[Govdog76]

I just put on the SE stage 1 intake today (not the heavy breather) and I am dumping the stock football for a Number 1 skull trim. Question is- do I really need the $25 rain sock to cover the filter element? Obviously I know I don't want rain in the intake, but the sock just looks like panty hose mesh...can't see how it is really that effective. What say you all?
cheers!
ian

 

[allofus81]

They do help shed some water but not all of it I would definatly buy it, 25 dollars to possibly protect your 20000 dollar investment. Seems like cheap insurance to me.

 

[easyrider9809]

I would recommend having a sock. All it took to convince me was ....getting caught in a heavy thunderstorm last summer and me forgetting to put the sock on. when cleaning the bike the next day, I discovered the front and bottom of the filter element was basically road grime black and wet. I'm sure the efficiency of the filter element breathability was affected after that ride thru storms that day.

 

[CHAINSAW]

I have a sock,.. but it has yet to leave my saddlebag. When I hit rain, the first thing I dig out is my rainsuit and mask. I always forget about the sock and never had any problems. I've even washed the bike, totally soaking the filter then took it for a drive to dry it off,.. no problems.

 

[Eric92]

Its also a lot easier to clean the bugs off the sock then out of the filter

 

[FLSTFI Dave]

I run the heavy breather and I feel the rain sock is needed.

 

[Sincecrazy]

The rain sock would probably aid with keeping some insects and larger debris from setting into the air filter, but I dont think its really needed. If you should suck rain thru the motor, its only going to steam off the valves a bit, shedding some carbon.

 

[tcon287]

I've got 10k miles, and been caught in rain several time, with no sock and same set up your using. No issues.

 

[BDMastiff]

The sock is absolutely necessary in the rain. It should never be used unless it's raining because it chokes your engine. Here's a good example to make my point. Breathe in and out through your mouth. Notice how much air you take in. Now, take your 4 fingers gently and place them over your mouth. Breath in and out through your mouth and notice the difference. When you put the sock over your air filter it restricts the amount of air your engine can "inhale". Your engine is basically a compressor. It needs air. The more air you let in the better it will breathe.

 

[Govdog76]

Thanks Guys,
I will pony up for the sock, but will not sweat it too much if I get caught in a light shower before then.
Appreciate all the good info.
Ian

 

[b104396]

Do u have insurance on your bike? If yes, what's another $3 a year for the added protection. Just skip one "frosty treat" a year and you have yourself covered. Why would you be concerned about a few lost ponies when it's raining anyway.

 

[tmd]

After four H-D's and one Iron Horse all with SE type air cleaners and a combined total of about 100,000 miles I've never had an issue with water being ingested in the engine. Thats including riding in the rain and using pressure washers to clean them. But hey if it makes you feel better buy one. About the only thing its good for is stimulating the economy.

 

[skratch]

Thanks Guys,
I will pony up for the sock, but will not sweat it too much if I get caught in a light shower before then.
Appreciate all the good info.
Ian

i'm getting one. and i'll tell you why. i have the se open element air filter. been running it that way for about 6 months with no problems. but last weekend, we took a ride and got caught in a pretty good rainstorm. no problems until the road turned in such a direction that the rain was coming down from my right. at that point, the ac tried to suck water in along with air. makes your bike stutter like it does when running out of gas.

not worried about it damaging the engine, like sincecrazy said, it'll steam off. just don't like the reduction in performance.

 

[Shark daddy]

I use the sock when it is raining, but i'm a little OCD.

My son never uses his and has never had a problem.

 

[Govdog76]

Picked mine up today. The instructions say to leave it on all the time, but i think I will just slip it on when raining. As BD said, who needs extra air restriction!
Ian

Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

 

[easyrider9809]

Gov dog........if you have lowers on your bike I would have to think that would help provide some protection for the SE exposed filter from rain. Just a thought. ........... I don't have lowers ..so I can't speak from exerience.

 

[Captain Jack Sparrow]

I talked with my HD tech who is also a close friend, he said that he has never used one on any of his bikes and ALL of them have had some kind of heavy breather. His bike is his primary transportation and he rides in the rain very frequently and said that the rain sock is not needed.

 

[reficul]

I use the sock on big rain storms. its cheap insurance, dont forget K@N filters and such are only oil soaked cotton. eventually oil and water do mix, it will bleach out your filter element an not preform as it was designed like letting in more particulate. Just my 2 cents man

 

[HarleyLance]

When I had my Street Bob, I had a Heavy Breather and I too wondered about the rain sock. I ended up keeping it on all the time (I actually like it better than the pink hue of the air filter), and it does not hinder air flow (certainly not enough to make a real difference). It seems to be more than just a panty hose cover - I think it's coated in some way to shed rain.

 

[Triggs]

FWIW, last year at Laconia, we were riding in the rain for a better part of a day. At one point, my WG died from too much water ingestion when the socks weren't on my S&S breather. My buddy said I was fogging him out with white smoke every time my ride started stumbling from the water it was sucking in. Couldn't get her running for 15 minutes.