The days of deliberately annoying people with baffleless Pitones, Frescos and all manner of scooter exhaust are largely a thing of the past. In modern times we want our scooters to sound nicely, perform as well as possible and not cause us any bother. That’s where Crazy Monkey Developments come in with their new Lotta LFv1 mechanical exhaust muffler. In tests it lowers noise levels by 10dB when compared to an ‘ordinary’ absorption muffler. 

 

In the past, the MSC Micron of the late ’80s was offered with a mechanical muffler option for both Vespa and Lambretta. The chief advantages of a correctly-designed mechanical muffler are that they are quieter and the silencing performance does not deteriorate like a traditional absorption muffler. The main disadvantage is that mechanical mufflers tend to be heavier due to the tubes and chambers inside and this weight can adversely affect exhaust durability.

 

Crazy Monkey ‘Lotta’ mechanical Vespa muffler | NEWS
 
Crazy Monkey are based in Dusseldorf and some of their exhausts came under scrutiny from the German regulatory authorities, who doubted that they were keeping within the permitted noise limits. The firm decided to try and build a new silencer to quieten things down. This was so successful in the subsequent tests that they recently went into production and sold out within days.
 
 Lotta LFv1
 
 Chief Monkey, Wolfgang explains what’s different about the muffler;
 
“Lotta LFv1 (for Vespa Largeframe, version 1) is fundamentally different. In contrast to our competitors, we rely on a multi-part chamber system. The inner part is made entirely of stainless steel and not a single component comes off the shelf. We have had all components specially manufactured. Even the screen tube used is a special design. The outer shell consists of a laser-cut aluminium tube with a diameter of 80mm. The end caps have also been made especially for us. The inner structure is floating and insulated with “Silent Sport” insulation material. Lotta is 262 mm long (242 mm body length only) and weighs 1,170 grams. Lotta is a joint product of 2-Radscheune and Crazy Monkey Development.”
 
 
 
How quiet? 
 
Has it quietened things down?
 
“Various tests have so far shown a noise reduction of up to 10 decibels. We are currently in the process of getting a test protocol from the German Dekra authority and respectively the TÜV.” 
 
You can see (and hear) a high-powered Vespa being Dyno tested in the video above. 
 
 How much gas flow?
 
“The standard diameters of available mufflers for Largeframe are varying from 25 to 28 millimeters. The flow size of Lotta is exactly 27mm.”
 
Crazy Monkey ‘Lotta’ mechanical Vespa muffler | NEWS
Crazy Monkey ‘Lotta’ mechanical Vespa muffler | NEWS
 
What will it fit?
 
Lotta fits almost all exhausts for Vespa Largeframe with exchangeable mufflers, with no modifications. Lotta has three studs (M6) and a PCD (Pitch Circle Diameter) of 52 millimeters.
 
 Weight
 
Lotta’s weight is about 1.170 grammes. That’s between the lightest and the heaviest silencer currently available. The S&S silencers are a bit above and the Fox silencers are a bit below Lotta’s weight.
 
 Where can I buy one from?
 
At the time of writing they’re only available through the Crazy Monkey Facebook page, although they will have a website and online shop soon. They are priced at 189 Euros. It will also be available through Scooter Center Cologne.
 
We hope to have a Lotta to test shortly, and may even stock them in the SLUK Shop if we like them.
 
 
What about other models?
 
Crazy Monkey are currently developing a Lotta for Vespa Smallframe and Lambretta. They are also planning to get an official sound level measurement protocol, which should help German customers to get their scooters through TUV testing.
 
Crazy Monkey ‘Lotta’ mechanical Vespa muffler | NEWS
Crazy Monkey ‘Lotta’ mechanical Vespa muffler | NEWS

Have a browse around the SLUK Shop