A practical example of just how much difference a correctly operating stock airbox makes to a CV type carburetor. Bike is a 750, not your 550. Following some 'advice' from a related model forum, I once removed the rubber block that sits in the mouth of the air intake. In the parts listing its described as a 'noise dampener'. It takes up perhaps 30% of the intake opening.Ryan550 wrote:but not sure how much difference exactly it will make,
The instant I started the bike I could tell it wasn't running correctly. Opening the throttle on the road to accelerate and the bike would just piss and fart going no where. Basically un-ridable, so bad had to bring the bike straight back home. This is from just removing a small rubber block in the intake opening, but still having an airbox, lid/snorkel, velocity stacks (intake rubbers), and stock air filter in place. Just one tiny change that obviously affected the pressure inside the airbox was enough to screw things up.