new member, ready to buy a scoot

[pimaCanyon]

Hello Scooter Fans!

First time poster here, I am about to buy my first scooter.

I had never owned--nor even driven--a scooter or motorcycle till last Friday when I test drove a few. I say "test drove", it was basically a drive up an alley, into a parking lot, around in a circle and back. (I've done lots of bicycling, but about the only thing the bicycle and a scooter has in common is they both have two wheels.)

I think I'm down to choosing between these three:

1) Buddy 150 International
2) Kymco People 150
3) Sym HD200

Most of my riding will be in town, but plan to do occasional rides up Mt Lemmon and down to Madera Canyon (I live in Tucson). Maybe occasional weekend trips a little further from home, but no interstate riding.

My fiance will ride as a passenger some of the time. (Maybe my dog too if I can figure a way to carry her safely and without scaring her half to death!)

The scooters listed above have one major difference: 10 inch wheels on the Buddy versus 16 inch on the People and HD200.

I suspect wheel size has been discussed here ad nauseam, but what are your opinions of the small wheel versus the bigger? (I think I'd prefer something in between, like 12 or 13, but haven't found a scoot with wheels that size that I like).

Thanks for whatever info you can provide!!

(very cool site, by the way.)

[dwayneed]

I am finding that I would prefer larger wheels once i get up above that 50-60mph range. Anything slower the 10" wheels are fine. So if you plan on spending alot of time on 50+mph roads I might suggest larger wheels, more stability. That's my 2c.

I am pretty sure the Piaggio Fly has 12" wheels...

[pimaCanyon]

I am finding that I would prefer larger wheels once i get up above that 50-60mph range. Anything slower the 10" wheels are fine. So if you plan on spending alot of time on 50+mph roads I might suggest larger wheels, more stability. That's my 2c.

I am pretty sure the Piaggio Fly has 12" wheels...

thanks, dwayneed. That's kinda what I figured.

The one thing I keep hearing about the 10 inch wheels, though, is that they make a scooter easier to handle for a newbie, and I are a newbie.

I plan to do some more test driving, maybe this time drive around the block a couple of times, but I suspect I won't really know how the scoot feels to me until I've put a couple hundred miles on it. (And by then I will own it--no changing my mind at that point!)

[rabbitgod]

Shaboink

http://skyislandriders.informe.com/forum/

shameless plug deactivate

[Skootz Kabootz]

First, congrats on getting a scooter! You are in for a world of fun! Here's my 2¢ ...

Smaller wheels make a scooter more "flickable" vs larger wheels. Meaning it turns easier.

A spinning wheel creates a force like a gyroscope - it wants to stay upright and go straight. The bigger the wheel, the stronger this force. To turn, that force needs to be countered, meaning, you will need to lean into the turn more or less depending on the size of the wheels. The bigger the wheel, the more you need to lean into the turn. The degree to which a bike resists or facilitates turning is known as its "flickability". Smaller wheels make for a more flickable bike because they generate less of this gyroscopic force.

(Boy, am I Mr. Science today or what?? )

While more flickability is great for the quick and easy turning needed for city riding, it is another story for highway riding. For highway riding, the stronger gyroscopic force generated by a larger wheel makes for a steadier ride at speed.

Also, the smaller a wheel, the more it will be affected by potholes.

In the case of the People 150 you are considering, it has larger wheels, but they are also thinner. Thinner wheels will be a little less stable than fatter ones (less rubber on the road).

I suggest you consider where you will be riding the most. City? Highway? And getting the scooter that is most appropriate for those conditions. However IMO, if you are going to be riding on the highway a great deal, no 150cc scooter is adequate. You need something bigger and heavier.

[pimaCanyon]

thanks rabbitgod for the link to a local riders forum!

And thanks to skootz kabootz for the flickability primer. (I need to start a glossary for all these technical terms... )

I'm guessing I'll be doing 90 percent city riding, or more. Speeds 45 or less. So I'm thinking I should get the scoot that will be best for city driving. If I decide highway trips are just too fun and I wanna be driving the highways on the weekends, I'll just have to get a bigger scoot for that at some time in the distant (or not-so-distant) future.

From your description, the Buddy's gonna be more flickable and therefore better suited for city driving from the flickability standpoint.

[TVB]

(I've done lots of bicycling, but about the only thing the bicycle and a scooter has in common is they both have two wheels.)

That's no small thing. Riding a scooter is more like riding a bicycle than it is like driving a car. Pedaling is the only fundamental difference; the rest is just a matter of degree (how fast, how maneuverable, how wet you get in the rain, how invisible you are to SUV drivers, etc). Your bicycling skills will make learning to ride a scooter much easier.

[pimaCanyon]

(I've done lots of bicycling, but about the only thing the bicycle and a scooter has in common is they both have two wheels.)

That's no small thing. Riding a scooter is more like riding a bicycle than it is like driving a car. Pedaling is the only fundamental difference; the rest is just a matter of degree (how fast, how maneuverable, how wet you get in the rain, how invisible you are to SUV drivers, etc). Your bicycling skills will make learning to ride a scooter much easier.

that's good to know, TVB. My first ride on a scoot, I'm going "hey, this thing sure doesn't turn like a bicycle!" But yeah, a lot of the safety stuff from bicycling should carry over to scootering. Believe me, on a bicycle, I pay a lot of attention to what the car drivers are doing ('course the ones coming up from behind, those are the ones you can't do too much about), and I intend to pay just as much attention to them from my scooter seat as from the bicycle.

Tomorrow afternoon I test ride some more. Can't wait!

(The scary part is the local dealer has a sale going on and tomorrow is the last day.... but I do want to take my time. But if it's crystal clear which one to get, then why wait, so I intend to be prepared to buy tomorrow, or to walk away and keep looking. either way will be fine.)

[PeterC]

Just one more bit of advice: the more you go, the farther you'll want to go. I'd tend to go with the larger wheels and the larger number of cc's. Unless, of course, you want to go small in the beginning, and then trade up as your skill/needs increase.

[schroeder]

I own a Buddy 125 and a Sym HD200. I enjoy both. If I could only have one I would take the Sym. The bigger wheels make for a much smoother ride and it has alot more power off the line and top end. It is bigger than the Buddy, but is still very easy to use in the city. I have had the HD 200 up to about 75 mph. Will handle short trips on the freeway but the Buddy is a little light for freeway riding.

I know Tucson and if you plan to ride up mt. Lemmon and ride two up occasionally , I would definately try out the Hd 200 before buying anything else you mentioned. Has a much larger saddle for two up riding.

Really has the power of some scooters that are 250cc's. I think you will be surprised. If you have any question, let me know.

[pimaCanyon]

thanks PeterC and Schroeder. The HD is a great deal for the price right now. I did ride it a couple of times (but like only up the alley, around the parking lot and back) and found the extra weight (compared to the People) a bit intimidating.

But I suspect you are both right that once I get comfortable on the scoot I will want the larger size and extra power. The seats are better on the HD both for me and for two up riding.

I am tall (6 feet) but skinny (under 140 pounds), so the seat height of the People and HD are a better fit than the Buddy.

(But the Buddy just looks so damn cool, retro and all. Wish they made a 200cc model (or even 175) with a higher seat and longer wheelbase!)

[iMoses]

Disclosure: I have 1 of each, a cream color 2007 125 Buddy (bought Sept 07-wife I and share this scoot now) and a silver color 2009 SYM HD200 (bought July 09-traded my black 2007 Buddy 125).

The Buddy has over 6K, and the SYM has 2,900 miles on it.

I'm 6', and weigh 230lbs., so in the hilly areas 125cc's are not enough for my fat butt... I tend to slow down to about 50-55mph.

My top WOT speed on the Buddy is 65mph (indicated) and 78mph (indicated) on the SYM.

The Buddy has 124.9cc's and is more nimble, has more under seat storage space, the dash storage holds a water or soda bottle and allows for easy access of other small things and the Buddy just looks better.

Where as the 171cc HD200's makes it faster, has the larger 16" wheels which take bumps better thus making for a more smoother ride.


BTW - If I could of afforded both, I would of kept my black Buddy, they are so much fun to ride.

[pimaCanyon]

thanks, iMoses. Yes, I agree with you, the Buddy just looks better!

