2008+ Optional Air Filter Cage ???

Hey
I was reading through "Dirt Rider" Magazine, May 2009.
You may be able to check the article on line in back issue's.

They did a 450 shoot out and the 2009 TE450 was one of the bikes in the test.

They said;
"The optional Air Filter Cage is a must for stronger power".

And then went on about how the stock one is a solid plastic thing that only lets air in at right angles making it hard for the bike to breath.

What is the Optional Air filter cage?
And who sells it?

They also said that they found that the Optional Arrow Muffler made more nosie! than power! so they put the stock one back on and just pulled out the Cat.
I just dont know what to say about this part but it refrenced the Optional Cage and Optional Muffler so that's what makes me think they wernt taking Acid while doing the test.

I know Scott Summers heat tapes his pipe near the air box which make's sense to me.
But I dont think that he even knows of this "Optional Air Filter Cage"
or may be he does! and that he replaced his just before winning the GNCC becasue it just made more noise than power,
so he put the solid plastic right angle stock one back on???

DUHHHH

I ride a 2008 TE450

Is it only the 2009 that has the restricted cage then?

Thanks

Here's the one that comes as standard on the 09 TE450:
View attachment 2248

The air can only pass through the small gap that's facing the camera on the right, then it goes around the semicircular channel to a similar sized hole through the back plate which is underneath the left end of the channel, as you can seen here towards the bottom left when viewed from the other side:
View attachment 2249

It's a wonder anything gets through at all! The power-up kit which comes included with the bike (at least here in the UK) includes a replacement cage which has almost no obstruction to airflow at all - it's basically just four very thin strips of plastic which are shaped so the filter fits around them. The airflow must be so much better with that one in.

Powering up usually includes a few other things such as removing the throttle restrictor, the cat and the O2 sensor, but everything you need is supplied with the bike in the kit. I haven't tried the Arrow muffler and Husky Sport didn't suggest it so I'd guess there maybe isn't much to be gained - but the standard one seems ok to me once the cat's out of the bag. The bike certainly runs well.

I don't know whether the 2008 model was the same as my 09 but it would at the least it would be easy to pop your filter out and have a look at the cage to see which type you have. If it's the one in the pictures I'd do something about it ASAP!