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Review: Hurricane Racing Performance Air Filter for the ’08-’12 Ninja 250

15K views 80 replies 7 participants last post by  earlthepearl 
#1 ·
A few weeks ago, I received an email Hurricane Racing Co. Ltd. about their new air filters. Here is a small excerpt from the email.

"....The difference between our filters and other brands is that we are using stainless steel as a filter medium. The steel we use is high grade SUS-304 from Japan, to produce the finest steel mesh on the market. It has the advantage over cotton as being less tedious to maintain; it can be pressure washed, blow dried and replaced without the need of any specialist products or oiling. Thus, making it truly a simple to maintain, lifetime filter.

Our Ninja filters have become very popular under our Hurricane main brand in South-East Asia, but also especially in Indonesia, under our Ferrox brand. You may find some good feedback and comments already from the Indonesian web forums.

I have attached pictures of our 250 panel, open pod and also our new 650 filter, just for your references. You may also be potentially interested in distributing our Ninja filters, as we currently have non in the US. The RRP for each filter is listed below (side note: our cotton filter price is also listed, as we can produce these, similar to K&N - the price is there for comparison).
Kind regards,

Scott scott@hurricanerp.com
Hurricane Racing Co. Ltd.

I had been talking with Scott about theses filters. He saw a review I had done before and offered a free filter, if I wanted to do a test and review. So, I took him up on the offer.

Today on the way out the door to pick up a few other parts for the bike, I was greeted by the mailman with a package. It was a panel filter for the Ninja 250 from Hurricane Performance. The filter came in a nicely packaged box with a few little goodies and instructions from Hurricane Racing Performance.

Quality, Finish and Fit

Right away you can tell this is a quality made filter. Sturdy, clean lines and well put together. The filtering medium is a pleated, fine stainless steel mesh, bordered by rubber like the K&N 2508 panel filter, but cleaner and smoother, slightly wedge shaped with a small bump to pull on. This filter was a little heavier than the foam Pipercross Air Filter I pulled out, of course. The first thing I did was look right at and through the filter. I could see through the other side and was even able to take a picture with my camera phone. What was interesting was even though I could see through it, the holes in the mesh were amazingly tiny, even smaller than the pores on my foam Pipercross Air Filter. The more I looked at it the more I liked it. My opinion is that, this filter is definitely built for the racing circuit although street application could be possible if you don’t live in a real dirty and dusty environment. Then again some tracks are pretty dirty too.

After having a good look at it, it was time to install it. The install was perfect, quick, smooth and snug, no grease needed to coax it into the air box or seal the edges. No swapping of the filter frame or oiling is required for this filter. (According to the instructions provided by Hurricane, you simply can blow it clean, wash it and dry it.) The cover went on without any pushing.

Performance

The bike I’m testing the filter in, is a slightly modified (shimmed w/ two washers, snorkel removed, Iridium Plugs) 2009 Ninja 250R. Start up was normal and warm up was the same. The temp was 70 degrees with 45% humidity. Throttle inputs while idling seemed fine, however I did notice the idle was a tad smoother (although a number of factors can contribute to that). I purposely rode up the street past the landscapers that were blowing dirt and grass to see if I could collect some of it driving by. During the 4 years I’ve had may bike, the air filter has not really gotten extremely dirty. The dirtiest filter has been the stock filter, with the Pipercross it’s been mainly a few big leaves here and there and a little dust in the corner of the filter.

Out on the main road for a quick ride, I can tell by the intake and exhaust note that a little more air is flowing. I also noticed it in the difference in smell of the exhaust while warming up. It was not as rich smelling. Throttle response was good between 3-6k RPMS. I’ll probably take it out again tonight on the hwy to open it up a little. I will update this review over the next few weeks with more information and findings.
 

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#5 ·
Review Update: Hurricane Racing Performance Air Filter

UPDATE:

After having this new filter from Hurricane Performance Racing for the past month, I must say that I’m impressed, not only by its design but also by how it has changed the character of the bike’s engine.

