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K&N Helps Santa Make His Yearly Trip Around the Globe

Santa and elf on track at orange show speedway

Santa and his #1 elf were out at Orange Show Speedway getting their new vehicles prepared

Christmas is a magical time of year. Carolers are singing, snow is falling, children are making their lists, and tires are being destroyed by Santa. Well, that last part may not always be totally true, but over here at K&N, Santa is excited for the big day this year and is showing it by making tire smoke clouds and giving the gift of horsepower.

Many people don’t know this, but Formula Drift driver Dylan Hughes moonlights as jolly old St. Nick once a year. This year though, he decided to give the reindeer a rest and deliver the toys to all the good girls and boys with his Mustang. K&N caught up with Dylan during his test run in the Mustang to see what he had to say. “It’s an honor to be able to come out and push my comfort zone with an entirely new chassis. Thanks to K&N the car ran flawlessly all day, many tires were burned and many smiles were made.”

Santa posing with his 2017 Ford Mustang 5.0L at Orange show speedway

After a successful shakedown session, jolly old St. Nick was ready for his round the world adventure

Santa even brought out one of his elves. K&N Account Manager and legendary bike builder, Nick O’Kane, gets his 2002 Suzuki TL1000R warmed up as this year, he is going to accompany Dylan on his worldwide adventure. After a quick shakedown of the car and bike, Dylan and Nick laid down some “Ho Ho Hos” and then made their way up north to pick up the presents from the North Pole for global distribution.

One of Santa's elves doing a burnout on his 2002 Suzuki TL1000R at Orange Show Speedway

Even Santa's elf got in on the action and warmed up the tires on his 2002 Suzuki TL1000R

Thanks to the K&N 69-3535TP cold air intake system on the 5.0L, Dylan’s Mustang makes an estimated almost 20 HP over stock. His allergies are also kept in check thanks to a K&N VF2053 cabin air filter, and his engine is fed a constant supply of clean oil courtesy of a K&N HP-2011 oil filter.

This Christmas, if you want to breathe some new life and added performance into your vehicle, use the K&N search by vehicle tool to find just the right products for your wish list. Thanks to K&N’s five decades of experience and research, you can be sure that your engine will be protected from dirt, dust, and other particles. And all K&N replacement air filters and intake systems come with a 10-Year/Million Mile Limited Warranty, so you can be sure your investment in filtration will last for many winters to come!

Rear tire of 2002 Suzuki TL1000R after burnout session

After this shakedown session, it is apparent that the Suzuki will need some new rubber on the rear

Santa drifting his 2017 Ford Mustang around Christmas tree at Orange Show Speedway

K&N has all of your performance induction filtration needs covered for this Christmas

Santa drifting at orange show speedway in 2017 Ford Mustang 5.0L

K&N was on hand to capture Santa getting sideways in his 2017 Ford Mustang 5.0L

Santa drifting his 2017 Ford Mustang 5.0L at Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino

Santa even practiced delivering K&N cold air intakes under the Christmas tree

High Performance 2009 Pro Street Dyna Wins Mod Harley Class at Minneapolis IMS

Ward Performance custom Dyna at the Minneapolis, Minnesota IMS side view

Rick Ward's custom Dyna has drag bike looks and performance to match

It is not a surprise that the custom 2009 Pro Street Dyna Harley® that won the Modified Harley Class at the Minneapolis stop of the Progressive International Motorcycle Show (IMS) features a massive and powerful V-twin. The force behind the build is Ward Performance. The Minnesota-based company specializes in performance modifications for Harley-Davidson engines.

The Modified Harley Class is one of the competitions sponsored by K&N at each stop of the J&P Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show. It’s fitting that the Mod Harley winner at the Minnesota IMS is a horsepower beast. After all, extracting maximum power from engines is something that K&N has been doing for decades.

Ward Performance custom Dyna at the Minneapolis, Minnesota IMS engine view

Here is what a 161 horsepower Harley engine looks like

The 2009 Pro Street Dyna Harley built by drag engine specialist Rick Ward is a long, dark, and handsome custom that features some of the coolest components in the industry. Let’s work from the ground up on this custom speedster.

The Ward Performance custom rolls on carbon fiber wheels designed and built by BST. The front wheel is controlled by trick inverted forks clamped in a custom triple tree.

