Modern Buddy

I think my local Genuine dealer is no longer representing Genuine. The closest one is at least 30 miles away. Do I really have to rent a pick up truck and haul my Buddy to it for the first maintenance? What does it really involve that I can't do myself? Will it void my warranty if I don't take it to the dealer. I have 200 miles on it right now.

While PGO's sticker say 300km, lotsa folks round here go 300 miles or so. Panic Thee Not, and ride it to the dealer.

Switch to synthetic oil for crank case and gear box. Will give you more MPH.
PLus what Pete said!!

Again, some folks 'round here have suggested doing the first-service oil change with dino, then switching to synthetic at the next oil-change interval (1000mi). My shop's guy said that the 200-250mi or so that I had run was enough to seat the rings properly, so he switched me to Motul synthetic at the first service. From that point, change every 2000mi if using synth.

Yeah, there's nothing 'magic' done at the first-service, but it includes lots of little things over and above an oil-and-filter change. Gear oil is replaced, idle-speed set, carb air/fuel check, and an overall bolt-torque check are called for. The items to be checked are listed on pp. 29-30 of the Buddy manual, and can also be seen in Genuine's first-service video at http://vimeo.com/5377019, which amusingly-enough Genuine calls the '500-mile' service. So much for 300km.

The first service involves a bunch of checks to make sure the scooter is properly adjusted, and unless you're an experience motorbike mechanic (and if you have to ask, I'm guessing you aren't ) it'd be a good idea to have it done by someone who is. If the place you bought it is no longer a Genuine dealer (but was, so they know what to check), that shouldn't be a problem; Genuine doesn't go looking for technicalities to void your warranty. But whether you take it there, or another (current) Genuine dealer farther away (see if you can make an appointment and have it done while you wait), just make sure it gets done within the next few hundred miles, and you should be fine.

That is what my Genuine/Vespa dealer says. PeteH. Says to fill slightly
above the full mark on the dipstick to allow for the new filter.THanks for the
ref.tip.

Yeah, my understanding is that it's perfectly okay and normal to wait until the 500-600 mile mark. And if it's really only 30 miles away, then yes, you really should take it in for the 1st service. Is there any particular reason you'd rent a pick-up rather than just ride it there? the service shouldn't take more than an hour or two tops (if you schedule it in advance anyway), and 30 miles isn't that far. Anyway, as already stated, some of the checks and adjustments they perform are not for the beginner (e.g. checking and adjusting the valves, which I believe requires a special tool as well), and unless you have experience working on bikes already, I wouldn't recommend trying yourself.

A valve-adjust isn't on the list of checks in the owner's manual - it's clear as mud - just says 'when needed', though some dealers may do it as part of first-service. A word of warning, though - valves need to be checked and/or adjusted STONE COLD, meaning you can't get it done while-u-wait. Bike needs to sit for several hours, pref. overnight.

Maybe an experienced mechanic can share whether valves have drifted in the first few hundred miles. I don't really recall hearing about it, and I'm pretty sure my valves were/are OK, so maybe if your only transportation is the scoot, you could skip the valve check for the first service, and do it next time if you can coordinate a drop-off.

It's 30 freeway miles to the nearest dealer. The local bike shop isn't where I originally purchased it because they only had a handful of Stellas at the time which they left in the pouring rain and no Buddys. It was clear they weren't focused on scooters. Now, they won't even return my calls about Buddy maintenance. I purchased the bike even further away, about 50 mi or so. I guess I'll spring for a $20 uhaul truck and take it there, but it sounds like I have some leeway. It took me 6 mos to put 200 miles on it. Thanks for all the responses!

Can't you find local streets that parallel the freeway? 30mi, plus the extra for turns and such, isn't that far to ride.

Ride it, don't truck it. You need a ramp and tiedowns, further jacking-up your costs.

Wish I could but this is the Bay Area. It's all about freeways and bridges.

Did you try these guys - I thought I saw some Buddy's there.

VESPA WALNUT CREEK
2780 Camino Diablo,
Walnut Creek, CA, 94596 PHONE 925-938-0600

Yes, but their service dept is at their Oakland location. Plus, I need a Genuine dealer to do the service for warranty issues. I'll just rent a truck and haul it. Thanks.

So my question is - If one is a buyer of a new Buddy and now the dealer has gone away for any reason and the next closes dealer is at such a distance it makes next to impossible a visit. Here is the big question : Can you take it to another brand authorized shop to have any service done that will not void warranty. -Like a Honda or Vespa Shop?????

hg3 wrote:So my question is - If one is a buyer of a new Buddy and now the dealer has gone away for any reason and the next closes dealer is at such a distance it makes next to impossible a visit. Here is the big question : Can you take it to another brand authorized shop to have any service done that will not void warranty. -Like a Honda or Vespa Shop?????

Yes. Any competent motorcycle mechanic can service them, and as long as they don't do something stupid that damages the scooter, your warranty will still be honored.

The only "catch" with doing this is that, if you need repairs done that require Buddy-specific parts (e.g. a brake handle or body panels), your randomly-selected local motorcycle shop might not be able to get them (at least not without paying full retail price for them, just like you would, which they may be unwilling to do). The good news is that the powertrain of the Buddy is mostly industry-standard components, so for most routine maintenance, any shop can get them.

why don't you just call roadside assistance (in this case, your house) and have them come out and haul it to the dealer?

Great forum. Last two replies solve your problem.