Modern Buddy

Ok, I showed everyone at work my pictures of my new buddy..( I am very excited) and told them all about how I got my mesh jacket with body armor..and I am getting my full face helmet today! They are all laughing so hard! I ask them "why are you laughing"? and one person said .."arn't you a little old too be riding a scooter"? those are for teenagers" " you should of gotten a motorcyvle"! WTF???????? I really don't care it they laugh...they won't be laughing when I talk about only spending $6 bucks to fill up! I just wondered if anyone else has this experience?

I've heard it all ...

"Kind of lame for a mid-life crisis."

"I had no idea you were gay."

"You should have saved up for a real bike."

and so on ...

Welcome to scootering. You will get made fun of, but who cares. You will never have ore fun in your life.

The gap between scooters and motorcycles has never been closer....how different are they really, i mean, kymco has an 800cc scoot coming out.

I prefer the nimbleness of scoots

btw...I am 25, young by most standards, but the average age of people on this board is much higher.

Getting something like a Harley to save gas is the same as thinking you are gonna save money with a hybrid SUV

It's just ignorance on their part....and maybe a little jealous.

Don't let them steal your joy.

Have fun....they'll be joining you as gas prices continue to rise.

i'm married to a gorgeous wife, i have 2 great kids and any time someone is seriously making fun of my scoot, i tell them, i've got everything i need without trying to impress you.

and i've had 10 times more fun on my rattler then any motorcycle i've ever owned.


mostly though it's just people i work with or know teasing me. no big deal. don't worry about them too much.....next time they complain about how much they paid to fill their tank, just snicker and walk away. hehehe

I got laughed at too ( at first ) being the ONLY person to ride a scooter to Denver International Airport. But after a cople of weeks of people comming up to me and asking if the cool scooter/moped (?!) in the parking lot is mine and what kinda of mpg does it get, etc. They are not laughing, they are actually going out and looking at scoots for themselves!! I have actually sent about half a dozen people to Sportique this month alone....

btw - as for the whloe gay/scooter thing; I nipped that in the bud at the outset by buying this t-shirt from cafe press:



(being a big ol' mo helps !! )


Robb

some get it some don't. Those who do are cool people. It's always disappointing when someone you had previously thought was cool bags on your scooter because you suddenly realize they just aren't cool.

I heard it from some too, but it all stopped this year when the hear I get mid-90 to hi-90 mpg's. Even the Toyota Prius driver stop giving me shit. He only got around mid-30's this winter, because the heater ran off his battery and the car engine ran all of the time. Don't worry about them they are mostly ignorant and will come around very soon.

Order the Modern Buddy 90+MPG button and put on your saddlebags.

Scooters reach out to older folks mainly. People in their 40's and 50's, so dont worry if they laugh. I get teased too where I work.

I'm 53 and have ridden motorcycles and scooters for over 36 years. I've also caught it all! I'm a cop and you oughta hear the crap I get from the other guys!

To the guy asked me why I don't ride a Harley; "Everybody has a Harley...that makes it a fad and fads are for people with no imagination."

Other answers; "Real men don't ride big wheels"
"90 mpg...NOW who's the dork?"
"$25,000 and $200 a month for insurance? 5,000
miles a year? How about $2500 and $100 dollars
a YEAR for insurance and 14,000 miles in a year?
NOW who's the REAL rider?"

--Keys

Be proud that you have separated yourself from the herd. Some of those laughing have been waiting for someone to break the ice. It makes it easier for them to jump in.

Remember this: "It takes a REAL MAN to ride a ( fill in )'s bike!"




Dennis

I've been made fun of too - been called a "dork", been told to get a bike and save even MORE gas money, etc. Was also told that only 60 year olds have scoots (I'm 30). Some people at work who are from other (moto and scooter friendly) countries have been teasing me b/c I don't feel ready to ride to work and want more practice - they're telling me I am a whimp and it is no big deal. So whatever - just grin and bear it. They are all jealous...that's my opinion.

Um, becareful not to rub anyone the wrong way with the whole gay thing. I've heard it too, it's kind of a standard shot hurled at a male "scooterist", but on a message board people may not understand the tone you're actually using. I haven't met a scooterist yet that has any problems with anyone's orientation (except maybe stuff you'd go to prison for!) but just be careful.
That being said, they're upset because they do what they think people want them to do. Not secure enough to do what they want for fear of social un-acceptance. Add the joy of scooting to the long list of things those ignorant people just don't "get".

