New to the Forum

troutster52 · Post by **troutster52** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 1:42 pm

Hello all,

My name is Chris. I am new to the forum. I recently became a proud owner of a 2012 Buddy 50 in red. I happened on it on craigslist while looking for something different. The battery was dead so he had it priced very low. I snapped it up. A new battery, a charge, and new fluids and its back on the road again and tons of fun. I purchased it with 242 miles on it.

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 2:12 pm

Welcome to MB

Nice score Dude!

troutster52 · Post by **troutster52** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 3:57 pm

Thanks. I had a blast motoring around town yesterday for an hour or so. It is way too much fun for 30 mph!

CapnK · Post by **CapnK** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 4:03 pm

Hi Chris -

I am new here also, and similar to you sort of "stumbled" onto/into Buddism (that's with no "h") myself here in the last couple of weeks. Mine's a 150 Italia, I put the earnest money/deposit down yesterday for the fella to hold her while I get my Class M license permit and such worked out to drive her home. That should be late this week or next, and I am really looking forward to it.

Sounds like you got a great deal!

skully93 · Post by **skully93** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 4:10 pm

Welcome!

Of course we despise new faces, ideas, thoughts and opinions around here. All day long....

Kidding, hope you have a blast! The Buddy was my 2nd scoot. Should have made it my first!

Capn, you and I have the same beast.

troutster52 · Post by **troutster52** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 4:10 pm

What I like about mine is that I don't have to have any different than a driver's license since its under 50 cc and 30 mph. It is a cute little scooter.

I was embarrassed when I went to buy a helmet and the motorcycle dealer said "What do you ride?" and the answer is a 50 cc scooter called a Buddy. They definitely don't prioritize masculinity with the Buddy.

Who cares, though? Its fun.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 4:11 pm

I've got a 2009 red Buddy 50, so I know you have a fine ride there.

troutster52 wrote:Thanks. I had a blast motoring around town yesterday for an hour or so. It is way too much fun for 30 mph!

The Buddy 50 is actually designed to go faster than that, but for import/licensing reasons is artificially restricted to 30mph. With a little minor surgery you should be able to get maybe another 10mph out of it (which would reclassify it as a "motorcycle" under Iowa law).

CapnK · Post by **CapnK** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 4:44 pm

Skully - I can't wait to start putting some miles under mine.

I'll look you up when I get to Denver.

troutster52 · Post by **troutster52** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 5:01 pm

The Buddy 50 is actually designed to go faster than that, but for import/licensing reasons is artificially restricted to 30mph. With a little minor surgery you should be able to get maybe another 10mph out of it (which would reclassify it as a "motorcycle" under Iowa law).

OK, you have my curiosity. What types of minor surgery are required to increase top speed? I know on the old 70s mopeds, a performance muffler and a high-flow air filter can add a lot of power and speed, but then the carb needs to be re-jetted to stay stoich. With the buddy, the carb is so hidden under there I hesitate to want to do anything that would require any carb work, just because of access. On those old 70s moped (Honda express, puch maxi, etc) the engine and carb are out and easily accessible.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 5:19 pm

troutster52 wrote:What types of minor surgery are required to increase top speed?

It involves taking a spacer out of the transmission that limits the top RPMs, and a washer from the exhaust to limit the power. This thread describes it in more detail, and the video in this thread shows Genuine dealers how to do it (along with the standard dealer prep for the bike).... the relevant part is about halfway through.

troutster52 · Post by **troutster52** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 6:04 pm

Opening up the exhaust would require an upjet in the carb to keep it from leaning out, and the carb is not easily accessible so I'll pass. If it was a 70s moped like a Puch Maxi or Honda Express, I would have done it already.

troutster52 · Post by **troutster52** » Wed Jun 05, 2013 10:04 pm

I put down that changing the jet would be necessary based on what I know from 70s moped mechanics. In that case, any change in intake or exhaust requires an upjet. However, I know and understand that is different from one model to another.

Is that not true for the Buddy 50? If I take out the washer and reinstall the exhaust without changing anything else, is it going to run lean or is it going to be ok?

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Thu Jun 06, 2013 12:11 am

I don't know about such things. I haven't heard of it being necessary.

troutster52 · Post by **troutster52** » Thu Jun 06, 2013 6:40 pm

For any of you that have de-restricted your Buddy 50, did you need to do any carb adjustments to prevent it from running lean?

michelle_7728 · Post by **michelle_7728** » Sun Jun 09, 2013 7:36 am

Welcome to the forum, Chris!

agrogod · Post by **agrogod** » Sun Jun 09, 2013 1:11 pm

Derestricting will do nothing more than allow the Buddy (or any 50cc it seems) to reach its full speed potential. Its when you start throwing on BBK's, hi-pro mufflers, clutches, springs, yada,yada,yada, that you have to start messing with jetting.

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Jun 11, 2013 8:48 am

Welcome!

troutster52 · Post by **troutster52** » Tue Jun 11, 2013 2:16 pm

I posted in the other thread but I just wanted to say I did the exhaust de-restriction last night and what an incredible difference it makes! At launch it feels twice as powerful, and I gained 5 mph across the board, and it doesn't struggle with hills as much. I went from happy to very happy with my Buddy 50.

The only downside is that I actually need to watch my speed now in neighborhoods instead of just holding it at wide open throttle all the time.

wschmechel · Post by **wschmechel** » Tue Jun 11, 2013 9:19 pm

posted in the other thread but I just wanted to say I did the exhaust de-restriction last night and what an incredible difference it makes! At launch it feels twice as powerful, and I gained 5 mph across the board, and it doesn't struggle with hills as much. I went from happy to very happy with my Buddy 50.

The only downside is that I actually need to watch my speed now in neighborhoods instead of just holding it at wide open throttle all the time.

Woo hoo! It's stuff like that that really makes this forum great! They'll teach you things you didn't even think to ask!

Dooglas · Post by **Dooglas** » Tue Jun 11, 2013 11:18 pm

troutster52 wrote:What I like about mine is that I don't have to have any different than a driver's license since its under 50 cc and 30 mph. It is a cute little scooter.

Ride safe and have fun. Just never forget that you can go down just as hard on a Buddy 50 as on a Buddy 150. That is one reason why the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) basic course is a good idea.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Wed Jun 12, 2013 11:36 pm

troutster52 wrote:I posted in the other thread but I just wanted to say I did the exhaust de-restriction last night and what an incredible difference it makes! At launch it feels twice as powerful, and I gained 5 mph across the board, and it doesn't struggle with hills as much. I went from happy to very happy with my Buddy 50.

The only downside is that I actually need to watch my speed now in neighborhoods instead of just holding it at wide open throttle all the time.

I got mine derestricted before I picked it up, so I never experienced the difference (and that's why I didn't want to comment on what other adjustments might be needed). But yeah, having to watch the speedo in the 25mph speed trap I go through on my daily commute is the main thing that sucks about being derestricted.