Chinese air filter

When I was doing my pre-season maintenance three months ago, I checked the air filter and decided that with some cleaning it would be okay.  However, I made a mental note to get a replacement before next summer.  While shopping for something unrelated on AliExpress, a site I've only recently started using, I typed in 'VFR 800 air filter' on a whim and came up with this.  The last time I bought an air filter it was OEM from my local Honda dealer and it was $66.74 CAD.  I figured that for $17.02 CAD (with free shipping), it was worth a gamble.  Most (if not all) the vendors on AliExpress are in China, so the shipping time was up to six weeks, but I wasn't in a hurry.  The filter arrived today, 22 days later.  It looks a lot like the OEM, but (I haven't taken the old one out to compare them yet), it feels lighter and thinner--which probably means less filter material.  I'm the suspicious type, having heard stories about factories in China that make the OEM part, then turn around a few days later and make the non-branded part (which sells for a fraction of the price) on the same equipment, using the same materials.  I don't believe that's the case with this filter, but it's a close knock-off in some respects including the metal screen on the bottom.  I'll make a closer comparison when I change the filter, but since I can get four Chinese filters for the price of one OEM, it begs the question as to whether it's better for the engine to put in a new Chinese filter every season, or run the OEM for two or three.  (Note: The price of the Chinese filter seems to have dropped to $16.74 CAD/$12.59 USD since I ordered three weeks ago.)  In any case, a few photos for your consideration:

[image: Packaging.jpg]

It came well packaged in a shipping bag with foam on all sides.

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Inside the packing, it was sealed in plastic.

[image: Top_1.jpg]

Top view--looks a lot like the OEM.

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Here's the last OEM filter I installed when it was new.

[image: Bottom.jpg]

Bottom of Chinese filter.  Looks similar to the OEM from what I can recall.

Big chance, the oem filter saw daylight in the same Chinese factory.

I don't know. An air filter is as important as an oil filter. Why risk it for $30 savings? 

The OEM filter is made in Japan and meets their specifications for failure rate, air flow, and filtering qualities. Other quality filters like K&N is pretty much near OEM level. I just can't trust Chinese quality and reliability when the price is low. It's low because they compromised on something. Not that they're incapable of building quality stuff but they are known for building low quality stuff to meet a price point that's all.

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Not always is cheaper worse in quality. 

As example: Honda rr costs 250 euro

Shindengen rr costs 125 euro.

So the Homda stamp costs me actually 125 euro, because its exactly the same rr fabrikated  by Shindemgen. 

And nowaday's a lot of Japanese company's have their stuff produced in China, put their stamp on it and sell it as originally Japanese. 

Europese company's have their stuff mass produced in China, import it as half fabrikate, add a little thing and sell it as original European product. 

I held the 26 euro from louis.de next to the oem honda, looks like the same manufacturer.

40 euro difference is a 1 litre bottle of Laphroaig...

10 hours ago, Dutchy

40 euro difference is a 1 litre bottle of Laphroaig...

10 hours ago, Dutchy

40 euro difference is a 1 litre bottle of Laphroaig...

wise man words

See this, we Chinese VFRCHINA rider is deprecated, because we buy in China the only needs 40 RMB（6$） , but his seal, and the size of the installation, it is very informal, and the quality of the paper, also can cause excessive dust filter out, the damage to the engine, so we are  use KN air filter or a British brand, followed by Japan original factory, air filter, filter is very important, we also give the Chinese riders use mobil 1, 10 w40 JASO MA oil, protect our engine, hope my reply to your help, thank you