Modern Buddy

I loaned my new Yager out to a fellow Sky Island Rider this weekend so he could attend the Scooter Fiesta IV in Phoenix. His Buddy 170i had an as-yet-unresolved failure en-route to Phoenix and had to be limped back to Tucson. I didn't think much of just tossing him the Yager keys, as it has thusfar proven to be rock-steady. I also own a couple of other scooters and I'm unfazed by the idea of getting ones hands dirty while up in dem scooters' guts. It only took a few minutes to get the P200 spun up enough to make the trip. Everybody rides, everybody's happy, right?

What I didn't realize was that the Yager would turn him to the dark side and further discolor his already dim view of his Buddy. Oops. It's probably a good thing that the Yager is not offered in the US at this time, as he really took to it. When someone refers to a borrowed scoot as "the precious", it's gotta be bad. I do hope he recovers from the spell that the Yager put on him and that he's able to reconcile with his Buddy. Barring that, I offer my apologies to the Buddy community.

Don't tell your friend there's new-old-stock out there

He can give the Buddy to my wife if he doesn't want it .

az_slynch wrote: Barring that, I offer my apologies to the Buddy community.

Eh, it only applies in one sense here, but as many have said before, "different strokes for different folks." Some people prefer a 50cc scooter, some prefer 16" wheels, some prefer a Ruckus, etcetc. We all have our own personal preferences, and they don't even always necessarily make logical sense. The sadder thing here is that your friend apparently bought the wrong scooter for himself.

anthony wrote:

az_slynch wrote: Barring that, I offer my apologies to the Buddy community.

Eh, it only applies in one sense here, but as many have said before, "different strokes for different folks." Some people prefer a 50cc scooter, some prefer 16" wheels, some prefer a Ruckus, etcetc. We all have our own personal preferences, and they don't even always necessarily make logical sense. The sadder thing here is that your friend apparently bought the wrong scooter for himself.

Anthony, your last sentence reminded me of a commend that avonpirate made when I was posting about the the Yager right after I bought it.

avonpirate wrote:I'm a "baptism by immersion" type of person. Wanted a scoot bought a scoot. The 'fit' of a scoot is a concept I nevr considered. How could someone who is a true rookie even know what is comfortable, the 1st 1000 miles was/is learning how to ride. Now I think when time permits I'm going to have to go out and demo.

The rider in question had ridden mopeds years ago, but the Buddy was the first bike he came across when getting into scooters. I don't know if it had occurred to him to try out a few other bikes before buying the Buddy. Personally, I suspect that many new riders see a scooter that they like and just buy it without trying out a few alternatives.

ravenlore wrote:Don't tell your friend there's new-old-stock out there

I won't. Don't want to pare it down further in case I decide I need a spare Yager. My next target is a 4T Stella, but I'm more than a bit intrigued with the "old" Vespa Granturismo 200L.

Understood. I think the Buddy is a great bike, and I think so long as it physically fits a person, the chance of someone being happy with their purchase is pretty high. That said, I intensively researched my options before choosing my Buddy 170i. I'm an indecisive person as it is, so I try to gather as many pros and cons with things before making a decision, but in particular, I wasn't about to spend $3000+ on something that I just assumed I would like, without checking out the many other options out there.

anthony wrote:Understood. I think the Buddy is a great bike, and I think so long as it physically fits a person, the chance of someone being happy with their purchase is pretty high. That said, I intensively researched my options before choosing my Buddy 170i. I'm an indecisive person as it is, so I try to gather as many pros and cons with things before making a decision, but in particular, I wasn't about to spend $3000+ on something that I just assumed I would like, without checking out the many other options out there.

I second this. I only spent a few hundred bucks on my chinascoot, but her whole purpose was to be training wheels and proof of concept (the concept being scooter as primary transport in my particular life.)


Once that was hammered out-took about six weeks i spent three months agonizing over features and displacement and ergonomics and aesthetics and finances. Thousands of dollars and a multiyear commitment are not things i took lightly.

az_slynch wrote:

ravenlore wrote:Don't tell your friend there's new-old-stock out there

I won't. Don't want to pare it down further in case I decide I need a spare Yager. My next target is a 4T Stella, but I'm more than a bit intrigued with the "old" Vespa Granturismo 200L.

