My new buddy is just the right size!
Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 3:56 am
Friday afternoon I picked up my two-tone green "Italia" Buddy International from the Scooter Superstore in Hollywood, FL. My first drive was to take it home from the store: 23 miles in the rain. I had a blast.
Today I tooled all around Weston, taking it to lunch, grocery shopping, you name it. This is just the coolest thing!
I've been lurking on this forum for the past 3 weeks, gathering information and deciding on the exact model, etc. Thanks to everyone for all the posts about helmets, gear, breaking in the engine, and everything else. You have no idea how handy all of that is for a new rider.
What I love most about the Buddy - besides its great looks, smooth acceleration, and great maneuverability - is that it fits me perfectly! Physically, I mean. I saw a ton of posts here (and in other scooter forums) that say things like "I'm a big guy, but..." or "I'm 6' 3" and 250 lbs, but the Buddy fits me just fine!" It's almost like people are reassuring each other that even though they're full sized, they still are happy riding the scooter.
I am the opposite. I'm 5' 7" and 145 lbs, and a Vespa LX150 (the scooter I rode during my motorcycle safety training course) was just too darn big. I couldn't get both feet on the ground without sliding completely off the seat. The Buddy, on the other hand, is just right. I can stand it easily at a stop light, without missing a beat. The hand grips seem perfectly sized. Everything is in just the right place to access without strain.
So, this is one short guy who is quite happy to say that I love this scooter that doesn't make me feel like I'm not tall enough to ride...
Today I tooled all around Weston, taking it to lunch, grocery shopping, you name it. This is just the coolest thing!
I've been lurking on this forum for the past 3 weeks, gathering information and deciding on the exact model, etc. Thanks to everyone for all the posts about helmets, gear, breaking in the engine, and everything else. You have no idea how handy all of that is for a new rider.
What I love most about the Buddy - besides its great looks, smooth acceleration, and great maneuverability - is that it fits me perfectly! Physically, I mean. I saw a ton of posts here (and in other scooter forums) that say things like "I'm a big guy, but..." or "I'm 6' 3" and 250 lbs, but the Buddy fits me just fine!" It's almost like people are reassuring each other that even though they're full sized, they still are happy riding the scooter.
I am the opposite. I'm 5' 7" and 145 lbs, and a Vespa LX150 (the scooter I rode during my motorcycle safety training course) was just too darn big. I couldn't get both feet on the ground without sliding completely off the seat. The Buddy, on the other hand, is just right. I can stand it easily at a stop light, without missing a beat. The hand grips seem perfectly sized. Everything is in just the right place to access without strain.
So, this is one short guy who is quite happy to say that I love this scooter that doesn't make me feel like I'm not tall enough to ride...