How To Clean Motorcycle Air Filter.

Do these air filters ever need cleaning?
If so how do you clean these filters?

When you take the filter off and look at it every winter, it does not seem like its too dirty, or doesn't look like
it needs cleaning - but clean it anyway. Very easy job.

If you want, buy the K&N service kit (not sure if S&S makes a kit). It includes cleaner and oil. Spray on the cleaner, wait, rinse off, wait until dry (DO NOT use an air compressor to dry), spray on oil (the oil helps catch tiny dust particles), install.

Wanna save a few bucks? Buy the spray oil and use some liquid dish washing soap, Simple Green, Biker Wash - almost any kind of liquid soap. Put a concentrated solution about 1" deep in the bottom of a flat pan and slowly
roll the filter (on edge) in the soapy solution so as to coat the outside of the filter but not get all that much on the inside surfaces (don't want to transfer dirt from the outside to the inside). Let it sit for a couple of
minutes and then rinse from the inside out.

Let it air dry. Spray on oil - read the instructions on the spray can or you will overload the filter. It may not look like you have enough coverage but the oil will spread itself out in about 15 minutes or so.

The cotton element itself cannot filter effectively without oil. It is not necessary to clean the filter every time you reoil it. You should reoil several times a year.