But before I get into all the real good stuff, allow me to explain what this filter is. Like stated earlier in the review, the filtering medium is a pleated, fine stainless steel mesh, bordered by what seems to be a good silicone rubber. The mesh is fine high grade SUS-304 stainless steel. What is SUS- 304 stainless steel? Basically, (SUS) stands for System Usability Scale and 304 is the number of micro holes in a linear inch. Each hole is approx 45 microns in size (as a point of reference, a human hair follicle is approximately 50 microns in diameter, plant pollen about 40 microns). The materials and construction of this filter makes it very sturdy. The mesh is pleated and held in place in a way that makes it incompressible under suction (unlike my foam filters). As a note this came from Thailand, so the testing standards for air filtration are different than they are here in the U.S.

The maker of this filter does not make any claims of better filtration with this filter (neither do I), however they do claim higher airflow as well as several other things.

So that this review does not turn into a big debate about what type of filter is better (paper, cotton gauze or foam), I will simply say, it was hard to find a real concrete definitive answer. One very popular filter manufacturer had this to say about airflow and filtration,

“ We design our air filters to provide superior filtration of the contaminants that can harm your engine while maximizing the airflow characteristics of the filter in question. The ability of an air filter to protect your engine is generally measured in accordance with testing procedure ISO 5011. We subject a sample of our filter designs to this test procedure using Coarse Test Dust, which includes particles ranging in size from less than 5.5 microns to 176 microns. As a point of reference, a human hair is approximately 50 microns in diameter.

Doesn't higher filtration mean a better air filter?

No. The quality of an air filter can only be judged by reviewing all four important characteristics. 1) Restriction while loading with dust; 2) Filtration efficiency as a percentage; 3) Dust holding capacity before the filter needs cleaning or replacement ; and 4) filter life. Any company designing an air filter must make choices about these four characteristics and how their filter will perform in each area. Generally speaking, each characteristic of an air filter has an inverse relationship to at least one of the others, meaning, as filtration efficiency goes up, restriction increases and capacity or service life decreases. So an air filter manufacturer can design an air filter to have ultra high filtration efficiency by compromising the filters restriction, capacity, and/or service life…. So the basic answer to the original question is that higher filtration is not necessarily a good thing when it comes at the expense of restriction, reusability and/or capacity. While the benefits of a filter with 99.9% filtration are unknown, the benefits of low restriction are measurable and clear. Low restriction helps an engine perform more efficiently generating more power and torque.

That would lead a reasonable person to ask what then is a safe level of filtration. This question is literally unanswered. Minimum air filter specifications are generally not called out in vehicle owners' manuals, nor will you find much published information on air filtration requirements from vehicle manufacturers. We have never seen a scientific study concluding what levels of filtration efficiency correspond to various levels of engine wear.
The fact is that an engine is not a pristine environment. Fuel enters after passing through a fuel filter, combines with air which is ignited to explode in a pressurized chamber. The combustion is not 100% efficient and leaves residues behind that must be flushed from the engine. Engines have tolerances or measured gaps between surface areas. While there are few if any studies on engine wear, it would seem reasonable to speculate that particles less than 5.5 microns create little engine wear unless ingested at very high levels of concentration. As support for this theory, consider the filtration levels provided by fuel filters and oil filters that sometimes tout their ability to filter particles above 10 or 20 microns.

If you really want to compare two air filters, you need to know all four characteristics mentioned above. Consumers can then choose what matters most to them. But comparing two air filters with only one piece of information is like saying a bicycle is better than a car based solely on a comparison of mileage. Yes the mileage is better, but a car has a few other benefits (speed, comfort, keeps you dry in wet weather) that just may offset the mileage disadvantage.

More airflow means you are letting more dirt through, right?

No. Filtration testing measures the percentage of dust retained before the filter reaches a terminal test pressure, often 10" of restriction above initial restriction. We use airflow as a simplified term to explain a more complicated physical process. The more precise description is restriction: *** air filters create less restriction which helps an engine run better. An engine will only use the air it needs and our air filters do not result in an engine using more air than necessary. Rather, they result in the engine experiencing less restriction. The terms airflow and restriction are inversely related. Our air filters provide either less restriction at a fixed airflow rate; or more airflow as a fixed level of restriction. In neither case is more air being used than necessary.”


