Riding a BlackJack at Amerivespa

Post by **ericalm** » Wed Jun 02, 2010 6:04 am

I was lucky enough to have a BlackJack on loan for the 4 days I was at Amerivespa last week. I'd test ridden one before, but not for any length of time.

All of my initial impressions were reinforced: fun as hell, great pickup and handling, drop dead good looks. I got tons of compliments on it from Vespa riders, including one vintage guy who'd been making fun of CVTs the night before (when he didn't know what I was riding).

teacherquinn, who also owns a Buddy and a couple Vespas, said she was having a blast on hers.

Overall, it's definitely a better ride than my '06 Buddy 125, but that's mostly noticeable when pushing it—opening up the throttle and hard cornering.

Also, I found the BlackJack seat to be much more comfortable. Got pretty hot in the sun, though!

I tried to take pics of all the Buddys at Amerivespa. They'll all be posted soon.

dwayneed · Post by **dwayneed** » Wed Jun 02, 2010 1:01 pm

I have roughly 2k on my Blackjack and 2k on my Stella right now. I still have to stand there and decide which one I am going to ride. The Blackjack is a ton of fun!

gearhead · Post by **gearhead** » Wed Jun 02, 2010 1:32 pm

that blackjack also had all the protectors on it in flat black! sexy

Coffeejunkie · Post by **Coffeejunkie** » Wed Jun 02, 2010 1:45 pm

dwayneed wrote:I have roughly 2k on my Blackjack and 2k on my Stella right now. I still have to stand there and decide which one I am going to ride. The Blackjack is a ton of fun!

I dream of having this problem someday.

nateandcourt · Post by **nateandcourt** » Wed Jun 02, 2010 2:00 pm

There are times I wish I had gotten the blackjack, But now that my Pamplona is flat black and upgrades are partially completed .. eh.

Although I would have saved a little bit of cash just getting the blackjack.

I would love to have a Stella also, but it must be fully loaded and have a sidecar. So until i can convince my wife that I need a backup scooter for when this one is in the shop it ain't happening. I need a different excuse I think.

lmyers · Post by **lmyers** » Wed Jun 02, 2010 2:23 pm

nateandcourt wrote:There are times I wish I had gotten the blackjack, But now that my Pamplona is flat black and upgrades are partially completed .. eh.

Although I would have saved a little bit of cash just getting the blackjack.

I would love to have a Stella also, but it must be fully loaded and have a sidecar. So until i can convince my wife that I need a backup scooter for when this one is in the shop it ain't happening. I need a different excuse I think.

You need the Stella and sidecar to take the dog on trips with you. So, you may have to go get a dog for this to work.

rajron · Post by **rajron** » Wed Jun 02, 2010 2:33 pm

Ericalm;

Someone loaned you a BJ for four days; lucky you – cant wait until you do the little write-up, how did the BJ compare to your kitted Vespa?

Post by **ericalm** » Wed Jun 02, 2010 5:24 pm

rajron wrote:Ericalm;

Someone loaned you a BJ for four days; lucky you – cant wait until you do the little write-up, how did the BJ compare to your kitted Vespa?

Well… The Vespa has the 190 kit plus a Polini variator and a performance exhaust. It's pretty damn fast. It's also a much different ride than a stock LX. In terms of speed, the Vespa wins but that came at a pretty steep price.

The BlackJack handles so well, though! It cruises and corners effortlessly. I could definitely feel the differences between it and my Buddy 125. It's peppy-er and a more flickable than my Vespa for sure. One of my few regrets from Amerivespa is that I didn't get to ride it as much as I wanted to and didn't get to take it out into some more challenging routes.

If I was buying a Buddy and had the money, I'd definitely go for the BlackJack. If I had the scratch now, I'd buy NCY shocks and a pipe for my Buddy. I've been talking with my wife about doing some cosmetic mods; maybe I can talk her into a kit, shocks, pipe and a seat as well as a new paint job.

rajron · Post by **rajron** » Wed Jun 02, 2010 7:27 pm

Yea; I didn’t think the BJ would come close to your Vespa, but, I wasn’t sure.
I just got back from vacation and rode my Buddy to see how it ran, I haven’t ridden it in what seems like months – what a surprise, it is very quick and very flickable, it was like riding a 50cc scooter with bunches of power – the Buddy’s are very nice – kitted makes them even more fun.

PIStaker · Post by **PIStaker** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 2:30 am

Eric,
Don't forget to mention the instant cool factor. see attached example.

pugbuddy · Post by **pugbuddy** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 2:38 am

If I was buying a Buddy and had the money, I'd definitely go for the BlackJack. If I had the scratch now, I'd buy NCY shocks and a pipe for my Buddy. I've been talking with my wife about doing some cosmetic mods; maybe I can talk her into a kit, shocks, pipe and a seat as well as a new paint job.

