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Dana Wolfe Hood's motorcycle creations are the sum of his diverse background

Hood graduated Cum Laude from the Colorado State University School of Business with a dual concentration in Marketing and Management. Since his schedule was not quite chock-full, he minored in Journalism and Media, Fine Art, and Anthropology.

Hood created his company, DWH Designs, in a valiant attempt to synthesize all of his interests. As he puts it, “art, industrial design, mechanical engineering, and fabrication are the passions that worked, with only music falling to the wayside.” A look through the DWH Designs website will give you some indication of how well that convergence has come to fruition.

K&N caught up with Hood and his fantastic Ducati-based custom at the Artistry in Iron invitational custom bike show at the Las Vegas Bikefest. The build stood out as one of the most unique and visionary creations at the prestigious event. It may have been the K&N filter that is prominently featured on the build that first caught our eye, but the skeletal chassis bookended by massive front and rear suspension elements demand careful study. Every sinew of Hood’s handiwork exudes the builder’s artistic bent.

A unique skeletal frame is bookended by massive suspension components

Dana Wolfe Hood on his Ducati Custom:

I think the bike needs a pretty decent explanation to appreciate it. All of the aspects were well thought out and actually built for a purpose. A lot of people think that it was just built from a design perspective, and it was quite the opposite. Form definitely came after function, though I knew I wanted something low and angry with flowing lines and a knife-like front end.

First off, this bike was built to tear up the streets and be ridden hard. Yes, it is a "show" or concept bike, but I designed the geometry and painted and fabricated it so it could be ridden fast on the road. It has a 2.5-gallon tank, the seat is comfortable (if you are used to dirt bikes), and the controls are simple. The exhaust is actually perfect equal lengths, it has good ground clearance, it has "effective" front and rear fenders from how I designed it, and it has high-performance front and rear suspension.

Dana Wolfe Hood puts his trust in K&N filters

Keep in mind that the frame is lighter than a stock monster frame, the front end is several pounds lighter than an Ohlins front end, and the swingarm is about the same weight as a stock Ducati swingarm, but doubles as a tank. To counteract the effects of increasing the unsprung weight, I decreased the leverage on the shock damper drastically. The sprung weight was reduced and the leverage decreased so much so that a mountain bike shock is used for the front suspension. As an added benefit, the shock location for the front and rear suspension are in the same location so adjustments can be done on the fly or at a quick stop with one hand. It is also beneficial to run the front and rear shocks that I chose (Fox Racing Shox Float) as they can be completely rebuilt in about 5 minutes, without nitrogen, and have infinite adjustability in terms of valving and spring rate via air pressure.

A narrow backbone and low center of gravity make for a very rideable bike

You only need a few inches of suspension travel for street riding anyways and I've tuned the shocks so they have a fairly progressive rate. I further increased the progressiveness of the rear shock mechanically by creating a progressive link. The link pushes the shock from both ends and drastically changes the spring curve on the rear shock. That paired with the ability to change the volumes of the air cans in the shocks allows for infinite spring curve adjustability.

That fuel-carrying swingarm is part of Hood's spung vs. unsprung weight experiment

The motor is actually comprised of about 6 different Ducati motors. The bottom end is from a 2000 M750. It has a bunch of random M800, 750SS, and M600 pieces in there, too. It has M800 cylinders with FBF 88mm high compression pistons. It's all topped off with 2006 M620 heads as they have a better cam and valve timing. The intake is a stainless 1 into 2 with a single custom built Lectron carb and K&N filter feeding the bike. The exhaust is an equal length stainless system I designed.

So as far as the design goes, I suppose I approach motorcycle design from a minimalist's perspective because of a couple things. First, I think that the mechanics of the motor, suspension, and chassis are the most beautiful parts of a vehicle. I dislike when people cover up all of the structural and moving parts. Furthermore, that's just additional, unneeded weight (though if it relates to aerodynamics then that's completely different).

The forks pay tribute to the girder designs that Hood has admired in the past

Finally, I did look at the bike from a design perspective after I knew what I wanted to accomplish. I really always like some of the crazy girders that custom builders like Confederate, Cherry's Company, and Speed Shop Designs created. I knew that I wanted to put the fuel in the swingarm, but needed to balance it out visually with something up front. So that, combined with the need to add some additional front weight and rigidity, led to the visual weight of the front end. Plus, it added balance, repetition, and another surface that I could show off some engraving.

Hood says that the seat is actually quite comfortable

The hardest aspect of the build was actually multiple things. The first was timeline. I originally was building the bike for the AIMExpo show for this year. I randomly reached out to Revival about their Handbuilt show this past April and then they wanted the Ducati to be in their show. At the time, it was just a motor and a couple of bent tubes in a jig. So, I built the bike in 3 months, after work and on weekends. Then after that show, I shifted my attention to my personal bike that I had been building. Of course, I had to reach out to Artistry in Iron, because it was a goal of mine to show in it. Somehow, I was asked to come. So I rebuilt and redesigned the bike in about a month, all after work and on weekends, because it didn't turn out exactly how I wanted at the Austin Handbuilt show. The paint was actually drying on the trip to the show, so no time to buff or polish.

