Buddy/Height?

iheartsf · Post by **iheartsf** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 6:38 am

I'm pretty short. I want a buddy. Will I be able to buy one? I know the seat height is lower than other scooters, but can anyone out there vouch for a 5'0 person safely driving a buddy?

Thanks!

prttynpnk · Post by **prttynpnk** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 12:21 pm

You may want to talk to the dealer about cutting the seat down for you. Or if they don't, see if there is anyone they can recommend. I'm 5'2 (on a good day

) and pocphil in Cleveland did a great job cutting my seat down. In regular shoes I'm still not flat footed but it helped. I also bought a pair of big platform sneakers to give me extra height. You may want to check out www.volatileusa.com. (Thanks Crystal at girlbike) They have a variety of shoes to give you extra height. I'll try to post some pics of my cut down seat later.

louie · Post by **louie** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 1:12 pm

I too am 5'2" on a good day. Unless I scoot way up on the seat, I can't flat foot the buddy.

I don't always put both feet on the ground when stopped. I'm not in the lest uncomfortable. In fact the word uncomfortable doesn't even sound right in this context.

Shoes will play a part. Some scooter shoes (Motorcycle boots) are made with some heel to help heft us shorties up. Any shoe that's good for riding will have grippy soles and be a bit stout, stiff or thick (like a doc martin) around the foot and that provides lots of support per sq inch to hold up the light wieght of the buddy. If I were to get a MC it will would be a cruiser with their super low seats, I'd definately want plenty of lower body strength to balance something a lot heavier.

You're legs may be long or short for your size, so it's hard to say exactly how the buddy would fit you. Even it the shop doesn't have a demo bike you can sit on one to see how it compares to others.

Go to a dealer or weekly meet up of a scooter club and ask to sit on some. You won't get many if any no's.

Also you will want to see if your big smile fits the scooter.

EBee · Post by **EBee** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 1:24 pm

I'm 5'2" and tiptoe on the Bud but it's perfectly comfortable. I didn't realize you could have the seat adjusted...how do they do it?

Oh yeah...and the smile? I'm lucky if it fits my HELMET.

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 2:01 pm

Inseam is more important than total height, which is why the Buddy fits some people at 5' 2" (or whatever) and maybe not others. Your best bet is to visit a dealer and sit on one. If you're not quite tall enough, they may be able to lower the seat a bit (or you could do it; there are tutorials online) or move the rear shock.

If you just don't fit, you may want to consider the Yamaha Vino, another fine scoot which has a lower seat height. (I think the Kymcos are about the same as the Buddy.) There's also the Aprilia Mojito 150—my pick for best-looking alternative to a Buddy or Vespa.

polianarchy · Post by **polianarchy** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 2:30 pm

ericalm beat me to it: inseam is your real issue here. I'm taller than all y'all at 5'3" (woo!), but I wear a 28" inseam, which is uber-petite. YMMV! Give it a try, and good luck!

iheartsf · Post by **iheartsf** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 2:47 pm

Sweet, thanks everyone for your responses! My inseam in 27.5 inches so I may have hope yet! I'm going to stop by a dealer today and try one out.

Also never considered different boots...

anyway, thanks!

EBee · Post by **EBee** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 6:00 pm

Eric, where are these tutorials posted?

San Francisco · Post by **San Francisco** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 7:04 pm

I assume everyone knows what "inseam" is.

What you may want to take into account is that many motorcyclists cannot
rest both feet flat on the ground. What they do is lean to one side or the
other and hold up the bike with one foot. Look at bikes at stoplights and
you can spot those people.

No shame in that since bike manufacturers have to make the seat height at
an average, not too low as that will not fit the tall riders, not too high to
where shorter riders will not be able to balance the bike with their toe tips,
and in come cases, not even on a lean unless one has to lean dangerously
too far to one side [to where the bike may tip over].

So keep that in mind. At your height [and inseam?] you should be able to
lean the Buddy to one side at stop lights and maybe balance with both
feet on the ground, but with the front half or ball of your feet [which would
be very stable].

In a pinch though, such as being stopped on a hill, leaning to one side and
planting one foot firmly on the ground is best.

In any event, take a look at bikes stopped. Notice how many riders have
to lean to one side.

Also, yes.... you can get shoes or boots with some heel to them, that
will enhance your ability to reach the ground.

Bonus Tip: You should be wearing boots whenever you ride the Buddy.
Anyone wearing tennis or athletic shoes is a fool, IMHO. People think
that because the Buddy is so "toy like" and non-threatening or that they
are only going to the market, that there is no need to wear protective
gear.

But all it takes is one low side accident and for the Buddy's center or
kickstand to land on your ankle to understand what I am talking about.

One time I crashed at 75 mph. While I had lots of injuries, one included
the bike's rear brake pedal acting like an ice cream scoop and digging
into the top of my right foot. It scooped out a big enough hole to where I
could see bone. I can post a pic of the scar if you want to see it.

Anyway, I had on these racing boots that somewhat protected the foot and
ankle. The doctor said that if I had not been wearing that boot that in
all likelihood my right foot would have been severed off.

