Last year I was at Hungry valley and saw a few people get busted for not having spark arrestors. No problem for me since I was stock. Well, now I have a Trinity Stage IV with Trinity's screen spark arrestor.

Called Hungry Valley to see if there would be a problem for me there when I go when it gets warmer. Got a ranger who said it has to be a US forest service approved spark arrestor.

Asked how to know if the one I had was approved - answer 'it would have a little sticker that says so or a little sticker of a tree'. Well, it doesn't.

Asked her if there was a list of approved manufacturers anywhere - answer 'well, no'. Great, that's helpful.

Asked her what do I need to do to get legal - answer 'well, there's a local motorcycle shop nearby and the guy that runs it knows'. WTF!

How many people have a 'USFS sticker' or a sticker of a 'little tree' on their exhaust or on their spark arrestor? Probably not many. Anybody use bolt on arrestors that are approved and where do you get them?

I know enforcement in Hungry Valley is pretty heavy. I've seen them make more than a few people leave. I've even seen them confiscate bikes.

Most cans are stamped somewhere on the can US Forrest service approved. I've never seen a ranger check for the cticker or stamping, they just insert a piece of wood dowl or fiberglass and if it goes through, your out and/or fined. If a screen stops it, your good to go. Rules are rules though and if the ranger is in a bad mood, he can cite you within the realm of the law.

The cycle shop over there sells a ton of spark arresters. He will have precise information on what will work and what won't. He usually carries something that will fit any bike. Good shop and wasn't gouging prices when I was there.

I have used the sparky brand (by cobra) bolt on spark arrestor on my banshee. I didn't notice any power difference and they are US FS legal.

My FMF Q muffler is also stamped US FS approved.

I have a Sparky on the Zilla

well you need to call trinity and ask them for documatation showing your system is approved, if theres no stamp and they can produce any documants then id make em eat the pipe.

Just remember that SOUND levels are enforced at Hungry valley also. If you sound loud they WILL pull you over and test you. Depending on the ranger, they may let you go home, or they may write you a $180.00 ticket. Have fun.

Yeah, I've seen people followed back to camp and ticketed for sound.

I'd pass the 'coat hanger' test, its just that its not US Fart Sucker approved. I asked at Trinity when I bought and they pretty much said 'yeah, I guess it is' but I knew it wasn't. Other than Hungry Valley there is no where I ride they will really make a big deal anyway.

I'll just get a bolt on the use when I go there so I don't get any hassles from bored rangers.

The funny thing about this is there was no stamp on my stock pipe so I guess, technically, that wasn't compliant either.

Thanks, Mark

I just bought a spark arrestor from Alba for thier pipe and they gave me a sticker with it. They also said to make sure I put the sticker on the can.

anybody have a print shop?make us some stickers!

i rode up at 138 near wrightwood mountain and they had rangers there checking for spark arrestors. they weren't giving out tickets because they caught the people before they started riding. The ranger did not say it had to be usfs approved he said it just had to have an arrestor. They will write you a ticket if they caught you riding without one or if your bike is way to loud.

I have gotten a ticket in GLAMIS for not haveing a spark arrestor on my banshee running toomey t-5's. cost me around $200.00 when it was all said and done for the ticket. Purchaced the spark arrestor and silincer from toomey it looks like 2 med sized tin cans welded together with a screen inside and chromed w/a usfs tag on it. The only problem it that it routes the exhaust straight down and I got another ticket because It interfered with my brake light and you could not see it at night ,so I received anouther ticket for no break light. (But faught it and won because I took the bike to court in Brawley and showed them what I had going on and the judge looked at the BLM ranger and with a disgusted look on his face said DISMISED!!!)