you can drill holes in the air box. drill the holes like 2 at a time and try the scoot and see how it gos. make sure you drill the holes on the side of the box towards the front try to keep the holes on the side of the box the filter is on. Not behind the filter. I well be doing mine soon.
Funny you mentioned this, I read this somewhere too.
But there is a problem. After removing the front cover there is another layer in there that holds the air filter. If I take the air filter itself out and leave the second layer, the engine STILL cuts out at higher RPM.
To me it seems my only option is no air filter at all, OR an open air filter straight off the carb.