Air intake mod, again

[Idaho]

I've been pondering the methods of opening up the air intake system on our Nomads. We have a Big Air Kit and the Caddmann option. The latter will generally cost less than $30 for a paper filter and then that can be replaced with a K&N type later on. Good air flow but apparently also gives a corresponding increase in noise and the risk of drowning out in a downpour, although that is seen as remote.

Then we have our own CME Blowndodge solution to drill extra air holes in the bottom of the air cleaner cover on the left side of the bike. This will allow more into the filter but it still has to flow through the crossover tube which will heat it up and restrict the flow. Out of curiosity I pulled the right side cover to look at the air intake system and the idle solenoids to see what else might be done.

My bike is a 2007 1600 and there is kind of a shelf on the backing plate that runs across the bottom just below the crossover opening. The space below this is open and about 3 inches long and maybe 2 inches wide at the widest part at the bottom. What if we did the BD thing and drilled several holes through the cover below where that shelf sits and then cut off a strip of foam to slip in there below the shelf to cover the holes and prevent dirt and bugs from getting in? It would not get past the ends of the shelf and be sucked into the intake but would let more air into the chamber. I found some open cell weather strip that is 2 1/4 inches square and 42 inches long that should allow air to pass through and would fit nicely with a little trimming in that space. Could buy a small engine air cleaner, you know the green foam ones, and cut it up to fit down there also.

It seems that this would let more air in and keep bugs, dirt and water out. I can not see any real drawbacks as long as a good seal is achieved between the cover and the shelf but thought that I would throw this out for discussion. If this was tried and did not work then the cover with the holes in it could be mounted on the left side where the air cleaner is now and the intact cover could be put back over the right side intake.

Go ahead, beat this idea up. Tell me what a dumb sh*t I am because I forgot something obvious.