New Buddy Owner Question of the Day #2

[arrowman]

Q: Should you wait for your scooter to cool down before putting your cover on it?

My cover got a hole in it from touching a hot exhaust. I was following the advice of a motorcycle owner in my building who said, "Just put it on right away."

Thoughts? Thanks!

[bjj4287]

i mean.. i have no experience with this... but if your scooter is melting the cover.. i would wait until it cools

[Orange Guy]

I'm gonna go with "yes."

[arrowman]

Let me revise the Question:

How long should/do you wait before putting your cover on?

[Piedmont]

At the risk of sounding like a smart ass, I'm going to say: Until the tailpipe is cool enough to not melt your cover.
I don't think we can really answer that.

[bjj4287]

i was about to say the same thing lol

[Shane Wilson]

Not necessarily.

Some covers, like mine, have heat resistant material over the bottom of the cover, designed specifically for the tail pipe.

No need to wait.

[jfrost2]

Heat shield on the buddy isnt too hot that it melts the plastic cover, even after a long ride, it would need to be touching the muffler itself to melt.

[kilted texan]

How long should/do you wait before putting your cover on?

Until you can touch the tailpipe/muffler with your hand & not get burned. Now please be careful any metal associated the with scooter after being ridden should be assume to be too hot to touch.

HOT METAL BURNS I REPEAT HOT METAL BURNS, USE CAUTION!!!

[jmazza]

Heat shield on the buddy isnt too hot that it melts the plastic cover, even after a long ride, it would need to be touching the muffler itself to melt.

I disagree with this.. the heat shield gets plenty hot to melt a cover, especially if that cover is not made of a very thick material. It will melt plastic right away.

Like everyone said here's it's a pretty common sense answer (but a perfectly good question- just saying there's no magic involved), you just have to either wait or avoid the muffler!

I have a cover similar to Shane's with a panel for the muffler but I've never felt it fits right over the muffler so I don't cover it hot. But here's what I do (kinda hard to explain but I'll try!)... maybe this will be something you can do:

I put the cover on the front and then kind of cinch it on the back rack and then on the left side I put it around the kick starter and on the right I kind of hook it around the air blower vent (black plastic vent facing down). That keeps it from touching the muffler and keeps the majority of the scooter covered. Some of the back side panels don't get covered that way though, but it's easier than running out in 20 minutes to cover it!

[bjj4287]

yesterday it was raining and when the water hit it it sizzled and evaporated

[DennisD]

The cover that came with my Helix has a "special heat treated fabric" on the lower section so that it won't melt from a hot exhaust. It has a great big humonguous area melted out of it. I don't use it.

Don't believe all the marketing crap you read. It is designed to separate you from a couple more of your dollars.

Here's something to think about. How many of you that use covers on your scooter also use them on your car when it is outside?? If not, why not? You have a lot more "invested" in a car (maybe) than a scooter.

I keep a towel in the storage areas of my scoots. If wet, I just wipe off the seat and go.

Dennis

[ryder1]

I say you take the cover back to the dealer and let them know what their advice did and ask for a replacement --don't leave w/out a new one or a purchase slip for a new one.

The dealer should KNOW their product.

[ericalm]

I have a cheap cover that would melt like styrofoam if I put it on over a hot scooter. One thing I'll do is pull the cover over but bunch up the side, so the muffler stays exposed for a while. It usually only takes a couple minutes to cool. I usually spit on it, then touch it to be sure.

[EP_scoot]

Arrowman wrote:
Let me revise the Question:

How long should/do you wait before putting your cover on?

The answer to this is on the manual and it is pretty self explanatory. If you look at the manual, you will see that clearly a dog will run away yelping if the pipe is too hot. Thus you can deduct that you should grab your nearest small poddle and place it net to the pipe. If it runs away yelping (as in the picture), it is too hot, wait a few minutes and grab another poddle and repeat. Do this until either the tailpipe is cold or you run out of poddles.

In any case, if a large angry mob comes after you with some smoking poddles in their arms, I'd suggest you just get on with putting the damn cover on and start running.

[madtolive]

If you look at the manual, you will see that clearly a dog will run away yelping if the pipe is too hot. Thus you can deduct that you should grab your nearest small poddle and place it net to the pipe. If it runs away yelping (as in the picture), it is too hot, wait a few minutes and grab another poddle and repeat. Do this until either the tailpipe is cold or you run out of poddles.

smartass.

[NathanielSalzman]

In any case, if a large angry mob comes after you with some smoking poddles in their arms, I'd suggest you just get on with putting the damn cover on and start running.

Wouldn't you do better to hop on the scooter and ride away from the angry mob? That would also be a really good time for a wheely.

[ericalm]

If you look at the manual, you will see that clearly a dog will run away yelping if the pipe is too hot. Thus you can deduct that you should grab your nearest small poddle and place it net to the pipe. If it runs away yelping (as in the picture), it is too hot, wait a few minutes and grab another poddle and repeat. Do this until either the tailpipe is cold or you run out of poddles.

smartass.

I really really wish this was in the manual.

BTW, in California, we use chihuahuas. They're not trendy anymore so people are getting rid of them by the dozen.