So what does all that mean? Here’s my take…, the engine will get some dirt in it no matter what, whether it is from the atmosphere, driving environment or the engine itself (in the form of carbon deposits), so there is a small possibility of engine wear. Choosing an air filter is a balancing act. Performance comes at the sake of a little extra filtration, a little extra filtration protection at the expense of a little more performance.

What’s the solution? Do what many lubricant manufacturers have emphasized for years, when driving conditions present a unique set of challenges for engine performance and durability; Preventative Maintenance. Frequent oil and filter changes as well as air filter cleaning or replacement is the best way to prevent engine wear.

Hurricane Performance Racing Stainless Steel Mesh Air Filter

Now the good stuff.

This is a really, nice filter. It definitely has changed the way the engine operates. The engine feels like it’s turning with less effort and has smoothed out. The exhaust note has changed a little, the intake is not as grumbly as before in the low rpm range, but when you open the throttle up it sounds great. This is probably from the airflow being more linear than turbulent. Without question, the filter allows more air to flow. A definite difference compared to the stock air filter and the Pipercross Air Filter I ran before.
Do I believe the AFR has leaned out too much? Naw. Smoothed out? Yeap.
She's still making plenty power up top.

I have 15/ 41 sprockets because I do a lot of hwy riding. Getting up to hwy speeds, the RPMs seem to run up quicker, nice acceleration for the set gear up, especially around ½ throttle. There does not seem to be a big increase in HP, but the HP feels like it is being made more efficiently. I haven’t had a chance to see if there has been a real change in mpg cause I’ve been wringing the throttle, but from what a can tell from running ethanol free gas, it’s not going to change that much.

As far as dirt goes, I’ve seen nothing yet except a little pollen around the rubber edge (the pollen is super heavy this week). I really don’t expect to see a lot anyway as my filter hardly gets that dirty. Am I concerned about any extra possible dirt? Nope. I’m going to keep my oil changed frequently like I’ve been doing and all the other maintenance required. I really want someone else to ride it, to tell me what they think. Maybe when Nemesis gets his filter, he’ll give his opinion on it as well.

Stay tuned more to come.
 
#6 ·
I installed mine yesterday in the 650 sport.
Today i ran the bike a bit more then the test yesterday.
Engine does seem to breath much easier then the stock filter.
Just seems to run healthier....
Sound...ur right ....better in the airbox.
MPG.....I haven't rode it far enough, but i get 60-65 anyway.
This is gunna be much better than buying a new filter every 7-10,000 miles.
Just clean it n put er back in.....








 
#13 ·
NNNNNnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.................
Everytime I get on the bike n go for a ride......
I'm impressed at how much diff it made in my 650 sport....
Now with the gear changes coming i mite not need the liter bike for a couple more years......
Maybe.....








 
#14 ·
earlthepearl said:
I installed mine yesterday in the 650 sport.
Today i ran the bike a bit more then the test yesterday.
Engine does seem to breath much easier then the stock filter.
Just seems to run healthier....
Sound...ur right ....better in the airbox.
MPG.....I haven't rode it far enough, but i get 60-65 anyway.
This is gunna be much better than buying a new filter every 7-10,000 miles.
Just clean it n put er back in.....
Do you have to get your bike jetted ?
 
#18 ·
Blue Ghost said:
With the stock exhaust it does. texhaust note has changed a little, the intake is not as grumbly as before in the low rpm range, but when you open the throttle up it sounds great. A slip on exhaust may sound differently as well with it installed.
Thanks. I have been thinking about it but heard you have to get ur bike jetted. I didn't want to do all that.
 
#22 ·
....This is also true for the k&n?
Yes, for the K&N KA-2508 drop in type type filter.


.....Which one is better ... The hurricane or k&n
It is a matter of personal choice.

I agree with what the review says about better filters.

....Doesn't higher filtration mean a better air filter?

