High-flow air filter for Marauder - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

pgman · 09-14-2007, 09:43 PM

I have a 2001 Marauder that was re-jetted by a dealership when the previous owner had V&H pipes installed. I don't know the details because the guy I bought it from didn't have any paperwork and he really wasn't that knowledgable about this stuff. All he told me was that he had the pipes installed by a dealer and they also re-jetted the carbs.

I am wondering how rich this bike is running as a result. When I bought it, it was back-firing a lot on deceleration. I removed the PAIR valve and this ceased. I noticed that the pipe tips turn sooty black pretty fast (I have to clean them every time I wash it) and that there is a real fine stream of black smoke coming from the pipes at engine speeds above about 1/3 throttle (you have to rev the bike when it is parked to see this - it is not visible at all when the bike is moving). I NEVER have to use the choke to start it, either and the exhaust smells rich.

I am wondering if I can (or should) lean this out a bit by switching to K&N air filters (if they are even available for this bike - I can't seem to find them) or if I should leave well-enough alone and just not worry about that last two-tenths of performance I may get by a leaner mixture. I certainly don't want to fry valves or pistons and I don't really have a problem with the bikes performance as it is. I just wonder how much better it could run. By the way, I am not fouling plugs and I get about 48 MPG most of the time. I also don't know how dirty the OEM-style air filters are - they may need to be changed. When I do change them, I am trying to decide if I should pursue a higher-flow option. Any thoughts??