Modern Buddy

I was in the neighborhood yesterday, so I stopped in at Scenic City scooters to do some butt testing. After sitting on every scooter in the joint, it finally hit me what it is that I don't like about the Buddy. I knew there was something that felt a little off, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

It's the curved floorboard.

I simply cannot find a spot on it that my feet rest comfortably. I only wear a size 9, but I have an inseam somewhere between 30"-32", and the combination isn't jiving. Literally every other scooter there felt better to me. The handlebars seem just a bit lower than others as well... maybe by 0.5"? Probably not really lower, but when combined with the floorboard, makes it feel closer to my knees.

This is a real bummer. I thought I'd finally honed in on what I need, only to discover another dead end. Bah!

Maybe this is a Higher Power telling me I need to chill on the whole scooter idea. I simply cannot find a scoot that a.) fits my needs, b.) falls within my budget, and c.) I actually like. If any one of those criteria aren't being met, it's not worth the investment.

~SM

I thought that same thing for years, but my ride on a 170 last summer taught me that when you are "riding" you tend to sit further back on the seat. Sitting back on the seat seems to open up that curved floorboard quite a bit, and even with my 10.5 boots on, I had plenty of room. I tried another Buddy in the showroom after that, and again felt like my feet were cramped.

Ride one from the dealership or borrow a buddies Buddy and you may find that it's OK when you are underway. Good luck!

Swordsman wrote:It's the curved floorboard.

I simply cannot find a spot on it that my feet rest comfortably. I only wear a size 9, but I have an inseam somewhere between 30"-32", and the combination isn't jiving.

I know what you're talking about (my measurements are just a bit bigger than yours) but I haven't experienced it as a problem. My feet generally spend the most time on the fake-metal foot grips on the sides (which gives me a bit more bump-absorption than putting them more forward), but I find a variety of spots where my size-10EEEs are OK to rest when they get... restless.

this is the challenge of many a scooter rider. requirement C may require compromise if its only styling you're concerned with. a scooter is a scooter. so long as its not totally offensive or something you really hate the looks of you may have to ride something you need to get used to. if you want to scoot

i would have loved to own a Vespa 300GTS one day. but i did my own "butt test" on one today and could not imagine spending over 7 grand on something i feel cramped on. i tried sitting every which way and it was just no go. knees to far forward, a bit up, and the speedo seemed right under my nose

at 6'3 with a 32in inseam thats what i get, i suppose

so yes, a scooter has to "fit" as you are finding out. and when you find a good fit you need to go on more then looks if challenged by height one way or another. like picking a spouse. if you want one, you'll get over it and take the plunge

the Buddy? i have spent over 850 miles on one, 50 put on today. its a blast, its a Blackjack, and its awesome. but for me it would be a very local scooter. and i like and need to ride all over the greater L.A. area. this would not be my choice as an ONLY scooter in that regard. and my Agility feels much roomier and bigger overall. so would i choose a Buddy? yes. but not if i were riding more then 15 miles a day. and a Blackjack or Psycho as a fun little bike. but i just feel better on a scoot that fits me perfect. my scoot seems to do that (A125)

i have sz 13 feet. the floor on the Bud is small and curved but you do get used to it. i do find myself shifting my feet quite a bit, and wanting a different position. so it helps to bend my leg back and put one foot or the other on the passenger foot rest. just sort of toeing it. it relieves the cramped feeling while riding and feels sporty, too

Is it me or is choosing a scooter a bit like choosing a woman.: The one you like is pretty and sexy but is a bitch and treats you like crap, while the other is not as pretty or sexy but full of substance and just the right fit... No disrespect to any of the women out there in Modern Buddy land. It's just a joke

Drum Pro wrote:Is it me or is choosing a scooter a bit like choosing a woman.: The one you like is pretty and sexy but is a bitch and treats you like crap, while the other is not as pretty or sexy but full of substance and just the right fit... No disrespect to any of the women out there in Modern Buddy land. It's just a joke

Yeah, that sounds about right!

JHScoot, I sat on an Agility, and it fit me great. It's a little bland in the looks department for my taste, but I think I could deal with it, given the price. The materials looked.... cheap, maybe(?) compared to the other Kymcos and Genuines, but it seems to get decent reviews. My biggest hesitation there was the performance. I need something that can do 55-60 without being WOT, and from what I've read, that would be pushing the Agility pretty hard. It's a shame that we (USA) get the ugliest of the Agility 125's. The Agility RS 125 and the Agility City 125 are both dead sexy!

You may think this is crazy, but my favorite thing on the showroom floor was the Rattler 110. Man, what I wouldn't give for a 150cc 4 stroke version of that!

~SM

Though I am much shorter than most of you at a whopping 5' 1.75" (that .75 counts!), with a little more than 31" inseam, I do find that I have the same problem with the seating position on the Buddy. When I'm moving I do tend to scooch myself further back in the seat though, at which point it becomes much more comfortable. On longer trips I also use the "passenger foot rests" frequently, I tend to move my legs and feet around to different positions quite a bit to keep from getting cramped and sore.

