Lynda, you're right in asking about a better muffler -- but some of the noise isn't exhaust noise, but rather things like the whine from a cooling fan or maybe from the generator's windings, or maybe just poor cylinder design. The little engine on our pit bike is a two-stroke and super-quiet, so I know those motors can be made quiet. I wouldn't want to keep Ed awake -- but then, he and Cris retired, right, so who cares about keeping him awake now?