Do you need to replace air cleaner on Atlantic 500?

[OmegaA]

I feel embarrassed, but do you replace air cleaner in Aprilia Atlantic 500? The manual says to clean it every 3750 miles, but not replacing. I find it weird because I always thought you don't clean air filters/cleaners, but replace them every so often.
Thanks

[Bob Walker]

You can clean the air filter periodically for a few years but it should be replaced at about 4 or 5 years. The foam material will eventually start to degrade and crumble. I have a spare ready for my scooter. To clean the foam filter use a non solvent degreaser and then coat the clean filter element with a tacky dust collecting spray. Here in the US a company named K&N make reusable filters for cars that you clean and coat with a filter spray. Follow the directions because too much of the filter spray will cause other problems.

[tomd]

So thee IE has a foam insert as new ? like the rotax beo funny thing on the rotax bike you wont easily replace with the chicken wire gauze sandwich cuz its mounted between a plastic vertical plate if you try n put a K&N or such in there it just leaks air around the filter plate on these things you use the likes of malossi red foam

[IAGolem]

You can clean the air filter periodically for a few years but it should be replaced at about 4 or 5 years. The foam material will eventually start to degrade and crumble. I have a spare ready for my scooter. To clean the foam filter use a non solvent degreaser and then coat the clean filter element with a tacky dust collecting spray. Here in the US a company named K&N make reusable filters for cars that you clean and coat with a filter spray. Follow the directions because too much of the filter spray will cause other problems.

You can use Marvel Mystery Oil in place of the expensive K&N stuff.

[OmegaA]

I cannot work out whether my air filter requires replacement or cleaning. Could you tell me how I can find out what type it is?
Thanks

[Bob Walker]

If you have a piece of foam as the filter then it can be cleaned and reused. (as long as it hasn't started degrading) If the filter material is paper or is foam that has started degrading then it has to be replaced.

[Rockynv]

I cannot work out whether my air filter requires replacement or cleaning. Could you tell me how I can find out what type it is?
Thanks

You look at it. If it is a pleated paper cartridge you replace it while if it is a foam sheet covered with oil your clean it with soap and water, inspect it and if it is not rotting or falling apart you dry it out, re-oil it with filter oil and put it back. Do not be fooled by paper cartridge filters with a foam outer wrap those still need to be replaced and are pretty obvious once you take a close look at them.

[OmegaA]

Ok, I see mine is paper, so I need to replace it. Is it cheaper/better to have reusable filters or disposable ones? If reusable then could you advice me on specifications of the filter that I could buy it somewhere online including oil? I live in the UK, so unfortunately US retailers are no good for me, but if I have specs I will be able to find the filter here.
Thanks in advance

[Rockynv]

The UK seems to have more on-line vendors of Aprilia parts than the USA has. If the bike takes a paper cartrige then get a new one and forget about it for the next few years.

[OmegaA]

I'm doing 900 miles a week, so I will be hitting 15k a few times a year...

[IAGolem]

I'm doing 900 miles a week, so I will be hitting 15k a few times a year...

I'd replace it with a K&N reusable filter. Should be good for 50k miles before you even need to look at it, unless you ride in a coal mine. Search in the forum for K&N to get the specifics.

[BTSchuster]

I replaced the air filter on my 2003 AA500 last night. The old one was a paper filter. My guess is it is the original filter, but, it did not look much dirtier than the brand new one I installed. Does anyone have a number for a K&N filter that fits?
Thanks,
Brian