Pod filters are cool.

They are all shiny and metal and sci-fi and they look a heck of a lot better than the stock plastic air filter, but….

They don’t fit my bike model.

Of course, the box says they do, and in their defense they actually do fit my carbs. 39mm, in fact, is a perfect fit, but what they fail to understand is that even though the filters may fit the carburetors they won’t fit inside the CB550 frame. Well, sort of…

The inside carbs offer easy installation of the pod filters.

But the outside carbs run into two problems.

1. The frame is in the way.

2. On the left side of the bike the choke lever is in the way. It would have to be bent in order to compensate for the filter, but even after that, the frame is still in the way.

What is curious is that I have seen images of CB550s with pod filters installed. I’m stumped again.

Maybe its the brand I bought. I elected to buy the cheapest filters I could find. Emgo.

This can only mean three things:

1. My frame or engine or carbs are from another year.

2. Emgo brand isn’t worth a damm.

3. I’m not trying hard enough.

UPDATE:

Evidently, K&N makes a set of filters that are supposed fit the CB550.

They are shorter than traditional pod filters, more cylindrical than conical. But even these require that some modification to the choke lever be made.

Here is a link to the PDF I grabbed from K&N’s Website.

I wonder if anyone else has run into this problem.