Is a Pan European Air filter reusable and cleanable?

Tony

Tony

Joined
Nov 5, 2019
Messages
60
Location
Saskatoon Saskatchewan Canada
Hi, I just got a 1998 ST1100 and I am doing some work on it to get it ready for my first ride in the spring. I took out the air filter and its pretty dirty. Its pretty heavy and I thought it might be like a resusable one like a K and N but when I ran the number stamped on it (hmmt3 e1) it comes up as the original air filter. Air they cleanable and reusable like a K and N? A K and N one for the bike is over $110.00 in Canada so I would like to reuse the one I have . Thanks for your help and having this forum :)
 
No, a paper filter is not washable and reusable.

Don't buy a K&N filter unless you like wasting money. The thing that no one tells you is that K&N filters work best when they're dirty.

Get a regular paper element filter and enjoy many, many miles of riding.
 
Tony said:
Hi, I just got a 1998 ST1100 and I am doing some work on it to get it ready for my first ride in the spring. I took out the air filter and its pretty dirty. Its pretty heavy and I thought it might be like a resusable one like a K and N but when I ran the number stamped on it (hmmt3 e1) it comes up as the original air filter. Air they cleanable and reusable like a K and N? A K and N one for the bike is over $110.00 in Canada so I would like to reuse the one I have . Thanks for your help and having this forum :)
Click to expand...
Try Dave Silvers on the USA site, an aftermarket paper filter is only 15.00 English Pounds over here, see if they have it on the USA site.
Upt'North.
 
Do a simple Google search for "st1100 air filter" then click on "shopping" then "sort by" and choose "price - low to high".
 
Tony said:
Thanks guys I will have to keep looking for a regular one or a cheaper K and N from somewhere.
Click to expand...

Heed Shawn's advice re K & N in post #2. There is an aftermarket one made by Hi Flo (I believe) which is cheaper and looks identical to OEM.
 
188,000 miles with my K&N. Works just fine, thank you. Saved a heck of a lot of money over the years on replacement OEM filters (every 12K). No ST1100 has ever been harmed by a K&N.

The scare studies usually trotted out when this subject comes up don’t “prove” anything definitive. One I remember being offered was about running a fleet of dump trucks in a gravel pit, or was it a quarry...

JMNSHO

John
 
Last edited:
Whatever brand you choose do yourself a favor and get a new one. They last about 25K miles. You could blow the dirt off the old one but why bother.
 
A K&N is likely fine for a bike with carbs, and as far as I know, it’s only (potentially) an Issue with over zealous re-oiling in a car filter such that the oil gets on the mass airflow sensor (so clearly doesn’t apply to the 1100). I use one of the eBay Hiflofiltro filters on one of them, and on the other, you can (and I have) use a Fram CA 351 filter, but as it’s a little short for the air box, you have to install a ‘spacer’ to seal it within the air box (I used a piece of rubber insulation on the inside of the top of the air box and it seals up nicely.
 
I'm sure everyone here will disagree with me, but you can wash most paper filters. :eek:

I'm assuming yours is like a stiff cardboard, right? I've had bikes in the past with that kind of filter and I would soak them...sometimes overnight...in a mixture of Simple Green and dishwashing soap. I used a brush to get between the pleats and loosen the dirt. When I finished, I sat them aside to let them dry completely and then put them back in. I swapped between two different filters this way for 77,000 miles with no issues.

Chris
 
Tony said:
I saw the hi flo one one and yes its alot cheaper but is it any good?
Click to expand...
I've been using the Hiflo for the four plus years I've had my 1991. Change it every other year. There is never anything on the wrong side of the filter, not even dust on the carb snorkles.
Don't forget the Secondary Air Filter. It's about 2 inches square and is in the little box attached to the front of the main air filter housing.
 
A K&N is fine on the road but I will never run one for riding in the dirt. I have a lot of experience seeing the insides of dirt bike engines that are destroyed by what a K&N lets pass through it. The only exception to this is if you run a pre-filter over the K&N. There have been many tests of the K&N and it simply does not filter as well as paper or denser foam filters. Again, I am talking about off road applications. I choose to stay away from them on any vehicle though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom