riding Buddy 125 to fire island

bimbom · Post by **bimbom** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 9:26 pm

I live right around the NYC area, and I want to take my Buddy 125 for a day to Fire Island (on long island), this friday.

I figure this is a good distance to ease into longer distance trips. It's about 60 miles each way.. nothing too crazy.

I was looking more for advice on which route to take. I also know that once you take a bridge to fire island, there's parking lots on either sides, but I am curious to know if I can get away with riding slowly toward the middle of the island on the local roads, where my destination is.

Thanks!

jrsjr · Post by **jrsjr** » Thu Aug 16, 2012 12:18 am

I got no clue about the local roads there, but I'd like to cast a vote for a future update to this thread with lots of pix!

P.S. If you don't get the info you need here, you might try ModernVespa.com.

charlie55 · Post by **charlie55** » Thu Aug 16, 2012 12:52 am

Well, once in Brooklyn, you could head East on Kings Highway, then Linden Boulevard, then South Conduit Avenue (parallels the Belt Parkway) which becomes the Sunrise Highway once you cross over from Queens to Nassau. Then it's a straight shot along the South Shore, then South on the William Floyd Parkway to Fire Island.

I believe that that'd keep highway scooting to a minimum, but you're gonna hit a lot of traffic lights until you get into Nassau. Additionally, there are some neighborhoods along the Linden Blvd - Conduit Avenue stretch that were, in my younger days, considered to be pretty dicey. Things may be different now.

jonlink · Post by **jonlink** » Thu Aug 16, 2012 2:20 am

This is my old neighborhood!

Ocean Parkway is basically all that there is. It's kind of nice. A lot of the road is just dune grass and warnings about deer, but there are some nice marshy areas. I imagine it will be nicer on a scooter than in a car. After that it just turns into the RM parkway (and something else, it's the same road though). It's been a year or two since I've gone out to fire island, but (if memory serves me) it isn't an especially fast or busy road... unless you are going on the weekend 8am-2pm. The RM Causeway is always kind of a sh*tshow though. It is annoying in a car most of the time — I don't know what it'd be like on a scooter. Avoid it if possible.

I don't know if you've been there before, but there are some awesome boardwalks around the lighthouse along with the remnants of the old lighthouse. I kind of want to go down there now — guess it's time to visit gramps!

Definitely get off the sunrise hwy as soon as possible. It is the worst.

bimbom · Post by **bimbom** » Thu Aug 16, 2012 3:37 pm

Thanks everyone for the tips. as a sanity check can someone look over my checklist? This is my first real "trip". It's 120 miles roundtrip.

- Add a little air to tires (right now they're both at 24 psi)

- Backup fuses (15A 250V for buddy 125 in battery compartment.. can someone confirm this?)

- camera
- WATER
- nuts/dried fruit
- rain/wind coat
- scarf
- ear plugs
- gloves

Unfortunately I don't have a tire repair kit or portable air pump. Also I was wondering if I should check the spark plug before I go?

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Thu Aug 16, 2012 5:07 pm

I think you may be over-preparing a little. The likelihood of the spark or a fuse going bad or a flat tire in 120 miles are very slim. Sure, it doesn't hurt to be ready for these possibilities, but... you're going to Fire Island, not Pitcairn Island.

There's nothing you're likely to need along the way that can't be found at shops on Long Island. Gear up for a regular ride, pack for a day at the beach, and toss in some water and a snack if you're so inclined. Just keep an eye on the gas, because in 120 miles you will need to refuel.

Wheelz · Post by **Wheelz** » Thu Aug 16, 2012 5:11 pm

You can pick up a small co2 charged tire pump, from a bike shop they aren't really expensive and they fit in the palm of your hand, one cartridge works for a bike tire, I'd imagine that it would take two for a scooter tire, as I said small and portable. A patch kit is easy enough just get one from your local Pep boys, autozone, etc...

http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Bike-Kiss- ... B000IQEAMA

bimbom · Post by **bimbom** » Thu Aug 16, 2012 6:38 pm

All the tips have been very useful, thank you.

I'm not completely decided on the route yet, but here it is:

- Southern State Pwky to Meadowbrook State Pwky

(another option is to take the Wantagh State Pwky instead of Meadowbrook.. from the map it seems like Wantagh might be more scenic because it goes by several parks?)

- Meadowbrook State Pwky turns into Ocean Pwky

- Ocean Pwky to Robert Moses Causeway

I don't mind taking extra time to take a more scenic route. Also if I were to stop for a nice breakfast along the way, anyone have recommendations?

Once on fire island I can park in the lot. Does anyone know how much this lot costs? From there it's about a 5 mile walk east. I don't mind the walk. If I get courageous I might try taking the scoot right on the dirt roads and riding east on the local road. I'm going to someone's house so I have a place to park if I did manage to do that.

charlie55 · Post by **charlie55** » Thu Aug 16, 2012 8:26 pm

Not for nothing, but you mentioned that you would like to use local roads. The Southern State, Meadowbrook, and Wantagh are all posted 55's, with 60-65 being the reality. Not very scenic either. Mostly just two strips of tree-lined concrete.

