it has to do with the way Honda engineered the stock airbox with stacks built in.  If you can figure out a way to build stacks into your pods, well, you've got a winner, otherwise I'm pretty sure Honda did it best.

As a side note, I completely understand the "I just want it for looks' thing.  We all want our bikes to look cool, it's part of the whole thing.  However, a poorly running engine will not last as long as one that's tuned well, and given that most of these bikes are already old and tired, you'll be pushing your luck.  If you're still set on running pods (like I was/am) prepare yourself mentally because it will be a beating.  Unless you're just ok with your bike running like absolute garbage, in which case send me your address and I will relieve you of it personally.