Much work went into the clean bends of the frame trellace

Probably the most difficult thing was the geometry and steering linkage. I designed about 7 different linkages throughout both iterations of the bike. They all worked and were designed around other proven steering linkages in trophy trucks and motorcycles, but they created feedback throughout the suspension travel that I disliked. So, after the Handbuilt Show, I redesigned the entire front end of the motorcycle. That led to the current linkage that is the best, but I'm probably going to beef up the upper linkage even further to reduce flex.

All the metal shaping was insanely difficult, too. All the metal was shaped with heat, a hammer, and a sandbag. All of the tubes were bent with a fairly basic tube bender - no machining – all handmade, literally. I'm saving up for an English Wheel and a JD2 bender, and maybe eventually a Bridgeport.

Finally, I chose K&N because they are the benchmark when it comes to air filters. The Ducati currently has a K&N air filter and a fuel pump with a fuel filter. I've always had good experiences with K&N and they have been installed in almost every vehicle I've ever owned. It doesn't hurt that they're a US company, and supporting US businesses is something I definitely value. 99.9% of the Ducati was made in USA, Germany, or Italy.

A customer in the UK sent us this great photo of a K&N filter in his Screamin' Eagle intake

Fit

Rich, from Wallace, California, hit the nail on the head when he told us that his new HD-0808 filter is a, “perfect fit for the Screamin’ Eagle intake. Great product as always!” Robert of Cape Coral, Florida, said that his E-3226 filter, “fit(s) better than the factory filter. Thanks again.” Obviously K&N’s engineers have done their homework on the replacement filters for the Screamin’ Eagle intakes.

Performance

Not only are the K&N filters a perfect fit for the SE intakes, but they offer up that legendary K&N performance. Dan, from Somerset, Pennsylvania, said his HD-0910 filter provides, “much better air intake and noticeable power when I pulled out of the garage. Well worth the expense, especially since it's lifetime.” Camron of Boone, North Carolina, says his HD-0910 filter, “works great; fits just as (well) as the original filter. Breathes a lot better, and sounds great.”

The tear-drop HD-0808 is a perfect fit for intakes using the Ventilator 29385-08

Richard of Jacksonville, Illinois, said, “These are good, high flow, cleanable air filters.” Dave M. said his new HD-0910 filter, “is so much better than the stock filter and easier to clean, thanks to K&N.” Clearly, both Richard and Dave appreciate the highly effective and fully washable cotton gauze filter media. K&N takes engine protection and ease of cleaning seriously.

Applications

So now that you have heard from actual Harley owners who have installed K&N replacement filters in their Screamin’ Eagle intakes, let’s take a look at the products for your application.

The K&N HD-0900 replacement filter will make your Sportster scream

This oval filter is a direct replacement for the Screamin' Eagle Ventilator 29670-09. This is an intake application that fits many 2008-2014 Harley FL and FX touring models. The HD-0910 filter showed an estimated filtration efficiency of well over 98% in K&N’s testing.

K&N HD-0818:

This is a round filter built to replace the Screamin' Eagle Ventilator 29244-08. The HD-0818 fits the SE intake for the 2016 and 2017 110 CI Harley-Davidson FLSS Softail with the Slim S intake. K&N’s testing resulted in an estimated overall filtration efficiency reading of over 98.5% with this filter.

K&N HD-0808:

This is the tear-drop shaped filter that replaces the Screamin' Eagle Ventilator 29385-08. The HD-0808 fits select 2008-2014 Dyna models. The K&N testing on this filter resulted in an impressive filtration estimate number of almost 99%.

K&N replacement filters for Screamin' Eagle intakes are pre-oiled and ready to install

If your Screamin' Eagle intake uses the Ventilator 29044-04B, this is your high-performance filter option. The HD-0900 fits many 2004-2014 Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 and 1200 models with the Screamin' Eagle upgrade. The filter has an estimated overall efficiency of over 98% and has a dirt holding capacity of an impressive 27 grams.

K&N HD-0600:

Select 2004-2014 EVO with early style RevTech® intakes with the top plate will use this replacement filter. It replaces the Screamin' Eagle Ventilator 29055-89 unit. H-D models with the late style RevTech intakes will use the E-4660.

K&N E-3224, E-3225, and E-3226:

The E-3224 replacement filter fits many Screamin' Eagle intakes with the "D" teardrop housing. The SE intakes with the standard teardrop housing will accommodate the E-3225. The E-3226 is the performance filter upgrade for the "Super E" and "Super G" teardrop models. Like all of the other K&N filters for Screamin' Eagle intakes, these models offer up premium performance and protection.