6'2" tall 250lbs with size 13 shoes. The foot position was a little strange at first, but after my first test ride on a Buddy, I was so thrilled about everything else, I just decided to make it work.

Like my wife, the key things about her are so good that I'm willing to make that small thing or two slide and just figure out a way to make it work.

Howard

Drum Pro wrote:Is it me or is choosing a scooter a bit like choosing a woman.: The one you like is pretty and sexy but is a bitch and treats you like crap, while the other is not as pretty or sexy but full of substance and just the right fit... No disrespect to any of the women out there in Modern Buddy land. It's just a joke

The one you like is out of your league anyways.

Riding a scoter is a dynamic activity. Not like sitting still on one while resting on its center stand at a dealer. When riding, ones feet naturally rest up against the front of the scooter for support, stability, and balance. The Buddy is plenty big enough for my size 11.5 feet. In fact one of the most impressive things about a 1200 mile trip I took on my Buddy was how comfortable it was throughout, both for my butt and my feet. I could easily shift my feet around for comfort.

Judging something designed to be used in motion while sitting still on it is not an accurate judgement.

Skootz Kabootz wrote:In fact one of the most impressive things about a 1200 mile trip I took on my Buddy was how comfortable it was throughout, both for my butt and my feet. I could easily shift my feet around for comfort.

YOU DID WHAT?

We can make it to Oregon and back in 5 days. Just sayin'.

ericalm wrote:

Skootz Kabootz wrote:In fact one of the most impressive things about a 1200 mile trip I took on my Buddy was how comfortable it was throughout, both for my butt and my feet. I could easily shift my feet around for comfort.

YOU DID WHAT?

We can make it to Oregon and back in 5 days. Just sayin'.

Heh As soon as I can confidently make it around the block again I say we go!

AWinn6889 wrote:Though I am much shorter than most of you at a whopping 5' 1.75" (that .75 counts!), with a little more than 31" inseam.

Bah! I am 7" taller and I have a 30" inseam. Curse you, short legs!

skully93 wrote:

AWinn6889 wrote:Though I am much shorter than most of you at a whopping 5' 1.75" (that .75 counts!), with a little more than 31" inseam.

Bah! I am 7" taller and I have a 30" inseam. Curse you, short legs!

Yup, my wife is shorter than I am, but has longer legs. (I am appreciative of this.) I'm 5' 11" and have a 30" inseam. All that torso length also means a weird center of gravity. I SUCK at kayaking.

Skootz Kabootz wrote:

ericalm wrote:

Skootz Kabootz wrote:In fact one of the most impressive things about a 1200 mile trip I took on my Buddy was how comfortable it was throughout, both for my butt and my feet. I could easily shift my feet around for comfort.

YOU DID WHAT?

We can make it to Oregon and back in 5 days. Just sayin'.

Heh As soon as I can confidently make it around the block again I say we go!

Gimme one week's notice and I will so totally be there for that ride!

ericalm wrote: .........................(I am appreciative of this.) I'm 5' 11" and have a 30" inseam. .......................

So its going to be one of those parties!

Swordsman wrote:

Drum Pro wrote:Is it me or is choosing a scooter a bit like choosing a woman.: The one you like is pretty and sexy but is a bitch and treats you like crap, while the other is not as pretty or sexy but full of substance and just the right fit... No disrespect to any of the women out there in Modern Buddy land. It's just a joke

Yeah, that sounds about right!

JHScoot, I sat on an Agility, and it fit me great. It's a little bland in the looks department for my taste, but I think I could deal with it, given the price. The materials looked.... cheap, maybe(?) compared to the other Kymcos and Genuines, but it seems to get decent reviews. My biggest hesitation there was the performance. I need something that can do 55-60 without being WOT, and from what I've read, that would be pushing the Agility pretty hard. It's a shame that we (USA) get the ugliest of the Agility 125's. The Agility RS 125 and the Agility City 125 are both dead sexy!

You may think this is crazy, but my favorite thing on the showroom floor was the Rattler 110. Man, what I wouldn't give for a 150cc 4 stroke version of that!

~SM

oh yeah. by no means would i say get an Agility. and if 55-60mph is a goal, def not. and while i do agree with Skootz somewhat about riding a scoot being a dynamic experience, and some of this roominess business changes when on the road, i have rode a Buddy enough to know next to my Agility i am more comfortable on the bigger scoot. that said the Buddy is a better scooter in most ways. so i guess some of it is in fact what you can live with and what you can't

i do believe just sitting on them can tell you something, however. if not everything. and the more i sit on 'em the more i think 'dammit to hell!'

When I first took some short trips on a Buddy, I thought there was no way I could spend a whole day on one and that I'd get cramped. My size 12 boots seemed to need more space.

Not so! It's kind of amazing to me how adaptable we are. There is a HUGE range of sizes of Buddy riders. When I spent more time on one, I learned I just adjusted my position and was fine. (I do prefer the BlackJack seat to stock, but many people say the opposite.)