I bet, that if you start riding to work, the joking will go away (or be reduced)
I scooter shopped for months & I got a lot of crap from people I know (including my wife & kids) when I talked about it.
Now those same people have seen me scooting around town & no one makes fun of me anymore (at least not in person) and many have asked about it.
A good friend of mine gave me a lot of friendly joking.... last week she put $117 in her SUV, came home & called me for details on where I got mine.... she is currently shopping for one.

A guy I know at work wants a scooter since he drives a sports car that gets 18mpg highway. He said if gas hits 5 dollars a gallon, he is buying one.

jfrost2 wrote:A guy I know at work wants a scooter since he drives a sports car that gets 18mpg highway. He said if gas hits 5 dollars a gallon, he is buying one.

He'll be buying by September...
I guess I'm lucky I work with a bunch of Boulderites...they've been pretty positive except for the obligatory moped comment or two.

Keys wrote:I'm 53 and have ridden motorcycles and scooters for over 36 years. I've also caught it all! I'm a cop and you oughta hear the crap I get from the other guys!

To the guy asked me why I don't ride a Harley; "Everybody has a Harley...that makes it a fad and fads are for people with no imagination."

Other answers; "Real men don't ride big wheels"
"90 mpg...NOW who's the dork?"
"$25,000 and $200 a month for insurance? 5,000
miles a year? How about $2500 and $100 dollars
a YEAR for insurance and 14,000 miles in a year?
NOW who's the REAL rider?"

--Keys

My brother is a Harley rider and I tell him the same reasons for why I don't want a Harley.

You can have a lot of fun by turning that scooter thing around to your advantage. Sometimes you don't have to say anything.

Here at work, one particular Harley rider brags about his custom paint job and how it cost him $2500. Most think it is absolutely hideous, but he loves it and thinks it has increased the value of his "investment". So, here I come into the parking lot riding my wife's new Sunset Buddy. Yep, its the same color as the basic color, minus all the weird patterns, of his "investment". I didn't have to say a word. Just looked, smiled and looked at the rest of the crowd that came over to the scoot. Ohhhh, they picked up on it right away and were quick to let him know that my "factory batch custom" paint and the rest of the scooter only cost a bit more than his paint job and looked a lot better! The "investment" hasn't been seen in the parking lot since, and things are a lot quieter in his section at work.

Dennis

Scooters do appeal to older people, but the average age on MB (through VERY unscientific research) is lower than, say, those geezers over on ModernVespa.

nissanman wrote:Um, becareful not to rub anyone the wrong way with the whole gay thing. I've heard it too, it's kind of a standard shot hurled at a male "scooterist", but on a message board people may not understand the tone you're actually using. I haven't met a scooterist yet that has any problems with anyone's orientation (except maybe stuff you'd go to prison for!) but just be careful.
That being said, they're upset because they do what they think people want them to do. Not secure enough to do what they want for fear of social un-acceptance. Add the joy of scooting to the long list of things those ignorant people just don't "get".

+1. I have met scooterists with problems with people's orientation. Not all scooterists are tolerant and nice. And we've actually had to deal with some of that intolerance (er, alternate belief system) here in the past.

I got my 50cc scooter 3 weeks ago and drove it to work. I'm 41 years old and my other car is a Maxima. I was actually surprised at the response at my work..as I am the only one who drives a two-wheeler..soon other workers were showing some interest asking me general questions (where I bought it, how it rides, how is the roads) and are thinking of getting one too.

So for me it has been a positive response and I have been driving it to work as often as I can (weather permitting)....but I must say that I was prepared for negative response as well, because I don't really give a chit what people think, as long as I am enjoying the ride in to work.

nissanman wrote:Um, becareful not to rub anyone the wrong way with the whole gay thing.

I included that to further show the level of immaturity/ignorance the hecklers possess. People like that get off on making fun of things they can't get their minds around.

Same here. I have been told the "why not just buy a motorcycle" and the " man, you got this midlife crisis all wrong, you are supposed to get a convertible".

Funny how big their eyes get when you say, 90MPG and you mention you just topped it off this morning with a couple of bucks .

Seriously, think of how many people have come to the board in the last 3 months and compare that to last year and the year before. Scooters are becoming a reality for a lot of people since in our work commute 85% of people are driving by themselves. Might as well get a vehicle that is for one person (or two).