Cox's and his well-developed EVO 8 hillclimber were up to the challenge of the 2017 Rallysprint

Cox broke the record not once but three times at the 2016 event, with a fastest time of 55.23 seconds. Unfortunately, despite his record times in the heats, he suffered a mechanical failure on the last elimination run. However, during this year’s final two, Cox again faced Mike Summerfield, but this time Cox both broke his own record with a time of 54.96 seconds and won the event overall.

The official name of the event is the 2017 Motul Possum Bourne Ashley Forest Rallysprint, named after the late Peter “Possum” Bourne. Bourne earned his nickname as a teen when he drove his mother’s car into a ditch to avoid a possum on the road.

Bourne’s driving improved greatly and he won the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship three times, the Australian Rally Championship seven times consecutively, and was the first driver from that part of the world to earn a works drive in the WRC with Prodrive Subaru. Sadly Bourne lost his life in a road accident while planning the route for an upcoming rally in his native New Zealand in 2003.

Besides Bourne, who won the Ashley Forest Rallysprint three times, other winners include: Steve Millen, Rod Millen, John Woolf, and Hayden Paddon. The most recent three runnings have been won by Matt Summerfield, but the course record Cox broke last year went back to 1999. That previous record was set by Kim Austin in a V8-powered AWD Mitsubishi Starion who covered the course in 56.77 seconds.

WRC Superstar Hayden Paddon navigates the hairpin, but his special Hyundai wouldn't finish the event

And how did Cox feel about Paddon dropping out so early? “I was disappointed that Hayden’s car never made the distance. I knew before the event that there was a good chance he would have problems as they built the car to a high power in a short period of time. We've learnt over the last two years that it takes time to get it right. But I really hoped we would be in the final together,” Cox responded.

We asked Cox what outcome he would have expected if he’d faced Paddon in the finals? “If Hayden had made it through all of the runs, the pace by the end of the day would’ve stepped up a level. We would have pushed each other even more as the day went on. I still believe Cox Motorsport would have won and kept our record. We didn’t take the car to its limit and it has a lot more left,” Cox responded.

And after losing last year in the finals after breaking the old record, this victory must be especially sweet. How does it feel? “It’s an amazing feeling to have won the event now and even better to hold the record and knowing Cox Motorsport is the fastest at the prestigious Ashley Forest Rallysprint. Breaking the 17-year-old record last year was an awesome feeling and to do it again this year making it even harder for others,” Cox added.

After setting a new record last year only to break in the final, Cox is victorious in 2017

Thanks Sloan and congratulations!

Cox Evo Photograph by Euan Cameron Photography

Group & Hayden Photographs by Geoff Ridder

American Superbike Champion Toni Elias shows off the K&N race filter for the Suzuki GSX-R1000

K&N Direct Replacement Sport Bike Filters

K&N has a nearly half-century legacy of producing the world’s finest washable, reusable filters that are direct replacements for restrictive stock air filters. While these filters allow a substantial increase in airflow, they require no engine management modifications for their performance benefit. They are also street legal in most states.

K&N direct replacement filters feature multiple layers of our legendary oiled, pleated, cotton gauze filter media for performance-enhancing airflow. The reduction in restriction that the filters provide is part of the K&N design goal of increased horsepower, torque, and throttle response.

K&N offers street and race-specific filters for many sport bikes like this one for Honda's CBR1000RR

K&N Race-Spec Sport Bike Filters

Track day, closed course, and racing bikes will benefit from the raw power that K&N’s race-spec air filters will provide. These filters are designed with two plies of filter media and fewer pleats than our standard K&N high flow air filters for the ultimate in airflow.

Unlike K&N’s direct replacement filters, our race-spec units will require remapping of the engine’s fuel management system. They work well with full-race exhaust systems and other high-performance modifications. Race-spec filters are not for street use.

These filters fit directly in the factory airbox and are fully washable and reusable for years of reliable service. Simply put, you will not find a better all-out performance filter for race and track applications – period.

K&N street duty filters give excellent filtration. The Aprilia AL-1010 filter test is shown here

Look below for the numerous sport bike manufacturers and models that are candidates for both the standard K&N high-flow filter and the race-spec, track-only model. For specific model years and applications, use the K&N search by vehicle tool to search K&N's comprehensive online portfolio of filters.

Aprilia:

Aprilia is the perfect starting point for our look at bikes that can be fitted with either a K&N direct replacement or a race-spec air filter. In the relatively brief history of the company, Aprilia has taken 54 world championship titles and has won an impressive 294 Grand Prix races.

