Modern Buddy

SO, the other night I'm out at a wing place and I've found what I thought to be awesome parking. Away from the regular old parking for all the soccer mom SUVs, a nice little spot of sidewalk. Well I spent the whole night checking on my scoot in the paranoid way I'm sure we all do. Never noticed a thing. As I'm getting ready to set out, I find that I have a bright orange sticker on my speedometer setting me to be towed (great thing was the make was listed as a scootersmith, which is the guy who sells them in my area).

Well luckily I know my scoot well enough to keep it legal for speed. I made it home without incident and since then have been able to scratch off most of the sticker. My whole point is just to be sure to watch where you park, yanno, because people who drive cars are jealous of our mad gas mileage.

I do have a question though. Anyone knows of any good solvents that would get rid of the sticker without harming mah buddy?

GenuineSlacker wrote:Anyone knows of any good solvents that would get rid of the sticker without harming mah buddy?

Goo Gone... for serious... that stuff is like magic... i dont think that it will harm the buddy, i have used it on a variety of surfaces with no ill effects, but it never hurts to test it in an inconspicuous spot first...

Maybe it's just me, but I have had absolutely no problems parking in the lot with the rest of the cars. I just pull up to the front of the space so I'm visable. As for being worried it's going to get hit - that's why I pay insurance, no?

In my opinion, parking on the sidewalk or in a bike rack goes against everything when we're trying to gain respect as "real" vehicles on the road. If we park our scooters next to an 8 year old's BMX on the sidewalk, I can see people making the relationship, and then treating us as such.

I have a licensed vehicle like everyone else and have the right to park where the licensed vehicles park, whether it is taking up a full metered spot in a downtown area, or at the local MegaMart in the burbs.

I've also had no problems given the respect I deserve on the roads, here in the Cleveland/Akron area, so maybe it's just where I live.

[/Two Cents]

Seconded on the Goo Gone - great stuff.

As for parking, you should probably park it anywhere a motorcycle would legally park, which I am guessing doesn't include the sidewalk.

That said, I have been known to park mine on the sidewalk too.

bwilms wrote:Maybe it's just me, but I have had absolutely no problems parking in the lot with the rest of the cars. I just pull up to the front of the space so I'm visable. As for being worried it's going to get hit - that's why I pay insurance, no?

In my opinion, parking on the sidewalk or in a bike rack goes against everything when we're trying to gain respect as "real" vehicles on the road. If we park our scooters next to an 8 year old's BMX on the sidewalk, I can see people making the relationship, and then treating us as such.

I have a licensed vehicle like everyone else and have the right to park where the licensed vehicles park, whether it is taking up a full metered spot in a downtown area, or at the local MegaMart in the burbs.

I've also had no problems given the respect I deserve on the roads, here in the Cleveland/Akron area, so maybe it's just where I live.

[/Two Cents]

I'm with you on this one. *If* there is marked motorcycle parking, I'll use it, but if there isn't, I use a space. I won't put it in the triangle of unused space either.

The funny thing is that some drivers even find this offensive. The other day at the grocery, some woman actually stopped to chew me out because I was in the first non-handicapped space and her SUV was about 10 cars further out. I quote "You should show some respect and park further out since you can't haul enough groceries the make carrying them the extra distanc". I was so stunned, all I could say was, "Thanks for the input."

The honest truth here is that many drivers feel so entitled that they don't realize that they are the problem not those of us on 2 wheels.

Well, when I'm at school we have motorcycle parking, and I love it because it's close to all my classes and all the people with motorcycles look at me funny. Normally I take a space, but I really do worry about it getting hit out here, mostly because I worry about getting hit while I'm riding. People just dont seem to notice.

dru_ wrote:
I'm with you on this one. *If* there is marked motorcycle parking, I'll use it, but if there isn't, I use a space. I won't put it in the triangle of unused space either.

The funny thing is that some drivers even find this offensive. The other day at the grocery, some woman actually stopped to chew me out because I was in the first non-handicapped space and her SUV was about 10 cars further out. I quote "You should show some respect and park further out since you can't haul enough groceries the make carrying them the extra distanc". I was so stunned, all I could say was, "Thanks for the input."

The honest truth here is that many drivers feel so entitled that they don't realize that they are the problem not those of us on 2 wheels.

That is pretty funny about the suv woman. I've been thinking about making something large enough for the back of my scoot to attach on that's large enough for a bumper sticker, and then finding or having one made that says "you aren't worth my gas" and a picture of an suv.

