Modern Buddy

Ok, so I won't obsess over every inch of my scooter in a typical fashion.

I do have a few questions though!

1) Should I, or should I NOT change the oil after my first 20/30 miles. The dealership I bought from said I don't need to change until my break in service (~600 miles?), but online I've read recommendations to change oil right away.

2) I've seen two versions of the Buddy 125 manual, and regarding the break-in notes, one is in KM, the other in MILES. Is the break-in 1000km (~600 miles) or 1000 Miles? Is the odometer in miles?

3) My break-in plan: Just drive in the city. I won't throttle past 40mph or so. Do I need to do anything else during the break-in? I talked to the Vespa shop in soho and they charge $125 for break-in service, but it sounds like all they do is change engine oil and gear oil. Can't I easily do that myself?

4) Any buddy owners here in Jersey City, NJ ?!

bimbom wrote:Ok, so I won't obsess over every inch of my scooter in a typical fashion.

That's OK. We all do it.

bimbom wrote: I do have a few questions though!

1) Should I, or should I NOT change the oil after my first 20/30 miles. The dealership I bought from said I don't need to change until my break in service (~600 miles?), but online I've read recommendations to change oil right away.

The sticker on your steering column calls for first service at 300km, and the manual says 200mi, so roughly the same. This number is low compared to some other manufacturers, and other folks here on MB will say 500mi, but I had mine done at about 200.

20/30 miles? No, unless you're doing one of the 'hard break-in' methodologies.

bimbom wrote: 2) I've seen two versions of the Buddy 125 manual, and regarding the break-in notes, one is in KM, the other in MILES. Is the break-in 1000km (~600 miles) or 1000 Miles? Is the odometer in miles?

Your odo should be in miles. See above for miles-before-first-service.

bimbom wrote: 3) My break-in plan: Just drive in the city. I won't throttle past 40mph or so. Do I need to do anything else during the break-in? I talked to the Vespa shop in soho and they charge $125 for break-in service, but it sounds like all they do is change engine oil and gear oil. Can't I easily do that myself?

Good plan. The most important things during breakin are (a) don't ride excessively at wide-open-throttle, and (b) vary the RPMs during break-in. This makes for the best seal between the piston rings and the cylinder.

You _should_ be getting more than just fluid/filter changes at first service. The dealer is supposed to go over all the bolts for proper torque, check the idle speed, change the plug, and more. Here's Genuine's dealer-instruction video for the first service: http://vimeo.com/5377019

Your scooter will not be fully broken in until about 1500 miles. Generally you'll see substantial performance improvements at the 1200 to 1500 mile range. Vary the throttle during this time but basically ride as normal. Even some higher RPM riding is good towards the latter part of the break in period. Just avoid staying at one RPM for an overly long time.

First service should be at the +/- 500 mile mark. See the video listed above for what needs to be done at that important service.

Welcome! Nice white buddy there!

Our local shop that does a TON of Genuine service has us do the changes at 500 miles and then every 2k after.

I varied mine a lot, very little high speed until @ 1500 miles, and it opened up A LOT. just play nice for a couple months and you'll be there no problem.

No point at all to doing a change at 20-30 miles.

You can do a change at 200 miles but if so, I would stick with dino (non-synthetic oil) and do another change at 500-600, at which point I'd change to synthetic.

Ignore the Vespa shop. First service (at around 500 miles) is important and for the Buddy, there's a whole list of checks that should be done. It may cost more, but the valves, transmission, etc. should all be checked to make sure everything was prepped right and is in good running order.

For break in, it's most important to vary your RPMs. Keeping it below 40mph is a very "soft" break in. There are as many opinions about this as there are riders and people get religious about it. I favor a "hard" break in (over 600 miles): flex the engine like a muscle and take it up and down its full range. This means taking it up to wide open throttle at times, but never for a sustained period. Basically, open it up, let the RPMs peak, then back it off. This has served me well in breaking in seven scooter engines so far. (Holy cow, I've had to break in my Vespa three times!)

But, as I said, the one thing that's almost universally agreed on is to vary those RPMs. Even if going slow, don't sit at one constant speed for too long. Riding in the city and in traffic pretty much helps with this—you can't sustain one level for much time.

