Tenere 700: MWR Filtercage & Outercover

 MWR Filtercage & Outercover

My interest in the MWR Filtercage & Outercover, which MWR promotes as "Extreme air flow with Extreme protection" is multifaceted & driven by several other modifications & considerations: 

• shortcomings with my existing FunnelWebFilters airbox lid mounted pre-filter (loose gravity press-in fitment rotated slightly forward by contact with seat pan during seat installation that is susceptible to water entry & inconvenient to clean/oil on multi-day rides/trips); 

• desire to incorporate water protection to an open airbox lid design/oem snorkel removal or lid mounted pre-filter system; 

• ease of cleaning without chemicals & quick drying; 

• optimize an upcoming 2WheelDynoWorks ECU flash & recently installed Black Widow decat header & be compatible with aftermarket air filters. 

Paul at BellissiMoto, USA was very responsive to my queries regarding the "New Filtercage that replaces the stock airbox cover/snorkel, and the built-in cage on top that houses their special Outercover - just like the Factory Rally Teams use, for extreme protection in all weather conditions!" & expedited shipment quickly. Effectively replacing commonly used foam pre-filters with a fine mesh design & material that fosters maximum air flow, ease of cleaning with just water (other fabric outercovers may require treatment with chemicals for hydrophobic properties that may deteriorate air flow) & repels water (water pools on the surface, but will get through the fabric if subjected to the pressure of tap or hose water, so recommend appropriate preventative measures when washing the bike).

The design incorporates an elevated top surface lip incorporating a cage on the upper surface that serves as an oval bell shape intake duct slightly larger than most air filter's inside dimensions, is much larger than the oem oval opening in the lid after removal of the snorkel, provides protection from surface water entry into the air box lid & a mounting point for the Outercover that utilizes an elastic opening facilitating quick & easy removal & install for cleaning.

The filtercage is designed to mate with MWR's ultra high flow foam main filter & aftermarket filters that incorporate a rubber or foam upper filter top surface that overlaps the airbox upper surface, effectively sealing the airbox. Note that MWR states "This is not an air filter. It's a Filtercage with Outercover, that replaces your stock snorkel and lid with much higher flow capabilities, and the same extreme protection that professional rally raid teams use. It it still meant to be used with the main filter underneath." 

It may not provide effective sealing with the oem hard plastic design air filter without the addition of a foam or rubber surface sandwiched between the filtercage & the oem airbox. It mates very well with my Guglatech Ultra 4 air filter that utilizes a thick semi rigid rubber top surface that is slightly taller than the oem filter...the MWR filtercage airbox lid slightly compresses the air filter upon tightening of the 4 screws providing snug & secure fitment. It also mates well with the FunnelWebFilters Tenere 700 foam main filter.

2WheelDynoWorks recommends removal of the oem airbox lid snorkel, or by extension use of any airbox lid sans snorkel, for best performance when combined with their ECU flash on the CP2 motor. Several aftermarket & computer printed airbox lids are available that flow more air than the oem snorkel/lid comb, however, they have tuned CP2 motors with the MWR Filtercage & Outercover intake system which works as advertised, but notes that "it does not perform any better or worse than other open intake lids for this motor." Which fits with the design & state of tune of the CP2.

MWR deliberately oversized the Outercover to provide increased surface area of the filtering material while still fitting within the limited space between the underside of the seat, airbox & fuel tank. Replacement Outercovers are available separately.

Modification to Reinforce MWR AirBox Lid Opening - April 2026

I added 304 stainless #30 mesh screen (similar mesh/hole size as specified by USFS for spark arrestors), attached with furnace duct reflective heat tape, to both sides of the plastic hexangonal pattern covering the top opening to reinforce it as several of the thin spider web tabs had broken.

Funnel Web Filter Main Filter used as Pre-filter to Attenuate Intake Noise

A byproduct of the MWR Filtercage & Outercover is increased intake noise. So installed a non-oiled Funnel Web Filter (FWF) main filter I have (I currently use a Guglatech Ultra 4 oiled main air filter) flipped upside down on top of the MWR filtercage inside the MWR Outercover, which effectively muted out intake noises & also functions as a pre-filter. I now notice that the T7s dash instant fuel consumption display is showing lower consumption during steady & light throttle (closer to oem levels before the 2WheelDynoWorks ecu flash). I had seen a similar trend after installing a custom db killer insert extension, which makes me wonder if the free flowing large opening design of the MWR Filtercage & Outercover provides more flow rate than is optimal for the T7, even with the ecu flash optimized for removal of the oem snorkel which has a smaller opening size & shape in the airbox lid (2WheelDynoWorks claim that all aftermarket airbox lids have similar airflow, but now wonder if the MWR flows enough more air that A/F ratio might not be optimal, particulalry at low rpm/low air velocity), in part, because the the bike now seems to have stronger low/mid rpm performance. The 1st full tank of fuel after completion of the db killer insert extension & installation of the FWF main filter as a pre-filter did produce slightly imporoved fuel mileage & range...but many variables are at play including cooler ambient temps, less aggresive throttle use & the mix of city vs hwy riding vs the previous few tank fulls.