New PGO JBuBu

hardd1 · Post by **hardd1** » Sun Jul 10, 2011 4:50 pm

maybe the future will be the Yamaha type 3-valve /liquid cooled 50cc engines if the 2-strokes are murdered by the EPA

Irond Will · Post by **Irond Will** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 12:59 pm

I think that the Bubu is a pretty handsomely-styled scooter, though it is maybe a little too derivative of modern Vespas. I think that kind of styling would do well in the 50cc market - it's a fun little vintage-ish around-town hopper, and I'd imagine that they could sell them for a song.

The ~100cc market strikes me as kind of a difficult category in most US markets because of most states' laws - it's too large to fit under the 50cc "moped" classification but not nearly powerful enough to safely ride on even the tamest of highways.

Jimz · Post by **Jimz** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 12:18 am

How about a JBuBu 170i, sounds good to me. I do like the speedo gauge.

J

Silver Streak · Post by **Silver Streak** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 2:32 am

ericalm wrote:
peabody99 wrote:I think things that are very very ugly go full circle and become beautiful. That red scooter does not fit in the category because it is just kind of ugly.
Those things that have a kind of bold, audacious and unique ugliness seem to transcend into beauty more than those that are just commonly, predictably ugly. The more debated and controversial, the better.

No, that's really commonly, predictably ugly!

The JBuBu isn't bad, but it's just a bit on the "blocky" side. Needs an Italian sleekness transfusion.

babblefish · Post by **babblefish** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 6:30 pm

ericalm wrote:
peabody99 wrote:I think things that are very very ugly go full circle and become beautiful. That red scooter does not fit in the category because it is just kind of ugly.
Those things that have a kind of bold, audacious and unique ugliness seem to transcend into beauty more than those that are just commonly, predictably ugly. The more debated and controversial, the better.

The Elite has to be one of the...no, I take that back...is, the worst handling scooter I've ever ridden. I rode one here in the States and one in Taiwan and both felt like I was riding a bowl of Jello with matching mushy/vague brakes. The handling was all over the place except in the direction you wanted to go; the word "squirrelly" comes to mind. They were so bad that I felt they should have been banned from public roads. I actually feared for my girlfriend's life when she bought one many years ago. Thankfully, she got rid of it within a few months after a couple of crashes. As far as looks goes, I disliked it when I first saw it, but I've sorta gotten used to them, somewhat like my take on lima beans...

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 9:02 pm

Lots of people LOVE the handling on the Elite 150s! I find it to be goofily bouncy.

still shifting · Post by **still shifting** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 10:27 pm

I test drove an Elite 150 and found it too strange to buy. R

jprestonian · Post by **jprestonian** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 10:32 pm

ericalm wrote:Lots of people LOVE the handling on the Elite 150s! I find it to be goofily bouncy.

I have a friend who rides the snot out of his Vespa GTS250, and he and his dad together own several Elite 150s. They're all up in Indianapolis, where he goes to visit about once a month (on the GTS250... from Nashville). He says he can't wait to ride 'em, and his dad can't wait to ride the GTS. :)
.

babblefish · Post by **babblefish** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 6:35 am

ericalm wrote:Lots of people LOVE the handling on the Elite 150s! I find it to be goofily bouncy.

Ooh, gag me with a spoon!!! My cat handles better than one of these!:D

I died twice riding one those death traps! They handle worst than a Hardly (yes, it's spelled as intended)! How can anyone want to ride something that wanders all over the place with it's suspension bottoming out at every opportunity and brakes that are a request and not a command. It's like driving a car with no shocks whatsoever...and only two wheels...with no brakes...and a mysterious squeek somewhere under the dash.

Sorry for the rant.

My brain hurts.

I'm trying to install Windows 7 in my ex's computer...

Post by **ericalm** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 6:04 pm

babblefish wrote:My brain hurts.

I'm trying to install Windows 7 in my ex's computer...

