Most miles on Buddy 50

Dirvin · Post by **Dirvin** » Fri Apr 05, 2013 1:19 am

I have just passed the 12,000 mile mark on my 2008 Buddy 50. Still running well with only routine service (replaced rear tire at 10,000 miles, a couple spark plugs, and one major clean out of carbon deposits). My mechanic says a new pipe (stock) would have it performing like it was brand new. I might do that down the road but right now I am tickled at the reliability of this little gem. I drive it year round,down to 15 degrees if the roads are clear of snow.

I'm curious about how many miles other Buddy 50s have reached and what kind of service needs they have required. It feels like this little guy is just getting warmed up. How about yours?

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Fri Apr 05, 2013 3:16 am

12,000 isn't bad.

My 2009 Buddy 50 just passed 19,000 miles. Most of those have been in-town commuting and errands, but about 5,000 miles have been cross-state road trips each summer.

I recently got him back from his most extensive service/repair session, which involved: a new battery (second one), new rear tire (third one... front tire is still the second one, with plenty of miles left), new front brake line (worn through where it was rubbing against the wheel), new belt (second one, overdue), and new rollers (second set, overdue). Before this, all I'd had replaced were simple expendables like brake pads, spark plugs, filters, gaskets, and a few parts that broke in klutzy accidents in which the bike tipped over while parked or being pushed.

I'd guess I have about $600-700 in repairs on him... which is less than I spent just the last time I had the car in the shop. I have a couple trips planned for this summer, so I might hit 25K before the snow flies.

ender07 · Post by **ender07** » Fri Apr 05, 2013 4:59 am

I can't even compare with only 3.5k on my 2008 Roughhouse 50 (I only bought it last summer so most of the miles weren't me yet) but TVB, how the heck do you go cross-state road trips on a 50cc? I looked at most roads out of Madison, WI where I live and practically everything I saw was at least 45-55+....I wanted to go down to Lake Geneva for Scootoberfest but couldn't find roads that would work. I ended up strapping it to a trailer with my wife's Buddy 50 and towed them down.

Anyways is there some particular place you look for roads accessible via scooter? (below 45?)

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Fri Apr 05, 2013 2:28 pm

Riding between cities really isn't that difficult on a 50cc, at least around here where the geography allows it. (A desert or mountain state might be another story.) 70 years ago pretty much all roads between cities were low-speed roads, and they haven't torn most of those out.

I start with Google Maps. Unfortunately it doesn't have a speed-limit selection on the Directions page, but it has an "avoid highways" option, which helps. But it often picks 55mph non-interstate roads, assuming that you still want the fastest (not nicest) route. You can ask it to give you a bicycle route instead, which has its own biases (aiming for no-motors trails, or the absolute shortest route) but still comes up with good suggestions.

A feature that's really handy is the ability to change the route by clicking on it and dragging it to other roads. If you zoom in enough, you can see all sorts of roads to choose from.

For your example, just asking for a route from Madison to Lake Geneva puts you on I-39 and US-12. Ugh. Totally bad. Click the "avoid highways" option, and it tells you to take... just US-12. Feh. Better, I suppose. But then drag the route onto a few smaller roads (roads that run roughly parallel to major highways are great), and you could end up with this route, which looks like it might be a nice ride, only a few miles longer. Or the bicycle route looks reasonable.

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Fri Apr 05, 2013 3:20 pm

Good tips TVB...thanks!

tonymca · Post by **tonymca** » Fri Apr 05, 2013 5:18 pm

3800 miles just since november and only ride to work

jcbud · Post by **jcbud** » Sat Apr 06, 2013 1:19 pm

do you or how do you mount a GPS or I-phone bracket on your buddy.

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Sat Apr 06, 2013 1:58 pm

jcbud wrote:do you or how do you mount a GPS or I-phone bracket on your buddy.

Look for RAM mounts. They will sell you the top component custom-fitted for your GPS or phone, a swivel arm, and a variety of mounting options. The easiest for the Buddy is a swivel ball that mounts underneath the mirror stem nut. I've got this assemblage, and it works well with my Garmin.

jcbud · Post by **jcbud** » Sat Apr 06, 2013 2:01 pm

thanks PeterH, is there anyway you can post a pic ?

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Sat Apr 06, 2013 2:25 pm

Base and arm:
http://www.amazon.com/RAM-Mounting-Syst ... 985&sr=8-3

GPS Cradle:
http://www.amazon.com/RAM-Mounting-Syst ... 184&sr=8-6

BootScootin'FireFighter · Thu Apr 11, 2013 9:00 pm

jcbud wrote:thanks PeterH, is there anyway you can post a pic ?

BootScootin'FireFighter · Fri Apr 12, 2013 3:07 pm

and some pics today...

jcbud · Post by **jcbud** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 12:19 pm

SWEET....
thanks. Thoses are great looking mirrors too.

rentonhighlander · Post by **rentonhighlander** » Fri Apr 19, 2013 10:14 pm

I've had mine for 9 months now, and a couple of those I wasn't able to ride much because there was a few inches of ice on the side streets, but I've put 3300 miles on mine mostly riding to work. I'm on pace for about 5k/yr.
I've only changed tranny fluid twice the spark plug once and cleaned the air filter a couple times. I'm figuring I'll need new tire, maybe a belt by the end of summer.
This thing has run like a champ from about 25F to 104F. Looking forward to continue piling the miles on. I love everything about these utilitarian machines from the sound and smell of the 2T to the great gas mileage and fun.