More competition for the Buddy?

Southerner · Post by **Southerner** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 2:37 am

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/27617/Buy ... e-150.aspx

I found this one in the Kymco brochure the dealer gave me. It seems about as comparable a competitor for the Buddy as I've seen. For those who look askance at Kymco's mainland-made efforts, this one is actually made in Taiwan.

Curiously, although it has 4 valves on its cylinder, Kymco has kept this one carbureted. So it has a kick starter as well. HP is a claimed 13.5. Not bad as the slightly larger Like 200i only manages a little over 11.

Disc brakes front and rear.

For a modern scoot, its looks are quite bearable. Their Super 8 gives me the hives just to look at it.

Funny how they give their machines these odd, film-related names. But at least the nominal displacement isn't wildly off.

pugbuddy · Post by **pugbuddy** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 3:34 am

I don't care for the "Star Wars" look. Would never bother to even look at this, much less buy it.

Wondering if anyone has heard of this? SSR Legend 150 Scooter. Kind of a neat look and quite inexpensive. Not sure how well it's made though; couldn't find anything worth reading about it online....

Post by **ericalm** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 4:20 am

Made in Taiwan… and priced too high at $3200.

It's a few hundred more than the Buddy 125 and the Piaggio Fly 3V 150, only $150 less than the Buddy 170i. Sport scooters still don't have the buyer appeal that retro designs do. And it's carbureted.

Kymco's pretty confounding. They killed their best and best-selling models, the People 150 and 250S. They then start importing a bunch of Chinese-built scooters that aren't as reliable as their Taiwanese ones and built using cheaper components. Then they flood the market and dealers with SIXTEEN models/variations, all competing against each other. Five 50cc scoots and four 200cc (if you include the Likes). Makes no sense at all!

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 4:22 am

Goofy name aside, the specs are impressive (if your quoted 13.5bhp is correct). I like the flat floorboard (I miss it on the BV350), hate the two-level seat.

LunaP · Post by **LunaP** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 6:57 am

Nope, still not my thing. I like some of the specs, but... not the style. I'll take my Buddy

az_slynch · Post by **az_slynch** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 7:40 am

I don't believe that the Movie is meant to compete with the Buddy. I think Kymco somehow thinks it can square up with the PCX 125/150. I also think they meant for it to fill in the line when the Yager was phased out. It has some neat bits like the LED tail lamp, the digital dash (with a cheetah icon that appears when you're haulin' butt) and the dual disc brakes. However, such features aren't enough to step to the Hondas.

Kymco's counterpart to the Buddy line is the "New Sento" line, sold here as the Compagno. It's available in a 50 and a 110, both equipped with 4T EFI motors. The design is more "chic" than what Kymco usually brings to the table. The Compagno is priced above the Buddy 50/125 models, but I suspect that Kymco expects to find buyers through the dressed-up design ( stylized horn cast with LED ring around the logo, jewelled speedometer and scooter-print floormat).

The seat height on the Compagno is 29" and it has dogleg style brake levers, so there are practical elements that will appeal to shorter riders or those with arthritic conditions.

Finally, lets address the most blatant aspect of this scoot that points to its target competition: the name. "Compagno" translates loosely from Italian to "Buddy". How's that for subtle?

Wolfhound · Post by **Wolfhound** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 10:48 am

Eric's and az_slynch's comments pretty well sum up what I would want to know. Will stick with my 170i.

lovemysan · Post by **lovemysan** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 12:56 pm

I looked one of these over at the dealer. Unfortunately the thick angled floor board eating up the legroom is a deal breaker. Much like the super eight its uncomfortable. Under seat storage is large but no depth for a full face helmet. The buddy needs a 4 valve head. The dealer tells me these are 10mph faster than a buddy.

bgwss · Post by **bgwss** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 1:01 pm

Like the disc brakes front and back.

still shifting · Post by **still shifting** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 1:27 pm

Kymco... Well I was sorry to return my Super 8 at 600 miles with its fourth electrical failure. Traded in on a Honda SHi150, no complaints there. I did like that odd looking Kymco scooter, when it ran. R

Southerner · Post by **Southerner** » Fri Jul 12, 2013 4:24 am

az_slynch wrote:.......... counterpart to the Buddy line is the "New Sento" line, sold here as the Compagno. It's available in a 50 and a 110, both equipped with 4T EFI motors. The design is more "chic" than what Kymco usually brings to the table. The Compagno is priced above the Buddy 50/125 models, but I suspect that Kymco expects to find buyers through the dressed-up design ( stylized horn cast with LED ring around the logo, jewelled speedometer and scooter-print floormat).

The seat height on the Compagno is 29" and it has dogleg style brake levers, so there are practical elements that will appeal to shorter riders or those with arthritic conditions.

Finally, lets address the most blatant aspect of this scoot that points to its target competition: the name. "Compagno" translates loosely from Italian to "Buddy". How's that for subtle?

The Compagnos are cute but since the big one is only 110cc, a little bit small for me. If they were to up-gun to 150 or even 200c or so, I would have more confidence in them, but that would butt-up against the Like 200i.

I guess they could be competition for the PCX but that and the new Forza seem like mini maxis in appearance, at least to me.

Wolfhound · Post by **Wolfhound** » Fri Jul 12, 2013 9:17 am

Lovemysan, ride it first. Some dealers will oversell the product. 10 miles
faster? On what does he base this figure? Has he ridden both scoots to be
able to make that statement?

lovemysan · Post by **lovemysan** » Fri Jul 12, 2013 1:04 pm

Wolfhound wrote:Lovemysan, ride it first. Some dealers will oversell the product. 10 miles
faster? On what does he base this figure? Has he ridden both scoots to be
able to make that statement?

Actually, I asked the head mechanic. Yes he has ridden both. 10 mph could be more like 7-10 mph. He said it feels like 13.5hp. I have no interest in this scoot. I don't mind the drum brake. Personally I think genuine needs a ceramic coated 4 valve buddy. I like the flat floor and small chassis.

SonnyD · Post by **SonnyD** » Fri Jul 12, 2013 2:17 pm

Definitely not crazy about the style...I like the more classic look

bluebuddygirl · Post by **bluebuddygirl** » Fri Jul 12, 2013 3:23 pm

It looks like a solid little scoot, although I am surprised by the weight. It is more than my 250 motorcycle.

Wolfhound · Post by **Wolfhound** » Fri Jul 12, 2013 10:20 pm

My TGB 150cc scoots put out 10.1 hp and the 170i , best as I can figure,
puts out around 13. Not knocking the other scoot. It is made in Taiwan and
that usually translates as quality, at least my 3 Taiwanese scoots have been
very satisfactory.

wheelbender6 · Post by **wheelbender6** » Sat Jul 13, 2013 2:44 am

The hot rodder in me likes the 13 HP. My eyes do not like the huge streamlined headlights. I'm just not a big fan of sport bike styled scoots.

jrstone · Post by **jrstone** » Sat Jul 13, 2013 7:05 am

Can't say I'm not a fan of "sport bike styled" scooters... I love the look of my Aprilia. But that Kymco is absolutely repulsive. I wouldn't care if it had 100hp.

Stitch · Post by **Stitch** » Sat Jul 13, 2013 3:18 pm

Oh look, they found a use for all the leftover super8 parts.
If it runs like the super8 it will prolly do mid sixties (GPS) and the clock will break. Hopefully they improved the seat, because the 8's seat is brutal.