If you’ve already upgraded the exhaust on your Harley-Davidson, one of the next upgrades to consider is a performance air intake.
Your engine is essentially an air pump. The easier it can bring air in and move exhaust out, the better foundation you have for making power. That’s why upgrading the intake and exhaust often go hand in hand.
In the second part of our Harley-Davidson Performance Upgrades series, we’re breaking down what a performance air intake does, why it matters, and how to choose the right setup for your bike.
Why Upgrade Your Air Intake?
Your factory air cleaner is designed to work well on a stock motorcycle while meeting a wide range of requirements.
But once you start looking for more performance — especially after adding an aftermarket exhaust, cam, or other engine upgrades — improving airflow into the engine becomes increasingly important.
A performance air cleaner is designed to reduce intake restriction and allow the engine to breathe more freely.
It may seem like a simple upgrade, but it can become an important part of a complete performance combination.
Better Airflow
Performance starts with airflow.
A properly designed high-flow air cleaner can reduce intake restriction and increase airflow compared with the factory setup. When paired with the proper fueling and calibration, increased airflow can help support improved performance and allow the engine to take better advantage of other performance upgrades.
Think about the entire system:
Air comes in → fuel is added → combustion happens → exhaust goes out.
Improving only one part of that process can leave another part holding the bike back.
That’s why we look at the intake, exhaust and tuning as parts of the same system rather than completely separate upgrades.
Improved Throttle Response & Performance
- An air cleaner alone isn't going to completely transform your motorcycle, and we aren't going to tell you it will.
Where a performance intake really starts to make sense is as part of the overall combination.
Pair it with a quality exhaust system and the proper calibration for your combination, and you’re giving the engine the airflow and fueling it needs to take advantage of those upgrades.
Depending on the bike and its other modifications, riders may notice improvements in:
- Throttle response
- Airflow
- Power delivery
- Overall rideability
- Performance potential for future upgrades
And if you're planning a cam upgrade down the road, having a quality intake and exhaust already installed gives you a better foundation to build from.
Not Every Air Cleaner Is the Same
Just like exhaust systems, there isn't one air cleaner that's right for every Harley-Davidson or every rider.
Some riders want maximum airflow and performance. Others want something that provides better leg clearance. And for plenty of riders, how the air cleaner looks on the side of the bike matters too.
At Speed's Performance Plus, we work with proven performance brands including:
- S&S Cycle
- Arlen Ness
- Trask Performance
- Khrome Werks
- Feuling Parts
- HPi
These manufacturers offer everything from traditional high-flow air cleaner designs to performance-focused intake systems built for modified Milwaukee-Eight and Twin Cam engines.
The important part is choosing an intake that fits your motorcycle and your overall performance goals.
Intake + Exhaust + Tune: Where It Comes Together
This is where we see riders get the most out of their upgrades.
Opening up the intake can reduce restriction and allow the engine to breathe better.
A properly selected exhaust helps move spent gases out of the engine efficiently.
Proper tuning allows the fuel and ignition calibration to be optimized for the combination you've built.
We don't just sell performance parts. We work with these combinations every day and tune motorcycles on our mobile Dynojet 250i dyno.
That real-world experience matters because the most expensive parts don't automatically create the best-performing motorcycle.
The right combination does.
Building Toward More Power?
If an intake and exhaust are the beginning of your performance build, a cam upgrade is often where riders start taking the next step.
That's also where choosing the right supporting components becomes even more important.
Air cleaner, exhaust, camshaft, fuel management and tuning all need to work together if you want to get the most out of your Harley-Davidson.
Whether you're building a strong everyday street bike or looking for considerably more performance, we can help you choose parts that make sense together instead of simply throwing parts at the bike.
Find the Right Air Intake for Your Harley
At Speed's Performance Plus, we carry performance air and fuel components from some of the industry's most trusted manufacturers.
Whether you ride a Street Glide, Road Glide, Road King, Ultra, Low Rider ST or another Harley-Davidson platform, we can help you find the right intake for your bike and your performance goals.
Shop Fuel & Air Systems at: www.speedsperformanceplus.com
Already have an exhaust and intake and wondering what's next?
That's where things start getting fun.
Up Next: Harley-Davidson Tuning
You’ve upgraded the exhaust and improved airflow. Now it’s time to bring it all together.
We’ll break down Harley-Davidson tuning, why it matters and how proper tuning completes your Stage 1 performance setup.