Modern Buddy

BuddyRaton wrote:

Legend wrote:

jrsjr wrote:Don't you folks think that Genuine should make an "S" model Buddy? With a rectangular headlight, some snazzy graphics, performance suspension, performance exhaust, rear disk brake, breathed-on motor and solo seat with white piping?

Ya know, I have given this some pretty good thought and your right... I could care less about graphics. You want graphics, do like Vespa and offer them as an option. What I would really like to see is a Stella with the auto trans and non-mixed fuel option. So a Stella design and the convience and eco-friendleness of the regular fuel. Rear disc would be nice though as would a bit more storage and a slightly bigger design for us bigger riders.

To me that justw ouldn't be a Stella

Agreed. That's pretty much all the things that make a Stella a Stella.

poop colored buddy wrote:Agreed. That's pretty much all the things that make a Stella a Stella.

I like it the way it is, but lots of people would like it better with a 250cc 4-stroke engine. And California can't sell the 2-stroke, so the 4-stroke will be huge there, they've been begging for it for ages.

As far as "that's a Bajaj," we all know it's not the same. BajajUSA didn't have the clout or money to get the styling right, and even a 4-stroke Stella will have much more in common with the Vespa PX as far as parts and accessories and such. And Genuine is just way more on the ball than BajajUSA was.

I don't think we'll see an automatic Stella, but who knows? I'd hate to think anyone didn't buy a Stella because it was a manual transmission, it really adds a ton of fun to the experience, and it's cake to learn.

Bb.

That was just beautiful, maryvu. It's really gotten me thinking.

illnoise wrote: Again, it looks fantastic, but I just know that plastic fake chome would look like junk after a couple years parked in the sun. Why couldn't they spend a couple extra bucks and put some real chrome on it?

What makes you think that? After nearly two years, the only chrome bits on my B125 that are starting to look trashed are the mirrors, which happen to be "real" chrome. All the plastic still looks great...

I hear what all you guys are sayin' about how the Stella just wouldn't be Stella if it was a 150cc auto. It is pretty much my DREAM SCOOTER as far as looks go (then comes the C3... ... ), but I never learned how to shift, so it wasn't really an option for me . Plus this is NOT a scooter friendly area at all as far as speed goes. I guess maybe Genuine could just come up something that looks exactly like a Stella that is 150 automatic & just call it something else? Just for me? But then it would be a disgrace to scoots everywhere... God just doesn't want me to have a classic scooter I guess . (or I just need to move somewhere else & get someone to teach me how to ride a shifter). Not too many options here...

vitaminC wrote:

illnoise wrote: Again, it looks fantastic, but I just know that plastic fake chome would look like junk after a couple years parked in the sun. Why couldn't they spend a couple extra bucks and put some real chrome on it?

What makes you think that? After nearly two years, the only chrome bits on my B125 that are starting to look trashed are the mirrors, which happen to be "real" chrome. All the plastic still looks great...

Chromified plastic often doesn't age well and sometimes starts to peel, depending on how it's applied. I hope those gauges on the S last longer than the faux-chrome on the newer (plastic) Vespa legshield badges. Fuh!

So if you like the Vespa S, what do you think about the Vespa GTS Super 300ie? No kiddin', it's real. And it has black wheels!

That’s more like it.

If your going to wish for something, wish big

I wish for Vespa GT60 , Who's with me?!

Meh...I don't care for big. I'm so very small, you see. If I were to wish for a scooter, any scooter, it would be an old Vespa Primavera 125ET3...that's running. *le sigh* Barring that, 2008 Stella, plzkthnx. I don't want the Vespa S anymore. It doesn't compare to the Stella, IMHO.

polianarchy wrote:Meh...I don't care for big. I'm so very small, you see. If I were to wish for a scooter, any scooter, it would be an old Vespa Primavera 125ET3...that's running. *le sigh* Barring that, 2008 Stella, plzkthnx. I don't want the Vespa S anymore. It doesn't compare to the Stella, IMHO.

Interesting. You don't care for "big" but you still prefer the much bulkier Stella over the petite S. I know there are many other reasons for choosing a shifter over a CVT, so don't get defensive. I just find it interesting and curious. FWIW, I love the old Primaveras as well. One of the ladies who works at my moto dealership has one and it's quite stunning.

When I had my bike in for service I checked out the new Stellas pretty carefully. My conclusion? If I ever buy a scoot that big, I want it to be more powerful. A 300 GTS might just fit the bill, although I prefer the size of the S.

gt1000 wrote:Interesting. You don't care for "big" but you still prefer the much bulkier Stella over the petite S.

I haven't seen the S in person yet, but it's an LX frame, and an LX is bigger than a stella!

Edit: well, maybe not, but they're comparable:

LX
Dry Weight: 225 lbs
Length/Width/Wheelbase 1,755 mm/740 mm/1,280 mm
Seat height: 775 mm

Stella
Dry Weight: 240 lbs.
Length/Width/Wheelbase: 1760 mm./ 695 mm/1235 mm.
Seat Height: 820 mm.

So the Stella is narrower and shorter than the LX, they're about the same length and weight, and the LX has a lower seat. Still, in person, the Stella seems "smaller" to me. It's dimensions are similar, but it looks substantially shorter and smaller.

