Modern Buddy

gt1000

An NSR would've been nice. I thought maybe we won "Best Scooter City" or something like that. Not much of a football fan but we live 2 blocks up the street from Mile High. The crowds we observed (as in, we actually saw these people) were a tad overzealous and loud but we didn't see any loa...

gt1000

Of course, I've never ridden on any of these scoots before, so I might be looking at a SportCity or Sarabeo too! As far as I'm concerned, you're unable to answer your question until you ride the candidates. Only then will you have an accurate measure of how much nimbleness you're giving up if you w...

gt1000

I have not heard of lithium ion not being temperature sensitive I think the key is that LI's are less sensitive to extremes in temperature. My Spot Messenger specifically recommends LI's for their products and says they're good between temps (going from memory here so I could be off a tad) of -20F ...

gt1000

More likely, scooterjon is a Vespa fanboy who decided on his own he could help out the boss, as it were.

Anything's possible in cases like this. If he was really clever and had an axe to grind with Piaggio, he apparently succeeded.

gt1000

Interesting numbers and lower than I would expect. My 125 routinely gets a touch above 80 mpg in mostly aggressive riding. My 250 GTS is averaging between 71 and 75 mpg in somewhat less aggressive riding.

I weigh about 150 geared up.

gt1000

How one mounts a Givi plate varies wildly depending on the type of rack one has installed. For example, when mounting a 370 plate to my 250 GTS's stock rack I simply had to find longer bolts. With a Givi rack, I could've used the standard mounting bolts. Anyway, just a thought: you might want to spe...

gt1000

For me the choice was easy. I targeted lightly used GTS 250's and 300's because I didn't want to spend the full $6K. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying a new GTS isn't "worth" $6K, I just didn't want to spend that much. When I first tested a GTS, back in late 2006, I was very impressed. An...

gt1000

The deals on "new" old stock are subject to regional availability. I hear folks all over talking about "leftover" 2009 250's and, sorry, they don't seem to exist here in Denver. Dealers here have offered some incentives but the best I've seen for new Vespas is the list price with...

gt1000

It may be hard to imagine but the Buddy is quicker off the line than a 150 Vespa. Throttle cables can be adjusted to allow for slack or not. Most riders prefer a responsive throttle because the more you're forced to use that twisting action, the sooner fatigue can set in. In any event, you or your s...

gt1000

I never had any issues with the OEM blackwalls but my recently purchased set of Zippy 1's are a big improvement. They really are excellent as far as traction and handling, however, I'm wondering what kind of life expectancy to, um, expect. I'm having to change the back tire about every 5k. I run wi...

gt1000

Just

Ride

Away.

Seriously. They have at least a ton of metal and plastic between you and them and you have no idea what they're capable of or why they're taking it out on you.

gt1000

I never had any issues with the OEM blackwalls but my recently purchased set of Zippy 1's are a big improvement. They really are excellent as far as traction and handling, however, I'm wondering what kind of life expectancy to, um, expect.

gt1000

I think the first major difference you'll notice is how much quicker the Buddy is. Once that sinks in, you'll also begin to realize that the Buddy is a little harsher ride-wise than the Vespa. Both are very nice rides but they are different. Power and acceleration are Buddy strong points. Personally...

gt1000

Can't tell from your post: did you check your oil immediately after you rode or did you give the scoot a chance to cool down? Check your oil when the scoot is cold for an accurate reading. I actually have overheated a scooter with sustained high speed running but that was a kitted 2 stroke running a...

gt1000

This should be a PM I know, but it'll give the mods something to correct me on, but Andy/gt1000, is that AN AIREDALE PUPPY? Cute, cute, cute! Want one!! :D Close, but she's a Welsh Terrier. Probably around 12 or 13 weeks old in that picture, taken after her first bath. We've had Airedales before, a...

gt1000

I don't know about that. Everyone knows the Internet is made of Cats. Therefore, it only makes sense that Professor Internet is a cat. I'm not trying to start any arguments here, I'm just sayin'...

I've just got one point I need to make...

