Modern Buddy

I think the Buddy models 125 to 170 should have 12" wheels and 120 mm width tires. The 10 inchers are fine for the 50. No matter my 170 has the tiny wheels and tires just saying PGO or Genuine need to adapt not just follow Vespa. Love my 170i but it can almost turn too quickly on the gas and is a little nervous at higher speeds as it can do 65 mph. I love it all the same its not my first scooter or motorcycle. I bought it after research and my eyes wide open.

Mike,

Start with this thread:

viewtopic.php?t=23270

A good set of tires can do great things.

Until Vespa hit the new Sprint model , all the smaller modern Vespas had an 11" front and a 10" rear. I think the Primaveras still do. Only the Sprint and the big Vespas had 12" wheels from the get-go.

Other factors are wheelbase and steering angle. The Buddy is short and steep. The Hooligan may have 12" tires, but it also has a longer wheelbase and a shallower steering angle. All contribute to handling. Bigger wheels on a Buddy alone may dampen turning rate due to increased gyroscopic effect, but it won't prevent it from chasing its own tail in a tight turn.

I must be missing something. I've ridden my old Vespa P200 on the interstate at the posted limit (75 non-bmph) and never had it feel squirrely because of tire size. It runs 3.5-10" tube tires. Heck, the 35 year-old swingarm bushings are a bigger nuisance than the tires!

But I've owned sport bikes with short wheel base. Need to face it the Buddy is tiny with tiny wheels. It's not a question of tires as they warm up quickly and are sticky. Need to tell myself it's a little scooter with a big engine. I'm sure the chassis and wheels were designed for a 50 a 125.
Ain't no thing as it's fun the way it is.

If wider 12" wheels and tires is what you wanted, why didn't you go with the Hooligan rather than the Buddy 170i?

The smaller wheels on the Buddy is what gives it it's charm. I have ridden one many times on the interstate and have never felt in danger. First thing is change out the tires to something better, and if that dont work, get something with bigger wheels like a Hooligan.

az_slynch wrote:
A good set of tires can do great things.

I must be missing something.

Sent you a PM az_slynch ; )

I like the 10" wheels. Helps make it nimble. Feels stable enough for me topped out around 65. No need to duplicate every other scooter out there with 12" wheels & lose their niche.

Just whining, I love how flickable it is