Modern Buddy

And I am soooo happy


Well I just returned from my first LONG ride in traffic from NoHo scooters to Alhambra. Over 20 miles and only a couple of cagers tried to kill me

I just want to make a thread to thank everyone here for their advice and guidance in my search and finally a purchase of a brand new Kymco Agility 125. What a sweet little scooter I think I might actually prefer it over the Black Jack.

Ok, lets not get crazy. But it's such a sweet little ride, and so easy to handle and turn. Picks up speed nicely, and it's obvious I can get all over the city with it. Woo Hoo!

A special thanks goes out to NoHo Mike who made it possible for me to get a good new scooter instead of a used one or a chinese bike. Business was good today at NoHo, and for good reason. If you live in SoCal and are looking for a scoot, really no reason to go elsewhere within a reasonable distance. Thanks for the great deal, Mike!

This was my first real ride in traffic, not like when I went around th block a few times. North Hollywood, Burbank, Glendale, Eagle Rock, Highland Park, South Pasadena. It's the best feeling ever being out and about on two wheels.

A biker waved at me!

So, discuss getting your first scooter or something in this thread. It's totally AWESOME. Words escape me.

Thanks once again for all the help and support on my way to riding. Goodbye to my car....for good!

JHScoot wrote:And I am soooo happy

Well I just returned from my first LONG ride in traffic from NoHo scooters to Alhambra. Over 20 miles and only a couple of cagers tried to kill me

I just want to make a thread to thank everyone here for their advice and guidance in my search and finally a purchase of a brand new Kymco Agility 125. What a sweet little scooter I think I might actually prefer it over the Black Jack.

I'll probably be in the market pretty soon here for Jule's replacement. I do love the Buddy, but I gotta say the Kymco Agility 125 and People 250 are pretty sweet bikes, and I hear a lot of good reviews from owners, I may have to find a dealer and go with her to test ride. I'm also gaga over the Piaggio mp3, moreso for a touring bike since we live practically downtown and don't use freeways, but I do want to get out more and do very long or multi-day trips.

JHScoot wrote:Goodbye to my car....for good!

It's such a relief to get rid of that cash-cow! I didn't think it was possible, but every trip becomes an adventure, especially when work requires you to sometimes hit the road with a lot of stuff. You'll learn to adapt and overcome just about anything, and prove all the nay-sayers wrong! Ride safe dude.

Congratulations!!

JHScoot wrote:This was my first real ride in traffic, not like when I went around th block a few times. North Hollywood, Burbank, Glendale, Eagle Rock, Highland Park, South Pasadena. It's the best feeling ever being out and about on two wheels.

I went for my first "real" ride in traffic today, too. 3 lanes of traffic, 40 mph...felt good!

Have fun!

thanks bootscootin

and sure, the car is a cash cow. fuel, wear and tear, repairs, service, maintenance, insurance. it's just something i don't see as necessary anymore. heck, that's what rentals are for, i figure. or that new Zip Car service. gotta look into that. i still have to get fully licensed for night riding, and work out the public transportation schedule. but i have a subway / light rail line just a few miles from me with plenty of places to lock up a scoot. so i think i am good to go if need be.

and yes voodoo kitty! isn't it great? congrats to you, too

i had been practicing more on the Black Jack and this morning went out for my first longish ride. 20 miles. but not in traffic. it was around 5:00am and being Saturday, nobody going to work. but knowing i could be riding home on a new scoot today i felt i needed to get some riding time in. and boy did it pay off, as i felt real comfortable riding through city after city this afternoon. almost 100 degrees today, too

my first impressions of the Agility 125 is it's very lite on its feet, so to speak. suspension is a tad more forgiving then the Black Jack, but it also feels less solid and hunkered down. it feels lighter but not as nimble, and it's quick off the line but not punchy like the Black Jack. and it certainly doesn't have the same midrange grunt of the Black Jack. all in all it feels softer and more ordinary. "serviceable" comes to mind. a perfect little commuter. it feels like i have to lean into the Black Jack more when turning. which might be because of its smaller wheels, but idk? more time on both will surely reveal more to me. i will write an Agility 125 review and put it in that section here when i have more riding time with it.

JHScoot wrote:Goodbye to my car....for good!

I just did the same thing. It is such a relief to not have to deal with the hassles of repairs and gas. Congrats on the big step. It is only getting easier for me to be without a car. My other wheels are a 1982 Nishiki 12 speed road bike.

JHScoot wrote:i had been practicing more on the Black Jack and this morning went out for my first longish ride. 20 miles. but not in traffic. it was around 5:00am and being Saturday, nobody going to work. but knowing i could be riding home on a new scoot today i felt i needed to get some riding time in. and boy did it pay off, as i felt real comfortable riding through city after city this afternoon. almost 100 degrees today, too

Have you taken the MSF? I can't believe how much more confident I felt after completing those two days of non-stop scooting. Highly recommended!

Have fun!

^ haven't taken the MSF course yet, but i plan on it when time permits. i think it's important, myself. but i also feel like i have some pretty good skills, surprisingly enough. at least for a twist n go scooter.

i think a big part of that is although i haven't taken the course yet, i do have the full handbook and have studied it relentlessly. of course in spite of this i did fail my permit test the first time out. that should tell me something!

the ride home yesterday was confidence inspiring, but also a bit nerve wracking. i am an exceptionally good automobile driver, and i feel those skills help me on a bike, too. my drivers education teacher ALL those years ago. "IPDE!!" he used to exclaim (identify, predict, decide, and execute). its ingrained in my head forever more

used my horn twice today. once when a cager turned left in front of me and had i not slowed i would have hit his tank of an SUV, and a few seconds later when i noticed a woman about to turn left in front of me, but looking the other way. a moment later a Mercedes SUV changed into my lane right beside me, but swerved out when they checked their mirror. i figure this is regular stuff i will have to get used to on a daily basis.

but yeah, it was so much fun!

I've been car-free in San Diego for 1.5 years now and there's only been a handful of days where I wished I had a car or an alternative. Even on those I powered through. It's just a matter of the right gear, the right attitude and vigilance.

Have fun, stay safe. Scooting has only made my life better!

JHScoot wrote:^ haven't taken the MSF course yet, but i plan on it when time permits. i think it's important, myself. but i also feel like i have some pretty good skills, surprisingly enough. at least for a twist n go scooter.

Glad to hear you are having fun. Now, go take the course. It will make you a better and safer rider.