Removed Flatlands skid plate

What a relief to get that thing off. The noise was really getting to me. Had that thing on for the past 6 months. Tried a few things to remedy it...but best remedy for me was removing it altogether. Nice to actually enjoy the sound of this motor once again. If that AXP plastic skidplate ever becomes available in N. America, I may give that a try....but I think I might end up on a different bike by that time.

it was really that bad?
i see a ton of bike with it and its on my list of things to get

There must be something between different bikes or different rider's tolerances for noise that causes some people to not care about or notice the 'extra' skidplate noise like me and those who absolutely can't stand it. Or maybe I just can't hear it over my FMF...

I've smacked the skidplate hard enough times to know one's needed where I ride. Earplugs are your friend.

Yep, my bike got quite a bit louder with it in place.
However, a few weeks ago I came down on a rock that would have made it way too quiet had the skidplate not been there...

I bought some rubber, about 3/16' thick, cut it into strips and put it along the subframe and anywhere the skid plate touched the bike. It helped with the noise, but I do agree that it is louder with a skid plate. I have a Richocet, but same shit differenct pile right. I personally will deal with the noise to prevent damage to the bike. EARPLUGS are cheap. My $0.02

After riding two stroke YZ's and CR's all my life, I can just barely hear my WR!!!!

Midnite171 wrote:

After riding two stroke YZ's and CR's all my life, I can just barely hear my WR!!!!

Agreed!!

There is definitely some extra noise with the skid plate, it can be annoying sometimes. But hey, throw on an FMF and hit the trails. Nothing I couldn't live with.

The noise I couldn't live with would be the sound of me crying as I watch oil drain out all over the rocks I just hit.

I like regular engine and exhaust noise...but this racket coming from the skidplate was grating to me. Resonating at certain RPMs. I tried to remedy it AND ignore it. But finally said the other day...."get this thing the hell OFF!". What a relief. I'm ok with the increased risk. If the motor gets critically slammed by a big rock, I'll let you guys know about it so at least someone will be feeling better. ("told you so, dumb-ass").
I'm totally into wearing earplugs for longer stretches of pavement, but for off-road I like to go with no earplugs if possible as it's just more enjoyable hearing all the off-roading sounds...tires on the dirt, twigs snapping, the GYTR exhaust and that awesome little 250 motor given 'er !#@$. It has made my bike more enjoyable (again). I guess I'm just that picky with sounds.

My skid plate definitely made big noise at first.
Then I coated it with insulation tape and latex duct sealer...about %90 perfect. My buddy tried several half-assed attempts, that he thought was great...then took his off, frustrated.
After a couple rough rides, he put it back on...claiming not to give a shit. Ya right.
Anywho, my point is, ...any skid plate needs to be modded for sound, regardless.; And you either mod it well...or put up with the shit you put up with.
I know I can make my skid better...and my buddy is startin to want his done the way I did it.
It is an under-discussed mod in my opinion...
Done well, is worth a million bucks...the proof is in the puddin.
It'll never be as quiet without a skid...but same goes for most my other mods...and I ain't givin most of them up, heh.

Let me add more encouragement to finding a solution for the noise.

I was skeptical about the noise issue before I added my plate, but after one post-install ride, I knew that plate was coming off.

Benefiting from the experience of others, I doubted that simply trying to insulate the plate from the frame would do the trick. Looking at the plate made me think that it roughly resembled a parabolic reflector. I could just imagine those nastly sound pulses getting bounced back up to my head.

If my guess was correct, then I could see why putting rubber strips between the frame rails and the plate didn't do enough to satisfy many riders.

I purchased some 1/8" industrial sound deadener that looks like black rubber mat, but is rather heavy despite how thin it is. The suggested uses for the product included lining the engine compartments of boats and aircraft. I covered the entire upper surface of the plate with the stuff. It seemed easiest to cut three pieces: one for the main body of the plate, and two more small pieces for the "ears". Contact cement got things together in a hurry. Holes were cut where needed for fasteners, oil drain, etc.

While putting the completed modified plate back on the bike, I managed to drop it and noted it made a nice dull "clunk" when it hit the garage floor. The test ride showed a marked reduction in harsh noise and I've never been tempted to remove the plate again.

About six months after the install, I was riding and noticed that some of those old noises seemed to be coming back. I looked down and saw that the separate piece of material covering the left ear of the plate was missing ("water-resistant" cement not good enough). A replacement piece was properly installed and riding comfort returned.

Where did you purchase the industrial sound deadener?

Not the OP, but I used Dynamat that I got from Best Buy. It ain't perfect but it helped a lot.

Gus,

Don't recall the vendor, but it was an eBay purchase from about a year ago.

As I remember, I just did a search on eBay and came up with a source. Listing was for massive quantities, but a few emails got the vendor to send me a small "leftover" piece.

Dennis

Just wondering, what sound does the skidplate amplify? the gear noise? general engine noise?

General engine noise, sounds raspier and louder in your helmet. Kind of directs it all upward...

Dynamat!

Just ordered some dynamat, I'll let y'all know if it works...

GusinCA wrote:

Just ordered some dynamat, I'll let y'all know if it works...

I just shove some coarse Unifilter bulk foam between the plate and motor.

No heat issues?

No rinsing out mud issues?

If you get too thick in spots...you need longer hardware...probably the best solution, but I avoided that.
If you are not familiar with latex duct sealer...it is like a painted on, rubberized, sticky, gap filling, seallant...that dries pretty quick and cleans up with water.
Its used to seal up duct work, obviously, and would be available from a like supplier or service shop.
Probably won't see it in less than 4L buckets...but those who use it regular usually waiste alot more than it would take to do a couple skid plates. So asking a local sheetmetal/ductwork shop may prove an easy source.
Anywho, its paint on rubber that likes to go on thick an easy...if you dont like it peels off and cleans up easy.
My thin coat doesnt show any sign of wear, after a summer of trail ridin like an ass.
I painted it over some foam...but next time will go strait duct sealer and texture the surface...bullet proof.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_240504-57506-1030-1/2G-GR_?PL=1&productId=3338910

I dont use this brand, but looks silmalar to the brands ive used.

GusinCA wrote:

No heat issues?

Nope. None at all. I have been using the foam trick on all my bikes for years. It really deadens the noise. As far as mud, you might get a little on the outside but not enough to worry about. I replace my foam about once a season.

I don't understand why the rubber thing wont work. if you use inner tube and then buy rubber isolation washers for the bolts you don't actually have metal on metal. to me if you use an innertube without isolating the bolts with a rubber washer you still get all the vibration right through the bolts.. I just did this and it seems a lot better but its too cold here to test on the road.

I think there's 2 issues, one the vibration through direct contact.
But the bigger one is the noise reflected back up toward the rider by the parabolic effect of the skidplate.
I received my dynamat and will be applying it in the next few weeks...