Gas powered stand up scooter muffler

Gusthefuss · Post by **Gusthefuss** » Tue May 03, 2011 11:29 am

I have a little gas powered scooter that I will be bringing to the playa this year. I want to know how I can make it louder and more annoying!?
Just kidding I was wondering what others have done to their mufflers to make them quieter. Is there a simple muffler add on I could get?
Its not my only ride as I will be bringing a bicycle to cruise on but I am excited to do some deeeep playa excursions on the scooter.
I cant bring a mutant vehicle so this is as close as it gets for me for right now. I just want to kill the noise a little so the visual over powers the audible. Its going to be dressed up a little.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Tue May 03, 2011 11:56 am

Be sure to address the intake too, if you can.
You can help protect the filter at the same time.

There are a lot of motorcyle and lawnmower mufflers out there.
You might try used ones or bike shops.
Even lengthening the pipe will help.
There is probably useful info on bike and small engine forums.

Post by **Elderberry** » Tue May 03, 2011 12:32 pm

Well I hope you find a solution. Frankly I think if I had to pick one thing as the most annoying on the playa, it would be those damn scooters. Not only are they loud, but the people that ride them have no regard for the speed limits or anything else for that matter.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Tue May 03, 2011 12:35 pm

Check that your tires will work there.

A lot of the scooters simply won't run at a reasonable speed without bogging down.

The speed limit is 5 mph or LESS in the city, usually less.

Post by **AntiM** » Tue May 03, 2011 12:43 pm

Try to find an uneven, dusty environment to practice in. I saw a few sad tumbles away from the hard packed streets. Ouch.

Is it true playa dust can gum one of those things up so fast it is useless after a day? Just curious.

Thanks for at least trying to find out about mufflers. That angry sewing machine sound is awfully grating.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Tue May 03, 2011 1:17 pm

In case you aren't aware of it, electric assist bikes are allowed now.

They can be useful in Reality Camp too, with gas so high.

Your muffler options are wide open if you're willing to spend the money.
A flex joint would allow you to use anything you could mount on the machine.
Reduces noise too.

Token · Post by **Token** » Tue May 03, 2011 2:40 pm

If it's a 4-stroke you can muffle away.

If it's a 2-stroke messing with the muffler will likely break the engine.

The intake makes as much noise as the exhaust.

One eight inch of epidermis is ground off for every 10 feet of bare-ass slide on hardpan Playa at sub 30 mph speeds. I'd make sure at least the beanbags are protected before riding.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Tue May 03, 2011 2:49 pm

Two strokes are sensitive, but I think they can be done with care.

Even race engines are muffled these days.
The only reason for not doing it now is weight.

Gusthefuss · Post by **Gusthefuss** » Thu May 05, 2011 12:09 pm

I'll do my best to make it quiet.
As the BDC DMV says"(A lot of people would like to see these noisy things banned, but we've avoided just making "one more rule" and instead ask owners of such vehicles to operate them with respect!) "
If I had the option of buying a cheap electric one and a solar panel to recharge it I would give that a try. But I can't afford that AND a ticket too! If I do wipe out please enjoy the site and give me some applause!

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Thu May 05, 2011 3:28 pm

I would never wish harm, even to someone riding one of those beastly foogin turd rides.
That said, it'll be quietest left at home.
What's wrong with just riding your bike?
be careful, "clothesline camp" is at times, hard to spot.

Â¡Niers! · Post by **Â¡Niers!** » Thu May 05, 2011 10:16 pm

ygmir wrote: That said, it'll be quietest left at home.
What's wrong with just riding your bike?
be careful, "clothesline camp" is at times, hard to spot.

HAHAHA! I had to LMAO!
I second leaving it at home. Can't afford the extra cost of an ebike and/or solar? Save your cash and bring one next year.

Just saying.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu May 05, 2011 10:53 pm

Gusthefuss wrote:I'll do my best to make it quiet.
As the BDC DMV says"(A lot of people would like to see these noisy things banned, but we've avoided just making "one more rule" and instead ask owners of such vehicles to operate them with respect!) "
If I had the option of buying a cheap electric one and a solar panel to recharge it I would give that a try. But I can't afford that AND a ticket too! If I do wipe out please enjoy the site and give me some applause!

Solar? Sheesh
Bring a generator or find someone to chip in on expenses and share.
Look at the used bikes out there.

Seriously, figure out if the thing will even run out there.
I looked at some and only the off road models looked viable to me at all.

Gas just hit $4 here and getting a bigger battery pack for my bike is looking real good, even though I'm moving from midtown to a much less useful area for bikes.
Keep in mind that a light one can be carried on bus racks.
I figure you save 50-80% per mile over a car, even if you're still paying insurance.
You sort of pay up front for the battery pack vs gas.

Worry about solar another time, after you have a bike.