How do you intend to get to the Southern State? If you're thinking of taking the Belt, be advised that they're doing rehab/replacement on most of the bridges between Sheepshead Bay and JFK. Lotsa lane shifts, crappy road surfaces, and 3 to 2 lane reductions. Last time I was out that way in March, it was a disaster. If it's a beach day, it's going to be much, much worse.

http://www.brooklyndaily.com/stories/20 ... 15_bk.html

Not trying to be a wet blanket, just that it's the route I've taken to visit my brother for the last 36 years, and it's a pain in the ass most of the time.

bimbom · Post by **bimbom** » Thu Aug 16, 2012 8:46 pm

Charlie, is there another route you suggest that is slower/more scenic? If it takes me 3 hours to get there I don't mind.

charlie55 wrote:Not for nothing, but you mentioned that you would like to use local roads. The Southern State, Meadowbrook, and Wantagh are all posted 55's, with 60-65 being the reality. Not very scenic either. Mostly just two strips of tree-lined concrete.

How do you intend to get to the Southern State? If you're thinking of taking the Belt, be advised that they're doing rehab/replacement on most of the bridges between Sheepshead Bay and JFK. Lotsa lane shifts, crappy road surfaces, and 3 to 2 lane reductions. Last time I was out that way in March, it was a disaster. If it's a beach day, it's going to be much, much worse.

http://www.brooklyndaily.com/stories/20 ... 15_bk.html

Not trying to be a wet blanket, just that it's the route I've taken to visit my brother for the last 36 years, and it's a pain in the ass most of the time.

BootScootin'FireFighter · Thu Aug 16, 2012 9:20 pm

bimbom wrote:Charlie, is there another route you suggest that is slower/more scenic? If it takes me 3 hours to get there I don't mind.

I agree about the Southern State being a trecherous road on anything less than 250ccs. The pace is fast, the roads are jam packed, lots of curves, short on/off ramps, and very aggressive drivers. Going to the East End, Sunrise Hwy (27) is a much better option through Nassau and western Suffolk Counties. Once you get to Babylon, Sunrise becomes a freeway, so best to dump off onto the service road, then connect with 27A in Oakdale for the rest of the way to Hampton Bays.

For the trip to Robert Moses, I'd recommend 878 / Rockaway Blvd past JFK, then cross the bridge to Atlantic Beach / Long Beach. East of Long Beach, get on the Loop Parkway to Meadowbrook Pkwy right into Jones Beach, then Ocean Pkwy all the way to Robert Moses. Ocean Pkwy is very lightly travelled and looks awesome. There is a dirt road on the far east end of Robert Moses State Park that connects to Saltaire and Kismet, but from there, it's a series of narrow dirt roads and boardwalks the rest of the way. Make sure you're fuel is full before leaving Lido. I've never seen a gas station on Ocean Parkway, and it's a pretty long stretch of riding.

That's my old stomping ground, I grew up in Rocky Point, between Port Jefferson and Riverhead. Having left there 10 years ago, I wish I had a scooter when I lived up there!

bimbom · Post by **bimbom** » Thu Aug 16, 2012 9:32 pm

This last route sounds like a good idea. I actually went back to the map and took a good hard look. I came up with this route which bypasses all the inland congestion. I'm not sure how to share it, but attached is the KML file for the route.

bimbom · Post by **bimbom** » Thu Aug 16, 2012 9:35 pm

forget about the kml file.. this should be a link to the route on google maps:

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?authuse ... 4fffe6d335

charlie55 · Post by **charlie55** » Thu Aug 16, 2012 10:08 pm

Looks pretty good to me. Just a couple of hints:

- Watch yourself on the Marine Parkway Bridge. It's a center lift drawbridge with a steel grate deck that's fairly long. Forego the view and keep your attenton on the road.

- As you're heading through the Rockaways, just be aware of your surroundings while you're on Rockaway Fwy. You're going to be riding under an el, and the stanchions can affect your ability to see pedestrians crossing and cars entering your lane. Also that stretch used to hold some pretty run down neighborhoods back in the days when I lived in Brooklyn. Might not be true now.

jonlink · Post by **jonlink** » Fri Aug 17, 2012 5:22 am

Just want to second (third?) that Southern State is a bad idea. I can't remember how much the lots cost, but I think they are kind of expensive if you're an out-of-towner (~$20?). Also, there are some lots that require residency. However, if you go early enough you can bypass the whole system. I often went to catch the sunrise and never paid a dime.

bimbom · Post by **bimbom** » Mon Aug 20, 2012 4:30 pm

I did it and the trip was great, although I didn't take as many pictures as I would've hoped. On the way back I took the Sunrise highway, which wasn't ideal but it got me back quicker while there was still light.

Thanks all for the suggestions!