Modern Buddy

Well, group, I went and bought a new black Buddy yesterday. I know, I know, I said I was going to get an Agility 125...well, the story is that the DOT decided that the kill switch on the Agilitys is not visible enough, therefore they refused to allow them to be shipped. It's looking like they won't be available until mid to late September. Do I LOOK like a patient man? I just coughed up the extra $400 and told Shelby from Scoot Over in Tucson to meet me in Phoenix with a black one and I'd take it. That's what we did. She and I loaded it into the back seat of my Chrysler Sebring convertible (try THAT with your basic Harley) and I drove it the other 130 miles home. Had people taking pics with their camera phones of me and my scooter in the car all the way home. Lotsa grins.

An issue arose at mile 25. The drain plug in the bottom of the carburetor float bowl backed out and went away. This brought the Buddy and I to a halt. I was able to get it running again (just barely) and made it home before all the gas ran out onto the ground. It's a very special bolt, and Scoot Over has another one in the mail to me, but I was able to make a temporary fix so I can ride it this weekend. Sometimes pays to have been a motorcycle mechanic in one's past life...

--Keys

dammit, Keys...now I can't get black...It sounds like the Orange is too popular and I am leaning toward the creme...


...but I still love My Stella...even if she smokes like Bob Marley...

I now have just shy of 100 miles on my new black Buddy. At first, I thought maybe I wouldn't be as happy with it as I am with my Bajaj. However, the more I ride it, the more I appreciate it! Easy to ride, smooth, and with the back fender cut and the DOT signals removed, it looks sharp. The acceleration is much better than the Bajaj's and I don't seem to have lost a thing in hill climbing ability. The handling is, well...different, but as I rack up the miles, confidence seems to be building as well. I will probably be playing boy-racer on it in no time!

I had the initial problem with the carb bowl plug, but discovered the Buddy is even easier to work on than the Bajaj. Everything is accessible. This, I believe, is a well designed little scooter and I don't think I'll ever regret my decision. I'll probably be posting a very extensive test of my new scooter on my blog at www.skutergruven.blogspot.com in the near future. I want to put a few more miles on first and do some longer, more challenging rides. I'll let you know...

--Keys

Where did you cut the fender, Keys?

I've debated on a few different places, but I dunno if I want to trim the tabs on the rear fender-type bits yet.

Hey 'cat,

I cut the fender just south of the license-plate bracket, straight across and kinda smoothed it back on each side to make it look good. Used a pneumatic cut-off tool (they had one at work). I also used the cut-off tool to trim away the tabs that the rear reflectors are mounted to on the license plate bracket. I don't need no stinkin' reflectors...

--Keys

Um, by the way, I Axed My Cat and he just said to step away from the food dish and no one will get hurt...

--Keys

scarabmonkey wrote:

...but I still love My Stella...even if she smokes like Bob Marley...

Keys wrote:Hey 'cat,

I cut the fender just south of the license-plate bracket, straight across and kinda smoothed it back on each side to make it look good. Used a pneumatic cut-off tool (they had one at work). I also used the cut-off tool to trim away the tabs that the rear reflectors are mounted to on the license plate bracket. I don't need no stinkin' reflectors...

--Keys

That's about where I cut mine as well. It looks so much better without that insectile fender! I added a stripe of red reflective tape on the little "over the wheel" fender that is there. I know....
:needpics: ...but I'm at work!

Tocsik wrote:

scarabmonkey wrote:

...but I still love My Stella...even if she smokes like Bob Marley...

what else did you find in the trenches, this is an old one.

enzomatic wrote:what else did you find in the trenches, this is an old one.

Yeah, that's wierd. This was up in the top of the posts and I didn't notice the date.

How do you like the Bud compared to the Rat, Keys?

bud first then rat if that tells ya.

bigbropgo wrote:bud first then rat if that tells ya.

Well...now I feel stupid, perhaps I'll check the date on posts before I respond to them. I was thinking that Keys bought a buddy while his Rat was in the shop

laxer wrote:

bigbropgo wrote:bud first then rat if that tells ya.

Well...now I feel stupid, perhaps I'll check the date on posts before I respond to them. I was thinking that Keys bought a buddy while his Rat was in the shop

same thing happen to me. a handful of old threads have been dug up lately and i think, how did i miss this? mostly cause they are like 2-3 years old. I'm just given ya a hard time.

:headache:oh good gawd man, here I am thinking, damnit first major buys a zuma and now keys has gone and ditched the Rat, even after that paint job.....

Wheelz wrote::headache:oh good gawd man, here I am thinking, damnit first major buys a zuma and now keys has gone and ditched the Rat, even after that paint job.....

Glad I'm not the only one!