For someone used to a flat floorboard, the Buddy's curved one DOES feel rather odd. But it seems easy to get used to the more you ride them.
.

+1 on the curved floor feeling weird but getting used to it with time.

That said it is a big pain for your cupcake and does require footpegs if you carry passengers regularly imho

yeah don't get me wrong i could live with the Buddy. especially a Blackjack. perhaps 850 on again / off again miles is not enough to determine?

what i know is yesterday riding it 50 miles it felt small at times. especially at lower speeds and at stand still. i mean i know this sounds kind of strange to those height challenged or height average. the problem is usually "can my feet reach the ground" for you folks. for us tall folks, the question is somewhat different. depending on who you are. i can only speak for myself

the solo seat? idk its ok but kind of soft. at times i can feel hard plastic poking my butt. at stops and even riding my 6'3, 240lb frame takes a good amount of shifting around on the seat sometimes. at stops i feel like i am on a very small bike. becasue i am. its all i can do to not stand up over the bike and rock it back and forth beteween my legs. it just feels like i dominate the scoot at stops with my size, and there doesn't seem enough under me to rest my body easily. and my Agility? i can feel it under me if that makse any sense. and sitting at long traffic lights is more comfy

maybe i just need more experience riding different scoots but thats my take speaking for myself

JHScoot wrote:yeah don't get me wrong i could live with the Buddy. especially a Blackjack. perhaps 850 on again / off again miles is not enough to determine?

what i know is yesterday riding it 50 miles it felt small at times. especially at lower speeds and at stand still. i mean i know this sounds kind of strange to those height challenged or height average. the problem is usually "can my feet reach the ground" for you folks. for us tall folks, the question is somewhat different. depending on who you are. i can only speak for myself

the solo seat? idk its ok but kind of soft. at times i can feel hard plastic poking my butt. at stops and even riding my 6'3, 240lb frame takes a good amount of shifting around on the seat sometimes. at stops i feel like i am on a very small bike. becasue i am. its all i can do to not stand up over the bike and rock it back and forth beteween my legs. it just feels like i dominate the scoot at stops with my size, and there doesn't seem enough under me to rest my body easily. and my Agility? i can feel it under me if that makse any sense. and sitting at long traffic lights is more comfy

maybe i just need more experience riding different scoots but thats my take speaking for myself

quoting myself because i can...

...ok i am back in town for awhile and will have semi regular access to my mother's Blackjack. just serviced, 800 miles, its good to go. so i stopped by this morning to take it to coffee and then pick up some tamales

um, i never got off of it for the coffee and who has time to eat when riding a Blackjack?

long story short: tires properly inflated, brakes adjusted, idle adjusted, and the fact i know how to ride now = BIG FREAKIN' FUN! idk if its because many of the miles I put on it before i wasn't a more proficient rider or the service....probably a combo of both. but forty more miles of twists and turns and out gunning cagers trying to over take me at lights would suggest this is something of a whole new riding experience atm

AND i was not uncomfortable this time out. not one bit. needless to say a Buddy could def be in my future as a daily rider! does it fit? its ok i don't mind my tighty whitey's, either :p

ugh. this is not my scoot, however. so it will be ridden when i have time twice a week. if i don't have time i will simply pick it up and use it to commute a couple days a week. i want to keep it greased up and moving. sure is a sweet scoot

i have thought of making my mom an offer for it. i have 2 grand i could throw at it. alas she still has hopes of riding, though. and one day i believe she will. so, don't want to take that from her

sure is wicked fun, though

skully93 wrote:

AWinn6889 wrote:Though I am much shorter than most of you at a whopping 5' 1.75" (that .75 counts!), with a little more than 31" inseam.

Bah! I am 7" taller and I have a 30" inseam. Curse you, short legs!

Damn! I'm 5'11" and stuck with a 30" inseam!!!! You're a leggy one at that height Awinn

i wanted to revisit this thread and give some perspective as i have spent around 200 miles on my mother's Blackjack since last post

its small(ish) for me, most likely. if i were to purchase one it would be a limited duty ride. its tremendous fun and i love riding it, but last night while on it i noticed the lack of leg space more, and the fact my knees ride ever so slightly above my hips

because of my height and size 13's this would have to be a second scooter, not my first. which is kind of crappy to think as its so much fun. But if i could only have one scooter as i do now, it would not be the Buddy. if my mom called and said "i'll trade you scooters" i would have to say 'no thanks'



pretty sure. i still hope to buy this one and have a couple grand to offer, but i don't want to put my mom in that position as she likes the scooter, wants to ride, and is getting older. so, its a good thing for her to look forward to. will she ever ride? who knows? at this point she'd be happy to get down the street. so she likes it and its good for her to look forward to

but i think she is coming to some conclusions about it. and if she does and tells me to sell it for her.... i just might buy it

'tis a bit small, though. and another small scooter? but, i think its kinda special so....