Dude...you want an old GT you need a REAL GT! And yes..this one will soon be a 200...well actually a 215

The fit is critical. It's a shame too... I *really* like the cut of the Buddy's cloth when it comes to mechanics. I just don't fit on the damned thing proper

Oh well. I'm still hunting for a vintage while the Agility 125 putts me around just fine. Of course, a Stella would be a *fine* fit, but the one I've bought into is more puzzle than scooter at the moment

I understand perfectly since we own both, Buddy for her and Yager for me. She picked the Buddy Pamplona because 1) it was a 150 and 2) it was cute. I picked the Yager because 1) it was a 200 [yeah, right!] and 2) it had a longer wheel base, the wheels and tires were a bit bigger and 3) had a "gee whiz" medium tech panel. We are both happy to a point as both are good quality with reasonable performance. She is now singing the tune that Yager qualities are desirable. I ain't that tall but I find the Buddy slightly cramped and the footboard seems to be curved up at both ends. There are a lot of really big guys riding the Buddy and I will not discourage anyone from getting one, ever.

Karl

BuddyRaton wrote: Dude...you want an old GT you need a REAL GT! And yes..this one will soon be a 200...well actually a 215

Lovely shots, but I already have a 200 with inoperable blinkers (until I replace the regulator/rectifier).

And I recommend going for broke: add in a stroker for 221cc of sound and fury. That's my plan for the yellow P (once I get some of the other garage projects out the door). Ceramic coat the head and piston crown too!

skully93 wrote:He can give the Buddy to my wife if he doesn't want it .

Don't know if you want this one. It's been in the shop with a frequency greater than routine maintenance calls for and it has about 10K on it. After this last mishap, it's highly likely that some severe engine damage occurred. Not exactly minty-fresh anymore. At least it's still within warranty.

Update on this. Guy still wants a Yager, but I'm recommending that he try out and RV200 and do some comparison riding before plunking cash. On the upside, his missus has taken and interest in scooting. She's decided that we're basically good people and don't bite. I'm going to give his Buddy's EFI system a good looking-over so she can start riding it once he has his new toy. One more scooterist and no jilted Buddy seems like a happy ending in my book.

az_slynch wrote:Update on this. Guy still wants a Yager, but I'm recommending that he try out and RV200 and do some comparison riding before plunking cash. On the upside, his missus has taken and interest in scooting. She's decided that we're basically good people and don't bite. I'm going to give his Buddy's EFI system a good looking-over so she can start riding it once he has his new toy. One more scooterist and no jilted Buddy seems like a happy ending in my book.

IIRC, those have MASSIVE underseat storage - very appealing to the commuter/grocery-getter.

phatch wrote:

az_slynch wrote:Update on this. Guy still wants a Yager, but I'm recommending that he try out and RV200 and do some comparison riding before plunking cash. On the upside, his missus has taken and interest in scooting. She's decided that we're basically good people and don't bite. I'm going to give his Buddy's EFI system a good looking-over so she can start riding it once he has his new toy. One more scooterist and no jilted Buddy seems like a happy ending in my book.

IIRC, those have MASSIVE underseat storage - very appealing to the commuter/grocery-getter.

I dig the Yager's storage. Can store by full-face under the seat, along with most of my riding gear and an insulated lunch bag. Last week, I fit a 24" baguette under the seat while grocery shopping. It's very usable space. I think the RV has a bigger-looking pet carrier, but it's utility is somewhat diminished by the seat hinge (SYM tried to do Lambo doors on a scooter seat?) and an odd side-protrusion for the EFI hardware.

EDIT: Found a pic of the seat and storage

az_slynch wrote:Last week, I fit a 24" baguette under the seat while grocery shopping. It's very usable space. I think the RV has a bigger-looking pet carrier, but it's utility is somewhat diminished by the sear hinge (SYM tried to do Lambo doors on a scooter seat?) and an odd side-protrusion for the EFI hardware.

Awww, man, you gotta let the baguette hang out of the bag in plain sight, along with the celery, milk, and... sausages?!?

You loaned out your new scooter? You must really trust this rider! I don't know how many times I've read posts of people asking about parts and repairs for scooters they've loaned out to friends/spouses/relatives! They all begin with something along the lines of, "I should have known better, but…"

Actually, there are a few people I'd loan one of mine to, but just a few! I almost always turn down offers to ride someone else's because I know what can happen, even in a parking lot, and I'd HATE to be responsible for damaging someone else's bike.

az_slynch wouldn't loan the Yager to me a couple weeks later when I lent my bike out to someone Had to borrow Iron buddy from Howard instead.

