Water near the intake? Riding in wet weather

[jsngrimm]

My '87 K100RS is currently naked, and after a short ride where I got rained on tonight I noticed a bit of water dripping from the end of the intake snorkel (the oval snorkel tube coming up from the airbox to the side of the radiator). I would assume there is some kind of drain hole in the airbox or the lowest point of the snorkel to prevent any rain that gets in from getting to the engine, but if not should I make one? I do plan on making a screen that goes over the end from the same kind of thing that protects the radiator to prevent bugs (at least of any decent size) from getting sucked in there, riding in the Ohio valley on a warm evening you might as well skip dinner because you'll be filling up on insects  :hehehe

[Laitch]

. . . after a short ride where I got rained on tonight I noticed a bit of water dripping from the end of the snorkel . . . I do plan on making a screen that goes over the end from the same kind of thing that protects the radiator to prevent bugs . . .   

Action starts when water is flowing from the forward end of the snorkel like a fire hose. :giggles Water generally ends up as vapor. Using the same size mesh for the intake end of the snorkel as the stock radiator shroud uses is worthwhile to keep mice from making nests on the floor of the air box.

I don't worry about any of this stuff.  The air filter and box are large enough to handle incoming insects, desiccated mouse bones, gravel and sand while still delivering performance. Oversize debris drops to the floor of the box. On a naked bike, it takes all of five minutes to remove, clean off and replace the filter. Cleaning the floor of the air box is more involved; if you don't let guests look in there, you avoid it.  :yes

Enjoy the ride.

[Scott_]

I wouldn't worry about the rain water. The snorkel to box fitting is not a water tight joint anyway, and the fact that the air box sets right on top of the engine the water will eventually evaporate away from the engine heat.

+1 on the screen over the end to keep critters larger than bugs out...A bit of steel wool in the end of the exhaust pipe keeps them out during winter layup as well...
I've had mice store dog food pieces in a truck tail pipe once.