A cross-reference, or nothing at all

The best motorcycle oil filters for 2026

An oil filter is the cheapest part of a service and the one where buying wrongly is easiest, because filters are identified by cross-reference and nothing else. A filter fits the machines its maker cross-references, and that list is the whole specification — a photograph of a cylinder tells you nothing, and two filters with the same external dimensions can have different threads, different sealing diameters and different internal valves. So the first thing to read is whether the listing publishes a cross-reference at all. Two types divide the family. A spin-on filter is a sealed canister that screws onto the engine and is replaced whole; a cartridge filter is an element that sits inside a housing on the engine, and it is replaced with its O-rings. Which one a machine takes is not a choice. Within either type, three published details separate a good filter from a cheap one. An anti-drainback valve, which keeps oil in the filter when the engine stops so that pressure comes up immediately at the next start — it is published where it exists and absent where it does not. A bypass valve and its opening pressure, which lets oil past a blocked element rather than starving the engine. And a nut welded to the end of a spin-on filter, which is a small feature that makes removal possible with an ordinary spanner instead of a dedicated tool. Cartridge filters are judged additionally on whether the O-rings are supplied, since a filter fitted with an old O-ring leaks. We compare published cross-reference, filter type, anti-drainback and bypass valves, removal nut, supplied O-rings and published dimensions.

These parts compared, figure by figure

1. 

   K&N KN-204-1

   A 66 × 71 mm spin-on oil filter for selected Honda, Kawasaki, Triumph and Yamaha machines, with pleated synthetic-blend media and a nut welded on for removal.

   Dimensions

   66 × 71 mm cartridge (from the title)

   Stated fitment

   Selected Honda, Kawasaki, Triumph and Yamaha machines — the compatible models are in the listing description (maker’s bullet)

   Media

   Pleated synthetic-blend filtration media (maker’s bullet)

   Oil compatibility

   Stated to work with all synthetic, conventional and blended engine oils (maker’s bullet)

   Removal

   Nut for quick removal with a spanner (maker’s bullet)

   Thread size

   Not published in this listing.

   Amazon reference

   B008S6GEB2 (one reference across 6 Amazon marketplaces)

   EAN

   0024844368140

   • The removal nut is the difference between a five-minute job and a punctured filter
   • Dimensions published in the title
   • No thread size published, and two filters in this family publish different threads at almost identical dimensions

   Best for: A Honda, Kawasaki, Triumph or Yamaha on the maker’s list, changed at home without a filter wrench.

   ≈ €9

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2. 

   HifloFiltro HF204

   A vehicle-specific spin-on oil filter published with a 65 mm filter-wrench size and an edged wrench fitting — the figure you need to buy the right tool.

   Filter wrench size

   65 mm (maker’s bullet)

   Wrench fitting type

   Edges (maker’s bullet)

   Fitment

   Vehicle-specific (maker’s bullet)

   Dimensions

   Not published in this listing.

   Thread size

   Not published in this listing.

   Listing bullets

   Three, of which two are numbers.

   Amazon reference

   B000WJB4HW (one reference across 6 Amazon marketplaces)

   EAN

   0765588230705

   • Publishes the wrench size, which is what you need to buy the tool before the oil is drained
   • Names the wrench fitting type, not just the size
   • No dimensions and no thread size

   Best for: A rider who already knows HF204 is their filter and wants the wrench size before starting.

   ≈ $8 / £7 / €12

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3. 

   Mahle OC 574

   A spin-on oil filter published with a complete dimensional specification — M20×1.0 thread, 68 mm diameter, 65 mm height — and a stated bypass valve, for Aprilia, Sachs and Suzuki among others.

   Thread

   M20×1.0 (maker’s bullet)

   Diameter

   Ø 68.0 mm (maker’s bullet)

   Height

   65.0 mm (maker’s bullet)

   Type

   Spin-on filter (maker’s bullet)

   Bypass valve

   Yes (maker’s bullet)

   Stated fitment

   Aprilia, Sachs, Suzuki and others (from the title)

   Amazon reference

   B0068NQG2E (one reference across 6 Amazon marketplaces)

   EAN

   4009026511855

   • The full dimensional specification — thread, diameter, height — published in one bullet
   • States whether a bypass valve is fitted, which no other filter here does
   • Its M20×1.0 thread is not the M20×1.5 of the filter beside it — near-identical dimensions, different threads

   Best for: A rider cross-referencing by specification rather than by part number.

   ≈ £7 / €6

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4. 

   MANN-FILTER MW 64/1

   A spin-on oil filter published with five separate measurements — outer diameter, both seal diameters, thread and height — the most completely dimensioned filter in this catalogue.

   Thread

   M20×1.5 (maker’s bullet)

   Outer diameter

   66 mm (maker’s bullet)

   Seal inner diameter

   54 mm (maker’s bullet)

   Seal outer diameter

   62 mm (maker’s bullet)

   Height

   65 mm (maker’s bullet)

   Cross-reference

   By brand, model, vehicle type and engine, or by the HSN/TSN numbers from the registration document (maker’s bullet)

   Amazon reference

   B005NFYJ22 (one reference across 6 Amazon marketplaces)

   EAN

   4011558844806

   • Five measurements published, including both seal diameters — nothing else here publishes the seal
   • Cross-reference by registration-document numbers, which removes the guesswork entirely
   • Its M20×1.5 thread differs from the M20×1.0 of the filter beside it at almost the same size

   Best for: Confirming a filter against measurements before ordering, rather than after opening the box.

   ≈ €7

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5. 

   K&N KN-141

   A 38 × 46 mm cartridge oil filter for eight named marques, supplied with an O-ring already greased for fitting, compatible with the latest synthetic oils.

   Dimensions

   38 × 46 mm cartridge (from the title)

   Type

   Cartridge — it fits inside a housing, unlike a spin-on filter

   O-ring

   Supplied pre-greased for fitting (maker’s bullet)

   Stated fitment

   Beta, Yamaha, Fantic, HM Moto, MBK, TM, Rieju, Gas Gas (from the title)

   Oil compatibility

   Compatible with the latest synthetic engine oils (maker’s bullet)

   Model list

   In the product description rather than the bullets (maker’s bullet)

   Amazon reference

   B000E28N5I (one reference across 6 Amazon marketplaces)

   EAN

   0024844099938

   • A pre-greased O-ring, which is the part people fit dry and then leak from
   • Eight marques named in the title
   • A cartridge needs the housing opened, which is a different job from a spin-on

   Best for: Off-road and small-capacity machines with a cartridge filter housing.

   ≈ $12 / £9 / €8

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