airbox baffle thing??

Hey all got maybe a stupid question. I had the seat off of the bike yesterday just cleaning and checking things out. THe airbox has an oval thing maybe 4" wide 1 1/2" thick and maybe 5" long it has ribs on the outside like it is adjustable and slides down into the top of the airbox in front of the airfilter. WHat is this this for?? is it a baffle to restrict airflow for some reason? My service manual does not mention it at all. but does show a pic of it. Thx for any thoughts on this.

 

Best I can tell, That insert makes the air flow going into the the airbox quieter. Kind of like running a small block with the air cleaner off. The v-8 makes a nice loud sound. Then with the air cleaner on, a MUCH quieter sound.
I took mine out, due to the elevation around here. I dont mind the extra intake sound and it pepped up my bike. It allowed more air flow into the carbs.
These are supposed to be rubber but more than likely yours is like mine, all most plastic now.

 

I pulled the stock air box out of my midnight maxim. I built a stainless steel storage box to fill the gap where the air box was. I use individual filtes on each carb. K&N makes filters that will fit but are very expensile. My filters are a different brand but I only paid $12 a piece and have been very happy with them.

 

I don't want to mess with pulling the entire aribox the bike runs too well to start messing around like that. This baffle just look like it directs airflow and if there was a oerformance difference in adjusting, pulling it I may be up for that.