Most people don’t know the difference between a Pod Filter Vs Airbox, and they don’t know which is better for their needs. Airbox and Pod filters are both great options for your bike, but they have their own pros and cons.
The best way to find out which one is right for you is to compare the two side by side. As you can see, both options offer great benefits for your bike.
The choice comes down to personal preference and what you think will work best with your bike. Read the two side-by-side comparisons below to learn about the similarities and differences between airbox and pod filters.
What is a Pod Filter?
Pod filters are air intakes that fit in the exhaust port of your bike. They come in many different designs to fit on any motorcycle with ease.
The design of pod filters makes them very efficient because they don’t affect how your current setup runs or performs. You can put it on with no hassles, and it will give you a little bump in horsepower.
What is an Airbox?
An airbox is a good option if you want your bike to be street legal but still want the benefits of an aftermarket air filter. Just like a pod filter, an airbox will fit right in with no hassles, and it won’t affect how your bike is currently running or performing.
An airbox has the same design as a pod filter, but it actually fits inside of your stock airbox instead of being mounted on top of it. This makes them a good choice if you want to keep the stock appearance of your bike.
The Difference between an Pod Filter Vs Airbox
Now that you know the general difference between an airbox and a pod filter, it’s time to look at some of their specific differences.
Here are some of the main differences between an airbox and a pod filter.
Appearance: An airbox will change the appearance of your bike because it fits inside of your stock airbox. Pod filters sit on top of your exhaust port and don’t cause any changes to how your current setup looks or runs.
Effect on Performance: Pod filters will give you a little more horsepower, but this comes from how it’s mounted on top of your exhaust port instead of around it like an aftermarket or factory airbox.
Air Filter Material: Airboxes offer you different options for what type of air filter you can use, but pod filters only offer one type.
Cleanliness of the Air Filter: Since an airbox sits inside of your stock air box, it will keep your air cleaner than a pod filter.
Engine Protection: Both airboxes and pod filters offer great engine protection, but an airbox will give you just a little bit more than a pod filter.
Durability: Pod filters are more durable than aftermarket or factory airboxes because they’re not made of any plastic.
Size: Pod filters are much smaller than airboxes, mostly because an airbox sits inside of your stock box instead of on top like a pod filter.
Maintenance: Pod filters are easier to maintain because you have to clean or replace the actual air filter instead of cleaning out the whole unit. This makes them great for people who want to take care of their filters quickly and effortlessly.
How it fits with your bike: Airboxes and pod filters fit every make and model of a motorcycle with ease, but airboxes require you to change out your stock airbox.
Price: Pod filters are less expensive than both stock and aftermarket airboxes, but this is primarily due to the fact that they don’t fit inside of your stock airbox.
The Benefits of Each Type of Filter
Now that you know what an airbox and a pod filter are and how they’re different, it’s time to look at the benefits of each type of filter.
Pod filters: Pod filters give your bike more horsepower by fitting into your exhaust port instead of around it like an aftermarket or factory airbox. They don’t affect how your bike runs or looks, so you can put them on without any hassles.
Pod filters are also very easy to maintain because you have to clean the actual air filter instead of cleaning out the whole unit after it gets dirty.
The downside of pod filters is that they’re not street legal, which means you’ll need to remove them before you go for a ride. If you want to keep the same appearance as your stock airbox, then an airbox is a good option.
Airboxes: The main benefit of an aftermarket or factory airbox is that it will fit right in with no hassles and not affect how your bike currently runs or looks.
These kinds of airboxes are also easy to maintain because you’ll only have to clean the actual air filter instead of getting rid of all the dirt and grime that gets built up in your airbox.
The downside with airboxes is that they don’t fit every make and model of motorcycle, so if you can’t find one for your bike, you’ll have to look at all of your other options.
How to Select Between an Airbox and a Pod Filter
As you are now aware of the differences between an airbox and a pod filter, you must decide which is best suited to your needs.
If you’re looking for more horsepower: Get a pod filter.
If you want something that looks stock: Get either a stock airbox or an aftermarket one.
If you want something easy to maintain: Get a pod filter.
If you want something that will keep your air cleaner than a pod filter: Get an airbox.
If you want something that will fit with your bike: Get an airbox.
If you want to go street legal with your pod filter: Get an airbox
The bottom line with both types of filters is to choose what’s best for you in terms of how it looks, how easy it is to maintain, and whether or not you need more horsepower.
Once you know the benefits of each, you’ll be able to make a great choice.
Final Words
The bottom line is that both airboxes and pod filters have their own unique benefits, so it’s important to select the one that will work best for your needs.
Knowing what each type of filter offers makes it much easier to decide which one is right for you. We hope this article has helped clear up some of the confusion about Pod Filter Vs Airbox and given you the information you need to make an informed decision.