GenuineSlacker wrote:I do have a question though. Anyone knows of any good solvents that would get rid of the sticker without harming mah buddy?

wd40 works as well

1. Ditto on the Goo Gone.
2. I wanna hear more abouty the wing place. Mmmmm.....
-K

At my MSF Basic Rider class on Wednesday night, both instructors parked their motorcycles (a big BMW and a big Honda) on the sidewalk at the school. I was kind of surprised when I found out they were the instructors bikes. I should ask them about that when we do the range portion next weekend.

I parked the Buddy in the triangle at the edge of the lot where two motorcycles were already parked. There was plenty of room for all three. Since the class was going until 10PM or later, I didn't want to put it in a space with the cars where it would be out there by itself in the open by the time we left class.

As for the lady in the SUV, wasn't she using a shopping cart? I seriously doubt she carried all her groceries all those extra spaces.

Yeah that's like those people that think they have a right to park in the handicap zone just because it's right in front of the store they're only going into "for a quick second".

There was a pretty good discussion of parking in this thread. A lot of it just comes down to knowing what's legal where you live, then how much you can get away with. But, I have to say, 98% of the time you park on a public sidewalk, you're risking a ticket. The other 2% is when you park in front of a scooter/MC shop or dealer (unless your state has laws permitting 50cc scoots to park on sidewalks). Private sidewalks (shopping centers, etc.) are usually fair game, though!

GenuineSlacker wrote:Well, when I'm at school we have motorcycle parking, and I love it because it's close to all my classes and all the people with motorcycles look at me funny.

at my school, the motorcycle spaces are further away from the buildings than about 1/3 of the spaces in the lot... i feel entitled to more...

Went to the bank Friday afternoon, parked in a space out front. Came out, and a guy with a red Ducati was parking next to me. I said, "Nice bike."

He asked, "How big's the motor in that thing?"

"125."

"Really? How fast will it go?"

"I've had it to sixty."

"Whoa! Really? What kind of gas mileage you get?"

"84/85 on the first tank."

When I left he was still looking at the Ducati. Wonder what kind of mileage he's getting?

No matter where i park I chain my Biddy up. If there is motor cycle parking that i can chain it to I will park there, but if the only option for locking my Buddy up is to use a bike rack I see no problem with that.

i just ordered a kryptonite new york noose...

hopefully will work much like this pic of a piaggio lock on my Vespa...

the Vespa has a loop welded on the bottom right of the floorboard, and on the Buddy, there's some frame below the floorboard that can be looped onto...

will use kryptonite disc lock to go with the chain...

That's my rule when parking the scoot, gotta be able to secure it, much as we want to be taken seriously, most scooters are lighter than motorcycles and therefore quite easy to steal, so my as I'd like to be respectful and not use the sidewalk, often its the only option, although I won't consider it such ifn there's not enough room for my scoot and the pedestrians.

Elm Creek Smith wrote:Went to the bank Friday afternoon, parked in a space out front. Came out, and a guy with a red Ducati was parking next to me. I said, "Nice bike."

He asked, "How big's the motor in that thing?"

"125."

"Really? How fast will it go?"

"I've had it to sixty."

"Whoa! Really? What kind of gas mileage you get?"

"84/85 on the first tank."

When I left he was still looking at the Ducati. Wonder what kind of mileage he's getting?

Generally, motorcycles get great gas mileage. Not as good as scooters, but considering the kind of power you have, still very good.

Not knowing what model Ducati you saw, I can't even make a guess. Most Ducati riders modify their bikes and that affects mileage but, in stock form, Ducatis will provide gas mileage in the 30-60 mpg range. Modified 4 valve superbikes will be in the 30's while stock air-cooled 2 valve motors easily get 40 plus mpg. My air cooled 1000DS gets 54 mpg in mixed riding.

Not bad for 90 plus horsepower!

One other thing, the fact that he was looking at his Ducati isn't at all unusual. Most Ducati owners can't resist looking at their bikes and, most of the time, they're not thinking "gee, I wish I got better gas mileage."

This is the great thing about owning both a motorcycle and a scooter. I ride the Buddy all the time for short trips but I have my two wheeled sports car for the really fun stuff. And honestly, I probably look at the Buddy as much as the Ducati. It's a really nice design, especially once the DOT signals are removed.

ericalm wrote:(unless your state has laws permitting 50cc scoots to park on sidewalks).

Time to buy some Buddy 50 decals for your Buddy 125.

gt1000 wrote: Not knowing what model Ducati you saw, I can't even make a guess. Most Ducati riders modify their bikes and that affects mileage but, in stock form, Ducatis will provide gas mileage in the 30-60 mpg range. Modified 4 valve superbikes will be in the 30's while stock air-cooled 2 valve motors easily get 40 plus mpg. My air cooled 1000DS gets 54 mpg in mixed riding.