My only issue with the BJ is...that it's black! I much prefer some color for my scooter! Otherwise, I really like the look. I've never ridden one though. How much "peppier" is it, I wonder?

r0sa · Post by **r0sa** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 2:40 am

monamibuddy wrote:Eric,
Don't forget to mention the instant cool factor. see attached example.

lookin' pretty GANGSTA!!!

PIStaker · Post by **PIStaker** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 2:47 am

r0sa,
The guy on this thing was pretty cool too.

PIStaker · Post by **PIStaker** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 2:51 am

pugbuddy wrote:
If I was buying a Buddy and had the money, I'd definitely go for the BlackJack. If I had the scratch now, I'd buy NCY shocks and a pipe for my Buddy. I've been talking with my wife about doing some cosmetic mods; maybe I can talk her into a kit, shocks, pipe and a seat as well as a new paint job.
My only issue with the BJ is...that it's black! I much prefer some color for my scooter! Otherwise, I really like the look. I've never ridden one though. How much "peppier" is it, I wonder?

B,
The "TangerineJack" rolls off the lips pretty easily.
hmmm.
Mike

Post by **ericalm** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 3:30 am

r0sa wrote:
monamibuddy wrote:Eric,
Don't forget to mention the instant cool factor. see attached example.

lookin' pretty GANGSTA!!!

That's me. I roll hardcore, y'all!

I'm actually wondering how possible it would be to do the flat matte in other colors. I think a deep, dark, matte red would be pretty hot.

PDR MCBC · Post by **PDR MCBC** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 3:52 am

We have an extremely hot 2-tone flat purple scoot around here. Pics:

http://www.stephcarson.com/blog1/?p=3854

rajron · Post by **rajron** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 4:02 am

As for the cool factor, jus a wee bit of sun tan might help

Kaos · Post by **Kaos** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 4:05 am

ericalm wrote:
r0sa wrote:
monamibuddy wrote:Eric,
Don't forget to mention the instant cool factor. see attached example.

lookin' pretty GANGSTA!!!
That's me. I roll hardcore, y'all!

I'm actually wondering how possible it would be to do the flat matte in other colors. I think a deep, dark, matte red would be pretty hot.

Super easy. When I bought my '50 Chrysler it was two tone flat gray and brown. I've also seen flat red and flat blue before.

PIStaker · Post by **PIStaker** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 4:13 am

PDR MCBC wrote:We have an extremely hot 2-tone flat purple scoot around here. Pics:

http://www.stephcarson.com/blog1/?p=3854

I really like what they did there. Just wish they offered a different colored piping on the BJ seat other than red. (the same one I am rockin, btw)
I love the purple, but I think the contrast with the red is bit jarring.
I love the UK version of the Stella in Lilac:

gearhead · Post by **gearhead** » Fri Jun 04, 2010 12:37 am

monamibuddy wrote:r0sa,
The guy on this thing was pretty cool too.

where's the pic?^

pugbuddy · Post by **pugbuddy** » Fri Jun 04, 2010 1:16 am

monamibuddy wrote:r0sa,
The guy on this thing was pretty cool too.

Until he wrecked it!

I like that two-tone purple scooter--very nice!

SIDE NOTE: I hit 14000 miles on my Buddy on the ride back from Amerivespa! Still going strong!

r0sa · Post by **r0sa** » Fri Jun 04, 2010 2:11 am

gearhead wrote:
monamibuddy wrote:r0sa,
The guy on this thing was pretty cool too.
where's the pic?^

its there! above!

beeporama · Post by **beeporama** » Tue Jun 08, 2010 2:42 pm

The BlackJack has been great for someone like me, who cares enough to want nice parts but doesn't care enough to significantly mod a stock scooter.

Assuming it has been successful, I can see a flat red one, or maybe they'll go crazy and offer it with flame detailing. Given the image and target marketing for the BlackJack I can't imagine they'd go with anything too tasteful or staid. javascript:emoticon(':twisted:')

I do wonder about the crossover in the target market for the BlackJack and the 220cc Blur. The BlackJack has more aesthetic appeal, but the Blur seems to supersede it from a practical standpoint. I wonder whether we'll see one of them folded into the other somehow.

Modern Buddy

Riding a BlackJack at Amerivespa

Riding a BlackJack at Amerivespa

BlackJack At Amerivespa

Re: BlackJack At Amerivespa

The guy on this was cool too.

Orange Version Perhaps

Re: BlackJack At Amerivespa

Re: BlackJack At Amerivespa

Purple

Re: The guy on this was cool too.

Re: The guy on this was cool too.

Re: The guy on this was cool too.