No. The quality of an air filter can only be judged by reviewing all four important characteristics. 1) Restriction while loading with dust; 2) Filtration efficiency as a percentage; 3) Dust holding capacity before the filter needs cleaning or replacement ; and 4) filter life. Any company designing an air filter must make choices about these four characteristics and how their filter will perform in each area. Generally speaking, each characteristic of an air filter has an inverse relationship to at least one of the others, meaning, as filtration efficiency goes up, restriction increases and capacity or service life decreases. So an air filter manufacturer can design an air filter to have ultra high filtration efficiency by compromising the filters restriction, capacity, and/or service life…. So the basic answer to the original question is that higher filtration is not necessarily a good thing when it comes at the expense of restriction, reusability and/or capacity. While the benefits of a filter with 99.9% filtration are unknown, the benefits of low restriction are measurable and clear. Low restriction helps an engine perform more efficiently generating more power and torque.


....If you really want to compare two air filters, you need to know all four characteristics mentioned above. Consumers can then choose what matters most to them.


Which one do I like better Hurricane or K&N ? I would have to say, so far it is the Hurricane Racing Performance Air Filterbased on what I know.
 
#23 ·
Blue Ghost said:
Yes, for the K&N KA-2508 drop in type type filter.

It is a matter of personal choice.

I agree with what the review says about better filters.

....Doesn't higher filtration mean a better air filter?

No. The quality of an air filter can only be judged by reviewing all four important characteristics. 1) Restriction while loading with dust; 2) Filtration efficiency as a percentage; 3) Dust holding capacity before the filter needs cleaning or replacement ; and 4) filter life. Any company designing an air filter must make choices about these four characteristics and how their filter will perform in each area. Generally speaking, each characteristic of an air filter has an inverse relationship to at least one of the others, meaning, as filtration efficiency goes up, restriction increases and capacity or service life decreases. So an air filter manufacturer can design an air filter to have ultra high filtration efficiency by compromising the filters restriction, capacity, and/or service life…. So the basic answer to the original question is that higher filtration is not necessarily a good thing when it comes at the expense of restriction, reusability and/or capacity. While the benefits of a filter with 99.9% filtration are unknown, the benefits of low restriction are measurable and clear. Low restriction helps an engine perform more efficiently generating more power and torque.


....If you really want to compare two air filters, you need to know all four characteristics mentioned above. Consumers can then choose what matters most to them.

Which one do I like better Hurricane or K&N ? I would have to say, so far it is the Hurricane Racing Performance Air Filterbased on what I know.
Anyone gear anything about uni or pipercross?
 
#25 ·
Looking for a good filter for my 400r 2011, ordered a hurricane because its supposed to be the same as 650 but it was not. Sold it to earl, he likes it. I didn't want the hassle of the k&n , hurricane seemed better, more flow. Keep checking their site but they haven't made one
Yet.
 
#31 ·
There is no best air filter. All the drop in type filters in this list perform better than stock (without need for re-jetting or removing the airbox), but each one of them does it a little differently. One uses a sticky medium and foam to trap dirt, others use oil and cotton gauze, one even uses stainless steel mesh.

If you ask someone in Europe what's the best filter for the Ninja 250 they will probably say Pipercross. Ask someone in the U.S. what's the best filter for the Ninja 250, they will say K&N. K&N is popular only because that's what bikers know. Pipercross is still relatively new in the U.S. but big time overseas. Check their records.

Considering what I've written about filters, yes the Pipercross is better in the Ninja 250/300 for those who want a hi-flow filter and high dirt retention, ease of cleaning and installation. K&N or any other filter maker do not sponsor any Ninja 250 races nor are they being supported by Kawasaki. However, it does not mean that particular brand is not good for the purpose it was designed for.

As far as I know, no one has tested all the individual air filters (available for the Ninja 250/300), pitted them against each other to find out which one is the best.
 
#32 ·
Blue Ghost said:
There is no best air filter. All the drop in type filters in this list perform better than stock (without need for re-jetting or removing the airbox), but each one of them does it a little differently. One uses a sticky medium and foam to trap dirt, others use oil and cotton gauze, one even uses stainless steel mesh.

