eliminating my air box

I'm thinking about eliminating my air box and just putting cone filters on my carbs. Anything I need to know before doing this? Tried searching for a thread first but didn't find anything

Didn't find anything??? This question is very common.

Try searching again using google. In the search field type "site: www.kzrider.com rejetting pods" There are dozens of threads on this subject.

To answer your question you need to rejet your carbs when using pods. Guys that are skilled at rejetting can purchase jets separate and through trial and error find the best setup. Depending on what model bike and carbs you have this can be either involved or VERY involved and time consuming. Easiest thing to do is purchase a jet kit from the likes of Dynojet. They supply a new needle which is very important to getting the mixture correct. Guys doing their own rejetting sometimes shim the stock needle but you can't get the same mixture control as when using the Dynojet needles.

Also, the cheap Emgo pods that so many people use are pretty much junk. Real K&N's, or pods from the likes of APE or Mike's XS, are much higher quality and can be cleaned when they get dirty. Pods allow more dirt through to the engine than that of a stock filter in the airbox, so there is no free lunch there either.

Good luck

Oh wow. Didn't think I would have to rejet for that. It's a 1995 kz1000p that I just got and it has a pretty long list of problems

huntersdad14 wrote: I'm thinking about eliminating my air box and just putting cone filters on my carbs. Anything I need to know before doing this?

Sell your golf clubs and bowling ball, you won't have time for any hobbies.....

Lol. This kz is gonna be my hobby lol. Just hope I get to ride it more then wrench on it. Cancelled my order for the pod filters,don't want to mess with rejetting at the moment, will wait and do that when I upgrade the exhaust.

The 1995 KZ1000-Police bike came with CV carbs. Step 1 - stand next to your bike and nail your feet to the floor (that will be the easy part). You're going to be there a VERY long time trying to make the bike run anywhere near as well throughout the powerband with pods as is does with the airbox. Forget riding it more than wrenching if you remove the airbox because it ain't gonna happen. Ed

Some real K&N filters (or some filters from APE) and a Dynojet kit will get it done with a minimum of fuss and muss. You will pay some pretty good money for this setup though.

I typed - pods - into the search box and I got 52 hits from the last four weeks alone. The bike can be made to run pretty well with the pods, but it will likely make less power and have less seamless transitions from one circuit to the next, and can run very poorly in strong cross wind. If your goal is to ride more than wrench, the stock setup is by far the best choice, even with aftermarket exhaust.

My ZRX came with pods and not well sorted jetting. I spent the time and money to get them working well because the pods allowed me to have a large storage space tha I did not have with the air box in place. The trade off is worth it to me, but otherwise, I would not recommend removing the factory system.

Guess I used the wrong key words. I typed air box elimination. I'll just go ahead and leave the stock box. I've never had a inline 4 before always v twins so I'm on the learning curve lol

I would try to get it running as close to factory spec as possible though suggested routine maintenance covered in the shop manual before doing any mods. You might be surprised at how well it might perform.

I know its anecdotal but I had a MC mech tell me that the Kawasaki engineers put a lot of thought into items such as intake and exhaust among other things. and its not a bad idea to leave them in place because they serve a purpose in proper engine performance

750Kruzer wrote: I would try to get it running as close to factory spec as possible though suggested routine maintenance covered in the shop manual before doing any mods. You might be surprised at how well it might perform.

I know its anecdotal but I had a MC mech tell me that the Kawasaki engineers put a lot of thought into items such as intake and exhaust among other things. and its not a bad idea to leave them in place because they serve a purpose in proper engine performance

This is very true. Here's an article describing a discussion about airboxes with a Mikuni carb engineer. Ed

I don't really get the pods and 4 into 1 craze people get into, you spend $100 or so on GOOD pods and up to $900 or so on a kerker to gain what? 5 horsepower? On a race bike, sure go for it, to have that 'look' okay? Kz's already have that.

There's always trade-offs and as usual, Ed nails it