Buddy Italia 125 - too feminine?

newrider3 · Post by **newrider3** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 8:27 pm

My wife and I may be buying one, but to get one it looks like we'll need to put down a deposit before actually seeing it. We're going out to look at other Buddy 125s, but the dealer doesn't have any of the Italias in stock, and they're popular enough that we can only get one by reserving it with cash.

So my question, for those who have seen it and/or own it--does the design make it really just a "chick" scooter? I know, this sounds stupid, but if we get this, I'll be riding it for years.

EBee · Post by **EBee** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 8:40 pm

Ummm...talk to the guys who ride the PINK ones. They don't seem to be wusses to me.

mesagirl · Post by **mesagirl** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 8:50 pm

I saw one today and I thought it looked very classy - not a chick bike from my perspective.

un_designer · Post by **un_designer** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 8:50 pm

for your wife: yes it's feminine enough.

for you: no, it's not feminine.

seriously though, you're not in middle school. so don't worry about what other people think of it. are you buying it for your personal joy, or for what other people think? it's only feminine if you think it is and act insecure about it. otherwise, it's a non-issue.

welcome, and i hope you and your wife do get one. it's a blast to ride and has a ton of storage space.

Tbone · Post by **Tbone** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 9:05 pm

Throw some chrome on it and it won't matter. It's a classy looking bike.

My wife helped me pick out my bikes. Colors, designs cost and all. She doesn't ride at all (yet...if ever...) but loves the look of my scooter.

The only Buddy for me to ride on she liked was the Italia.

Ride it, if you both like the feel of it; that's what matters the most!

jetboy · Post by **jetboy** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 9:08 pm

EBee wrote:Ummm...talk to the guys who ride the PINK ones. They don't seem to be wusses to me.

Ha! Guys riding the pink one was the first thing I thought of too! Ya beat me too it. I say good for them. u_d's got it right.

The Italia is classy and non-gender-specific from my perspective.

-jetboy

ThisDude · Post by **ThisDude** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 1:57 am

I think if you've got the style it doesn't matter green is a gender neutral color, and whitewall tires are just plain classy. I wouldn't ride a pink buddy myself, but get what YOU want. Riding a scooter is already something most people who aren't so concerned about image do anyway. You want the epitome of image and ego headed blowhardness get a Harley and put loud pipes. When I ride with the mopeders and we see one go by we always say the same thing to each other "somebody has a small peepee"

Elm Creek Smith · Post by **Elm Creek Smith** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 4:08 am

Ask Joker Jim if "Olive" is too feminine.

The Prima pipe says, "No!"

ECS

Post by **ericalm** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 6:43 am

I never felt feminine riding the wife's pink Buddy.
But it was kind of embarrassing when I crashed it. Ha.

The SI—and all of the Buddys—borrow some design cues and elements from vintage and vintage-style scoots. For some, the shape and curves are somewhat feminine. I prefer "graceful" or "elegant." As far as the color goes, it's pretty gender-neutral, I'd say.

But if you really want something with a more manly appearance, consider a Blur.

ChrisInCleve · Post by **ChrisInCleve** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 12:05 pm

I ride an Italia, and a couple guys at work ride giant Harley's and Hondas. They tried to give me grief, and I just looked at them and raised my pinky. They haven't said a word since.

BTW, I'm 6'2" and 220, and WOULD ride a pink buddy, but I love the green and the whitewalls.

un_designer · Post by **un_designer** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 1:45 pm

ericalm brought up an interesting point:

"But if you really want something with a more manly appearance, consider a Blur."

i see it differently. i WOULD feel feminine riding a Blur, or any other scooter that tries to look like a motorcycle. those types of scooters send mixed signals, as if saying that the rider really want a motorcycle but can't so he is just posing in something that sorta looks like one but isn't.

my opinion is that if i'm going to ride a scooter, i WANT people to know that i'm riding a scooter and not a motorcycle.

ratgrrl · Post by **ratgrrl** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 2:54 pm

Hello! This is my first post on the board. I've been lurking for a while, but I'm kinda shy.

Anyway, newrider3, I am going to Scooterworks today to sign the paperwork for my new Italia, and it's being delivered to me on Monday. It's at Scooterworks right now, and I don't see why they wouldn't let you check it out, especially if it could mean a potential sale. If not, or you can't make it there by Monday, you and your wife are welcome to come out the 'burbs and see it. I might even let you sit on it! ; )

Let me know here or send me an email (bronwen AT gmail DOT com) if you're interested.

Happy riding!

rajron · Post by **rajron** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 3:05 pm

For a scooter the Buddy Italia has a great color scheme I think people will appreciate it for years.

If the color scheme were on a Big Dog Chopper motorcycle it would look sort of feminine, but we are talking about a scooter.

ellen · Post by **ellen** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 4:24 pm

Funny, someone asked that exact same question about Vespas on MV a few weeks back!