Not bad for 90 plus horsepower!

One other thing, the fact that he was looking at his Ducati isn't at all unusual. Most Ducati owners can't resist looking at their bikes and, most of the time, they're not thinking "gee, I wish I got better gas mileage."

It was one of the superbikes. I don't blame the guy for looking at it, because I did the same thing. It was a thing of beauty.

ECS

notselfcreated wrote:

ericalm wrote:(unless your state has laws permitting 50cc scoots to park on sidewalks).

Time to buy some Buddy 50 decals for your Buddy 125.

There are people who pull badges off for this very reason! Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure the plate with the VIN # has the engine size on it as well.

Here is the Ducati that deigned to share a space with my Buddy.

ECS

here's some pics of my locked up buddy, using my new lock...

notice in the background, the vespa locked to other parking stall pole, in front of the SAV...

my first concern when i purchased the vespa(first scoot) was where i would lock it up... all worked out.

i ordered an additional chain to use with the existing chain on buddy, to get some more length from pole, so the buddy can be turned around, with rear against pole, scooted over away from car, with passage room for the vespa to drive through.

dru_ wrote:

bwilms wrote:Maybe it's just me, but I have had absolutely no problems parking in the lot with the rest of the cars. I just pull up to the front of the space so I'm visable. As for being worried it's going to get hit - that's why I pay insurance, no?

In my opinion, parking on the sidewalk or in a bike rack goes against everything when we're trying to gain respect as "real" vehicles on the road. If we park our scooters next to an 8 year old's BMX on the sidewalk, I can see people making the relationship, and then treating us as such.

I have a licensed vehicle like everyone else and have the right to park where the licensed vehicles park, whether it is taking up a full metered spot in a downtown area, or at the local MegaMart in the burbs.

I've also had no problems given the respect I deserve on the roads, here in the Cleveland/Akron area, so maybe it's just where I live.

[/Two Cents]

I'm with you on this one. *If* there is marked motorcycle parking, I'll use it, but if there isn't, I use a space. I won't put it in the triangle of unused space either.

The funny thing is that some drivers even find this offensive. The other day at the grocery, some woman actually stopped to chew me out because I was in the first non-handicapped space and her SUV was about 10 cars further out. I quote "You should show some respect and park further out since you can't haul enough groceries the make carrying them the extra distanc". I was so stunned, all I could say was, "Thanks for the input."

The honest truth here is that many drivers feel so entitled that they don't realize that they are the problem not those of us on 2 wheels.

HA!! The "grocery store lady" is probably the entitled type who after unloading her cart, leaves it in the empty space next to her vehicle instead of corraling it.......
You could have told her she should show some respect for the environment and not bring her gas-hog for 2 stinkin' bags of groceries..

gt1000 wrote:Not knowing what model Ducati you saw, I can't even make a guess. Most Ducati riders modify their bikes and that affects mileage but, in stock form, Ducatis will provide gas mileage in the 30-60 mpg range. Modified 4 valve superbikes will be in the 30's while stock air-cooled 2 valve motors easily get 40 plus mpg. My air cooled 1000DS gets 54 mpg in mixed riding.

Not bad for 90 plus horsepower!

The GT1000 is such a beautiful bike. I sure wouldn't mind having one in that grey/green color. Way more powerful than the other bikes I'm currently in like with (Triumphs), but it's got that special something, to be sure.

Elm Creek Smith wrote:

gt1000 wrote: One other thing, the fact that he was looking at his Ducati isn't at all unusual. Most Ducati owners can't resist looking at their bikes and, most of the time, they're not thinking "gee, I wish I got better gas mileage."

It was one of the superbikes. I don't blame the guy for looking at it, because I did the same thing. It was a thing of beauty.

ECS

Yeah, they are. My brother has a red ST4S. I went out on a casual ride with him a couple of weeks ago, got a great (but kinda silly) pic at one of our breaks.

http://web.mac.com/dru_satori/iWeb/Word ... ntain.html

If this has already been posted here, my apologies. If not, sign this petition regarding the conversion of some car parking spots to additional two-wheeled parking spots.

http://www.vespausa.com/Vespatition/

If I've mentioned it here before, my apologies..... : )
At places I frequently frequent I'll frequently stop by the customer service desk and suggest they designate a spot or two for 2-wheelers. Always adding... "I DON'T mean a couple spots right up front".

You're right, Dru_...it is a kind of silly picture. To correct it, the Kymco should have been in front....

--Keys