[Kris]

It's right at $500 what do you guys think?
Does anybody have one? And if you do does your kneecap at the intake ?

 

[hoges]

I've had the blackthorn on my bike for about 2 years now and have had no issues with it, I think it looks good on the XR.

Im about 5ft 11 inch tall an my knee is no where near the intake tube.

Definitely go for it. I think I paid around the $500 for it as well.

 

[bumati]

Yep, my knee is barely touching it. Do I like it? Need a good tune and I will let you know.

 

[Kris]

I've had the blackthorn on my bike for about 2 years now and have had no issues with it, I think it looks good on the XR.

Im about 5ft 11 inch tall an my knee is no where near the intake tube.

Definitely go for it. I think I paid around the $500 for it as well. View attachment 213450

Looks great

 

[mortbike]

Get one, you will love it!
Mort

 

[Sadwingsragn]

First time you have to take the tank off to replace the air filter you can think back on why you didn't get one.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

 

[Shackman]

Strong buy from me. Noticeable top end power addition and I like the intake growl. Filter servicing a breeze now, like Thomas I never want to return to the ordeal of the stock filter, just a pain in the butt.

J.

 

[CT XR rider]

Sorry..., for me it just spoils the lines of the tank, sticking out like that, I went with the HPA from Twin motorcycles instead.
gave up a couple of horsepower, but happy with the look.

 

[roadrash]

I feel the same way as Roy, I love the look of the XR tank and air box. But I went with the black horn and I have grown to love it.
Rick

 

[Phaedrus]

If you like the looks, do It!

And if you sink $500 into it, you will feel better about how the bike runs. But on a stock bike the XR airbox with a K&N is going to flow just as well. And you can mod the box a little, or buy the HPA, for a bit more flow.

My butt dyno is just too subjective. So, I'd stick with real dyno results (not from the manufacturer) to say the Free Spirits makes a performance difference. And, it took me a lot of tuning time with different tube lengths to outperform a modified XR airbox.

So, I'd buy the Free Spirits if you like the look. But, just for the look....

 

[Iantochips]

I live up a dusty dirt road, and servicing the air filter as regularly as I should is absurdly time consuming and fiddly. If I had the spare dosh I'd go for the Free Spirits just for the convenience. Oh, and I think it looks properly, what's the word? Mechanical?

 

[JefDC]

Hi Phaedrus, on our site you wrote:
'Once I have dyno numbers for my bike comparing the TQ/HP with this tube to that using the stock rubber mounting grommet, I'll send the tube over to a friend to see whether it has any impact on a stock XR1200 engine.'

Did you test it with the stock engine ? Does it make a difference ?

Thanks ... Jef



QUOTE=Phaedrus;1101690]If you like the looks, do It!

And if you sink $500 into it, you will feel better about how the bike runs. But on a stock bike the XR airbox with a K&N is going to flow just as well. And you can mod the box a little, or buy the HPA, for a bit more flow.

My butt dyno is just too subjective. So, I'd stick with real dyno results (not from the manufacturer) to say the Free Spirits makes a performance difference. And, it took me a lot of tuning time with different tube lengths to outperform a modified XR airbox.

So, I'd buy the Free Spirits if you like the look. But, just for the look....[/QUOTE]

 

[raven]

Go for it,as Thomas said the first time you clean the filter you will think why didn't I do this sooner.
As for your knee hitting it, I tend to ride up on the tank a bit and my knee just touches it.
Performance wise, mine with the Termi, picked up 7hp on top, lost 1pound of tq on top, but gained in the middle compared to the black widow and KN I had before.

 

[RoadsteR]

One of the very few mods that will improve performance, look and maintenance time.
Buy !

 

[mortbike]

Hi Kris
Below, please find a link to the back to back stock engine dyno tune/runs I did on my XR for the Twin Motorcycles HPA airbox vs the Free Spirits Blackhorn- Same dyno, same tech, etc. The post explains the all the details and results. 1250 kit and exhaust change were done thereafter. I also attached a couple of photos with the Blackhorn and prior member, Yorkie's, 3D fillers--Mort

http://www.xr1200ownersgroup.com/sit...l=1#post424697

 

[roginoz]

Just echoing what's already been said, but I'm pleased with mine. With a 32" inseam, my knee doesn't touch the manifold. (I do have 1" lower footpegs, though, which might make a tiny difference.) I had fitment problems with the Twin HPA, which may have had something to do with the amount of tank swelling (or lack thereof) influencing the spacing of the long mounting bolts. Dris and co were good to work with in trying to correct the situation, but it still wasn't satisfactory in my opinion. The Blackhorn exhibits a higher level of fit and finish, in my opinion. I had the bike re-dynoed after switching to the Blackhorn, and performance was virtually the same as with the HPA. (I have a Twin MC Torque Hammer 2 pipe and muffler.) I'd recommend the Blackhorn.

 

[mortbike]

Just echoing what's already been said, but I'm pleased with mine. With a 32" inseam, my knee doesn't touch the manifold. (I do have 1" lower footpegs, though, which might make a tiny difference.) I had fitment problems with the Twin HPA, which may have had something to do with the amount of tank swelling (or lack thereof) influencing the spacing of the long mounting bolts. Dris and co were good to work with in trying to correct the situation, but it still wasn't satisfactory in my opinion. The Blackhorn exhibits a higher level of fit and finish, in my opinion. I had the bike re-dynoed after switching to the Blackhorn, and performance was virtually the same as with the HPA. (I have a Twin MC Torque Hammer 2 pipe and muffler.) I'd recommend the Blackhorn.

Roger- Did you have a re-tune when you had the dyno run to test the Blackhorn's performance vs the HPA?
I had my tune tweaked a bit to re-optimize the AFR on the dyno following the Blackhorn install and then had the dyno comparison done.
Mort

 

[roginoz]

Roger- Did you have a re-tune when you had the dyno run to test the Blackhorn's performance vs the HPA?
I had my tune tweaked a bit to re-optimize the AFR on the dyno following the Blackhorn install and then had the dyno comparison done.
Mort

Mort:
I had it retuned, as I didn't know if the Blackhorn was going to affect the flow enough to warrant tweeking the mixture. Different day, different weather, same dyno and technician. I'm about finished with the 1250/heads/cam project, so I'll be having it tuned again after an appropriate break-in period. (I'll get the map altered for break-in before starting the process.) Dan, at Hammer, seemed to think that the Torque Hammer 2 and the Blackthorn would be adequate for the 605/591 cams and the head work they did. (I think your build may have provided some input.)

 

[Kris]

What about taking the filter out altogether? It has a screen in front of it. I don't ride in the rain or dirt or dust and conditions just the street. I did this on my street car and it picked up 3 miles an hour and 2/10 in a quarter mile

 

[Shackman]

What about taking the filter out altogether? It has a screen in front of it. I don't ride in the rain or dirt or dust and conditions just the street. I did this on my street car and it picked up 3 miles an hour and 2/10 in a quarter mile

Yeah, but engine life...
And also resale. I'd never buy a vehicle that had been routinely run without an air filter. Just adds a question mark to the whole issue of likely longevity.

J.