Yeap, we are a little different . . and the 15 of us with Blurs, maybe a little more.

you know why harley's initials are HD don't you? cause all their parts are at least a "Hundred Dollars"

Its good to be different.

Windsurfing - Couldn't get anyone to try it. Too hard, too expensive, too dangerous, too girly(??????????), too much work.

Cycling (as opposed to "bicycle riding") - Too hard, too expensive, too dangerous, not gonna wear those sissy pants, too much work, makes you sweat.

Motorcycles - Too expensive, too dangerous, EVERYONE on motorcycles will be killed by _________, I'll get wet, too hot, too cold. Not unless its a Harley, yaddayadda.

Scooters - See motorcycles.

In each and every one of the above mentioned activities, 1 or more people eventually followed into the hobby and found great fun and some adventure. At work there was even a indoor parking area for bicycles because so many began to commute to work.
Now, there are a couple of designated parking areas for two wheelers. Today is a slack day, there is only 1 motorcycle, but 4 scooters!

Its good to be a groundbreaker.

Dennis

Now I get joked about the kilt & the scooter. I just say...

"I like the feel of the wind in my hair while wearing the kilt & scooting along."

EP_scoot wrote:Seriously, think of how many people have come to the board in the last 3 months and compare that to last year and the year before.

We have had a BIG jump
topic4261.html
check out the graph
(I have WAAAAY toooo much time on my hands)

My 21 year-old son came with me when I went to do some test drives, 6 weeks after I bought my buddy, he bought a sym 250cc scooter. Night before last, one of his friends was over, heard about the gas mileage and the price, then he took it for a spin around the block... now he's planning on getting one.
Scoots are just so cottin pickin' much fun. If you try one out, you just got to get one.

Like everyone, I've gotten my share of smirks and one-liners.

But on the other hand...the number of positive inquiries, compliments, and generally cool feed back is really becoming much more the norm.

A guy in a nice van, modestly tricked out, pulled up next to me at a light on the way into work this morning and said "We'll be seeing a lot more of those soon, they're a great idea.!" I get this sort of thing in traffic a lot lately.

A lot of folks ask how many mpg's I get and when I tell them I get mid 80's on average but as high as 92 their jaws just drop. Then they ask what sort of license they need, where do they take the safety course, how cold can I ride, where did I buy mine, and very frequently, what other colors do Buddy's come in?

I kind of feel like I ought to get a bunch of brochures to hand out!

kilted texan wrote:Now I get joked about the kilt & the scooter. I just say...

"I like the feel of the wind in my hair while wearing the kilt & scooting along."

I once saw a guy standing by himself in a field in Mosier Valley (between Arlington & HEB, TX), wearing a kilt, playing a bagpipe in the rain.

Was that you?

I'm pretty sure it was the only place he was allowed to practice.

AmyNTX wrote:They are all laughing so hard! I ask them "why are you laughing"? and one person said .."arn't you a little old too be riding a scooter"? those are for teenagers" " you should of gotten a motorcyvle"! WTF???????? I really don't care it they laugh...they won't be laughing when I talk about only spending $6 bucks to fill up! I just wondered if anyone else has this experience?

They used to laugh at me. Not anymore. No, I didn't beat them all up. Now, I get questions about the ride & mpg. I'm the one who is laughing now. They pay $120 bucks a week to get them around in those large SUVs and trucks and I pay only $4 a fill-up.

$6 to fill-up? Where do you find $6/gal. gasoline?

ericalm wrote:Scooters do appeal to older people, but the average age on MB (through VERY unscientific research) is lower than, say, those geezers over on ModernVespa.

Ooooh I'm telling on you Eric!

Nope not me, I am only good at playing with ... Sorry almost forgot to keep it PG.

2 of my fave answers:
- if i have to explain it to you, you wouldn't understand
- i already got enough between my legs (works best if you are male)

First couple of weeks I got janked pretty good -- but only in groups. To a man, almost every person has snuck in my office by themselves to find out more about it. My favorite question is "Is it new or old?"

Be patient with people. It just takes time for most to get past the knee-jerk reaction.

I got my Buddy 50 last weekend. The first day I rode to work on it a bunch of guys started laughing. I sat there for a second then said, "laugh all you want..... 90 miles per gallon".
Their laughter quickly changed to interest.
A few minutes later I see a bunch of them huddled around it saying how nice it is.

