Sohoz Tools

Checking the air filter

See how dirty the filter is; clean or replace it according to its type, as the manual says.

This guidance is general — not checked for any one model. Your bike's exact figures and procedures are in its owner's manual or at an authorised service centre.

Basic owner maintenanceDifficulty: Moderate15–30 minutes

When to do it

  • At your manual's interval, and more often on dusty roads
  • When power or mileage drops

What you need

  • The screwdriver or key the manual calls for
  • A new filter, if replacing

Step by step

  1. 1

    Work on flat, firm ground away from traffic, with the engine off and the key out.

  2. 2

    Find the air-box and how to open it in the manual; many bikes need the seat or a side cover off.

  3. 3

    Open the cover and lift the filter out carefully; do not let dirt fall into the intake.

  4. 4

    Hold it up to the light to see how dirty or damaged it is.

    Clean: light shows throughDirty: replace or cleanA pleated paper filter is shown; foam filters look differentPaper filters cannot be washed — see the manual
    General drawing — not of any particular model
  5. 5

    A paper filter cannot be washed — replace it if dirty. A foam filter on some bikes is washed and re-oiled — exactly by the manual's method.

  6. 6

    Refit the filter the right way round and close the cover with no gaps.

Warnings

  • Never run the engine without the filter.
  • Blowing or washing a paper filter can hole it.

Stop and see a mechanic if

  • The air-box is hard to open or you fear breaking something

Sources

  • The owner's manual and service booklet: the only reliable source for your bike's figures and procedures.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-25