you could go @ 500-600 miles until the first oil change (I was a bit anal and had the service done @ 225 miles, but also changed the oil twice after that and changed the filter @ 1000 miles); the addition of an actual oil FILTER does a tremendous job in assuring that virtually all the break-in crap is contained which adds to the longevity of the engine (yes there is an oil screen, but the filter does the real job) vs Chinese GY6 engines which usually only have the oil screen and 'filtration' is virtually nonexistent;

as far as types of oil, I used a few different types with no real 'stand out' (I gave the dealer Chevron Delo LE 400 15w-40 for the first service and used Valvoline 4-stroke 10w-40 conventional motorcycle oil, Havoline 10w-40 conventional car oil for @ 350 miles each); at 1000 miles I used Pennzoil Long Life 15w-40 and then traded it on a small motorcycle @ 1365 miles (the roads in my area started tearing the scoot up...bent front wheel, almost blew the front tire, and the top case broke loose and flew off), but I am having remorse over the trade and am working on reversing the deal with a few hundred $$$ penalty (I get my scoot back & the majority of my money and the dealer gets the motorcycle back with a few new accessories)...just waiting on the titles to be processed

for the long haul I selected is Honda HP4M synthetic blend 10w-40 with moly motorcycle oil I got at a discounted price ($6/qt vs original price of $10.56/qt): http://motorcycle.honda.ca/Content/moto ... ons-en.pdf

the moly can promote problems in motorcycles with wet clutch systems, but since the Buddy 125 uses a dry centrifugal clutch the moly should be great for antiwear properties in the engine

Are my eyes not working? Where are your side mirrors?

Bonegirl and her husband / boyfriend (one in the same idk if they are married, though) have used Mobil 1 in all three of their high mileage Buddys. Just FYI. First oil change / service is fine at 400-600 miles imo. Change with dino oil until 1500-2000 miles in my unqualified opinion.

So far as break in lot's of opinions abound. I say ride it as you typically would up to 45-50mph, vary throttle, avoid WOT for first 300 miles. And even after that WOT sparingly to 600 miles. imo

As a new owner of a Buddy 125 2009 series as well I had the oil change/checkup at 300 miles. I felt bad for going over the kilometer posted on the bike but 300 was fine my shop man said.

Differ speeds as you ride like the board is posting to really "flex" the parts into sealing up.

Best part. Smile while riding, saving tons of gas on my commute and look like a grinning fool while riding.

Ha, good catch! I had taken them off so that it would fit in a minivan. Was pretty interesting getting it in there with it already gassed up. I guess the guy expected I was riding it home.

amy wrote:Are my eyes not working? Where are your side mirrors?

Great info here. I guess the only thing I'm still confused about is why the manual says to change gear oil at 200 miles, whereas it seems to be the general consensus here that 500 miles is the first oil change / service.

bimbom wrote:Great info here. I guess the only thing I'm still confused about is why the manual says to change gear oil at 200 miles, whereas it seems to be the general consensus here that 500 miles is the first oil change / service.

WELL… Turns out the numbers and figures of these sort are off for many import scooters and I honestly don't know why. It's not a KM to MILES conversion issue. But maintenance intervals, GVWR and other numbers are often wrong. Though it's of little consolation, this seems to be an issue with many manufacturers.

I've heard (but haven't seen) that there are new Buddy manuals. Not sure what numbers they have.

bimbom wrote:
1) The dealership I bought from said I don't need to change until my break in service (~600 miles?), but online I've read recommendations to change oil right away.

4) Any buddy owners here in Jersey City, NJ ?!

What dealership did you buy from? If Metro Scooters, I'd have them do the service. (I do.) Don't know about Jersey City, but there are some Buddy owners in NYC!

Beautiful scooter.

My beauty just rolled over 3000 and is running strong.

Interesting... if anyone has the latest manual, I'd love to see a link.

Put 140 miles on the Buddy so far (all city driving) and it's great! I think I will do first service at 500.

ericalm wrote:

bimbom wrote:Great info here. I guess the only thing I'm still confused about is why the manual says to change gear oil at 200 miles, whereas it seems to be the general consensus here that 500 miles is the first oil change / service.

WELL… Turns out the numbers and figures of these sort are off for many import scooters and I honestly don't know why. It's not a KM to MILES conversion issue. But maintenance intervals, GVWR and other numbers are often wrong. Though it's of little consolation, this seems to be an issue with many manufacturers.

I've heard (but haven't seen) that there are new Buddy manuals. Not sure what numbers they have.

some updates here.

Have 260 miles on it now. I've been very aware of varying the RPMs so I think I'm doing a good break-in. Generally I've stayed at 40bmph or below, but I occasionally hit 50bmph. I actually took it on the NJ turnpike (with girlfriend on back) and was doing 50, but it was only for about a 2 mile stretch to the holland tunnel.. if I did hit WOT, it was probably only for a few seconds.

I haven't done any servicing yet. I've kept my eye on the oil and tires, which are good. I'm planning on doing my first service at the shop @ 500 miles.

Can I start pushing it a bit more after 300 miles, or should I wait it out? What is considered "cruising" at a constant rpm (for how long?). Can I stay at 40 for 20 seconds or is that considered bad for the break in?

I patiently break mine in until 600 miles, do the oil change, then go nuts.