TPO BEAST Ducati Monster Air Intake System
Changing the induction air flow characteristics by changing the velocity stack length and inlet shape is a well established technique. Altering the length/shape of the inlet track will alter the shape of the power curve.
The stack shape is often designed to give max power higher up the RPM range at the cost of losing some lower down grunt (where you do most of your street riding), so they’re not ideal for a road bike. The flow changes (usually) means you have to adjust the fuel map after fitting them. So it's not just bolt-on horsepower.
The horsepower curve shown for the TPO intake system doesn't exhibit this shift, so it makes me suspicious.
Notice that neither dyno curve provided compares the TPO product to the stock Ducati set-up. My guess is they're "cooking" the result by comparing themselves to aftermarket set-ups that produce less horsepower than stock. A comparison with stock would have been an obvious choice but it probably would reveal a degradation in performance.
As a comparison, owner's experience with Mad Duc filters that fit onto the velocity stack show a degradation of air flow and horsepower so seeing another stack-mounted filter element raises a "red flag" in my mind. Next time you're doing a dyno run, place your finger near the top of the velocity stack and watch the power drop-off big time due to disturbance to the laminar air flow that the stack induces.
Here's where the huckster shows his face. The ad says:
"Note that this kit REQUIRES an aftermarket crankcase breather filter. If you need one, check my other auctions—I sell those as well."
The K&N breather is sold on the premise that venting to the infinite volume of the atmosphere - instead of the vacuum in the airbox - increases horsepower. It eliminates the one-way valve so it needs an air filter to prevent dirt from entering the crankcase under a negative crankcase pressure differential (pulse) when a piston is on an upstroke. Under positive crankcase pressures, the K&N device simply vents oil droplets direct to the filter medium - and beyond when it becomes saturated.
People usually buy them because they look trick mounted on the engine case. Therein lies its main disadvantage. Its location on the engine case is directly upstream of the rear tire. Since its installation also eliminates the oil separator, the increased chance of an oil mist being released onto the rear tire makes this location an unwise choice. Certainly, avoid overfilling the oil sump and wheelies with this arrangement.
For the street on an unmodified bike, the stock crankcase ventilation set-up is the best. Period.
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