Modern Buddy

Hello All:
First, let me say thanks for all the good info on the forum. I have learned a lot within the last 2 months ( new scooterist).
Anyway, I'm approaching 400 miles on my buddy 125 and was wondering if I should service it at exactly at 500 miles ?
Also I came across this link that details the 500 miles service procedure.
Is this really what's done on the first service ?

http://vimeo.com/5377019

Your opinion matters....

From previous posts you'll find that first service mileage varies somewhat but most done around 500 miles. I'm sure it wouldnt have to be exact.
I'm like you, I didn't know what to expect from my dealer as far as the first service so I started picking their brain. They really weren't up to speed about what was to be done. I actually contacted The Genuine company to tell them what was going on. They really weren't to concerned that one of their dealers didn't know what the hell they were doing. I went ahead and let the dealer do the service just to keep the warranty up. Hope you have a better dealer in your area. Good luck!

i'm going to have my local scooter specialist do my 500 mile checkup. the dealer is an auto body shop, and i doubt that any of the kids working there will adjust valves or really go over the bike. it will probably get an oil change and a wash job only! the dealer told me that i could do that, and they would still honor the warranty if something should go wrong... they actually sounded relieved!

Take it to Dallas Vespa and talk to Mike - let him know your concerns and he will take good care of you.

You will check it in with Robert yet Mike has led the work on 5 Buddy's we have taken him and he always goes the extra mile.

It will be worth the drive for at least the first two services. If he doesn't suggest or ask, ask him about the synthetic oil and after your second service, how often they recommend bringing it back for service. It will save you money in the long run.

Watch your tire pressure and don't follow the max tire pressure yet rather use the Buddy recommended pressure for a start. They last way longer when you do this.

Glad to have another DFW scooterist!

As others have just said - you are about to discovery that scooter shops that really know what they are doing are few and far between. When you locate a decent one - stick wuth them! Many people do their own wrenching because they really don't trust the shop to actually do what they are asked to do. Heck of a thing - but there it is .

just a question.....

my local shop - Anca's Vespa in Schenectady, NY- is charging 165.00 bucks for :
"We do a full service which include some dozen or so inspections and adjustments, including changing the fluids and oil filter, and inspecting the brakes, and tires. There's some other things too that are too long to list in this email. We charge $165 per unit, and it usually takes about an hour or so."

This is a response because I asked what was done at first service.

Anyone else have a list from their dealer of what they do specifically and how much?

He's 45 mins away - the next Dealer is over 3 hours away. In fact 3 dealers are 3 hours away! and one of the motorcycle dealers never responded.

Is this good, bad? Normal? Crazy?

thanks!

Normal!

There's a rundown of what the first service includes in the Vimeo video above and in the service manual in our FAQ section.

Every dealer should perform all of these checks at the first service. This is why going to a dealer for this service is recommended.

Mtlgrlie wrote: We charge $165 per unit, and it usually takes about an hour or so."

I believe Dallas Vespa is around $135 and the second service is a bit more - BOTH are important.

That said - with good synthetic oil you are looking at 3,500 - 4,000 miles between follow up services. That is where the saving will kick in, NOT every 1,000 miles since it is so labor intensive!

My dealer didn't even know about the video nor anthing about the 500 mi. service. Cost me 165.00 roe an oil and filter change. They never checked valve clearence. Mine used a Schwinn scooter service flier to go by! Needless to say I'll be doing all my own service. Too bad Genuine doesn't require more from their dealers.

smithrw wrote:My dealer didn't even know about the video nor anthing about the 500 mi. service. Cost me 165.00 roe an oil and filter change. They never checked valve clearence. Mine used a Schwinn scooter service flier to go by! Needless to say I'll be doing all my own service. Too bad Genuine doesn't require more from their dealers.

It's required, they just can't go around and keep track of all of them. Some are naturally better than others. I can't speak for Wichita, but in some markets there may not be a lot of alternative options for dealers.

The dealer should at least have the service manuals.

I think there might be something in the warranty about it having to be no more than 500 miles at the time of service to keep the warranty valid.

Ethan Allison wrote:I think there might be something in the warranty about it having to be no more than 500 miles at the time of service to keep the warranty valid.

It does say this, but it's never been enforced. Dealers will recommend anywhere from 300 miles to 500 miles.

People will argue until the cows come home about what requirements are permitted by laws regulating warrantys, but there re good reasons for doing the first one at a dealer and within the first 600 miles.