It was my first time riding a buddy any real distance, I rode Iron buddy once before for an event and nearly wore the bike as a Hat, I enjoyed it's behavior a lot more this time.

It's weird seeing someone else ride your bike, No one on that ride was on their own bike and there were 5 of us!

JohnKiniston wrote:az_slynch wouldn't loan the Yager to me a couple weeks later when I lent my bike out to someone Had to borrow Iron buddy from Howard instead.

It was my first time riding a buddy any real distance, I rode Iron buddy once before for an event and nearly wore the bike as a Hat, I enjoyed it's behavior a lot more this time.

It's weird seeing someone else ride your bike, No one on that ride was on their own bike and there were 5 of us!

Hey now, in all fairness, let's share with the group that y'all rode up to Reddington Pass; it's not exactly pavement up there.

Furthermore, after dragging my busted P-series back to Tucson post-rally, the Yager was my only truly-viable running scooter. The risk factor was a bit higher at that point than when the P ran and Lee had no other option.

Thirdly, I'd already let you ride the Yager before and you didn't like the handlebar height.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

Well hey, I offered to ride the wheels off your Riva instead

The washboards were not that bad...

It's not like we took the scooters down the trail to the waterfall, tho Randy joked about doing it with my Big Ruckus.

I'm sad to say that Iron Buddy is more comfortable for me than your bike, Bars don't smack me in the knees on it.

ericalm wrote:You loaned out your new scooter? You must really trust this rider! I don't know how many times I've read posts of people asking about parts and repairs for scooters they've loaned out to friends/spouses/relatives! They all begin with something along the lines of, "I should have known better, but…"

Actually, there are a few people I'd loan one of mine to, but just a few! I almost always turn down offers to ride someone else's because I know what can happen, even in a parking lot, and I'd HATE to be responsible for damaging someone else's bike.

I have similar problems regarding borrowing others' bikes. I understand the liability and will often try to return it in better shape than I borrowed it, if possible. I do worry that if it breaks while I'm riding it, that even if I repair it and return it whole, the owner will still feel slighted.

As for loaning out the Yager, I realize that new ones are still available and I have full coverage on it. Plus, at that time, I had another scooter in a near-ready-to-ride state (the P200E). The guy had already gotten a hotel and invested in going to the rally, so I figured I'd be bummed if it was me. The sum of those things made the loaning-out easier.

Honestly, as long as I have something to ride, I'm fine with loaning a bike. The only time it was ever an issue was the one time I had to repo my own scooter. When I recovered it, it was well-thrashed and inoperable (I haven't finished buying all the parts to render it whole again). While the broken scooter sucked, what really got my goat was that the borrower essentially pretended that nothing had happened to the bike and they didn't even offer an apology.

In the end, it all worked out this time. Lee got to go to the rally, I won a trophy for my crappy Vespa and the Vespa got to punish me for going out and getting a new scooter.

More update: I brought the Yager to ScootOver today so that Lee could ride it back-to-back with a freshly-uncrated SYM RV200. It's amazing how close the two bikes are in many areas, yet they're markedly different when one gets into the specs and subtleties, such as ergonomics. Lee has settled on the RV200, though there were parts of the Yager that he wished the RV had.

I did get a chance to ride the RV briefly; as similar as it is the the Yager, I'd get one just because it's different enough to be uniquely enjoyable. I also love the 4-valve engine. If we got the fuel-injected version here, I believe that the RV would gain a big advantage over the Yager. I'd have to make a few changes, though. The home-market front signals would need to be re-fitted and I'd set the headlamps up to both come on for low and high beam. If I get a chance to ride the RV again and put a few miles on it, I'll do a more in-depth comparison.

I just got a silver Buddy 170i to put on a hitch-mounted rack on the back of a Motorhome. I liked the Buddy for its small size and light weight (I was trying to stay under 320 lbs) but I also considered some of the heavier and more highway capable scooters like the Kymco Yager, Genuine Blur 220i, and the new 2013 Honda PCX 150. The Yager seemed like it would have been a good all-around choice but they aren't readily available anymore as far as I can tell. I ended up going with the Buddy 170i for its light weight and excellent reviews, and because there was a very reasonably priced low-mileage used one available locally on Craigslist.

P.S. I visited ScootOver while visiting family in Tucson over the Thanksgiving holiday, they seemed like really nice folks.