And, for what it's worth, a primavera (or even a 60s Vespa) is much smaller than a P/Stella, and a GT/GTS is loads bigger than a LX.

Ya, what illnoise said!

The Vespa S was a lot bigger in person than I thought it would be, judging from the pictures. It's still a very attractive scooter, but given a choice between THOSE TWO, I pick Stella.

I haven't seen the S in person yet, but it's an LX frame, and an LX is bigger than a stella!

Edit: well, maybe not, but they're comparable:

Interesting. As I was responding I was wondering to myself what the actual dimensions were. For me, it's all perception I guess.

My frame of reference is actually my Buddy. I live on this scooter and ride pretty much every day. I've spent a total of about 30 seconds on an S and about 5 minutes on a Stella and the Stella felt bigger, heavier and (especially) wider than by Buddy and the S. But my brain was probably just comparing to the Bud.

As for the Primavera, yeah, they're tiny. A few weeks ago I rode the Buddy to my Ducati shop and the Primavera was parked outside. I parked my Bud next to it and it really is amazing how tiny the Primavera is compared to the Buddy. Svelte, elegant and not at all unsexy. The Primavera may be the Audrey Hepburn of scooters.

but I never learned how to shift, so it wasn't really an option for me Sad . Plus this is NOT a scooter friendly area at all as far as speed goes. I guess

don't give up on shifting, Krusty... I've driven automatic cars my whole life, when I first saw my gf's stella... I was quite happy to ride along on my Buddy without worrying about shifting for nearly a year. It scared to crap out of me, not understanding how it was done. I took the MSF class on a Yamaha Vino, so I didn't even learn motorcycle shifting.

Remembering the method of teaching at MSF, I started quite slowly. Literally, starting in 1st getting to 5 mph, stopping, starting in 1st, etc. Just to get the feel for letting the clutch/throttle timing thing. Then it was many trips around the block... eventually the 'mystery' of shifting began to unfold as I got more confident about how everything worked.

if you have an opportunity to take the MSF, do that...it's a safe way to learn shifting on a motorcycle. While the stella shifts with the hand and no toe clutch, the concepts and timing will get into your head. Which will make learning on your next scooter (stella!) a breeze...

And really, I'm VERY glad I got 4K miles on Buddy before getting on Stella. All of the actual riding skills were already well set in my brain. This made shifting much easier, when I didn't actually have to THINK about leaning the correct way into a right hand turn.

I offered to learn Stella so she wouldn't get engine gunk (amy had a broken thumb). I never expected to totally fall in love with her...let alone get a new one all for myself!!

just sayin...never give up on a dream.

happy riding!!

regarding Stella's size... it is a big heavy hunk compared to our Buddy. As a woman with MS (not the strongest gal around anymore), and who is 5'0", I'm pretty comfortable with Stella.

The major issue for me was feeling confident when is going slowly or stopped completely. I needed more stability than getting a stretched out toe on the ground! This is why I have my seats shaved down so I can get a full flat footed stance when stopped. The confidence that this one mod inspires really is quite amazing. I don't roll off the stand while sitting on the bike or anything that requires longer legs. But other than that, i think with some ingenuity, practice and testing changes to make your ride work for you, a lot is possible.

illnoise wrote:It looks awesome in photos, but I'm allergic to plastic chrome.

I must be last person to actually see one (two, actually - red and black) in person, but I finally did today.
I gotta tell you, all those acres and acres of chromified plastic just end up making it look cheesy.
The plastichrome "cupholders" around the instruments look craptastic in the extreme.
For the money Piaggio is charging for the "S," those parts should be triple chrome-plated metal.

The vertical plastichrome arrow on the front legshield points down,
and that's the same direction my thumb was pointing.

jrsjr wrote:

illnoise wrote:It looks awesome in photos, but I'm allergic to plastic chrome.

............ The plastichrome "cupholders" around the instruments look craptastic in the extreme.
For the money Piaggio is charging for the "S," those parts should be triple chrome-plated metal.
...........

The heck with chrome ..... polished stainless ...... nothing will hurt that

maryvu wrote:regarding Stella's size... it is a big heavy hunk compared to our Buddy. As a woman with MS (not the strongest gal around anymore), and who is 5'0", I'm pretty comfortable with Stella.

The major issue for me was feeling confident when is going slowly or stopped completely. I needed more stability than getting a stretched out toe on the ground! This is why I have my seats shaved down so I can get a full flat footed stance when stopped. The confidence that this one mod inspires really is quite amazing. I don't roll off the stand while sitting on the bike or anything that requires longer legs. But other than that, i think with some ingenuity, practice and testing changes to make your ride work for you, a lot is possible.

At 240 lbs. the stella isn't all that much heavier than the Buddy. It's kind of like that 6 lb. (or so) difference between a Buddy and the LX—it's not much, but it's all in how the weight's carried, and they certainly feel much different.

I honestly couldn't believe how light the Stella was. Two of us had to lift one (when they first suggested lifting it you really had to see the look on my face) but it was way lighter than I thought.

wow, can i just say you guys, that the vespa s is one fantastic looking machine. i was doing my best to not pay it any mind since its over my budget, but i was at the vespa dealer this weekend to inquire about that reduced Fly, and there it was. i did my best to not make eye contact with its adorable square headlamp, but i faltered you guys, and it got me. ::swoon:: bellisima!

Mmmm... Square headlight!