Buddy 125 vs SYM HD200

[Dibber]

I'm considering on buying a SYM HD200 before I retire soon. I currently have an 07 Buddy 125 which I really like, but was wondering if any of you folks have both and how do they match up? I plan on riding more longer distances not a Freeway Flyer, but be able to handle the highways. Any comments will be appreciated. Oh ya, when is Genuine coming out with their 200cc scooter?

[bgwss]

I have ridden the HD200 on demo ride for a week while my scoot was in the shop. I liked it. Only thing that was an irritant was the fan kicking on when I got stuck in traffic. It kicked on after I had been riding in the 60s for twenty or thirty miles. Nice scoot but I am not fan of the look of it with the larger wheels than most scoots. Just my 2 cents

[pugbuddy]

My Buddy 125 and I highwayed it from OK to IN and back without issue. Overall, I'd say the 125 is adequate, depending on how far you are comfortable travelling on it. I'm happy to ride mine across the US but others may not be willing.

I've never ridden the Sym so I cannot comment on it.

[iMoses]

Disclosure: I have 1 of each, a cream color 2007 125 Buddy (bought Sept 07-wife I and share this scoot now) and a silver color 2009 SYM HD200 (bought July 09-traded my black 2007 Buddy 125).

The Buddy has over 6K, and the SYM has 2600 miles on it.

I'm 6', and weigh 230lbs., so in the hilly areas 125cc's are not enough for my fat butt... I tend to slow down to about 50-55mph.

My top WOT speed on the Buddy is 65mph (indicated) and 78mph (indicated) on the SYM.

The Buddy has 124.9cc's and is more nimble, has more under seat storage space, the dash storage holds a water or soda bottle and allows for easy access of other small things and the Buddy just looks better.

Where as the 171cc HD200's makes it faster, has the larger 16" wheels which take bumps better thus making for a more smoother ride.


BTW - If I could of afforded both, I would of kept my black Buddy, they are so much fun to ride.
If you have specific questions I would be glad to answer them.

[pcbikedude]

I love my HD200 for the simple reason, it still has a small scooter feel. The maxi scooters I tried seemed very unaspiring.

When I was looking, I test drove: Kymco 250 People S, Kymco Xciiting, Suzuki Bergman, Piaggio MP3, SYM Citicom, and the Honda Silverwing. With the exception of the People, all the rest handled like a large motorcycle.

The HD won me over with performance vs. the larger 250cc scooters.

[schroeder]

I am in the same boat as iMoses. 08 Buddy 125 has 6600 miles and 09 Sym HD 200 has 2600. I had the Buddy first and thought at first I would sell the Buddy after I rode the HD 200 for a while. I decided to keep both.
The Buddy is more nimble and easier to handle in traffic. But the Sym is a beast off the line and gets up to 50 mph much quicker the the Budster. I don't make a habit of going on the freeways, but I have had the HD 200 on there for short periods of time with speeds up to about 75 mph.. It is a little light for the freeway but I plan on getting a windshield which should help. No way would I enjoy taking the Buddy on the freeway.
The large 16" wheels really make the HD 200 a much smoother ride than the Buddy with the 10" wheels. It really can hang with most 250cc scoots out there. Both have there place in my riding experiences. I really enjoy both.
If getting up to speed quickly is important or some freeway riding is in your future, I would recommend the HD 200. It will tackle the large hills much better then the Buddy.
The Buddy is a blast to ride and at speeds up to about 50mph is a great little scoot. I can say that I am glad to own both.

[Lostmycage]

I've ridden both and I'm actually considering getting an HD200 if they come out with the "EVO" model next year; so long as they can keep the price far enough away from that of the Citycom. I do like the HD200 quite a bit. It's got a better seating position for folks like me on the taller side of average. It's also go enough umph to move me down the freeway for as many exits as I feel comfortable moving it. I'm not sure I get the whole "nimbleness" thing that everyone brings up. I can make the HD do the same things that I can make the Buddy do, same with the Blur (or more so, considering my familiarity with it). A lot of that those "Nimbleness" issues can be compensated for with a little countersteering practice.

Check out <a href="viewtopic.php?t=11357&highlight=retard+ ... >POCPhil's comment on the HD200</a> as well as the rest of that thread. It might give you some good insights on other's opinions on other bikes. Perhaps it might even lead to models you haven't considered yet. POCPhil's "Retard Strong" description has been one that has stuck in my mind for quite a while.

[malakai]

After riding the Buddy, i really would like to think (dream) about the ideal next ride. The Sym HD 200 seems like agood alternative and this review http://www.justgottascoot.com/symhd200.htm has me thinking. I have not read anyone comment anything else about the fan issue, but I guess I cannot find many Sym users here.

what I am pursuing is an easier, more comfortable ride and the ability to move away quickly of situations. I do find the seat of the Buddy a little hard on my butt, and I wish there were seats we could buy as replacements for the original. I understand the “nimbleness” to be the sensation of being a little too frail, easily rattled by strong winds, quirky, or a lack of sturdiness. Am I right? Buy still, I haven't used it enough. I have not used it much because I don't feel the lack of experience with scooters is compensated by a strong scooter. So I may put it up for sale if I decide to go for a more comfortable ride that builds me confidence, though it only has a few miles on her. A friend of mine is a Vespa rider and constantly bugs me about getting a Vespa, but I don't thinks I can justify the expenses to myself. I am not a brand follower and I look for reliability and comfort above all.

[Dooglas]

I do find the seat of the Buddy a little hard on my butt, and I wish there were seats we could buy as replacements for the original.

If this is your primary issue, it is quite easy to address. Take your seat to any competent motorcycle upholstery shop. They can remove the cover from your seat and insert a layer of memory foam or gel. Problem solved for less than the cost of a new seat. (Now, if you end up having them make you some fancy new seat cover - that will increase the cost, of course)

[Vic]

I have a Buddy 125 and a Sym RV250.

I got the 250 so that I can haul around one of my children (both are extremely tall and at age 11 and 14 they have a lot of growing left to do) and so that I can take it on long trips with comfort (and reliability--MY Buddy is not a dependable scooter and has left me stranded or nearly so on a number of occasions).

I love the Buddy, and will not give it up. The Buddy wins out when I want to go on a city street, when I am going to be riding with friends on scooters, when I am by myself going out for a ride someplace, when I am going on a shopping trip (I do not have a topcase for the Sym so the Buddy hauls a lot more stuff much easier). I also have to say it again, I truly enjoy riding the Buddy more than the Sym, it is peppy, super easy to ride, and I just love it. Not to mention it has a lot of personality that I like.

The Sym is awesome on the highway, if I need to haul ass to get somewhere I know that the Sym is going to get me there, when I want to take a kid on the back they get on and I can forget that they are even there, it is stable and secure and it has the power to ride with the big girls. It is also ugly, there are not a lot of things you can do to personalize it (accessories, and such) and the mirrors are in a bad spot (I don't get a good view of what is behind me because they are so far in front of me that my body blocks too much.)

Given how zippy the Buddy is, I did not want to go below the RV250 because it just did not make sense for me to get something quite so similar. I can get my Buddy up to around 70mph without a problem (but on those little wheels I do not enjoy the experience). I have taken the Sym out and ridden for 2 hours at speeds over 75 with no problem and there were times that I looked down and realised that I had creeped quite a ways over 75 and didn't notice it).

Good luck!
-v