Airbox door off, is it safe?

I love my bike and want it to last. It also runs really good with the airbox door off. I've run other bikes with pods and none of my dirt bikes have ever had their lid on. Is there a reason people are a little afraid to run with the door off?
Also I set my fmf programmer to the HF settings. Pulls real good and smooth on the bottom end but backfires when I back off after a WOT pull. The way the dealership set it, it never backfired but it was jerky at low rpms and weak in the mid range. Would also hesitate if thrown wide open. Now it responds cleanly. Except that backfiring... is it dangerous?

air box door off is fine

Airbox door being off is fine as long as:

1) you have an efi programmer (which the op does)

2) you don't ride in highly dusty conditions

3) you're not caught having to ride in prolonged, heavy rains

4) you stay out of deep water.....


I got caught in very heavy rain with my airbox door off just last week. It was only for about 5 miles and I checked my airbox as soon as I got home.
It was dry. I do know that another guy had an issue with water in his after a heavy rain ride. He was in the rain for longer than 10 minutes though.

It is something to be mindful of though.

Generally speaking - no, it's not an issue. Plus, it helps the little X to rip.

Two choices ... either dial back your rich settings a little or do an air injection system (AIS) removal. The AIS will cause back firing when you let off the throttle.

so, what happens if you don't have an efi programmer and you take it off?

It will run lean, maybe to the point that extended running time in that configuration could be bad for the motor.

thanks pbnut...... guess i should put it back on until I get the programmer....
what is the best programer, and how much do they cost?

I can't say mine is best but it works great, I have the fmf programer I found it on amazon for $200, easy to instll, I had mine done in about 45 min. If you have a Dyno there is other programers that will allow for alot more fine tune adjustments but you need a computer to plug into to do any adjustments. Just my $.02.

Oh and I run my door off but I have a programmer, and I don't ride in the rain or off road (too much) lol.

Goosed wrote:

I can't say mine is best but it works great, I have the fmf programer I found it on amazon for $200, easy to instll, I had mine done in about 45 min. If you have a Dyno there is other programers that will allow for alot more fine tune adjustments but you need a computer to plug into to do any adjustments. Just my $.02.

Oh and I run my door off but I have a programmer, and I don't ride in the rain or off road (too much) lol.

thanks! can u use the programer with the stock pipe?

Yes right now I am running the stock pipe with the spark arrester out and a home made end in it and the door removed and door removed otherwise the bike is stock. I bought the programmer to get the bogg out and so I don't have to worry about the bike running lean.

Goosed wrote:

Yes right now I am running the stock pipe with the spark arrester out and a home made end in it and the door removed and door removed otherwise the bike is stock. I bought the programmer to get the bogg out and so I don't have to worry about the bike running lean.

Thanks for the info!!

With the air box door off what should I change my pp setting to ? Specifically just one or all of them ?