Now, time to clear some space on my trophy shelf!

gt1000

that was hilarious! The fact that prof internet is a cat made it that much better although I'm fairly sure if my cat could argue with folks on the internet he'd win the dickfinity award :lol: Now, this could simply be a difference in interpretation, but... I believe Prof. Internet is the cap, not t...

gt1000

"Insert 1-10 Hitlers"...

Priceless.

gt1000

When I first started riding, which is now a long, long time ago, I always felt more comfortable turning left. When I picked up riding again after a long "sabbatical" the same issue reared its head. When I took the MSF after said sabbatical, I had real problems doing slow speed right turns,...

gt1000

It's a pretty complex question with a very complex answer. All bikes are compromises to some extent but dual sports are by their very nature compromised. They're hardly ever light enough to be real fun in the dirt and their street prowess is tested by high seat heights, soft suspensions and tubed ti...

gt1000

There are some pretty decent Vespa discounts in Denver too. I actually have a 2006 Buddy with around 8,000 miles on the clock and one of the reasons I'll probably hang onto it is because I can't sell for what I think it's worth. Which incidentally, is around $1200. Discounts on new scoots along with...

gt1000

Between my riding needs, the reality that a shiftier requires more maintenance....(and how come there are not lots of high mileage reports on Stellas like Buddys??), I am have about extinguished my classic shiftier curiousness. Pretty close to my thinking. There are things I like about the Cushmans...

gt1000

I am of the camp I need to have a 100% of my attention and senses. Besides, there is plenty of noise in my head to keep me occupied AND I have this to think about: http://2strokebuzz.com/2011/07/12/vvv-rinus-met-romana-op-de-scooter 8) I've unfortunately seen that video before and it always makes m...

gt1000

I don't use headphones while riding or driving anything motorized. My in-hear phones would be perfect for this but they seal so well than my awareness is compromised. I will wear them bicycling but only on the bike paths, where things are typically so quiet that hearing isn't particularly useful. As...

gt1000

Even though I was joking about Eisenhower using the interstates to clear off regular roads for us, I'm serious: the bestest roads for getting from one city to another are (if you can find them) old highways that run roughly parallel to interstates. They may not be in great condition anymore, but th...

gt1000

Even on my Hyper, I only use highways to get to the roads I want to actually enjoy. As folks have already pointed out, there are safety issues involved as well as the overall health of your ride if you're maintaining high revs for extended periods of time. In Denver proper, highway speed limits are ...

gt1000

One final point: if at all possible, buy used but only from a trusted source. You save a fortune on depreciation, taxes, licensing, set up fees and dealer fees. I bought my Buddy new in 2006 and my Hyper came via trade with another Colorado Ducati lover. The GT1000 I traded for the Hyper was bought ...

gt1000

Servicing and tires are the big bugaboo as far as scooter and motorcycle costs. My OEM Buddy tires lasted into the 6000 mile range but I'm guessing the much grippier replacement Zippy 1's won't be as long-lived. With my Hyper, I got sick of replacing the rear Pirelli every 2500-3000 miles so I switc...

gt1000

As far as I'm concerned, anything on two wheels has fun potential. My scooters are utilitarian. They're my commuters and also our way of navigating downtown Denver when our destination is too far to walk. My bicycle and motorcycle are purely recreational although I'll sometimes commute on them as we...

gt1000

When I was about 14, my parents planned family vacation to Bermuda. A few weeks before we left, I started reading up on the place. First thing I noticed was that it was legal for anyone 14 and over (it's been a while, I may have the ages wrong) to rent a moped so I immediately started a nagging camp...

gt1000

Yep, I spent an extra hour at the office today waiting for the rain to slow a bit. Took the high road home and didn't see much flooding but there is a lot of flooding throughout the city. I'm also hearing parts of the Cherry Creek bike path are under 4 feet of water. From about 4:30 to 5:30 this sto...

gt1000

Hey Andy, I'm in Denver too, and ride with a bunch of groups. One of the members of Sqream has 2 Vespa 300GTS (one black, one white Yin/Yang) for sale. They are gorgeous in person. I wish I could afford it, but for now my lil Buddy will have to suffice. I know, and I contacted that person. I really...

gt1000

Don't worry about buying "Nearly New": It's what I did on my bike because dropping $8,000 on a new scooter is VERY hard to do, and I was able to save a few grand for only 1,200 extra miles on the clock. Just make sure you find a GOOD shop if something goes wrong. Because, if it all goes p...

