Aftermarket Air Filters- Arlen Ness Inverted

We all know that we need an air filter to block the debris from entering our engines. But it can become an afterthought when it comes to customizing our bikes. The engine is getting air, so it must be good enough, right? Well maybe if you just want your bike to be average. The better your bike can breathe, the better it is going to perform. An engine is basically and air pump so the more air that can enter the engine, the more horsepower it can produce. Changing to an air filter that allows your bike to breathe better is an easy way to get your bike to produce more horsepower.

Stock air filters do a pretty decent job of keeping the debris out of the engine, but they are far from the best option for performance. A stock Harley air filter is not designed with just performance in mind. To meet regulations and noise emission standards, the filter is built to not only let air in, but also to dampen the noise and sounds of the engine. To accomplish that, the stock air filter has a thick cover and plastic backing plate that prevents some of the engine noise from being emitted. While the noise may be reduced, the filter is fairly constrictive when it comes to airflow. The actual filter is hidden behind the cover and does not have direct access to fresh, flowing air.

Most aftermarket air cleaner systems are performance driven and will allow your bike to breathe more freely than the stock filter. This is especially important if you have upgraded to a more free flowing exhaust. A free flowing exhaust and free flowing air cleaner should always be installed together to get the most gains from each. The combination of the two allows your engine to push more air through it, which creates more horsepower and torque.

One of the best new aftermarket motorcycle air cleaners to come around lately is the Arlen Ness Inverted air cleaner. The Inverted series of air cleaners is built on the legendary and proven technology of the Arlen Ness Big Sucker air cleaner, which has been around for over a decade now. This air cleaner design features hidden breathers that are o-ringed at the heads and then exit at the mouth of the injector or carburetor. The result is a closed loop system that is extremely efficient and eliminates the need for any external hoses or hardware. In other words, excellent airflow from a filter that has a very clean and aesthetically pleasing look.

Unlike previous styles of air cleaners that only draw air in through the sides, the inverted filter top allows air to be drawn in through the face of the filter in addition to the sides. This allows far more air to be drawn into the engine compared to the stock setup. Simply put, the Inverted filter design has more exposed surface area, which creates more opportunities for air to enter through the intake compared to comparable filters.

Caring for air filters is something that a lot of riders put on the back burner. It’s something that can be easily forgotten about or just plain ignored. Oiling filters can be a hassle, plus who wants to throw on that ugly rain sock every time you might encounter rain? But a clean air filter does make a huge difference in performance and that’s another thing that makes the Arlen Ness Inverted air cleaners so good.

The filter element used on the Inverted air cleaners is a hand poured synthetic material that is then wrapped with a stainless steel jacket. This makes the filter element water resistant so that it does not need to have a rain sock. Also, the synthetic material of the element never needs to be re-oiled. To clean the filter element, just wash out the debris and then let it dry. It’s completely reusable and will last for many miles without needing to be re-oiled.

The construction of the Ness Inverted air filters is as solid as the come. Both the backing plate and the housing are constructed from forged billet aluminum to be both strong and light. The filter housing is machined from one piece of forged billet aluminum to create a very clean and distinct look, while also making very rigid. The back of the backing plate is even machined to reduce weight, without compromising its integrity.

Of course, you can expect that the Inverted air cleaners will give your bike a unique, custom look just like all other Arlen Ness motorcycle parts. The Inverted series is offered in four different styles- 10-Gauge, Beveled, Deep Cut and Slot Track. Each of those styles come in either Black or Chrome to give you even more options for your bike.

Watch the Fix My Hog video review of the Arlen Ness Deep Cut Inverted air cleaner and then head on over to Dennis Kirk’s Arlen Ness product page to get one for yourself.

When it arrives watch how to install it yourself on Arlen Ness Air Cleaner Install.