Out back, the aluminum swing arm is stretched 6 inches for a drag bike stance. JRI drag shocks keep the 190 width Michelin planted in the rear. The drag bike theme is continued with the rear-set foot controls.

Enough waiting – let’s look at that engine. The Ward Performance 124 CI engine breathes through a forward-sweeping intake featuring a K&N conical high-performance filter. The big twin's cylinder heads have been ported using Ward's highly tested and refined process and other internal performance mods abound. Spent gas duties are handled by a beautiful hand built custom stainless exhaust.

Ward Performance custom Dyna at the Minneapolis, Minnesota IMS wheel and swing arm

A 6-inch stretch on the aluminum swing arm leads to carbon fiber wheel

So what does a V-twin built by a full-on performance company deliver? Ward claims the big jugs pump out an incredible 161 horsepower.

The paint and bodywork is appropriately sinister and subtle. Blacks and reds combine to unify the all-business motif of the street burner. The project is capped with minimal instrumentation and low-rise drag bars.

K&N is happy that a pure performance machine rolled away with the Mod Harley class in Minnesota.

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Can-Am Maverick X3 Turbo Gets Even More Power From the 63-1141 AirCharger Intake

K&N 63-1141 intake for the Can-Am Maverick X3 Turbo side view

The 63-1141 intake reduces airflow restriction with its smooth intake tube bends

In their test and review, Four Wheeler Network called the Can-Am Maverick X3 Turbo, “…a four-wheel-drive off-road machine that will never disappoint in bringing an immediate smile to the driver.” K&N can add even more smiles to that great side-by-side with the power-packed K&N 63-1141 AirCharger intake.

No one does powersports intakes like K&N. Our engineers are the industry leaders in developing intakes that provide the ultimate in power-boosting airflow to UTVs. Importantly, K&N provides this power while still delivering top-notch engine protection.

The 63-1141 AirCharger replaces the restrictive stock unit with an intake that is designed to straighten and smooth the airflow to the fuel injection system. Of course, it also uses legendary K&N filter technology that has proven to be the ultimate free-flowing air cleaner system for over four decades.

K&N 63-1141 intake for the Can-Am Maverick X3 Turbo air box view

The air box on the 63-1141 intake is fully sealed to eliminate heat and dirt

K&N’s in-house testing showed an estimated increase of over 7 horsepower when the 63-1141 was installed in an otherwise stock 2017 Can-Am Maverick X3 Turbo. It is also important to note that the K&N dynamometer chart shows a horsepower increase across the speed spectrum for the ultimate in usable power. Simply put, K&N guarantees you will get more power from your X3 Turbo with the 63-1141 – period.

The impressive power that the 63-1141 AirCharger can provide does not come at the expense of engine protection. The K&N intake for the Maverick X3 Turbo is built with free-flowing aluminum intake tubes and a fully sealed air box design. That design separates the air filter from the heat and dirt that will rob power and reduce engine life.

The K&N oil-impregnated, cotton gauze filter element is specifically designed to stand up to the extreme duty for which the Can-Am Maverick X3 Turbo is designed. Off-road racers and enthusiasts have trusted K&N filters for decades, and the 63-1141 includes the full evolution of that technology. There are also optional pre-filters available for the intake. The 25-5167 extreme duty pre-cleaner wrap or RU-5064DK Drycharger can be used for even more protection.

K&N 63-1141 intake for the Can-Am Maverick X3 Turbo intake and box

The intake comes ready to install out of the box.

Installation of the 63-1141 AirCharger is a straightforward process that can usually be finished in about an hour and a half. Periodic cleaning of the filter unit is made easy with a recharge kit like the 99-5050.

Applications:

2017 CAN-AM MAVERICK X3 TURBO 900 - All Models

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K&N Performer Award at the New York IMS Goes to 2011 Harley® Fatboy Custom

Harley-Davidson Fatboy New York IMS K&N Award winner side view

From the tall front wheel to the sweeping bags, 'The Mistress' is an eye-catcher

Each staging of the Progressive International Motorcycle Show (IMS) features an impressive slate of awards given out at the J&P Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show. K&N sponsors three of the most exciting categories – Modified Harley, Modified Retro, and the K&N Performer award.

A seductive Harley Bagger aptly named ‘The Mistress’ rolled away with the K&N Performer Award at the second stop of the IMS in New York, New York. The custom Fatboy was built by Cycles at 117, a full-service shop based in Keyport, New Jersey, for owner Brian Perhacs. As the winner of the K&N prize, Perhacs walked away with a trophy, and also $750 worth of the finest intake and filtration products in the world.

