Air Filter (Angled Boot Pod)

Angled Boot Pod Air Filters | Honda CB350 / CB360 / CB450 / CB500T

Your vintage Honda is missing its airbox — or what's left of it is cracked, incomplete, and not worth saving. Replacement airbox components are expensive when you can find them at all, and standard straight-mount pod filters don't fit under the side covers or battery box. These angled boot pod filters solve both problems — they fit under the factory side covers and battery box, and the angled boot design directs airflow into the carburetor the same way the original airbox does.

Why You Need This

Standard pod filters bolt straight onto the carb intake and blast air directly at the slide. On CV (constant velocity) carburetors — which every CB350, CB360, CB450, and CB500T uses from the factory — the slide is vacuum-operated, and it needs a smooth, directed airflow path to lift properly. Straight pods disrupt that airflow, which is why so many people say "pod filters don't work on these bikes."

The angled boot on these filters acts like a velocity stack — the same way the factory rubber boots in the OEM airbox direct air into the carb throat. The boot creates a smooth transition that lets the CV slide actuate the way Honda designed it to. As we put it: "It's really about how the air flows into the carburetor versus the filter material type."

These are CMC's own design. We've been running the prototype on our shop CB360 for years, and they're standard equipment on the bikes we build. Sold as a pair with mounting clamps. Washable and reusable — air dry only, do not oil.

Specifications

Note: You will need to re-jet your carburetors after installing pod filters. The change in airflow requires larger main jets to maintain a proper air/fuel ratio. We sell main jet tuning kits for the CB350, CB360, and CB450/CB500T.

Model-Specific Notes

• CB350 / CL350 / SL350: Filters fit all K-series years. Main jet stock is 110 — you'll likely need to go up with the 350 main jet tuning kit.
• CB360 / CL360 / CJ360: Stock main jet is 100. The 360 main jet tuning kit includes sizes from 100 to 120 in increments of 2.5.
• CB450 / CL450 / CB500T: Larger displacement means more airflow change. The 450/500T main jet tuning kit covers the full range.
• SL350: Fits K0 only (1969–1970). Later SL350 models may have different carburetor intake geometry.

Installation

Difficulty: Beginner

Tools needed: Flathead screwdriver or 7mm socket (for clamps)

1. Remove the factory airbox and any remaining airbox hardware. Disconnect the crankcase breather hose from the airbox — you can route it downward or cap it.
2. Push each filter onto the carburetor intake as far as it will go. The angled boot should point downward and slightly rearward.
3. Tighten the mounting clamp just enough to hold the filter in place. Do NOT over-tighten — too much clamping force will cause the filter to pop off the carburetor intake.
4. Rotate and angle each filter to clear the battery box and side covers. Every bike setup is slightly different — experiment with the orientation until the side covers close cleanly.
5. Without the factory airbox supporting the carburetors, the carbs now hang from the intake manifolds with no rear support. We recommend running a piece of wire over the frame, attached to the front of each carburetor, as a hanger to support the weight and reduce stress on the manifolds.
6. Re-jet the carburetors with the appropriate main jet tuning kit before riding. The increased airflow from pod filters will cause a lean condition on the stock jetting.

The filters are washable. Rinse with water, air dry completely, and reinstall. Do not oil these filters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do pod filters actually work on CV carburetors?

Yes — when they have the right airflow path. Standard straight-mount pods blast air directly at the vacuum-operated slide, which disrupts the CV mechanism. The angled boot on these filters creates a smooth airflow transition into the carb throat — the same way the factory airbox boots do. That's what lets the slide actuate properly. We've been running them on our shop bikes for years.

Do I need to re-jet the carbs?

Yes. Pod filters flow more air than the stock airbox, which leans out the air/fuel mixture. You'll need to go up on the main jet size. We sell tuning kits for the CB350, CB360, and CB450/CB500T that include a range of jet sizes so you can dial it in.

Will these fit under the factory side covers?

Yes — that's the whole point of the angled boot design. You can rotate and angle the filters to clear the side covers and battery box. Every setup is slightly different, so you may need to experiment with the orientation, but they're designed to fit with the factory bodywork in place.

How often do I clean them?

Clean them when they're visibly dirty or every few thousand miles. Rinse with water, let them air dry completely, and reinstall. Do not use oil on these filters.

Can I run these without the factory battery box?

Yes. The filters are even easier to fit without the battery box since there's more clearance. If you've relocated the battery to a smaller unit elsewhere on the frame, these will fit with no issues.

You Might Also Need

• Main Jet Tuning Kit — CB350 — re-jet kit for CB350, CL350, SL350 K0 carburetors
• Main Jet Tuning Kit — CB360 — re-jet kit for CB360, CL360, CJ360 carburetors
• Main Jet Tuning Kit — CB450/CB500T — re-jet kit for CB450, CL450, CB500T carburetors
• Intake Manifold — CB350 — rubber carb-to-head boots (sold individually)
• Intake Manifold — CB360 — rubber carb-to-head boots (sold individually)
• Intake Manifold — CB450/CB500T — rubber carb-to-head boots (sold individually)
• Intake Manifold Clamps — replace the original band clamps that lose tension over time

Last updated: March 2026