Modern Buddy

Hi everyone!

I picked up/rode home on an immaculate '08 Buddy offa craigslist today, and I have to say... that was officially one of the most fun things I have ever done!! It feels great to do something new, and getting on a motorized anything-but-a-car has been a dream of mine for a long time.

Now, I was a bit nervous about the 20-odd-mile ride home, because I had lurked this board HARD and found the thread with numerous members warning new buyers to have it towed home first, lest they dump it the first day out. Well, I hopped on that thing and within half a mile, it felt like I'd been doing it all my life. It couldn't have gone better: all the drivers were respectful, my helmet (never worn one before) was awesome (HJC IS-33, snagged it for $80 @ the local shop!), the bike rode like a dream, the brakes felt super solid, and it felt so good! The weather is BEAUTIFUL today in Phoenix, too... what a day

Anyway, just wanted to say hey and it's great to finally be on two wheels! I'm hoping to secure a job closer to home so I can commute this coming school year (I'm a teacher).

Best,

phatch

phatch wrote:Hi everyone!

I picked up/rode home on an immaculate '08 Buddy offa craigslist today, and I have to say... that was officially one of the most fun things I have ever done!! It feels great to do something new, and getting on a motorized anything-but-a-car has been a dream of mine for a long time.

Now, I was a bit nervous about the 20-odd-mile ride home, because I had lurked this board HARD and found the thread with numerous members warning new buyers to have it towed home first, lest they dump it the first day out. Well, I hopped on that thing and within half a mile, it felt like I'd been doing it all my life. It couldn't have gone better: all the drivers were respectful, my helmet (never worn one before) was awesome (HJC IS-33, snagged it for $80 @ the local shop!), the bike rode like a dream, the brakes felt super solid, and it felt so good! The weather is BEAUTIFUL today in Phoenix, too... what a day

Anyway, just wanted to say hey and it's great to finally be on two wheels! I'm hoping to secure a job closer to home so I can commute this coming school year (I'm a teacher).

Best,

phatch

Sometimes having it towed won't save you from dumping your bike on the first day! Glad you made it home in one piece and had fun doing it.

Cheers, chas!

Congrats--I know you will get a lot of enjoyment out of your new scooter.

It IS FUN isn't it I know just what you mean... Now I absolutely hate days when I can't scoot... Have fun!

Coming from 7 years with a 3.1 thousand lb, 150 hp tank to this little thing.... I originally set aside a day to take it down to the Elks lodge and loop around the lot. Expected no more than a basic idea of handling.

By the end of the day I was zipping around the street non stop till sun down (Class M permit restrictions and such). Day 2, drove to work and couldn't focus on work; I just wanted to be our piloting her. Day 3? weekend, and I'm coming up with excuses to take her out. The simple wonder of a joy ride had been lost on me for the last few years, but has returned. She (Dubbed the S.S. Jakalope Party Van of Excellence, Jakalope for short) handles beautifully! Speed was hard at first, but on the verge of addicting now (And I haven't even passed 50, usually 30-45 so no worries ). Turning is taking some more courage too. But the whole experience has been rewarding in every way!

For the first time in years I have my fingers crossed for another mild winter out here. I hear she usually handles well in rain and light snow too. Hopefully this is true! (And I can hopefully just work from home of the snow is too much, SO done with the mbta!)

Oh, also, first post. Uh... hi heh, glad you're having as much fun as I am! Now, I can't stop thinking about repainting. Oh, and the places I can go!

Heck yeah! It's so much fun. I'm also finding as many excuses as I can

I know the feeling! Congrats and watch our for bogeys!

I had rode before and took a decade off, so when I got my Arrow about five years ago I almost put it down before I left the lot! If I had it towed I might have put it down on my street, were people know me

Congrats!

You don't want to dump the first day. But dumping any day after that also pretty much sucks, too.

Capt_Don wrote:I had rode before and took a decade off, so when I got my Arrow about five years ago I almost put it down before I left the lot! If I had it towed I might have put it down on my street, were people know me

Bummer! Well at least you were safe...

Based on the 80-odd miles I've put on so far since Saturday, if/when I do dump the bike, it'll be from braking around a corner. I keep catching myself reaching for the brakes in the middle of a turn! So I'm embracing "going with the flow" but still weary of sand, etc.

p.s. thanks ericalm for running an informative and family-like board!

ericalm wrote:Congrats!

You don't want to dump the first day. But dumping any day after that also pretty much sucks, too.

Wait wait wait....so you're saying you DON'T have to dump it on your first day out? I thought dumping your bike on the first day some kind of right-of-passage thing. Hell, that's the only reason I did it. I need to pay closer attention to these threads I guess.

chas wrote:

ericalm wrote:Congrats!

You don't want to dump the first day. But dumping any day after that also pretty much sucks, too.

Wait wait wait....so you're saying you DON'T have to dump it on your first day out? I thought dumping your bike on the first day some kind of right-of-passage thing. Hell, that's the only reason I did it. I need to pay closer attention to these threads I guess.

Yeah... Yeah, that's it!!

chas wrote:

ericalm wrote:Congrats!

You don't want to dump the first day. But dumping any day after that also pretty much sucks, too.

Wait wait wait....so you're saying you DON'T have to dump it on your first day out? I thought dumping your bike on the first day some kind of right-of-passage thing. Hell, that's the only reason I did it. I need to pay closer attention to these threads I guess.

It depends on whether you drink the blood of the sacrificial goat the night before.

ericalm wrote:

chas wrote:

ericalm wrote:Congrats!

You don't want to dump the first day. But dumping any day after that also pretty much sucks, too.

Wait wait wait....so you're saying you DON'T have to dump it on your first day out? I thought dumping your bike on the first day some kind of right-of-passage thing. Hell, that's the only reason I did it. I need to pay closer attention to these threads I guess.

It depends on whether you drink the blood of the sacrificial goat the night before.

I knew I forgot something. I did the chant, did the dance, sacrificed the goat to Molech (ala Metropolis) and then dumped the bike. I forgot to drink the blood though.

Do we give mulligans here?

you already dropped it, so none needed. Just don't do it again.

phatch wrote:

Capt_Don wrote:I had rode before and took a decade off, so when I got my Arrow about five years ago I almost put it down before I left the lot! If I had it towed I might have put it down on my street, were people know me

Bummer! Well at least you were safe...

Based on the 80-odd miles I've put on so far since Saturday, if/when I do dump the bike, it'll be from braking around a corner. I keep catching myself reaching for the brakes in the middle of a turn! So I'm embracing "going with the flow" but still weary of sand, etc.

p.s. thanks ericalm for running an informative and family-like board!

Most important corner brake tip...if you have to brake in a corner, resist the front brake and try to do with only the back. Braking on neither is best, but braking on that front wheel is the worst.

This thread was a great source of information and help when I was making my purchase, I pretty much regret my Tomos Arrow purchase, not that it has not been fun and useful, but to see that the Buddy had such a great following was a plus. Not to mention I noticed people here had no problem talking about what was wrong with their scooters either.