[NathanielSalzman]

If you look at the manual, you will see that clearly a dog will run away yelping if the pipe is too hot. Thus you can deduct that you should grab your nearest small poddle and place it net to the pipe. If it runs away yelping (as in the picture), it is too hot, wait a few minutes and grab another poddle and repeat. Do this until either the tailpipe is cold or you run out of poddles.

smartass.

I really really wish this was in the manual.

BTW, in California, we use chihuahuas. They're not trendy anymore so people are getting rid of them by the dozen.

It IS in the manual!!! That's what makes it funny. There is literally an illustration of a dog burning itself on the exhaust pipe!

[jmazza]

I say you take the cover back to the dealer and let them know what their advice did and ask for a replacement --don't leave w/out a new one or a purchase slip for a new one.

The dealer should KNOW their product.

he didn't say his dealer told him to do it- someone in his building did.

I love the dog idea. Let's not forget cats. I find that burning a cat will make them jump really really high which is always good for laughs.

[EP_scoot]

can you tell today is a slow work day and I'm feeling a funny streak on me? . . . which does not necessarily make me funny .

Oh yes . . . Chihuahuas, first they lost their Taco Bell spot and then they started getting dumped by Paris Hilton and her tribe so now they are relegated to tailpipe temperature testing.

The nice thing is that since they have really short hair the burnt smell is not that bad ! And if beforehand you cover them with that fancy Frenchie 2 stroke oil, then they smell like strawberries, quite delicious I'd say.

[aerogirl7]

I have the Genuine Stella cover (before they released a Buddy specific cover) and I've always put it over the hot exhaust pipe with no problems. A lot depends on what your cover is made of. But, as others have said, it's fairly easy to cover most of the scooter and leave the tailpipe exposed.

[Christy]

If you look at the manual, you will see that clearly a dog will run away yelping if the pipe is too hot. Thus you can deduct that you should grab your nearest small poddle and place it net to the pipe. If it runs away yelping (as in the picture), it is too hot, wait a few minutes and grab another poddle and repeat. Do this until either the tailpipe is cold or you run out of poddles.

smartass.

I really really wish this was in the manual.

BTW, in California, we use chihuahuas. They're not trendy anymore so people are getting rid of them by the dozen.

but it IS! See page 27!

[ericalm]

smartass.

I really really wish this was in the manual.

BTW, in California, we use chihuahuas. They're not trendy anymore so people are getting rid of them by the dozen.

but it IS! See page 27!

I actually looked for it but flipped right past it a couple of times.
That's freakin' hilarious.

Now where are those chihuahuas?

[arrowman]

Thanks for all the advice.

I guess the problem I had is that the Prima cover I bought came with no instructions. Zero. Not even a warning on the box. So I followed my neighbor's advice. I guess you live and learn.

Hopefully somebody else learns from this.

[mybuddy&me]

Not necessarily.

Some covers, like mine, have heat resistant material over the bottom of the cover, designed specifically for the tail pipe.

No need to wait.

Same here I always put my cover on right away.

[Christy]

i'm sure this will be a silly question, but what is the purpose of a scooter cover? I really don't mean any disrespect or sarcasm. I keep my scoot garaged and it's never crossed my mind to have a cover for it when out riding. Just curious as to the reasons you (the plural you) use a cover???

[mybuddy&me]

'm sure this will be a silly question, but what is the purpose of a scooter cover? I really don't mean any disrespect or sarcasm. I keep my scoot garaged and it's never crossed my mind to have a cover for it when out riding. Just curious as to the reasons you (the plural you) use a cover???

I don't have a garage, I live in Arizona.
(aka) I'm poor (aka) it's hot!

[jmazza]

i'm sure this will be a silly question, but what is the purpose of a scooter cover? I really don't mean any disrespect or sarcasm. I keep my scoot garaged and it's never crossed my mind to have a cover for it when out riding. Just curious as to the reasons you (the plural you) use a cover???

Not a bad question, Christy- there are a few good reasons.

I cover mine sometimes because it sits out in the South Florida sun for 8 or so hours a day and I don't want the plastic fading. I've heard it's very resistant to fading but I don't want a scooter that looks like it's been through the wash a thousand times in a year. The sun down here (as where you are) is ridiculously harmful.

I also cover it for rain - I know it's fine in the rain- I just rode it today in the rain. But some parts (mirrors and back chrome rack) do rust pretty quickly.

I also cover it because I park under trees. And birds hang out in trees. 'nuff said.

Finally, another good reason for covering it is that I believe it's less attractive to thieves/miscreants (i love that word) if it's covered. This applies to when it's the last vehicle in the parking lot at work or at night parked in my carport.

So for the $40 I spent on it, I think it's not a bad deal. Not necessary by any means and, to be honest, I use it less than 50% of the time but I'm glad I have it.

[Christy]

Joe, those are all good reasons but this one, imo, is the best:

I also cover it because I park under trees. And birds hang out in trees. 'nuff said.

[ericalm]

Joe, those are all good reasons but this one, imo, is the best:

I also cover it because I park under trees. And birds hang out in trees. 'nuff said.

It happens.

[hcstrider]

I use my Buddy cover primarily when I camping, I cover it up at night. So far it has rained during every campout I have gone on this year. It is not a big deal to wipe the water off of the Buddy but it is even easier just to remove the cover.