Hi Guys,

I have a dilemma! Today i picked up a 3tj BDK airbox coutesy of clarkee. I was not sure if it would fit my hybrid but thought it would be pretty obvious once i pulled off the original airbox and carbs.

Anyway from playing in the garage this evening, it is tight but it might just work. The snorkel looks like it should just about fit between the top of the engine and bottom of the frame. The carb rubbers don't line up with the current holes drilled into the base, it could be a case of fibreglassing up the original base and redrilling in the new position, or it could require the whole base being removed and a new one backwards engineered around the top of the engine. So heres, the question, should i go for it or not?

I can't pretend i don't love the idea of some carbon trickery on my bike but i'm not sure how much i'm going to gain from the exercise.

Hi,
From the pictures it dont look like your tank will fit.

Its sitting on top of the rubbers.

yeap, exactly. tray is sitting on top of carb rubbers, so i need to fill in the base and redrill new holes. One thing that is apparent is that the carbs openings will be a lot closer to the ramair scoop, which will i'm sure effect the airflow.

Redrilling will drop the airbox, i hope onto the frame rails, if it doesn't i'll have to cut out the base and make a new one. It's a similar story with the scoop, it runs over the radiator, then between the frame and top of engine, the gaps are a lot closer with the 600 engine in and due to the higher carbs it's not going to line up. With some thought and maybe a nip and tuck here and there i'll probably be able to make it fit.

Never played with Carbon Fibre before, so it'll be a steep learning curve.

Has anyone ever tried this on a hybrid & did they get it working? I didn't want to chop up a perfectly good airbox and find it doesn't fit.

Honest opinion, more trouble than it will ever be worth!

Ram air does not take effect until 120mph+, and you will need to set the bike up carfully once fitted to compensate for the large volume of air the carbs now sit in.

Its all well and good on a highly strung racer but something id avoid on a road bike.

Oh and then there is the nice job of cleaning the crap out after every ride and if you dont thrash the bike you will find lots of fuel blow back collecting in the airbox, just above the red hot engine..............not good!

I've not seen a ram air working so I can't comment on that one.

You can patch carbon with plastex you just have to cut into a bit to key into the fibres.

Generally: the problem with the air box is getting air to it when the tank's put on. The standerd or modded air box will work well enough for a road bikeonce that happens. The Thundercat uses some smaller air boxes up stream of the main box. When the throttle is opened wide the airbox empties but these other chambers allow it fill again quickly. I think the standard box simply isn't being refilled fast enough on bigger throttle openings

If you are going to start cutting it up try and work it out with cardboard first,that way you wont scrap what you have for no purpose.Measure twice cut once,I wouldnt bother with a road bike either,sell it and buy some trick brakes or something.

If you are going to start cutting it up try and work it out with cardboard first,that way you wont scrap what you have for no purpose.Measure twice cut once,I wouldnt bother with a road bike either,sell it and buy some trick brakes or something.

Hit the nail on the head, sell the airbox and buy a set of r6/1 brakes and some pro-lite discs. Lots more performance gain for the money. Infact blowing your nose will be a better upgrade than the ram air, you will prob loose bhp in all but the top of the rev band and even then any gain will usually only come into effect at 120mph+

cheers for the advise guys, was planning to put track bodywork on it this year and spend the summer mucking about on tracks. I was expecting not to gain much but it sounds like its going to be more hassle than its worth. maybe a project for next autumn if i still fancy it.

Wise choice, the only time such a mod is worth while would be if you are at the sharp end of a club racing grid or chasing lap times on a track day, otherwise it really will be a pain in the arse!