If you ask someone in Europe what's the best filter for the Ninja 250 they will probably say Pipercross. Ask someone in the U.S. what's the best filter for the Ninja 250, they will say K&N. K&N is popular only because that's what bikers know. Pipercross is still relatively new in the U.S. but big time overseas. Check their records.

Considering what I've written about filters, yes the Pipercross is better in the Ninja 250/300 for those who want a hi-flow filter and high dirt retention, ease of cleaning and installation. K&N or any other filter maker do not sponsor any Ninja 250 races nor are they being supported by Kawasaki. However, it does not mean that particular brand is not good for the purpose it was designed for.

As far as I know, no one has tested all the individual air filters (available for the Ninja 250/300), pitted them against each other to find out which one is the best.
Thanks for the info
 
#33 ·
Blue Ghost said:
There is no best air filter. All the drop in type filters in this list perform better than stock (without need for re-jetting or removing the airbox), but each one of them does it a little differently. One uses a sticky medium and foam to trap dirt, others use oil and cotton gauze, one even uses stainless steel mesh.

If you ask someone in Europe what's the best filter for the Ninja 250 they will probably say Pipercross. Ask someone in the U.S. what's the best filter for the Ninja 250, they will say K&N. K&N is popular only because that's what bikers know. Pipercross is still relatively new in the U.S. but big time overseas. Check their records.

Considering what I've written about filters, yes the Pipercross is better in the Ninja 250/300 for those who want a hi-flow filter and high dirt retention, ease of cleaning and installation. K&N or any other filter maker do not sponsor any Ninja 250 races nor are they being supported by Kawasaki. However, it does not mean that particular brand is not good for the purpose it was designed for.

As far as I know, no one has tested all the individual air filters (available for the Ninja 250/300), pitted them against each other to find out which one is the best.


Liquid Rectangle Food Ingredient Recipe


the pipercross look like this? No "rim"?
 
#34 ·
Blue Ghost said:
There is no best air filter. All the drop in type filters in this list perform better than stock (without need for re-jetting or removing the airbox), but each one of them does it a little differently. One uses a sticky medium and foam to trap dirt, others use oil and cotton gauze, one even uses stainless steel mesh.

If you ask someone in Europe what's the best filter for the Ninja 250 they will probably say Pipercross. Ask someone in the U.S. what's the best filter for the Ninja 250, they will say K&N. K&N is popular only because that's what bikers know. Pipercross is still relatively new in the U.S. but big time overseas. Check their records.

Considering what I've written about filters, yes the Pipercross is better in the Ninja 250/300 for those who want a hi-flow filter and high dirt retention, ease of cleaning and installation. K&N or any other filter maker do not sponsor any Ninja 250 races nor are they being supported by Kawasaki. However, it does not mean that particular brand is not good for the purpose it was designed for.

As far as I know, no one has tested all the individual air filters (available for the Ninja 250/300), pitted them against each other to find out which one is the best.
Well said !!!!
 
#38 ·
The Pipercross looks crappy? I can assure you it is not. It's a very well designed filter. I ran it for over 2 years and it still looks new.



Although you may not have to re-jet for the Hurricane Racing Performance Filter, I will highly suggest that you at least shim the needles (no less than 2 washers on each needle). The stock Ninja 250 is very close to being technically lean in the mid-range and definitely needs to be richer. Shimming the needles will mostly affect the 1/4-3/4 throttle range.
 
#39 · (Edited)
Blue Ghost said:
The Pipercross looks crappy? I can assure you it is not. It's a very well designed filter. I ran it for over 2 years and it still looks new.

Although you may not have to re-jet for the Hurricane Racing Performance Filter, I will highly suggest that you at least shim the needles (no less than 2 washers on each needle). The stock Ninja 250 is very close to being technically lean in the mid-range and definitely needs to be richer. Shimming the needles will mostly affect the 1/4-3/4 throttle range.
So you have found that the soft foam pipercross to be a good filter?
 
#40 · (Edited)
Yes. It is a 3 stage (layered) filter compared to the dual stage WIX and Uni and single stage stock. The foam is a little stiffer than all of them , which allows for larger porosity and breathability and less compressibility
 

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