Modern Buddy

I don't know anything about the type of transmission in the Buddy. Is it safe to use the throttle to "hold" yourself on a hill briefly like you might on a manual trans motorcycle?

My guess is its not a good idea and I've been avoiding it but I thought I'd ask those of you in the know.

Thanks

John

it can get quite hilly here in seattle and it can be downright creepy. i found that if i keep my rear brake engaged while giving the throttle a bit of juice and then release the rear brake, there's no 'slipping' backwards. good luck.

It will work, however, there is a centrifugal clutch inside your variator/transmission that will eventually burn up from this sort of activity. I'd recommend using the brakes only.

--Keys

I might add that it's not good to do on a motorcycle either.

On the other end, engine braking, it IS OK. If you're going downhill, release the throttle and the variable belt setup will give you a bit of engine braking. Nice.

It helps to save your brakes for the other side of the hill.

xtetra wrote:I don't know anything about the type of transmission in the Buddy. Is it safe to use the throttle to "hold" yourself on a hill briefly like you might on a manual trans motorcycle?

My guess is its not a good idea and I've been avoiding it but I thought I'd ask those of you in the know.

Thanks

John

I know this is horrible for your clutch on a manual transmission car, I would imagine it would be no different on the buddy.

If I'm at the light on a hill (going upward) I just hold the rearbrake and sometimes stand up. Then as you hit the throttle, the bike takes off as you sit down. You don't even really need the brake if you just stand though

As far engine braking downhill, someone told me it was better to just use the brakes because they are cheaper to replace than the transmission. Is there any truth to this?

captaintg wrote:As far engine braking downhill, someone told me it was better to just use the brakes because they are cheaper to replace than the transmission. Is there any truth to this?

"Engine braking" by letting up on the throttle when going downhill won't put any excess strain on your transmission the way that revving while pointing uphill would. But a lot of people were taught to drive their cars without "riding the brake." I ride the brake on my scoot often, particularly using the rear brake while turning and for slow deceleration.

You're definitely better off wearing down the brakes than trying to spare them. Though the cost of replacing your transmission would depend on the extent of the damage, screwing it up can also put strain on your carb and engine.

Thanks all for your suggestions and input.

Thanks for asking the question. I do this all the time (as a matter of fact I was doing it ten minutes ago) and never considered the wear and tear on the transmission.