An orange Buddy 125!
OK, so I'm not so keen on orange, but after shopping around for the past few months in preparation, there were only a handful of bikes that fit the criteria I was looking for. Originally I had set a budget of only $2500 (since I still have to replace some critical audio gear for work that I lost during the off season), but I wanted a dead-reliable machine that could achieve 60mph with a good dealer network and with a design I knew wouldn't leave me stranded like the Rattler constantly did.
The Stella was my first choice, but the newest 4-strokers were way out of my budget, and the selection of 2-stroke bikes in Arizona have been beaten to death. They look good on paper, but when you see them in person, you can tell they had NOT been loved.
Piaggio? Great bikes... horrible dealer network. They may have places that sell them, but getting parts and service for them is a nightmare. That and the "Vespa Tax" isn't something that I find much value in anymore. Sure, they are good bikes, but that doesn't offest the negatives that the Modern iteration of Vespa has developed.
SYM did tempt me with the Symba: A bike I could actually afford new if I tweaked the budget, a great look and a solid design that is proven. But, the dealership network and lower top speed kind of killed it. The local dealer seemed like a nice enough fellow, but he didn't have any bikes on the floor for me to check out and SYM hasn't had the best support in the US. If by some small miracle they do get some in and I get some time in the saddle, that is probably the only bike that will change my mind at the moment. But, it isn't looking likely. I do very much like the design.
The Buddy 125 is on end-of-season clearance (although we have year round riding weather here) for just under $2800 OTD. For Phoenix, that is considered a good deal. They are fee crazy around here! It's a 2012, not a leftover 2009 and it has a full 2-year warranty. It is as proven as it gets (as I preach to the choir around here) and should of been the bike I was to get as a daily driver as opposed to thinking with my heart and getting the P200e last season. Am I dead set on trying out the new "Plasti-Coat" craze sweeping the bike world on the orange panels. I figure a nice gloss grey may look great with some chrome bits. But, I won't know for sure until the 7th, which is the target day for the cash to end up in my grubby hands and in theirs.
I would of been able to secure it sooner, but the slum of a house we're renting flooded during the storm last night, and our landlord (who is actually sub-letting the place) really didn't do much to attend to the situation. So, finances had to be juggled and a part day off had to be taken. BUT... the plan is still on!
So I guess the Kool-Aide took a while to sink in from around here... but sink in it did.
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