Air filter & plugs - which is best & where from?

[Burner]

I’m sure this has been a topic before, sorry for revisiting, but have some questions for those in the know on servicing my 2003 model.
Its done 16,000km – had 14,000 on it when I purchased it 6 months ago at I got the oil & filter changed at that time.
As we are having out wettest June in 10 yrs or something, with more rain to come, I went and bought a paddock stand on the week end and pulled off the seat & tank and have taken out the air filter and plugs.
I assume they are both original and need replacing – the filter looks fine, but being a Honda stamped part I will assume it’s the original and the plug are fairly black.

My query on the filter is – does anyone have recommendations on where the best place to get one is and brand – does it make any difference?
The cheapest on line all seem to be from the UK and I assume to ship ok to Adelaide, Australia. Also is the air filter the same for all years (ie 97 & 03)?
Also are the K&N washable filters worthwhile – do they really provide noticeable performance increase or is it just more maintenance and does the bike run hotter in traffic?

Also after opinion on plugs – brand / type / supply – or just stick with whatever the Honda shop down the road recommends?
thanks for any advice - Burner

[MacV2]

For plugs get Iridium ones to the right spec. NKG but cant remember the number.....

Air fillters aftermarket ones like Hiflo work well, you dont need genuine Honda ones really.

K&N ect may need re jetting so unless your running aftermarket pipes as well & have a nice dyno shop in range don't bother.

Oh & G'day.....

Mac

[Burner]

G'day Mac,
the ones I pulled out are NKG DPR9EIX-9 Iridium ones - so put the same back I guess.
I've seen special hotter spark ones adveristed - but being the bike is in excellent condition and runs well as it is, I didnt want to stuff something up.

The bike does have aftermarket pipes, Low Staintunes - the only modification on it - with the original pipes mounted on the garage wall.
The honda shop 3km down the road can do a dyno tune - havent asked them the cost yet.
I was going to get them to do the Syncro on the carbies as thats probably out of my league.

I've seen Hi Flo standard filters advertised on line from a store in the UK at about 1/2 what they cost in Australia, so might just go with that.
Wasnt sure if it was worth paying 3 times as much for K&N - doesnt sound like it.

cheers, Burner

[agentpineapple]

i'm told the bmc road filter(not race) is a good compromise between more airflow without the need for rejetting. a k&n works well but only if you have your bike dyno'd to maximise the benefit....
thats a good looking bike ya flaming galah................

[Burner]

cheers guys for the advice.
Took all the parts to Honda World - they told me to put them all back, good for another 6,000km or more (which is a year or 2 for me).
They recon I'm the first customer with a second hand bike they have sent away - going to take it in see if they can find something else to fix on it (check break fluid age etc),
but looks like I'll just have to be content riding for now and spend my $'s on fuel & coffee.
catch ya later!