Defending our Buddy!

jmazza · Post by **jmazza** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 3:57 pm

Hey everyone- I just replied to a thread on urbanscootin.com that I thought misrepresented Genuine and the Buddy.

I'm curious if anyone wants to read my reply and see if you agree- I was really trying to not just argue, but rebut what I considered to be bad info about Genuine. See if you think my facts/opinions seem more accurate than the other stuff in the thread.

The thread is here. I hope they take it well as I certainly don't want to start/be a part of a message board war!!

Moderators- if this is too close to the line of causing some dangerous flame wars, please delete this thread and PM me if you'd like me to delete my reply over at urbanscootin- I just wanted to come to the defense of our scoots!!

illnoise · Post by **illnoise** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 4:28 pm

I think you were fair, but on the other hand, don't take any of that stuff personally. Most of what they said is fair too, but it was worth adding the opinion of a Buddy owner.

Most of the complaints against Genuine are a problem across the industry. Honda and Yamaha, since they already have huge dealer networks, have done a pretty good job with parts availabilty, but even they're not perfect, and many Honda/Yam dealers treat scooterists like second-class citizens, while others have really embraced the scooter boom. I've had friends with Vinos and Metros with weird unexplainable problems that required lots of service too, and you never know if that's a problem with the bike, the owner, the dealer, the manufacturer, or all of the above.

Bb.

jmazza · Post by **jmazza** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 5:03 pm

illnoise wrote:I think you were fair, but on the other hand, don't take any of that stuff personally. Most of what they said is fair too, but it was worth adding the opinion of a Buddy owner.

Most of the complaints against Genuine are a problem across the industry. Honda and Yamaha, since they already have huge dealer networks, have done a pretty good job with parts availabilty, but even they're not perfect, and many Honda/Yam dealers treat scooterists like second-class citizens, while others have really embraced the scooter boom. I've had friends with Vinos and Metros with weird unexplainable problems that required lots of service too, and you never know if that's a problem with the bike, the owner, the dealer, the manufacturer, or all of the above.

Bb.

Oh yeah I didn't take it personally- I just felt like there were two things that were a little over the top- lumping the Buddy in with the "ChinaScoot class" and the comments about Genuine just being in this to sell some scoots right away and make a buck.

Of course, the latter could prove true, I just hope not!!!

I like urbanscootin- I don't post much there but I read quite a bit. Cool people there and since it is a Honda board, I expect the same kind of bias there that we have here!

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 6:53 pm

Thanks for sticking up for the Bud.

You know, that damn bad stators thread...!
Thing is, there's little evidence that there actually is a problem with the stators.

ALSO, I've had the same parts problems with my Vespa as others have had with their Buddys. Toss in the long waits to get any service at all at our local dealers and it's worse. When I needed some body work and painting done it took almost 3 months! (That was a couple years ago, but I'm not sure things are any better.) When my non-Vespa-dealer Genuine dealer tried to get me a part (ordering from Piaggio, Motorsport, and through another supplier), it also took months. He wound up pulling one off a wrecked ET4 for me.

So, yeah, Genuine could be doing better with the parts supply. But they're not any worse than Piaggio (Vespa, Aprilia) and they're much better than, say, Roketa or Tank which have no dealer support or parts distribution at all!

jrsjr · Post by **jrsjr** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 7:13 pm

ericalm wrote:You know, that damn bad stators thread...!
Thing is, there's little evidence that there actually is a problem with the stators.

OMG!!! That was my post they are quoting. I'm so sorry I ever posted that, it was an idiotic, ill-considered, not to mention half-baked idea. Sheesh. I wonder if I should just go back and kill that post.

<Slaps self on forehead>

jmazza · Post by **jmazza** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 7:14 pm

jrsjr wrote:
ericalm wrote:You know, that damn bad stators thread...!
Thing is, there's little evidence that there actually is a problem with the stators.
OMG!!! That was my post they are quoting. I'm so sorry I ever posted that, it was an idiotic, ill-considered, not to mention half-baked idea. Sheesh. I wonder if I should just go back and kill that post.

<Slaps self on forehead>

haha yeah they got some mileage out of that idea!!!

pcbikedude · Post by **pcbikedude** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:03 pm

Sorry Eric you know how I feel about those crappy Vespas

.

Right now I have 2 friends that have broken down ET4's. So far, no one can figure out what the problems are.

So much for superior technology.

Honda / Yamaha dealers that I have dealt with treat scooters and their owners like redheaded step children. Their sales people are clueless about their own scooter products.

So much for superior dealer network.

Look at Craigs List in your community, you will find lots Vespa, Hondas, Yamahas, and Chinese crap scooters. Rarely you can find a used Buddy.

So much for a superior product.

Ignorance is not bliss. They just don't own Buddys.

Maybe they'll quote this thread.

vaderscoot · Post by **vaderscoot** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:03 pm

i wish they were doing better with the parts supply issue i ordered a front brake lever at scooterworks on december 8th and still have not had it delivered to my house and iam only 40 miles away from the place

illnoise · Post by **illnoise** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:42 pm

vaderscoot wrote:i wish they were doing better with the parts supply issue i ordered a front brake lever at scooterworks on december 8th and still have not had it delivered to my house and iam only 40 miles away from the place :x

ha, I live 7 miles away and I mail-order stuff, too. getting from the west side to the north side is such a drag, even on a scooter.

Bb.

Post by **ericalm** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 3:00 am

pcbikedude wrote:Look at Craigs List in your community, you will find lots Vespa, Hondas, Yamahas, and Chinese crap scooters. Rarely you can find a used Buddy.

So much for a superior product.

Ignorance is not bliss. They just don't own Buddys.

Well, let's not take this too far in the other direction. This is more likely because there are fewer Buddys on the road and that the Buddy is only 2 years old. It's really not a superior/inferior thing. If you really wan to make it one, though, you can take it up over at ubanscootin.com.

Scootden · Post by **Scootden** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 5:03 am

Actually here in the colorado front range buddies show up on Craigslist all the time. Mostly due to having one of the biggest dealers in the country.

josh

pcbikedude · Post by **pcbikedude** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 5:10 am

ericalm wrote:Well, let's not take this too far in the other direction. This is more likely because there are fewer Buddys on the road and that the Buddy is only 2 years old. It's really not a superior/inferior thing. If you really wan to make it one, though, you can take it up over at ubanscootin.com.

Just having some fun.

On the serious side, guess where some of Vespa parts are coming from? Taiwan. Piaggio has started importing several scooters wholly manufactured in mainland China for the past 2 years (ex. the Piaggio Fly).