I'm headed out to the local dealer in about half an hour, hopefully to ride all three.

My brain is saying get the HD, it's a good deal, has the power and size that I could grow into, would be better for two up riding, etc.

Buy my heart says, get the Buddy!

We'll see where I end up after a little more driving.

[BeachBuzz]

my $.02
If you are going to enjoy the scooter with a passanger, take your passenger for a test fit at a minimum, a ride if possible. Some have pegs, some have floorboards, seats are different configurations and max capacitys differ. Passenger comfort is different on every scoot I/we have ever sat on, and if momma aint happy, aint nobody happy

as tall as you are you should be pretty cramped on a Buddy especially with a passanger. we only take the Buddy 2-up if we're going to the corner store or someplace as close as that. I'm 5'10, Mrs is 5'2, our total weight is probably 320# or better. I really dont like driving the Buddy with us both on it. We bought it used from a guy that was well over 6' who took his wife ocasionally and I cant imagine how they did it comfortably and safely. It's a great scoot solo and is completely in it's element in town, but for me it's a little smallish. Normally we take the Burgman if we're 2-up but if we need to make a quick trip locally I would rather take the TGB50 over the Buddy because it sits taller and has a much bigger seat. I converted the Blur to a solo scoot but the TGB is actually more comfy for 2 than the Blur ever was.

[TVB]

My first ride on a scoot, I'm going "hey, this thing sure doesn't turn like a bicycle!" But yeah, a lot of the safety stuff from bicycling should carry over to scootering.

There's also stuff like the body mechanics of swerving briefly to avoid a pothole, or leaning in a fast turn, or the use of both front and back brakes... things that are just alien to driving an automobile, but work the same (with adjustments) on a scooter.

[pimaCanyon]

thanks to all for your replies!

I just got back from more test riding and I have eliminated the Buddy from my list. (sad to say, especially since this is a Buddy forum and I was looking forward to connecting with you folks here.)

Between the Buddy, the People 150, and the HD200, the Buddy's ride felt the harshest. I could feel more of the motor vibration under the seat than with the other two. Also bumps on the road.

So now I'm trying to choose between the People 150 and the HD200. If price were the same, or within 2 or 3 hundred bucks, I'd go for the HD in a heartbeat. But the out the door price is !000 more for the HD-- 4100 for the HD, 3100 for the People. So now I'm wondering whether the HD will be worth that extra grand to me.

Any and all feedback will be most welcome. I realize this is a Buddy forum, so I won't keep posting about these other scoots.

Thanks again for all your feedback!

[Dooglas]

Whatever scoot you choose, the most important thing is to train yourself as a rider. I strongly recommend the MSF basic course sooner rather than later. For some folks this is also a good way to decide if a PTW is for them.

Maybe my dog too if I can figure a way to carry her safely and without scaring her half to death!

Basically a bad idea (unless you have a scoot with a sidecar).

[gr8dog]

You don't need to be a Buddy owner to participate in this forum. Stick around and share your experiences. We would love to continue to hear from you.

[pimaCanyon]

You don't need to be a Buddy owner to participate in this forum. Stick around and share your experiences. We would love to continue to hear from you.

Thanks, I will do that. Seems like a great forum.

[pimaCanyon]

I went back to the dealer late yesterday afternoon and ended up deciding on the SYM HD200. Better fit for me, smoother ride. The extra power is still questionable in my mind--that is, whether I need it or will use it. But the ride just felt better. I wonder about the HD125, but this dealer didn't carry that model and their price on the 200 was better than the list price on the 125.

Dealer will order today, should arrive next Friday, so a week from tomorrow I hope to be riding!

Even though I'm not a Buddy owner (yet anyway... my fiance liked them, also like the Symba, so who knows we may buy another scoot for her), I will continue visiting this forum. Seems like a great group of scooterists!

Thanks again to all who replied to my post, your replies were helpful in my decision making process!

[dwayneed]

Congrats, don't be a stranger!

[schroeder]

Good choice, pimaCanyon. I don't think you will have any regrets choosing the Sym over the People 150. Keep us posted as you begin your new adventure on the Sym.