GS500 Air Filter Replacement or Cleaning

Cleaning the air filter can help prolong the life of the engine in your motorcycle. This post document replacing the air filter on a 2007 Suzuki GS500F. The same procedure applies for cleaning. Suzuki recommends cleaning the air filter every 2,000 miles and replacing it every 7,500 miles or two years. The gas tank needs to be removed to change or clean the air filter.



The tools I used:

• flathead screwdriver
• Philips screwdriver
• 12mm socket and ratchet 
• pliers
• A small piece of 2”x4” wood to prop up the rear of the tank
• rag to catch any drips of gas
• HFA3503 Air Filter or K&N SU-5589 Air Filter
• includes affiliate links to support the blog

1) Put the motorcycle on the center stand to make it more stable.


2) Remove the seat. Turn the key while lifting up on the rear of the seat.



Seat removed:


3) Ensure the fuel petcock is turned on and the fuel cover on the tank is secure. The fuel tap is under the tank, and will be turned off in step 6.


4) Use the 12mm socket and ratchet to remove the two bolts, each one securing either side of the tank.


5) Gently lift up on the rear of the tank and slip a piece of wood to support it.


6) From the right side of the bike looking towards the left, the fuel tap is visible under the tank.



Use a flatbladed screw driver to turn the fuel tap from on (vertical) to off (horizontal)


7) Using the pliers, loosen the two hose clamps and remove the fuel hoses from the fuel tap. Make a note of which hose goes where. I used a zip tie to mark one side.


Have a rag handy to catch the couple drips of gas that will be in the hoses.


8) Remove the water drain hose


All three hoses removed:


9) Now that the tank is free of the hoses, lift up on the rear of the tank and pull towards the back of the bike slightly. The tank should come free easily. Place in a safe place.


10) The air filter is held by four Philips screws. Use the Philips screwdriver to remove them.


Note the two clips also held the the bottom two screws:


11) Remove the air filter


12) If cleaning use compressed air to blow it clean. This one is a bit dirty.


13) The Old (left) and New (right)


14) Install the new filter and replace the four screws. Remember the two cable clips on the bottom.


15) Reinstall the gas tank and reconnect the three hoses.
16) Remember to turn the fuel tap back to the on or vertical position.
17) There is no specified torque for the two rear 12mm bolts.
18) Go for a ride!

Other GS500 Guides/Howtos:

• GS500 Front Tire Replacement
• GS500 Handlebar Replacement
• GS500 Gas Tank Removal
• GS500 Oil Change 
• GS500 Rear Tire Replacement 
• GS500 Spark Plug Replacement 

Written by Chrisluhman for Everyday Riding. All rights reserved.

2001 BMW R1150GS Air Filter Replacement

This post documents replacing the stock BMW air filter with a K&N BM-0400 on my 2001 BMW R1150GS. The process is the same for the stock filter. The K&N filter costs slightly more ($40 vs $25) than the stock, but is washable and reusable. It should be the last air filter I buy for this bike.

Other users claim more power from the K&N vs the stock. I didn’t have enough time to ride the bike before I changed the filter, so I can’t comment on that.

This job should take less than fifteen minutes.

Tools I used:

• torque wrench
• 3/8” socket wrench
• 6mm allen key socket (for use with torque wrench)
• 13mm wrench
• Philips screwdriver with PH2 head
• K&N BM-0400 Air Filter
• includes affiliate links to support the blog

The K&N BM-0400 Air Filter

1) Remove the seats and right sidecover.

2) Use the 6mm allen key socket and the 13mm wrench to remove the bolt and nut holding the gas tank on. The nut on the back falls off easily, so be ready to grab it with your finger.

3) I put the bolt and nut back on, so I didn’t lose it while finishing the project.

4) A small plastic cup or peanut butter jar works great to hold the gas tank up without removing it.

5) This is the airbox

6) push the clip in on the left side of the sensor and pull up slowly to remove it

7) This one just pulls off.

7) using the Philips screwdriver with PH2 head remove the two screws holding the airbox cover on.

8) Tilt the cover up and pull towards the back of the bike to remove.

9) Remove the filter from the airbox. The stock BMW air filter is pictured below. Mine is quite dirty and looks to have been chewed up by a critter. 

This was the condition of the air filter when I bought the bike used. Not good.

K&N filter on the left and the stock filter on the right. The K&N is smaller, but the gasket on the bottom fits over the hole in the airbox just right.

10) Vacuum any junk in the bottom of the airbox

11) Install the new air filter

12) Reinstall the air box cover. Notice the two small tabs on the back of the cover. They fit into the slots on the rear top of the airbox. Set them first.

13) Reinstall the two screws and confirm the airbox cover is sealed correctly by gently tugging on the rear and sides. It should not move.

14) Reinstall the sensors from step 6 and 7.

15) Remove the fuel tank holder and tighten the nut and bolt.

I found it easiest to hold the nut with my finger and tighten with the wrench.

16) Torque the fuel tank bolt to 22 N-m

17) Go for a ride!