Well, that would cause any brain to hurt.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 6:24 pm

babblefish wrote:I'm trying to install Windows 7 in my ex's computer...

I've heard of nasty break-ups, but that's going too far....

EBee · Post by **EBee** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 8:09 pm

ericalm wrote: (Nice porn-y soundtrack!)

/

Wouldn't it be awesome if this music played whereever you rode?

EBee · Post by **EBee** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 8:16 pm

pdxrita wrote:
Mulliganal wrote: That's good looking. I wonder if the seat is any lower than the Buddy seat? My wife wants a scooter and has been looking at the Buddy but the seat height is just too high for her; she's about 5'2 and around 100 lbs so I've been looking for something low so at least one foot will easily touch the ground when she comes to a stop. A 50cc would also be her preference.
At 5'2", she's 4" taller than me. I'm here to tell you that the Buddy seat height is perfectly doable for someone who's 5'2". Getting a full flat foot down at a stop is not at all necessary, but I think if I was 4" taller, I could slide off the seat towards one side a bit and do that. As it is, I can just put a toe down and that's enough to do the job. When she sits on the scooter in the shop, make sure she slides to the front of the seat when trying to put a foot down.

What she said. I'm 5'2" as well, and ride both the 125 and the BlackJack without problems.

LunaP · Post by **LunaP** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 5:51 am

I think I am also in the 'meh' crowd. I may not be if it were more than 115 (has that been confirmed or are we assuming?)

My first reaction was (to my boyfriend) "It looks like my Buddy and your Stella had sex!" XD

However

I am -sincerely- curious as to why there is a microphone input. Are there speakers?

ravenlore · Post by **ravenlore** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 12:27 pm

I'm not OK with the fuel fill location. So much so that it would be a dealbreaker even if this machine eventually evolved into a 200-250cc.

That's too bad, because the rest of the body would probably be acceptable if it met my other scooter criteria (displacement, price)

Drum Pro · Post by **Drum Pro** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 12:57 pm

I do like the the look of that Buddy. But I wish it had a little more junk in the trunk as in more cc. Blatant rip-off of a Vespa though from the front in my opinion but I still like it. The beauty about a buddy is that they don't look like any other scoot...

still shifting · Post by **still shifting** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 2:30 pm

Will we ever see such units for sale? R

black sunshine · Post by **black sunshine** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 5:59 pm

LunaP wrote:I am -sincerely- curious as to why there is a microphone input. Are there speakers?

the Google translation:

Well below the seat to see a dedicated computer repair joints.

so i assume you can plug a programming computer into this, like you can do for cars? the possibilities . . .

Post by **ericalm** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 6:54 pm

Possibly for diagnostic tools? Is this injected? Hacking/tuning the controls? Mr. Microphone?
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CYEXBTlWf_4?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 6:59 pm

still shifting wrote:I test drove an Elite 150 and found it too strange to buy. R

^^^ Yeah we call them jiggly wigglys...Best discription of how they "handle"

Quo Vadimus · Post by **Quo Vadimus** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 7:12 pm

I have a suspicion that slapping DOT signals on this will hurt the style more than other scoots. Or maybe it's just that my initial impression of most scoots comes with DOT signals already installed, so on those I'm used to them.

Either way I suddenly understand why folks remove theirs and want to do the same.

BlueMark · Post by **BlueMark** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 11:31 pm

I'm semi-meh ... what's with the (barely) hidden bulk under the floor?

Here's how the styling hits me - it's like they took a Fisher-Price plastic toy version of a Vespa, and a real Vespa, and paused in the middle of the morph.

Southerner · Post by **Southerner** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 11:49 pm

Tre chic. I like the classic look. When in doubt, play it straight.

But I totally agree with those who say it needs more displacement than 115cc. No reason it can't meet or exceed the performance of the Like 200i. In fact, I see no reason they can't bump this thing to at least 250. It can't really cost much more to make a bigger engine and take a bite out of the real Vespas.