Put a metal flagpole on the front for clotheslines.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Fri May 06, 2011 7:07 am

gyre wrote:
Gusthefuss wrote:I'll do my best to make it quiet.
As the BDC DMV says"(A lot of people would like to see these noisy things banned, but we've avoided just making "one more rule" and instead ask owners of such vehicles to operate them with respect!) "
If I had the option of buying a cheap electric one and a solar panel to recharge it I would give that a try. But I can't afford that AND a ticket too! If I do wipe out please enjoy the site and give me some applause!
Solar? Sheesh
Bring a generator or find someone to chip in on expenses and share.
Look at the used bikes out there.

Seriously, figure out if the thing will even run out there.
I looked at some and only the off road models looked viable to me at all.

Gas just hit $4 here and getting a bigger battery pack for my bike is looking real good, even though I'm moving from midtown to a much less useful area for bikes.
Keep in mind that a light one can be carried on bus racks.
I figure you save 50-80% per mile over a car, even if you're still paying insurance.
You sort of pay up front for the battery pack vs gas.

Worry about solar another time, after you have a bike.

Put a metal flagpole on the front for clotheslines.

best advise of the day.

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Fri May 06, 2011 8:39 am

New acronym: WCM

(Wiley Coyote Moment)

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Fri May 06, 2011 9:11 am

FIGJAM wrote:New acronym: WCM

(Wiley Coyote Moment)

best new acronym........+1

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Fri May 06, 2011 12:20 pm

ygmir wrote:
gyre wrote: Put a metal flagpole on the front for clotheslines.
best advise of the day.

Thanks.

Also effective for the odd taut piano wire across the road too.

Kinetik V · Post by **Kinetik V** » Fri May 06, 2011 1:06 pm

As much as I love scooters might I suggest a better alternative to lugging some big assed generator around (even a Honda EU2000i isn't exactly light). Do a google search for "motorized bicycles". $200 will get you setup quite nicely...provided you have a good bike to mount the engine on.

Granted it still uses gas...but at 60 mpg I'm sure you can afford that much gas for a week of playa usage. (And yes, one can get 4 stroke motors even though I will always love a good 2 stroke engine)

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Fri May 06, 2011 1:21 pm

Gas bikes aren't permitted.

Kinetik V · Post by **Kinetik V** » Fri May 06, 2011 1:32 pm

Maybe it's time to change that. The only question is do I want to waste the bandwidth on it...

A quick look at:
http://www.burningman.com/preparation/e ... y.html#dmv

shows that the motorized bikes I have in mind are not clearly banned by the rules. We're not talking a motorcycle, and in some cases the engines have less cc's than the scooters. Oh and you still pedal them... Yeah, they are perfectly legal bikes until I hit the switch....

And I can easily install it after I get past the gate...and if it's quiet and covered with decorations you're not going to know it's there.

Still I'll fire off some emails and see what I hear back. The event can impose some limits...but there are limits to the limits.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Fri May 06, 2011 1:49 pm

This question has come up before.

You might get by without a seat.
It could easily be impounded though.

Speed and weight is part of the safety concern, but engine size has never been specifically part of the rules.

The lack of noise from pedelecs and the near universality of legality for them, were factors in allowing them.

I find small engines less reliable than electric myself, or I would have taken that approach with local transport.
i think by the time you have a decent engine, you could buy the best electric out there.
No contest on cheap to run, on the grid.

Gusthefuss · Post by **Gusthefuss** » Tue May 10, 2011 4:05 pm

My currently noisey gas scooter will be decorated and pretty cool looking. A mutant vehicle for one. Kinda like those little cupcakes. (dont they have seats?) I still believe that pedal powered bikes are best. I promise not to go faster than 5mph while on the streets.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Tue May 10, 2011 4:26 pm

The cupcakes have to be licensed, like all mutants not covered by other rules.

jethroc · Post by **jethroc** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 8:25 am

[quote="Kinetic V"]As much as I love scooters might I suggest a better alternative to lugging some big assed generator around (even a Honda EU2000i isn't exactly light). Do a google search for "motorized bicycles". $200 will get you setup quite nicely...provided you have a good bike to mount the engine on.

Granted it still uses gas...but at 60 mpg I'm sure you can afford that much gas for a week of playa usage. (And yes, one can get 4 stroke motors even though I will always love a good 2 stroke engine)[/quote]

I like the concept of a powered (electric preferred) bicycle, but i believe BM regs prohib anything with a seat. It would be great to see the regs encourage electric art bikes...I've got plans for doing a trike. I think the gas scooters should be banned, some folks are running at excessive speeds and they are very noisy (2 strokes smell too), but until they do ban them, I'm considering one.

QUESTION: Wont the playa dust ruin and electrics scooters innards? What is the best sealed electric scooter for the playa?

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 12:42 am

Two and three wheeled electric assisted and pedaled bikes are allowed now.

No scooters without pedals.

Gas powered stand up scooter muffler

Gas powered stand up scooter muffler

Re: Scooters

Re: Gas powered stand up scooter muffler