what does a Buddy 125 ride like?!?

[kmrcstintn]

I'm trading in my Rattler and getting a leftover 2009 Buddy 125 with 0.4 miles on it

the other scoots I have owned/ridden have had larger than 10" tires up front and I am curious what a Buddy rides like; thanks

[skully93]

I can only speak from the 150, but since they're the same...

The buddy is really smooth and handles super well. Like you, I was initially attracted to the 'manly/sport' style of another bike (my Yamaha Zuma). It had knobby tires on it. it sounded 'beefy'.

I put street tires on it and I love it a lot more. I can actually you know. TURN on the street! Even if it's wet!

Seriously though the Buddy handles a bit better. Even at 55 indicated, it was a smooth ride.

If you're set on trading I would ask for a test ride. any dealer worth their salt should have some size of buddy available for test drives, assuming they're able to do them at all (my local dealer is and often has a tester..).

How come you're swapping the Rattler?

[kmrcstintn]

prior to getting my Buell Blast I had a 2010 Vespa LX 150 and I prefer the feel and powerband of a 4-stroke engine; I know the Buddy 125 won't be quite as zippy as the fuel injected 150 on the Vespa LX or quite as 'vespa-ish' but I can adjust; also the dealer really dropped the price from $2699 MSRP to $1899 + @ $150 freight & setup; my trade-in is slightly higher than KBB value which puts me in striking range, so I'm going for it

[skully93]

That sounds like a really good deal. From what I've gathered any of the genuine scoots are reliable, and even though the 125 is no crotch rocket, there's not a ton of difference from 125 to the 170 from what I can tell. I'm sure the bigger displacement (and EFI of the 170i) will change in the end, but lots of people commute daily on 125's for tons of miles.

[JHScoot]

i have experience with the 150 and not the 125. the BJ to be exact. any buddy should be similar, though. at least until pushed and the BJ performance goodies come into play

anyway i find the scoot (150) to be stable and well planted. i also find it very flickable as they say, and even flingable! lol

even at 55mph+ imo the scoot feels sure of itself. have you seen this vid? one of the best to examine and show the 125's everyday rider attributes

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0pNddc6PKIg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[theflash784]

Hello. I bought a 2009 Buddy 125 Orange last summer after selling my 2007 Vespa 250 that I bought the previous fall. I made the mistake of buying one off ebay without trying one out first. It was way too big and heavy for me to comfortably ride. I learned my lesson. I went to the closest dealer with Genuine scooters and tried out the different Buddys before settling on the 125. I really love riding my Buddy 125. The ride is pretty smooth unless you are going over pot holed roads. We have plenty of those where I live and it can cause some teeth rattling. I have not tried it on gravel or dirt roads. I ride mine strictly for fun, running errands, and visiting friends since I am retired. I have not ridden it for really long distances yet. I wanted a simple to ride, maintain and relible scooter and I believe my Buddy 125 will be just that. I can't wait for the weather to be better here in Michigan so I can ride again. I hope you enjoy yours.

[Hwarang]

I'm trading in my Rattler and getting a leftover 2009 Buddy 125 with 0.4 miles on it

the other scoots I have owned/ridden have had larger than 10" tires up front and I am curious what a Buddy rides like; thanks

It feels like God's rubbing your tummy.

[Dooglas]

I'm trading in my Rattler and getting a leftover 2009 Buddy 125 with 0.4 miles on it
the other scoots I have owned/ridden have had larger than 10" tires up front and I am curious what a Buddy rides like; thanks

I have a fair number of miles on both a Buddy 125 and an LX150. As you have owned an LX, you know that it's rear wheel is a 10 and the front an 11. While there are some noticable differences between the two scooters, I really never felt any I would attribute to the difference in wheel size. In other words, no surprises there.

[Rippinyarn]

I can't wait for the weather to be better here in Michigan so I can ride again. I hope you enjoy yours.

Where are you in Michigan? It was 41 in downtown Detroit today and I enjoyed the hell out of riding the Reflex. Looks good to ride all week, except maybe Friday morning - 19 degrees is a tad cool even for me.

And to the OP - the Buddy is as neutral riding, light touch and just plain telepathic fun as scooters get. I often think of adding one to the fleet, just because they are perfect for a neat little scoot.

[Chilly]

I use rotella 15/40. Curious why you are getting rid of the rattler in favor of a buddy? I almost got a rattler, Love the look of it. Don't regret getting the buddy at all but still long for a rattler. Always on the lookout for a local used one.

[theflash784]

Rippinyarn- not far from you. I'm in Rochester. I really don't have cold weather gear. I winterized the scooter last month.

[ericalm]

Have a look at my age-old review of the 125:
topic4835.html

Small, light, zippy and easy to handle.

Overall, the Buddy is a blast to ride. I no longer own one, but every time I get on one I'm reminded just how fun it is, even compared to anything else I've ridden. The handling is very easy. The Buddy carries most of its weight low and to the rear of center, making it very easy to lean. It handles easier than anything else I've ridden. That's not the same as "better," which is more of a matter of preference. As I've said before, the ease of handling also makes it a bit harder to learn the finer points of handling, as it requires a lighter touch. The scooter really responds well to rider input! The acceleration is peppy. It's what's often referred to as "flickable."

The seating position on a Buddy is much different than a Rattler. I prefer it. The rider's more upright; I always feel like I'm being leaned forward over the headset on a Rattler (I have a long torso, short legs).

[DanielPerrin]

I have a '09 Buddy 125 and I have been very impressed. I rode for 75k+ miles on Honda 750s, and I was surprised that a Buddy with such small tires would be as comfortable and stable as it is. I also haven't noticed much vibration in the handlebars, even at WOT. That's nice for stable mirrors and my hand comfort. The mirrors vibrate a little at idle, but they stop vibrating once I get moving. It's rock-solid on smooth roads, and confidently stable on rough pavement.

The Buddy turns a lot tighter than the Hondas and is a lot more maneuverable, and I like the step-through design of the Buddy. It makes it easy to sit in a comfortable position.

Enjoy! I hope you like yours as much as I'm enjoying mine!

[KABarash]

the dealer really dropped the price from $2699 MSRP to $1899 + @ $150 freight & setup; my trade-in is slightly higher than KBB value which puts me in striking range, so I'm going for it

Wow...... Lyle really did you right! (I hope this doesn't mean that he's just trying to unload them all, period end of story)
He's a great guy, I've heard some people complain about him, but he's always done right by me.
BTW: I live 'just up the road a piece' give me a holler if you want a Buddy riding Buddy

[kmrcstintn]

KABarash...yes I have seen the video...great review

I rode it @ 20 miles into Marietta & back to BMA before hauling it home; it doesn't like wind buffeting from big rigs, but seems to be a stable platform overall...I'm afraid it's gonna be the only ride for a while to come with the colder temperatures rolling in (winter makes another appearance)

to answer why the Buddy over the Ratter...a more refined ride similar to my previous Vespa LX and I like the feel and powerband of a 4-stroke engine

KABarash...I will consider looking you up in the spring, but chances are the majority of my recreational riding will be on my Buell Blast & I will use the scoot for work & errands; check out the Three Mile Island Scooter Club website for scheduled rides; they are also on facebook and have a yahoo group page that gets updated the most for weekly gatherings and impromptu rides