Re the Benelli: I can't believe the Italians ever let anything that ugly be seen by the outside world. Their electrics may suck but they sure know how to make things look good.
Woulda thought that thing came from somewhere in China.

Now, plastics. I wonder how well the classic metal form of a Vespa translates into plastic, especially after you've owned it a few years.

Roose Hurro · Post by **Roose Hurro** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 10:19 am

peabody99 wrote:Its not very girly but I bet the little Ruckus is the lowest thing out there. Then maybe the Met

Don't forget the Yamaha C3...

synaps3 · Post by **synaps3** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 4:49 pm

Roose Hurro wrote:Don't forget the Yamaha C3...

Wow, it looks a lot like the C3 from the side...

C3:

BuBu:

AWinn6889 · Post by **AWinn6889** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 5:01 pm

If the PGO JBubu was available here, with a larger displacement engine, I would have probably chosen it over the Buddy. While the Buddy is a unique combo of past a present styling, without having that awful space-shippy look, I think the JBubu does a better job hanging onto the "retro" style. Though somewhat of a Vespa rip-off, it is missing a few of the distinguishing bits that make a Vespa look like a Vespa.

I didn't even consider a Honda or a Yamaha when I started looking for scooter because they don't have a whole lot to offer in a mid-size scooter (150-200cc) that was appealing to me. I was very interested in the Kymco Like and the People, and the Yager... but my local dealer is apparently not too great at getting back to customers (still haven't received quotes from them, and it's been... 3 months-ish).
I am extremely happy with my Buddy, I love the way it looks and performs... but if the JBubu comes here, with a larger engine, the disc brakes and the dual shock suspension, I just might have to purchase one!

Also.. I LOVE that light teal color! I wish there were more color options on the 170i like there are on the smaller Buddys.. I love the silver, but I can always paint it someday if I absolutely feel the need..

Southerner · Post by **Southerner** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 11:11 pm

synaps3 wrote:
Roose Hurro wrote:Don't forget the Yamaha C3...
Wow, it looks a lot like the C3 from the side...

C3:

BuBu:

I guess you could say so, if you limit yourself to saying it has 2 wheels, a handlebar and plastic body parts.

The Vespa comparison is more apt, I think.

Although I like the C3, again, IF it was big enough for an adult.

Drum Pro · Post by **Drum Pro** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 3:27 am

I agree with Luna. It looks like a Vespa PX and a Like 200I had sex and this is their love child.

Post by **ericalm** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 5:44 am

It's a pastiche of a lot of European styles from a number of decades. The legshield lights are shaped like the Vespa LX. The horncast hole is like a vintage Vespa. Headlight is oval like a Buddy. The rear cowls are a Lambretta like, which is where the Like gets its posterior.

But I think it comes together pretty well. One of the things I like about the Buddy is that it's not overly retro in its appearance but has a good balance of the older and newer influences. The J-BuBu veers to the retro side but still doesn't look like a metal scooter recast in plastic as some do.

black sunshine · Post by **black sunshine** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 6:52 pm

ericalm wrote:
babblefish wrote:My brain hurts.

I'm trying to install Windows 7 in my ex's computer...
Well, that would cause any brain to hurt.

fah, i do Windows 7 installs in 15 minutes.

as for your ex . . . well, i don't know how long that takes *wahhh wahhh*

LunaP · Post by **LunaP** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 7:20 pm

BlueMark wrote:I'm semi-meh ... what's with the (barely) hidden bulk under the floor?

Here's how the styling hits me - it's like they took a Fisher-Price plastic toy version of a Vespa, and a real Vespa, and paused in the middle of the morph.

+1

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 9:23 pm

BlueMark wrote:I'm semi-meh ... what's with the (barely) hidden bulk under the floor?

Perhaps the battery and oil cooler are now in some sort of fairing/enclosure rather than dropping down from the thinner Buddy floorboard. Better looking, if that's the case.

Modern Buddy

New PGO JBuBu

Re: New PGO JBuBu