Modern Buddy

I am about to buy a Buddy (170i) after having ridden a motorcycle for several years. I commute to work along a typical Chicago pot holed road and am concerned about the small wheels. I'm not so much concerned about falling into something deep as much as the comfort of the ride over patched up pavement. Wondering about the experience of others.
Thanks

Well it depends on how far you have to ride over the rough stuff and if it can be avoided sometimes. As in ride around it as you pass it. Or are the roads filled with trenches over there?

I live in L.A. and have run into rough stuff. The roughest road I won't ride is one in DT L.A that all the big trucks ride. Its horrible and I would not want to ride the 10in wheels over all the severe up and downs and dips and pits and potholes. I mean its BAD. That said I could do it if I had to. But i would not want to even a few times a week.

However i live around 2 miles from a neighborhood street that is around 3/4 of a mile long. It runs along side of a Country Club and is the poorest maintained street anywhere. Cracks, potholes, dips, undulations large and small (i hate the small ones), the whole thing. Broken and lifted pavement. Well, the scoot goes fine over all of it, and is stable. But if it were longer then 3/4 mile and in traffic I would have my reservations about riding roads like that if I could avoid it. The ride is punishing, to say the least.

But again, I could not imagine that. Even in Chicago. But I know nothing of The Windy City, myself. Must be some good alternative routes to take?

There is a stretch of road where they are redoing water main's near me and it is not fun riding that on our buddy 125 possibly upgraded shocks would help. Maybe a psycho would be a better choice?

RR tracks are my nemisis. We have a lot of brick roads that never get maintained and I can catch air if I'm not paying attention.

I catch air on rare occasion. Makes things interesting for a split second, thats for sure.

Froyim wrote: I'm not so much concerned about falling into something deep as much as the comfort of the ride over patched up pavement. Wondering about the experience of others.
Thanks

As much as I love the Buddy, it's never been accused of having the most comfortable ride available. The small wheels and relatively unimpressive suspension can definitely make for a bumpy ride over rough pavement. It's not horrible but I can't lie and say it's luxurious.

One of the fun things about the Buddy is that it feels somewhat like a small sports car in the sense that it's very responsive and you can really feel the road beneath you. That’s great when you want it to be like that, but not great when you're commuting over rough surfaces day in and day out.

You do also have to worry a little about the wheels hitting a hole or pavement chunk that they can't handle. Those smaller round utility covers seem to be notorious in many cities for being significantly lower than the road surface and have caused a number of riders trouble (there's a recent thread on here about a bent wheel from hitting one that was 4-5" deep).

A suspension upgrade would help but it's still not going to be super smooth.

since our temps vary so much in CO we have roads that are shredded too. Esp. some of roads with upgraded infrastructure that isn't finished, like Broadway, are all torn up.

Most of the time I just sort of skirt around such things. A few have caught me by surprise, and I am reminded that I don't have a seatbelt by the fact that my ass is 3" off the seat.

But honestly I can't say it bothers me very much, and makes it a more active driving experience.

Froyim wrote:I am about to buy a Buddy (170i) after having ridden a motorcycle for several years. I commute to work along a typical Chicago pot holed road and am concerned about the small wheels. I'm not so much concerned about falling into something deep as much as the comfort of the ride over patched up pavement. Wondering about the experience of others.
Thanks

it's a rough rider for sure, even with upgraded shocks you feel every bump. i like the way it handles so much, i've gotten used to the not so great part. wouldn't trade it for anything

I'd imagin it wouldn't be pleasnt on any scoot going over roads like that...

As others have said, the Buddy isn't known for a smooth ride. You're right to be concerned about the wheel size on rough roads.

But rough is relative. What one person considers rough, another doesn't. So without being able to actually ride the roads you do, it's tough for us to say if the wheel size would be a problem.

The nice thing about the Buddy is it's maneuverability. You'd be shocked how flickable the bike is to avoid potholes and such. If it's only a few spots on your commute you're worried about, you may be able to easily avoid the problems with a Buddy.

Since you're coming from motorcycles, have you considered a scooter with a larger displacement and wheel size? Something like the Aprilia Sportcity 250, the Vespa GTS 300, the Piaggio BV350, or the People GT300i might fit the bill. All have larger wheels and a little more power.

Chicago roads. Yep.

Plus 1 on the shock-upgrade thing. Else it's like constant near-miss flak hits.

Yeah, I'll slap on a YSS or NCY rear shock on eventually. BUT, thats over $200, and Im young now and my ass can take a pounding.

How about considering a scooter with large diameter wheels, like a Scarabeo or a Kymco People?