The only reason I went to the pleated paper element, as it has a larger surface filtering area .
Other than that, I can't tell the difference between the two, I don't know if I would use the paper element filter on a much larger displacement bike, as the fuel flow is quite a bit less, than the filter with the sintered metal filtering element .
I had to order mine from a motorcycle shop in I think Carson City, Nevada, only other place I saw them, was at Bike Bandit, not a common filter at all .