Do you think it makes any difference...
 

...and is it safe to remove the airbox lid? In the Ducati performance tuning book, it says that the airbox is a crap design and they run better with no lid. Also on different web sites it says the same. Who has experience of this/has done it? Does it work/sound better too??!! How do you keep the air filter in place??

Ooooh yeah!
Airbox removal/butchering has long been a favourite for Ducati tuners.My 851 had the top of the airbox completely cut away to expose the (K & N) airfilter.The whole top portion was cut away,which just left the sides to hold the filter in place.Some people just take the lid off altogether and use rubber bands to hold in the filter.
N.B
This mod will alter the fuel mixture of the bike.Ideally works with open pipes and chip to suit.
You should get a lot more torque and that fantastic intake roar!:devil:

OH yes:D pass the hacksaw son:lol::lol:

Baines did mine during a service. It does sound better.

Mines also been done

Do it..do it :bouncy: !!

Induction roar is all part and parcel of the 888 experience !!!

Nat

Deffo

My Strada has its airbox opened in the same way as aka.eric's, and this increases induction roar a good deal. However, if you want the full effect you'll need to ditch the lid altogether, in the way it's done on the SP models. On these bikes, the air filter is held in place by a rectangular metal frame which tightly surrounds it, and which is itself secured by over-centre clips. Modified this way, the induction roar almost drowns the exhaust noise!!

open filter
 

Just a query what happens to the air intake pipes leading from the fairing to the back of the housing.
ian

Hi Ian...

On the SP models the air pipes are just routed around the underside of the tank, and vent into the open airbox. (Hi-tech I know!)

Steve