gt1000

Thanks everyone for the replies and tips. I did a bit of advance research over at MV before taking the plunge so I was aware of the exhaust gasket and fuel pump issues. I'll talk to my service people when I make my appointment for the first service. As for it looking showroom fresh? For all intents ...

gt1000

So, I've been looking for a used larger scoot for a while. Always loved the Vespa 250 GTS so I've been watching the classifieds at MV and CL and lately, there have been a bunch of 250's and 300's up for sale. Would've loved to pick up a 300 but the prices are still a bit high compared to late model ...

gt1000

Edelweiss has been around for years and the choice of bike depends on the tour you're taking. Their two current scooter tours offer a choice of Vespas, from 125cc to 300cc. Motorcycle tours run the gamut of makes, including Triumph, Ducati, BMW and others.

http://www.edelweissbike.com/

gt1000

Interesting. We're actually planning on this trip for June, 2012 so I'll be watching for some reviews. There's also a guy at ADVRider who's doing the Tuscany/Vespa trip this year and I'm sure he'll be reporting back soon.

gt1000

There's an interesting related thread in ADVRider's Battle Scooter forum. Essentially, a guy with some mechanical aptitude decided to buy a Chinese scoot as an experiment, just to see for himself how good/bad they really are. It's admittedly a small sample size but I have to say that it's an interes...

gt1000

My seat vibrates a bit at idle, especially if the seat isn't fully latched. A lot of times I won't slam the seat shut and just use my body weight to latch it. Once the bike is moving and once it's fully warmed up I don't notice much vibration through the seat.

gt1000

I think the best advice is to be aware of the road conditions and adjust your technique accordingly. There are inherent dangers when applying either brake under certain conditions, that's why so many basic riding classes preach to finish your braking before entering your turn. On the other hand, onc...

gt1000

I'm not as finicky about clean bikes as I used to be. I do believe that you need to keep your bike free of grease and serious grime, otherwise you can't see leaks or problems as quickly as you should. Which is immediately. I'm a big advocate of water-free cleaning and I too am a big fan of Honda's s...

gt1000

It's absolutely a '70's Ducati Super Sport. These were the bikes that inspired the current Sport Classic lineup. Similar to the first Ducati I ever rode and still one of the most beautiful bikes ever.

gt1000

Haven't been around much lately but I have seen a few episodes of this show and it's ok. Some of the bikes are great but I'm not a big fan of the way the show is edited and produced. By the way, Billy Joel is a big collector and well know in the cafe community. It makes sense for him to be featured ...

gt1000

This actually looks like a very well equipped scooter. Disc brakes front and rear, what looks like an adjustable shock, alloy wheels and very clean design, whether you like the style or not. It also appears to have great underseat storage and comprehensive instrumentation. If it ever makes it to the...

gt1000

Big service and a new set of Zippy 1's mounted: $391.

gt1000

There are a couple of positives you can take from this... Often, the person who's impaired winds up hurting someone else. Apparently, that's not the case this time. Also, while I've never witnessed a bad riding accident (as it happened, I've come up on them shortly after) I have witnessed some viole...

gt1000

The Giants peaked at the right time and deserved the big win. As a transplanted Phillies fan who also watches his share of Rockies games, I knew the Giants would be trouble for the Phils and anyone else. Without getting long-winded and resorting to stats, it's all about pitching and the Giants have ...

gt1000

I've been using PCs and Macs pretty much equally over the past 10 years or so. Our campus is PC only but we started buying Macs in my office for video post-production and digitizing of special collections. I'm not a Mac evangelist but, over these years, I've gradually come to the conclusion that the...

gt1000

You're in Boston, which along with Denver, I'd argue are the two worst cities for respect, Seriously, Denver? I've never had a whiff of a respect issue in Denver during the years I've been riding here. Maybe it's where I ride or the way I ride but I like to think it's the fact that there are so man...

gt1000

If they do not do as described in there application (as described in the attachment) then the EPA does not know about any possible violations until it reaches Customs.

For the love of god, did the EPA really use that form of "there" in their statement?

Modern Buddy

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Re: vespa

Buddy seems jealous...