Modern Buddy

1) Brake then start button or start button then brake? I have been finding that I get fewer "skip starts" (where it spins but doesn't engage) when I start button then brake.

2) Mount then un-stand or un-stand then mount. Didn't know if it's less stress on the stand to un-stand it first, I can guarantee it's better if you have blacktop

3) Pull up on small shock slamming bumps or not so much? Manhole covers, RR tracks and odd bumps are like somebody taking a swing at my front tire with a softball bat and the little lift does seem to help but I don't love the idea at all.

4) Herkey-jerky balance act or foot down at almost stop situations (green light just changed but cars in front of you haven"t pulled away yet etc.)

I'm sure others have quirky crap they never thought to ask others so here is your opening...

Mousenut wrote:1) Brake then start button or start button then brake? I have been finding that I get fewer "skip starts" (where it spins but doesn't engage) when I start button then brake.

Brakes first. The point of that interlock is to make sure the brakes are applied, so I don't want the scooter starting at the same time I'm still applying them.

2) Mount then un-stand or un-stand then mount. Didn't know if it's less stress on the stand to un-stand it first, I can guarantee it's better if you have blacktop

I do one or the other, depending on whether I have to push the bike (like off the porch) before I can ride it. But if I'm "mounted" (i.e. in position), I don't actually sit on it while pushing it off the stand.

3) Pull up on small shock slamming bumps or not so much? Manhole covers, RR tracks and odd bumps are like somebody taking a swing at my front tire with a softball bat and the little lift does seem to help but I don't love the idea at all.

I don't pull up on the handlebars, but I do try to lift my butt off the seat before hitting significant bumps, so the scooter is freer to move under me. That requires planting your feet on the fake-metal foot grips to work.

4) Herkey-jerky balance act or foot down at almost stop situations (green light just changed but cars in front of you haven"t pulled away yet etc.)

I balance right up to the point where I know I'm going to need to start dancing to stay up, then I put a foot down.

Mousenut wrote:1) Brake then start button or start button then brake? I have been finding that I get fewer "skip starts" (where it spins but doesn't engage) when I start button then brake.

Whatever works!

2) Mount then un-stand or un-stand then mount. Didn't know if it's less stress on the stand to un-stand it first, I can guarantee it's better if you have blacktop

Mount then unstand. Much more stable. Slipping and dropping a scoot is not uncommon…

3) Pull up on small shock slamming bumps or not so much? Manhole covers, RR tracks and odd bumps are like somebody taking a swing at my front tire with a softball bat and the little lift does seem to help but I don't love the idea at all.

Don't pull up. Any kind of tension from your arms to the handlebars (pulling up, leaning down) reduces your ability to properly handle the scoot. You want to remain flexible so that if those bumps knock you one way or the other, you can respond and correct without overcorrecting. Stay loose on the grips. If you need to, stand up off the saddle a bit. But don't yank on the bars!

4) Herkey-jerky balance act or foot down at almost stop situations (green light just changed but cars in front of you haven"t pulled away yet etc.)

Balance. But I guess it's up the the rider and what they're comfortable with.

Mousenut wrote:1) Brake then start button or start button then brake? I have been finding that I get fewer "skip starts" (where it spins but doesn't engage) when I start button then brake.

Never done it that way, nor have I ever had an issue with it not firing right up. If that works, then I see no harm.

2) Mount then un-stand or un-stand then mount. Didn't know if it's less stress on the stand to un-stand it first, I can guarantee it's better if you have blacktop

I'd say do whatever works best for you. Since I'm very short, I take mine off the stand and then mount. I do it that way both because I don't have the weight and height to push it from the saddle and because I have a good solid hold from the side. For me it's easier and more stable to do it that way.

3) Pull up on small shock slamming bumps or not so much? Manhole covers, RR tracks and odd bumps are like somebody taking a swing at my front tire with a softball bat and the little lift does seem to help but I don't love the idea at all.

I do stand up when I have to go over a bump. I don't find it necessary to put my feet on the passenger platforms to do that, but I do have to be careful to not lean forward and hit my helmet on my windshield. I've never pulled up going over bumps.

4) Herkey-jerky balance act or foot down at almost stop situations (green light just changed but cars in front of you haven"t pulled away yet etc.)

That's your call. Obviously, draw the line at stability. If you're getting herky jerky enough that you might wind up turning the front wheel too much and going down, then you need to put a foot down.

Just a note. Get THIS stand from scooterworks ( or whoever you like)

http://www.scooterworks.com/Centerstand ... -P649.aspx

It works so much better than stock IMO. I love mine.

Others have answered the rest of the questions but this one...

Mousenut wrote:3) Pull up on small shock slamming bumps or not so much? Manhole covers, RR tracks and odd bumps are like somebody taking a swing at my front tire with a softball bat and the little lift does seem to help but I don't love the idea at all.

As per the MSF course, when approaching bumps or other raised obstacles in the road, like a speed bump (or the pile of 2x4's they used in class)... slow down as you are approaching the obstacle, then accelerate just as you reach it. The acceleration raises the front end of the scooter/motorcycle thus lightening the load on the front wheel, and enabling the scooter/motorcycle to pass over the obstacle with greater ease.

I loved that part of the class.

viney266 wrote:Just a note. Get THIS stand from scooterworks ( or whoever you like)
http://www.scooterworks.com/Centerstand ... -P649.aspx

Don't think that'd fit on their Buddy 50

It's a good stand tho, I've got one on my Atomic Fireball.