I got the same type of BS when I got my Buddy. Now half those people have a scoot, and the other half want one. My favorite line is "I guess my sophistication level went up a notch during my travels in Europe" or the more to the point "99 mpg/$3 to fill the tank/$100 year for insurance...suck on that!"

kilted texan wrote:Now I get joked about the kilt & the scooter. I just say...

"I like the feel of the wind in my hair while wearing the kilt & scooting along."

There's an image that wont soon leave my head ...

Most people I work with have made more fun of the jacket, gloves and fullface helmet than the scooter itself.

I was at the motorsports store near my work today (I am on vacation) to get a chain lock and a can of that Honda Spray cleaner (the old stuff). As I was leaving I ran into my boss who was there to look at the scoots. To bad they only sell Honda and Yamaha's there, he did check out my Buddy, but did not like the headlight for some reason.

kilted texan wrote:Now I get joked about the kilt & the scooter. I just say...

"I like the feel of the wind in my hair while wearing the kilt & scooting along."

My father always warned me not to look under a Scotsman's kilt to see if he wore underwear... how do you not reveal that on a scoot?

I've gotten a lot of mixed reactions, many good, but very little real ridicule. I have a friend who is a recent Harley owner, and it's ludicrous how much you have to spend (energy and money) on that lifestyle- being a "cool" Harley rider. My response is that scooterists don't have anything we need to compensate for...

cmc715 wrote:$100 year for insurance...suck on that!"

who is your insurance company? the quote I got was much higher.

I'm sorry, but we don't need acceptance. If anyone doesn't like what I ride, I don't really care. I probably don't like what they ride either (maybe to much honesty.. I am very particular when it comes to motorcycles). 2 wheels is 2 wheels and ANY rider should have at the least a basic respect for that. Yes, it's educating people, but we are equal to all others on 2 wheels, and I sincerely hope that everyone realizes that. We are not the norm (yet). And that's ok.

I don't take no crud about my scoot. I caught some flack at the office today from one of the guys, so I peed in his coffee while he was at a meeting.
"Funny, Bill never drinks my coffee at home..."

Most of the people I know have been really cool about it. The only one evil look I got was when my co-worker told me about the motorcycle he had just bought.. 125cc I giggled and told him I wouldnt rub it in

My manager called it a moped the other day and I set him straight on that one.. But he was super excited to hear that it will be here in 1 week and wants to see it as soon as I get it.

A guy in a nice van, modestly tricked out, pulled up next to me at a light on the way into work this morning and said "We'll be seeing a lot more of those soon, they're a great idea.!" I get this sort of thing in traffic a lot lately.

Stopped at a light behind a small pickup with two high school guys in it today. The passenger leans out the window and yells back "kick-@ss scoot, man!" and gives me a thumbs-up! I was surprised but managed to smile and give him a return thumbs-up before we moved on. I seem to get a very positive reaction from the high school crowd.... Kinda funny to me for some reason!

Hey Kiltedtexan...this was me two weeks ago at the Games in Prescott, AZ.

--Keys

charltons wrote: My father always warned me not to look under a Scotsman's kilt to see if he wore underwear... how do you not reveal that on a scoot?

Very carefully.

WOW the hammer throw. How did you do? Never got the nerve to try it. Is that a McLeod Hunting, I am still trying to learn to recognize tartans.

Funny how people laugh about scooters, then complain about high gas prices. LOL!

I have two motorcycles. I've ridden motorcycles for years. I've done track days. Heck, I even teach motorcycle safety courses.

But motorcycles are expensive. Mine happen to be very powerful and not much fun to ride in rush hour traffic. A set of motorcycle tires runs about $280, and commuting eats up the center of the tire pretty quickly.

So...my big old 6'5", 200lb self bought a little 125cc scooter. I get a lot of funny looks, but I'm married, so I'm not trying to impress anyone.

Now, if I were huntin' for the ladies, I guess I'd have to take the motorcycle. LOL!

My scooter is a great pit bike and a great commuter. But my motorcycles are more fun to ride.

This is the way I prefer to ride my motorcycles, can't do 150mph on my scooter (on a track of course....not on the road!):

kilted texan wrote:WOW the hammer throw. How did you do? Never got the nerve to try it. Is that a McLeod Hunting, I am still trying to learn to recognize tartans.

That was the 22 pound Heavy Hammer...got about 50 ft. And no, the tartan is Clan MacQuarrie...my family clan.

--Keys