What I would do if I were you is to go on eBay and get some riding
boots. Nothing fancy or glamorous, some Icon Motorheads, for example.
Then whenever you ride the Buddy, put on those boots, without fail.

By the way, Harley Davidson brand boots are very nice. They make a
full range of boot styles for men and women.

Also get a leather jacket or one of those textile models that are designed
to save your hide [aka skin] in a crash. All it takes is one road rash
cleaning session at the hospital to understand the benefits of a good
jacket.

KidDynomite · Post by **KidDynomite** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 7:20 pm

I know of a woman about your height that has one. I'm not really one to ask--since I'm 6'0"--but I don't see why you wouldn't be able to.

I think the thing to do is go to a nearby dealer and sit on one. Take it off the kick-stand and see how it handles for you just standing over it. Of all the 125cc scoots, this would be the one for you. For anything smaller, I think you'd have to go to a 50cc.

cakeies · Post by **cakeies** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 7:46 pm

I'm also only 5'0"

The seat height on the bike i learned on seems a little higher than the buddy. I haven't acually driven the buddy yet... I'm still wating for the dealer to deliver it... but sitting on it felt ok. I couldn't flat foot it but i felt that I could control it.

If my bike ever actually gets here i'll let you know how i handle it

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 7:55 pm

EBee wrote: Eric, where are these tutorials posted?

Crystal of scooterseatcovers.com and girlbike.com has one posted here:
http://girlbike.com/2006/05/03/cutting-seat-down/

It's a simplified version of this turorial:
http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/howto ... cle_seats/

vitaminC · Post by **vitaminC** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 8:30 pm

Just slide a little off to the side when you're stopping, and it should work fine.

I wear pants with a 32" inseam and managed to ride a motorcycle with a 37" seat, so it can be done!

Also, pulling off the seat cover and trimming the foam is a good option, though you may sacrifice a bit in the comfort department.

ScooterDave · Post by **ScooterDave** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 6:44 am

San Francisco wrote:Bonus Tip: You should be wearing boots whenever you ride the Buddy.
Anyone wearing tennis or athletic shoes is a fool, IMHO. People think
that because the Buddy is so "toy like" and non-threatening or that they
are only going to the market, that there is no need to wear protective
gear.

What I would do if I were you is to go on eBay and get some riding
boots. Nothing fancy or glamorous, some Icon Motorheads, for example.
Then whenever you ride the Buddy, put on those boots, without fail.

I agree with the boots. I took the low side one time at a pretty good rate of speed. I was wearing leather tanker boots. Both buckles were sheared off my left boot. I just keep thinking if I had been wearing gym shoes.

I have gone back to putting taps on the heels of my boots. At night it is a pretty cool sight when I put my feet down while riding.

I do disagree with buying helmets, boots and jackets via mail order or eBay. I like to support the local shops as they are the ones who support us throughout the year with our rally's and other activities.

I work at a motorcycle shop every Saturday. It is unlike any shop I have ever seen. There is always cold beer and food for anyone. Everyone is always welcome just to come & hang out. It is a just very cool & welcome enviroment and this guy has built bikes for some of the biggest names in Hollywood.

A regular was in last week and bought an Avon rear tire. Someone asked him what he paid and proceded to tell him he could have saved 30 bucks by buying online. His responce was that he considered it his clubhouse dues by spending a few extra bucks. It is those type of people that make sure that the shops we rely on so much are going to be around for us. Just his way of saying thanks for all the food, drinks & advice that was given out by the shop owner over the years.

We are having a ride out to a Vespa dealer Saturday to test ride the MP3. The owner called me and offered to provide food & drinks for us when we showed up. It's the little things that the dealers do for us that we forget and we are so quick to save 5 bucks by going online.

/rant
Dave

Post by **ericalm** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 7:13 am

The online vs. local dealer topic comes up often. I think that, in principal, we all agree that it's best to support local dealers. But not everyone has the kind of shop you talk about in their vicinity, Dave. Even in (my part of) LA, the scooter dealers don't have much in the way of gear or accessories. Boots? Not at all. Full face helmets? Slim pickin's.

I'm certainly willing to pay a reasonable premium to have good ongoing relationships with my dealers and do my best to support them. If this means paying a few bucks, or 10% or whatever over than what's online, great. But I'm also a sucker for a really good deal, and sometimes those offered online or via eBay are too good to pass up. (These are usually purchases I would not have made at all, anywhere, if not for the bargain.)

For some, it may come down to wearing gear purchased online or not wearing gear because the cost is prohibitive.

There are practical reasons for not buying gear online, though, and this is especially true of helmets. Whenever possible, stuff needs to be tried on. Helmets have different shapes. Riding gear is often oddly tailored. Aside from comfort and appearance, fit is a safety consideration.

San Francisco · Post by **San Francisco** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 8:32 am

ericalm wrote:The online vs. local dealer topic comes up often. I think that, in principal, we all agree that it's best to support local dealers. But not everyone has the kind of shop you talk about in their vicinity, Dave. Even in (my part of) LA, the scooter dealers don't have much in the way of gear or accessories. Boots? Not at all. Full face helmets? Slim pickin's.

