Carbon air tubes
 

I fancy getting some carbon airtubes. I like the simplicity of covers but I'm not sure what they look like fitted on a road bike. The bit I don't like is where they are cut away for the indicators. Does anyone have any experience of them? Do they look like covers? I would prefer if they didn't fit around the indicators. I'm sure I could then drill and fit the indicators over them

I believe that the actual Carbon air tubes don't take the OEM filters. Are they all like this?

Ducati Performance sold a version of carbon air tubes that did have the runners inside to take oem filters and had indicator mounts - I have them on mine!

Getting the filters in is very fiddly as you have to squash them through the front and guide them into place, twisting them as you go. I use Pipercross filters with the oem plastic frames around them. The filters fit very well and I've never had anything go through them when I've cleaned out the (carbon) airbox.

The fitting at the airbox end can be a bit fiddly too. I ended up securing the rubber gaskets in place on the tubes with a small smear of silicone sealant. This just helped to hold them in place while they were latched onto the airbox.

I doubt you'll get any new these days, without paying big money, so you probably want to ask around or check ebay.

Thanks Ant.
I am keeping my eye on ebay. They are all new but are far eastern made.

Might be worth getting in touch with sandbar composites, they import Ilmberger stuff, made in germany or contact Ilmberger direct.

They do some road tubes with indicator mounts but I don't know if they take standard OEM/pipercross airfilters.

About £400 a pair.

I'm not that impressed the DP tubes on my bike, very, very light but very thin and they need a refinish now.

Covers might look bling, but I'd rahter not bother, each to their own.

If you do want to go the cover route some companys do "wrap" components in carbon look wrap with some reasonably convincing results.


Ray.

There are some on Ebay which fit standard air filters from MCmotorparts in Hongkong.

Anybody used them?

Thanks.

I agree with Ray, my DP ones are very thin (you can see light through the weave!) and mine too need refinishing where they've has a few knocks.

MC Motoparts as the same ones that do the CNC stuff, so they should be ok if they're cheap enough.

Don't forget Col, if you go with carbon air tubes you cannot run standard OEM air filters (or pipercross) inside them. You will have to go with an air filter which fits inside the air box, such as Itg or JHP.

I looked into this some time ago for my 996, and thought better of it!

I run Pipercross air filters inside standard airtubes....

Oi, blind boy! Read what I wrote up there ^^^ :D

Why you no risten! :lol:

I've looked into it as well and there are Carbon ones available that take the OEM air filters.
As I have said above, the ones on Ebay from McMotoparts do take standard fitting filters.
I asked the question and he came back and said they did!

OK, sounds like there's nothing stopping you........

Look forward to seeing your bling next ride out.

Looks like you're right James. Dispite being told by the seller that they do accept the OEM air filters they have no runners and so clearly do not.
I'm ****ed off as they are a nice peice of kit.
What are my options with air box filters, where from and what price and will it effect the performance?

What about the BMC filters that attach to the inside of the airbox covering the Air tube inlets. They must cause less harmonic issues then the over the throttle body foamies!

Mind you at £180 they make those new airtubes a bit of a costly mod!

HTH,

Andy

Thanks Andy but at that price not an option,I'm looking for a cheap solution.

So guess you will be looking at something like the JHP filter at circa £60 from JHP or ITG at Circa £100 online or Pipercross 'trumpet filters' for £53 from M&P online. From Shazam's posts and several other sources such as Sigma I think you will be looking at a loss in power with any of the above fitted, which may or may not be noticable.

Might just stick with my standard set up.

Anybody want to buy a pair of "new" carbon air tubes?

Col send me some piccies...............did you say they had the indicator mounts?

They do Andy.
I haven't decided exactly what to do yet, think I'll explore all the options first but if I do decide to sell I'll let you know and send you some photos.
Good to hear from mate, how are you doing?

Hate to say I told you so...........but..............:lol:

Honestly you you be better off with Pipercross OEM filter replacments fitting inside your standard air tubes. Appox. GBP18-20ish. That's all. They made a great difference to my machine. These can be bought on ebay, look out for the ones that fit the 916 not the 998 otherwise you will be reamed as there is a big difference in price.

What sort of difference James? I would have thought that the difference would be at most only a few bhp and would you really notice that?

Got them fitted now with a JHP air filter. I moaned to the seller that he had mislead me by telling me that they took the standard air filters and he gave me a $50 refund.

being a cheapskate i bought a set of covers from Red Racing in Italy. £112 and they look fine. Can be tight fit to get the fairing and if you go to the track you can just take them off. if you prang the bike, the oem plastic ones are £30. However some of the fully carbon tubes are nice too.

I agree the covers are good, but I ended up getting these pipes for around the same price as you paid for your covers. I like the idea of taking them off for a trackday.

Right up until you knock one of the indicators or drop the bike god forbid. However can see the extra bling appeal.

When I bought my covers they were less than half the price of the regular tubes. 112 versus 250. Very few then also on ebay second hand.