IMHO, I don't think the Buddy's style and the Italia's cool retro color is feminine at all.

newrider3 · Post by **newrider3** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 5:22 pm

Thanks to everyone for their comments, that definitely helps get a perspective on things. Thanks especially to Ratgrrl--we probably will be at the same dealer later today, and hopefully will get a look at your scooter!

newrider3 · Post by **newrider3** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 11:03 pm

Ratgrrl - we saw your scooter, looks great! We went ahead and put a deposit down, should have a Italia 125 in a couple of weeks. Thanks again to everyone.

lou76 · Post by **lou76** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 7:24 am

2 cents after the fact... if this is a sincere concern, scooter may not be the way to go... there is not too much that is very masculine about a scooters, let alone buddy's....

lou76 · Post by **lou76** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 7:25 am

...or you could argue that a 125 cvt scoot is the epitome of confident masculinity, since one needs to be fairly confident in that area to rock the buddy...

lobsterman · Post by **lobsterman** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 11:52 am

May be an age thing too, for me at 44 I am not concerned about looking macho. I don't think there's anything feminine about the Buddy, except maybe the pink one and POCPhil and ScooterDave killed that image in my mind by riding pink Buddys on the Lake Erie loop and the WKRP Rally respectively. Nothing girly about either of those rides.

pcbikedude · Post by **pcbikedude** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 1:41 pm

Personally, I didn't like the Italia not because I thought it looked too feminine. I didn't like "Brady Bunch" refrigerator color. My wife and teenage daughter loved it though.

I got laughed at yesterday (common occurence) by this chick at the gym. She said that she never pictured me with a retro scooter before. Then I told her that I get 80mpg. Not laughing anymore. Especially since gas prices took a $0.06 jump this week.

macbodock · Post by **macbodock** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 2:35 pm

pcbikedude wrote: I didn't like "Brady Bunch" refrigerator color.

I can't wait for the 2 tone harvest gold Buddy. Comnig soon to a dealer near you.... Actually I love the italia buddy with the avocado green... What a hoot... Brady Bunch here I come...

Jerry

pcbikedude · Post by **pcbikedude** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 1:30 am

macbodock wrote:I can't wait for the 2 tone harvest gold Buddy.

A rolling Cremesicle. I like Cremesicles.

JokerJim · Post by **JokerJim** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 2:42 am

Just getting home from our club's weekender in middle Missouri.

I received nothing but compliments from the St Louie members who had not seen the Italia in person.

ECS is right, put on the PRIMA pipe and a tutu and it still would scream I AM MAN, HEAR ME ROAR.

lol I crack myself up sometimes.

Joker

smokin_cannon · Post by **smokin_cannon** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 12:42 pm

lol at jokerjim.

I AM MAN, HEAR ME ROAR

the topic of masculinity on a scooter is something of an oxymoron.
you're a dude and you're on a scooter; you just have to be comfortable with it. you're not going to look like a bar room brawler regardless of color.

congrats on your new italia-- they look pretty cool to me. i have a blur (because i really want a motorcycle but can't so he is just posing in something that sorta looks like one but isn't ) because i got $1k off last year's model, but if i'd gotten a buddy-- it'd probably have been the italia.

i've had a motorcycle before and actually thought about getting another one. i'm 40 and don't have the same need to go superfast any more. scooters are so much cheaper, get great mileage and are just so damn fun to ride.

Tbone · Post by **Tbone** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 4:40 pm

Masculinity was brought up in an article in the Sacramento Bee this weekend about Mopeds and Scooters. Lucky Bastard from ModernVespa as well as Sassy Bastard of the Royal Bastards Scooter Club were interviewed. The Bee writer asked it, Lucky responded.

Why is it that small cc motorcycle designed by Italians specifically for intercity commuting post world war II is considered feminine?

Is the Rebel-Without-a-Cause, Hell's Angels bad boy image THAT ingrained?!

Again if you like it, it "feels" right to you when test riding it and you like the look of it. You should buy it and enjoy it!!!

Drumwoulf · Post by **Drumwoulf** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 11:37 pm

newrider3 wrote:My wife and I may be buying one, but to get one it looks like we'll need to put down a deposit before actually seeing it. We're going out to look at other Buddy 125s, but the dealer doesn't have any of the Italias in stock, and they're popular enough that we can only get one by reserving it with cash.

So my question, for those who have seen it and/or own it--does the design make it really just a "chick" scooter? I know, this sounds stupid, but if we get this, I'll be riding it for years.

After riding around on big heavy motorcycles for 25 years, I've been riding scooters now for 3. And lemme tell'ya, it takes a special kind of nervy insanity to zoom around at 60+mph on these little lightweight beasties with the 10" wheels..!

(I know, because unfortunately I have it too...

)

And most of the bikers I know, at least the ones who are not complete morons, know this and respect scooterists... Why would anyone be worried about what a few fanatical outlaw goons might think anyway? Most of those guys (and there are very few of 'em left,) don't know their right hand from their left unless there's a bottle of Jack in one of them, anyway...

The thing I would be thinking about here is not my 'appearance' to the unwashed few; I personally prefer tubeless tires because of their added safety factor... And if I had bought an Italia because I liked the way it looked, one of the first things I would have done was gotten rid of those tubed whitewalls and replace them with good tubeless rubber

Just my IMO here. Some won't agree, I know...

Modern Buddy

Buddy Italia 125 - too feminine?

Buddy Italia 125 - too feminine?

Re: Buddy Italia 125 - too feminine?