Harley-Davidson Fatboy New York IMS K&N Award winner front view

The Harley bagger is tall in the front and low in the back

Now let’s take a look at that salacious bagger. The Mistress is crafted around a fully built 107-inch S&S engine. Of course, there is a K&N filter in that S&S intake. The V-twin is blacked out except for polished cooling fin ends on the big jugs. The exhaust is equally positioned on the dark side with its matte black finish and subtly artful header bends.

Up front, Cycles at 117 made room for a massive 26-inch wheel that features the same black motif as the engine with polished aluminum detailing. The custom front fender is finished on the bottom like a Roman soldier’s helmet. Impressively high ape-hanger handlebars rise above a cool, sculpted headlight feature that holds much of the instrumentation.

Out back, a Bad Dad Competition bagger rear end adds dramatic length to the already massive build. On top of the sculpted rear fender is a compact passenger seat. The driver pillion is set extra low, making for a dramatic reach up to the towering grips.

Harley-Davidson Fatboy New York IMS K&N Award winner side view

The blacked out S&S V-twin is the centerpiece of the K&N Award winner

That leads us to that stunning paint. Rick’s Superpaint applied a coating that is truly deep and eye-catching. The fenders, tank, bags, headlight shroud, and other bits and pieces are detailed in a combination of flames and geometric shapes that are featured in various shades of blue, accented with black. That variety of images and colors, while seemingly disparate, works together perfectly.

So, so far, that makes a naked Harley Shovel at the Long Beach IMS and a massive bagger in New York that have walked away with the K&N Performer award. Stay tuned to see what customs garner the K&N spotlight and the next stops of the Progressive International Motorcycle Show.

The remaining stops of the IMS:

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Cleveland, Ohio

Dallas, Texas

Chicago, Illinois

Washington D.C.

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The Moto Collective Honda CL350 Wins the K&N Performer Award at Minneapolis IMS

The Moto Collective CL350 K&N Performer Award Winner in Minneapolis side view

Classic lines and cafe racer modifications define this labor of love

No matter what you call them - community motorcycle shops, DIY facilities, or moto co-ops – they represent an exciting trend in the motorcycling community. The Moto Collective of Minneapolis, Minnesota, focused a bright spotlight on the movement with a big win at the Minneapolis stop of the Progressive International Motorcycle Show (IMS).

‘Sage,’ a classic cool 1972 Honda CL350 custom, built by Chris Rotondo and Breanne Allen of the Moto Collective, rolled away with the K&N Performer Award at the Minneapolis J&P Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show. K&N sponsors the category, and two other classes, at each stop of the IMS. As you will see, the CL350 custom has a special significance to the builders.

The Moto Collective CL350 K&N Performer Award Winner in Minneapolis rear view

The custom headers and silencers complete the Honda build

“It completely embodies my love for the outdoors and the adventures it will take me on,” said Allen of the CL350. “After restoration, I was proposed to by my partner of five years.”

That partner of five years happens to be Chris Rotondo, the other creative force behind Sage. Yes, the two are partners in moto craftsmanship and in life.

The CL350 clearly retains its classic Honda looks. However, many of the parts are custom made. The familiar early-70s tank wears a great two-tone paint job and custom Honda badges. That tank is followed by a custom seat that has an earth tones motif. There is even a short, wooden rear fender to keep the organic theme flowing.

The Moto Collective CL350 K&N Performer Award Winner in Minneapolis seat view

Earth tones and a Southwestern look were integrated into the custom seat

The 350cc parallel twin engine breathes through a pair of carbs wearing screened velocity stacks. We know that when Allen starts her adventures, those stacks will be replaced with high flow K&N pods. The frame triangle behind the intake is uncluttered and open.

One of the most intriguing parts of the build is the custom exhaust. The twin headers are heat-wrapped for an old-school performance look. The silencing duties are handled by ultra-cool copper-hued twin canisters.

Sage rolls on adventure bike rubber spooned onto black anodized, spoked rims. The forks and rear springs are conventional and period-correct.

The shift linkage that leads to the extreme rear-set pegs are pure café racer. Up front, the café style is completed with low clip-on bars and minimalist lighting and instrumentation.

K&N congratulates Chris Rotondo and Breanne Allen on a fantastic build and their approaching marriage.

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