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Buddy 50 vs Li'l International

Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 7:47 am
by megavolnutt99
I was trying to look for comparison but couldn't..
Anyway, I'm definitely buying a 50cc this Saturday but still deciding on which one...
Lil International is $100 more than the 50 but I'm not really sure the pros and cons. Anyway, I'm thinking about getting the 2009 models so I can get the free Blings give away but I don't think the International qualifies for the freebie.

Thanks!

Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 8:07 am
by LunaP
I didn't think there was any mechanical difference between the Ibternational and normal models, except for maybe a Stebel horn? Somebody correct me...

Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 11:27 am
by skully93
I believe Luna is right. Should just be the horn and the special colors, no other differences from a regular buddy 50.

Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 12:42 pm
by TVB
The Li'l Internationals have:

Two-tone colors
Matching "International" sticker
Better horn
Whitewall tires

Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 2:04 pm
by skully93
Oh yeah, tires!

I love my whitewalls, but I was told to expect them to need replacing after a fairly short time.

Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 2:37 pm
by Raiderfn311
^^^^ Skully I have 4100 on my whitewalls and my rear needs replacing. Ive got 2 heidenau k61s ready to go. Looking forward to the added performance, plus I was never really a whitewall fan. Hope Yoda is doing well. :)

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 4:44 am
by megavolnutt99
Nice! Based on the pictures it also seem like the Lil International is a tad smaller, which I prefer meaning faster! (I think!)
Anyway, would you guys think the Li'l international is worth the extra $400 since I dont think it's in the Freebie list (http://www.genuinescooters.com/springbling.html)
and it's $200 more than the Buddy 50

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 6:49 am
by LunaP
megavolnutt99 wrote:Nice! Based on the pictures it also seem like the Lil International is a tad smaller, which I prefer meaning faster! (I think!)
Anyway, would you guys think the Li'l international is worth the extra $400 since I dont think it's in the Freebie list (http://www.genuinescooters.com/springbling.html)
and it's $200 more than the Buddy 50
The Internationals aren't smaller, you just found a photo that looks that way. One won't be faster than the other, because they have the same displacement engine. If you want faster, go up in displacement. I had a 170i and loved her.

The Internationals come with a much better horn (a 139 decibel Stebel horn, look it up). The whitewall tires I believe are generally regarded as not so hot, but my 170i also came with whitewalls, and I had 3k miles on my 170i when she was demolished ( :cry: ) and we were just then needing to rotate the front and back/replace the back tire. Bottom line: if you're interested in the International, call your dealer and ask if it qualifies for the freebies or not. You may find out that it is, and in that case DO IT.

If not, I'd go with a regular 50. The Stebel horn is, I believe, around or less than 100 to buy on its own and something you could learn to install on your own if you get the confidence up, making the freebies the better deal. And if you decide you want the Stebel later, you can put it in.

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 11:43 am
by TVB
megavolnutt99 wrote:Nice! Based on the pictures it also seem like the Lil International is a tad smaller, which I prefer meaning faster! (I think!)
Same parts, same size, same speed. If it's derestricted (ask nicely before you agree to the sale, and the dealer will probably do it for free) they'll both make it up to 40mph on level ground. This means it probably won't technically qualify to be treated as a "moped" in your state... but people do it all the time. They're plenty peppy on start-up, regardless.
Anyway, would you guys think the Li'l international is worth the extra $400 since I dont think it's in the Freebie list (http://www.genuinescooters.com/springbling.html)
and it's $200 more than the Buddy 50
With that price difference, unless you really love the look of the International (or hate the available color(s) of the standard), I'd say go with the standard.

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 1:25 pm
by PeteH
I be confused - I read the specs on Genuine's site, and it says the horn is a "Stebel "Bad Boy" intimidator". There's no such horn as a Stebel Bad Boy, but there _is_ a Wolo Bad Boy, dual-air style similar to the Stebel, 118dB vs. the Nautilus' 139.

The 150s came with the Stebel Compact Nautilus, and the now-defunct spec page said so. The spec page for the current 50/125 does not mention the horn.

So I don't really know what's in the Lil' Internationals.