Need advice

[NanaG13]

Hi all, my name is Gloria, aka NanaG, I am in a quandry as to which is the better scooter and a very nice and experienced motorcyle / scooter person suggested I get input from you all.
I want a scooter to ride back and forth to work on (15 miles each way) , I live in Tucson Az so don't know if the heat is a factor in deciding which scooter is better ( like do they overheat etc.), so I have found a very nice scooter store here in town and they carry Kymko and Buddy, I went in with the intentions of checking out the Buddy, but was kind of led to the bigger wheeled/tire Kymko. The price difference is only $500 and I plan on using the scooter a good deal so the price difference isn't that big a thing because of my need for reliability.
If you were me, and if you were an almost 60 year old Nana who likes a little adventure and wants a scooter I can cruise around on even on the weekends, and have minimal money so want the best for my money which would you go for? Is there anyone out there that has owned a Kymco in the past, did you like it, did it have problems?
I would very much appreciate any advice, thank you so much ahead of time. I won't be able to check my email until probably late tonight or tomorrow but will be very anxious for any help you all might offer.

[slowgo]

Hi There:

I can't comment on the overheating aspect, but I have ridden both Kymcos and Buddies and..while they are both easy to ride...the Buddy was impossibly easy to ride. Very light and the sloping seat is very good for people of varying heights. Also, the center stand on the Buddy is the easiest center stand I have ever used. Smaller wheels generally equate to better slow speed stability, and it sounds like you are not going to be going wide-open on the highway (where the larger wheeled Kymco would probably feel more stable).

That is why we bought the Buddy for my wife.

[Scootin_in_MS]

Hi Nana,

Welcome to the addictive world of scootering. I've never had a Kymco, so I can't tell you about it overheating or anything, but I live in South Mississippi, where it gets HOT and I haven't had a problem with my Buddy. You might want to check out www.urbanscootin.com for more information. There are lots of people on there from AZ as well as lots of Kymco owners, so you might be able to get your Kymco questions answered.

Jody

[rajron]

My wife is no spring chicken and rides a Kymco People 150. She is 5’4” and weighs about 135 – she rides it everywhere except when the weather doesn’t permit.
I have a Buddy 125 even older than her, 5’10” and weigh about 175, I take my Buddy everywhere as well, weather permitting.
We don’t get as hot as AZ, the Phoenix area, but we often reach the low 100’s in the heat of summer – no problems with either of the scoots.
Kathleen got her People before I got the Buddy, she encourage me to get a scoot to ride with her. If we were to do it all over again, we would both be riding the Buddy mainly because it is less expensive. But you do get what you pay for – the People is more substantial that the Buddy and its ride is more stable and smooth – Her People is quicker off the line than my Buddy and she has stronger mid range – I added the “pipe” so now I have better top end than her. I like the larger wheels of the People but for me it was too feminine so I went with the Buddy.
We both love our scoots, both have been flawless and we both feel that they will be with us for some time.
Adventure!!!

[SheZAAM!]

Hi there!

I'm also in Tucson and bought my Buddy 125 from Scoot Over. I LOVE my Buddy. I'm up in Catalina and ride my Buddy 5 miles to work at Sierra Tucson every day. I'm moving to Denver in a month and am looking to scooting all over downtown soon! I also test rode the bigger wheeled scooters and didn't find them as nimble and steerable as the smaller ones. I have put 1300 miles on my Buddy since I got it Oct. 5, 2006 and have never had any problems at all. In fact, I just got my 2nd oil change.

[gt1000]

Age is irrelevant. Both the Buddy and Kymco (by the way, which Kymco?) are good quality scooters. I haven't owned a Kymco but I've ridden a few and they're very nice. They are different from the Buddy though. Some will prefer those differences while others will trend towards the Buddy. Generally, I prefer small wheeled scoots so the Buddy was my preference. But, what I've seen of the new People S I like. A lot.

Your best bet is to test ride both. Take your time and get to know each scooter as well as possible. If you're like most, you'll find you have a preference. It could be based on handling, comfort, storage capacity, speed or any combination of a variety of factors.

And yes, some scooters do overheat, especially under heavy load in very hot weather. So far, I've had no issues with the Buddy.

[lobsterman]

NanaG,

Welcome to MB. My first thought was that asking this question here is a little like going to the Republican HQ during a presidential election and asking who to vote for. Most people here will tell you to go with the Buddy.

But it seems like you're getting some balanced advice.

Let me just add, I love mine. I can't comment on hot weather yet since mine has only been ridden in fall/winter so far. It does great at 18F though. It has been reliable and fun, and the price is great. I researched quite a bit before buying mine, but only rode the Buddy. That was enough for me right there.

I've heard good things about Kymcos, and you probably can't go too far wrong with a Kymco or a Buddy. If you're not sure, ride them both, weigh the price difference in and go for it. Let us know what you do.

[mybetty]

hello and welcome! it is safe to say that all here love our scooters, and i am very glad to have my buddy. i testdrove a kymko people 150 and the buddy 125, and easily decided on the buddy. this is my first scooter, and i think the buddy handles very well, i think it has a more roomy and comfortable foot position than the people, and i feel like my center of gravity is better on the buddy. i do like the way the people looks, but not enough to justify the extra money and feeling more safe. i also feel very secure with my free roadside assistance and 2 year warranty package, especially as a first time scooter owner. i say testdrive as many scoots as you can, and get a 125cc or 150cc...you may not think you want or need the extra oomph at first, but you may well want it later! and happy scooting!!

[rockgirl]

I'm a brand-newbie to scooters and have had my Buddy 125 for 2 days now and put 50 miles on it already. It's still pretty chilly in Boise, so I can't comment on overheating. What I can say is that the Buddy handles beautifully. I test drove others and always felt a little "out of control" or improperly balanced. But the Buddy...whoa! Plenty of power to get up and move in traffic, yet the shorter wheel base and smaller tires make turning pretty easy. The standover height is also nice--both feet on the ground when you're stopped.

Test drive both--I'm sure either would be an excellent choice.

[Keys]

Gloria,

I bought my Buddy at Scoot Over there in Tucson. I pretty sure that is the shop you discovered. Sit down with Shelby (if you can get her to sit still...buy her lunch at that little mexican place right there) and explain all your needs and potential misgivings. She is a fabulous person and will not steer you in the wrong way. You can pretty much accept her recommendation as the right one. With a 15 mile commute, I would not recommend anything smaller than a Buddy, and if you are just a beginner, I wouldn't recommend anything larger than a People 150. Just my two-cents worth...

--Keys

[Bryce-O-Rama]

I've ridden both and the Buddy 125 has more storage than the Agility 125. It's also more nimble and zippier than the Agility. Personally, I'm not at all fond of the ergonomics of the Agility, but I fit comfortably on the Buddy. I'm 6'0", but I've talked with people taller and much shorter than I who are also comfortable. If you can deal with the price difference, the Buddy is a lot of fun.