Active air intake for an engine

A motorcycle comprising:

• an engine;
• an air box having a first opening for receiving intake air and a second opening downstream of the first opening;
• a throttle assembly positioned to direct intake air into the engine, the throttle assembly including an intake funnel;
• a filter element disposed within the air box for separating debris from the intake air;
• and
• a valve disposed within the air box downstream of the filter element and upstream of the intake funnel, the valve being movable to provide a variable restriction to intake air flow through the air box.

A motorcycle comprising:

• an engine;
• an air box having an inlet for receiving intake air and an outlet;
• a throttle assembly positioned to receive intake air from the outlet and direct the intake air into the engine for combustion;
• a filter element positioned in the air box;
• a valve positioned in the air box between the filter element and the outlet;
• an actuator for moving the valve from a first position to a second position;
• and
• a controller configured to activate the actuator to move the valve from the first position to the second position based on a position of the throttle assembly and at least one of engine speed and vehicle speed.

A method of operating an engine of a motorcycle having a throttle assembly for controlling the rate of intake air into the engine, an air box for directing intake air into the throttle body and cleaning the intake air with a filter element, and an engine controller, the method comprising:

• running the engine at an engine speed within a predetermined range;
• opening the throttle assembly to a substantially full throttle position;
• restricting the flow of intake air into the engine by moving a valve that is positioned in the air box from a first position to a second position while the engine is running within the predetermined speed range and the throttle assembly is opened to the substantially full throttle position;
• and
• shielding the valve with the filter element from debris in the intake air.