The motorcycle dealers in my area are horrible. Most get very low ratings
in terms of service, courtesy and professionalism. One in particular is
known for having the rudest salesmen in town. I won't name them.
Everyone I know takes their bikes to independent shops to get work
done. No one ever goes to the dealers [I duly note some people in
here take all their work to the dealers, whatever].

As far as the Buddy dealer, he is a great guy and his service can't be
beat. But he carries cheapo HJC helmets and a limited range of jackets.
I suspect he stocks low end items because people buying $3000
scooters are not going to plunk down an additional $400-$500 for a helmet
and $300 to $400 for a jacket. And boots, I suspect most customers
wonder why the hell one needs boots for a scooter.

As to bikes, I buy mostly top end gear [Arai, Sidi, Dainese, Alpinestars].
In the shops that carry that stuff I would have to pay $200 to $300 more
per item than online. I'm not going to pay that especially when the parts
and accessories guys don't know me from the hundreds of others.

And I have never had any dealer offer free anything, much less food and
drinks. Even if they did, I am not going to dump $3000 extra a year just to
have the dealers be nice to me when in the shop [they never are] or give
me a free hot dog [they never do].

I don't think the dealers are at fault, it's just a big city thing. San
Francisco, Los Angeles, NYC, they are all the same [large, impersonal,
get in - get out].

Since the Net and eBay came about I pretty much don't buy anything in
local stores, except food. I think the last time I was in Good Guys or
Circuit City was about 1997. And I have only gone to CompUSA to buy
something on an emergency basis.

Post by **ericalm** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 2:37 pm

San Francisco wrote:I don't think the dealers are at fault, it's just a big city thing. San
Francisco, Los Angeles, NYC, they are all the same [large, impersonal,
get in - get out].

Since the Net and eBay came about I pretty much don't buy anything in
local stores, except food. I think the last time I was in Good Guys or
Circuit City was about 1997. And I have only gone to CompUSA to buy
something on an emergency basis.

The dealers—scooter dealers, that is—here in LA have been quite personal, IMHO. Even at the local Vespa boutique, which has a really horrible reputation for service, the employees are personable and friendly and have actually gone out of their way to help me out a few times. But none of them carry enough gear!

I make a big distinction between small, locally-owned business and the Big Box guys. When it comes to electronics and so on, I'll avoid those stores when feasible. (Okay, I do love Fry's!) I go on comparison shopping overdrive when it comes to those things, seeking out the best deal regardless of where it is.

/hijack

ScooterDave · Post by **ScooterDave** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 3:52 pm

San Francisco wrote:As far as the Buddy dealer, he is a great guy and his service can't be
beat. But he carries cheapo HJC helmets and a limited range of jackets.
I suspect he stocks low end items because people buying $3000
scooters are not going to plunk down an additional $400-$500 for a helmet
and $300 to $400 for a jacket. And boots, I suspect most customers
wonder why the hell one needs boots for a scooter.

I suspect that the reason that he does not carry those item is that there is no need. You can buy a nice Nolan full face for half that. HJC makes some decent helmets. I wear a full face modular and did not pay anywhere near $400. I have also had a full face save my life so, I appreciate it more than most.

As far as jackets go, You can go with a decent TourMaster or a Corazzo for around $200 or less. I would feel fine wearing either if I went down. I just do not see the need to spend that kind of money when you can get the same protection for much less.

Dave

sunshinen · Post by **sunshinen** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 3:55 pm

I stumbled on a pair of platform boots just a couple days before I bought my Buddy. They were $3 at the thrift store. Just keep your eye out.

Most of the time when I stop, I balance on the tips of my toes, anyway. I can easily slide around to a more stable stance if it's windy or something, but fortunately, the Buddy is very easy to balance. Just watch for slopes that can take you by surprise!

San Francisco · Post by **San Francisco** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 5:16 pm

sunshinen wrote:I stumbled on a pair of platform boots just a couple days before I bought my Buddy. They were $3 at the thrift store. Just keep your eye out.

Just between us, so don't tell anyone, I shop at a local thrift shop at the
base of Nob Hill. Have not visited a men's clothing store in about five
years.

Cracks me up. I'll get compliments on my clothes all the time. My friend
who also shops there chuckles with me because no one has a clue we
paid $3.50 for a $100 shirt. Matter of fact, she just got a nice leather jacket
that she paid $15 for, wore it out that night and got all kinds of compliments.
One person said "Sharp jacket, I have not seen that before." To which she
said "Oh, I rotate my clothes."

Yes, one should cruise the thrift stores.

codemonkey · Post by **codemonkey** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 4:08 pm

I'm 5'4" but I have pretty short legs (most of my pants that fit me well are labeled "petite") I can just flat foot my buddy if I'm on the end of the seat. Once I get going, I kind of scoot my butt back to make myself more comfortable. Also, the soles of my boots give me about 1 more inch. If you get some thick soled boots and maybe some insoles, you'll probably be fine. Sit on a buddy and some other scooters in the shop and pick the one that fits you best. The Vino is a tad lower and has a smaller seat so you might be able to touch the ground a little easier.