BTX/StandardFunctions Grom Intake Review

So a few months ago I caught wind that either BTX or StandardFunctions (can't remember which) was bringing to market an intake they had designed specifically for the Grom. It was made of hard piping, had a provision for the air intake temp sensor and was topped off by a UNI Filter.

When I was considering ordering the intake I had to deal with Ming of Standard Functions. I had a few questions about the intake (does it have a AIT sensor provision, better pics and install instructions, etc.) so I emailed Ming. Getting the questions answered was like pulling teeth with this guy. He finally let me know that it did indeed have a provision for the AIT sensor, he had no pictures aside from one small Instagram picture collage and there were no installation instructions. Fair enough. Against my better judgement I ordered it anyway.

The intake arrived soon enough. I opened the box and was impressed with the intake. The welds appeared sufficient, there was a mounting tab and the finish was nice. There it sat for a few months. Fast forward to today. I went over to a banks619's house and took the Grom body panels off to fit the intake. I put on the rubber piece that connects the intake and the throttle body. Then I went to attached the intake. It was quite a task to get it just right so that you could put it in the coupler. Once inside the coupler I noticed that the mounting tab was just hanging out in the open, not near a mounting point that I could see. So banks pulls up a picture of the intake installed on another Grom. To get the mounting tab in the right place you had to bend the coupler in a way that I was not too comfortable with. Nothing much I can do, just tighten it down and hope it stays. Now I have the mounting tab in the general area it needs to be, but there is no way to get the mounting tab in the right spot without actually bending it. So we bend the tab and bolt that up. Time to slap on the filter and check my fitment. The filter position is TERRIBLE! Not only do the forks compress the filter at full left lock, but the horn in the stock location contacts the filter on left hand turns. So you have to bend the horn as far out the way as you can in hopes that you do not rub a hole in the filter.

On to the ride report. The sounds of the bike is much throatier and I feel like the bike has a little more pep than before.

Overall the quality of the intake is good. With so many minor issues I am kind of perturbed with it. The issues are so minor they could be easily fixed if the maker actually wanted to. I am going to see if an angled UNI Filter will do the trick or possibly see if there is a shorter filter.