The Italian company’s sporting flagship, the RSV4, and the exciting Tuono are prime candidates for either of K&N’s purpose-built air filters. The standard K&N AL-1010 will keep the Aprilia models street legal while giving a substantial boost in power-producing airflow. The race-spec AL-1010R will give a race or track day Aprilia the potential for even more horsepower and torque.

BMW:

The Bavarian beast of a sport bike, the BMW S1000RR, has become a staple on the podium of World Superbike racing as well as a favorite of sport-oriented street riders. As such, street riders and racers both have a great choice of air filter for the bike.

K&N fiters for both street and track come pre-oiled and ready to install in your sport bike

Honda:

The sport bike legacy of the venerable Honda marquee is legendary. From local club racing all the way up to MotoGP, Honda is a front-runner.

Honda’s middleweight speedster, the CBR600RR can be fitted with the HA-6007 for street use, or the HA-6007R for the track. Honda’s liter-sized 1000RR will benefit from the K&N HA-1008 for the street and the HA-1008R for the track.

Kawasaki:

Kawasaki and speed have become virtually synonymous over the decades. K&N makes both street and race-spec air filters for two bikes in the Kawasaki sport bike family. The ZX14R also has an application-specific K&N filter option.

ZX6R 600cc Ninja owners can choose the street model KA-6007 or the closed-course KA-6007R version. The applications for the 1000cc ZX10R Ninja are the KA-1011 for the street, and KA-1011R for the track. The big and bad ZX14R Ninja will use the street-biased KA-1406.

Suzuki:

Every K&N sport bike filter is carefully engineered for a perfect fit in the factory air box

The Suzuki GSX-R600 and GSX-R750 can be fitted with the K&N SU-7511 for street duty, and the SU-7511R for race and track applications. Owners of the fire-breathing GSX-R1000 can choose the street-specific SU-1009 or the race-spec SU-1009R. Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa riders can choose the SU-1308 street filter or the SU-1308R race filter.

Yamaha:

The Yamaha YZF line is race tested, but fully at home on public streets. Like the other sport bikes we have discussed, the Yamaha is a candidate for both street and track-only K&N filtration.

The 600cc YZF R6 will use the YA-6008 on the street and the YA-6008R on the track. YZF R1 street pilots will use the K&N YA-1009 or YA-1015 and racers of the 1000cc sport bike can opt for the YA-1009R or YA-1015R depending on the model year.

The K&N air intake systen for 2017 F250 & F350 Super Duty adds power and increases response

The 6.2L V8 was designed from the outset as a truck engine, so durability was key to the design. The engine features a deep-skirt cast iron block with cross-bolted main caps, two-valves per cylinder, SOHC aluminum heads with roller-rocker shafts, and two spark plugs per cylinder, as well as dual-equal variable cam timing. And while torque has been increased, horsepower is the same 385 HP as in previous years.

If you’re looking for a horsepower increase for your 2017 F250 or F350 Super Duty, look to K&N. The K&N 77-2588KTK air intake system adds 18.96 estimated horsepower at the wheels. That’s an instant increase in performance and throttle response.

Fresh air first enters a 7.5-inch tall RC-5179 K&N high-flow air filter positioned within a heat shield that installs into the space of the factory air box. The heat shield protects the cool incoming air from being affected by high underhood temperatures. The cooler the air is as it flows into the engine, the more power the engine can generate.

Much of the performance increase can be attributed to the oversized conical air filter manufactured from multiple layers of oiled cotton filter media. This filter media offers a greater surface area and thus less resistance than traditional filters.

The K&N air intake replaces the stock air box and includes a heat shield to keep intake temp down

Further, the K&N air intake tube significantly reduces restriction to incoming airflow over the stock item, as well as calms power-robbing turbulence. Air passes through an aerodynamically-verified black powdercoated mandrel-formed aluminum intake tube directly into the engine’s throttle body. The intake tube accommodates the factory mass air sensor, fuel pressure hose, and crankcase vent hose.

Best of all, the K&N 77-2588KTK can be installed in 90 minutes or less with simple hand tools like a ratchet set, a few screwdrivers, and a couple of wrenches. All tools required are listed in the clear, step-by-step photo-illustrated instructions specific to your car that come included in the package.

The K&N conical air filter can go 100,000 miles between cleanings, depending on conditions

At intervals of 100,000 miles (depending on your driving conditions) use the K&N recharger kit 99-5000 to quickly clean and refresh your K&N air filter, preparing it for another 100,000 miles of driving.

The K&N air filter you purchase is designed to last the lifetime of your vehicle, which K&N guarantees will perform for up to 10 years or 1,000,000 miles without requiring replacement.

The K&N 77-2588KTK is designed to fit the following vehicles:

2017 FORD F350 SUPER DUTY 6.2L V8 Fuel Injection - All Models
2017 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY 6.2L V8 Fuel Injection - All Models