Hi I'm New!!
I am thinking of buying the Buddy Pamplona 50cc!!! Very excited but am nervous I should get a bigger engine, but don't want to spend more $ and don't want to get a Motorcycle license. I love this scooter but when out shopping people are saying "oh ,you need more power get the bigger cc's' etc. I was thinking that I just want to to cruise around and have fun this summer live near the ocean in New England, smallish town, Marblehead Mass., I feel like I would be fine on a 50cc but then sometimes I think I might want more power!! Confused!!! I guess I am just nervous I spend $2500 then be disappointed with power................. any advice, feedback??? Would love to hear your thoughts!! Thanks!
I am a female in my 40s if that helps......
Last edited by kimmiekarma on Wed Apr 25, 2012 1:10 am, edited 1 time in total.
If it were me, I'd go for the 125 at least.. Not because there's no place for a 50, it's just that I'd want something more all purpose first and a 50 for a second bike. This doesn't mean that's what you should do obviously, it's just what I would do. Probably would suggest keeping track of where you go for a week and be mindful of what speeds you are going/ should be going on those roads. If you feel at the end of that that a 50 is fine for your usage, you're probably right!
Can you test ride each? Or rent each? That might help you decide.
Scooters are underpowered compared to motorcycles. I don't think you'll be disappointed if you went with a bigger engine. It's nothing to fear. Scooters remind me of flat screen TV's, no one ever complains they wish they went smaller. Quite the opposite in fact.
I understand not wanting to mess with a license though. That's a biggie decision that only you can make.
My personal opinion is that the 125 Buddy makes a great all purpose small scooter. If you are even asking this question about power - I'd advise the 125. Something else to think about. Why are you trying to avoid licensing? Either a 50 or a 125 requires a fair amount of skill to ride safely. You really want to go through the MSF basic riders course and there is no reason to avoid the certification that goes with it. You didn't mention insurance, but I'd say the same thing there. A 50 is not inherently any safer than a 125 and riding without liability insurance just isn't smart IMO.
kimmie, hopefully a bunch of the 50cc Boston folks will chime in and give good advice. I'd say the 50 is totally doable in Marblehead for be-bopping around town and the beach. I'd look around for a used one, save yourself the immediate depreciation of new, and if you decide you want bigger, sell it and move on up. I'm a big fan of the 50cc class; they really make you good at finding alternate ways to get places.
Where are you going to ride it? If it's just on surface streets around your town, and the scoot has been de-restricted, you shouldn't have a problem I have a 50cc Italia that I ride around my town. I'm 6'2", 200+ lbs and the only time that I really want more power is when I take it out of town on two lane roads (rare, just do because I can), and start going up hills!!! NOooooooooooooo, I'm down to 35 mph....wait, being slow is ok. If I want to go fast on this road I'll go get my Kawa ZX-6R. srsly, if you're just going to cruise it around town, and money and license are factors, go ahead and get it. Make sure you de-restrict it, and then if you are not satisfied, you can sell it and buy a bigger scoot. Pamplona's are nice looking. That was my first choice of the Internationals, but then I saw my Italia, used for $1,200 with less than 500 miles on the odo. I haven't been disappointed and I've had it for a couple years now. Eventually I will get a bigger displacement scoot, but it will have to be a killer deal, so I wait, and lurk on Craigslist.
Last edited by rsrider on Tue Apr 24, 2012 6:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Well there is the expense of licensing, the course etc. Then the time to do all that, also the 125 is more expensive. I am trying to keep costs down. I drove a scooter whn I lived in SF (mid 90's) so I know how to ride and operate, may be alittle rusty but know it will come right back. just want to have fun but don't want to feel like there is not enough power. I want to see how much I will use it etc. too so I can always upgrade in a few years if I want more power. I am feeling like this is an entry level endeavor for me.
Drive your car around on the streets you'll be using the scooter on, making sure you go no faster than 35 - 40mph. If you don't ever feel like you need to speed up, then a 50cc is probably fine for you. If you do want to go faster, then go for a 125.
pdxrita wrote:Drive your car around on the streets you'll be using the scooter on, making sure you go no faster than 35 - 40mph. If you don't ever feel like you need to speed up, then a 50cc is probably fine for you. If you do want to go faster, then go for a 125.
Denver is hilly, with aggressive drivers and high elevation. So, for me, the 50 was doable but I quickly wanted more power. The 150 is great for me. The 125 is pretty darn close, and gets better mpg to boot (+ I'm sure I outweigh you).
If you're getting a scooter, surely you know others that have them. see if you can test one out a bit, and go from there. remember that you'll need some gear and such to go with your awesome scoot.
kimmiekarma wrote:Well there is the expense of licensing, the course etc. Then the time to do all that, also the 125 is more expensive. I am trying to keep costs down. I drove a scooter whn I lived in SF (mid 90's) so I know how to ride and operate, may be alittle rusty but know it will come right back. just want to have fun but don't want to feel like there is not enough power. I want to see how much I will use it etc. too so I can always upgrade in a few years if I want more power. I am feeling like this is an entry level endeavor for me.
I just bought my 125cc less than a month ago.. I was going through the same thoughts you were when trying to decide and ended up spending a bit more to get more power just in case I need it. (a lot of roads near me are 40-50mph just to get around town).
Also, I just completed my MSF course this past weekend and even if you do get the 50cc it would be a mistake not to take the course! If you can afford the bike, you can afford the course. I seriously learned so much, more than I expected. Its deceiving because when you hop on a Buddy it is really easy to just jump on and scoot away... you are tricked into thinking you know what you are doing.
heatherkay wrote:Of course, going 35 or 40 on a scooter feels a LOT faster than on a car.
Well, yes. The point of driving at those speeds in the car is to see if it's fast enough for the roads in question - would there be cars crawling up your rear if you did that? It's not really about how it feels on a scooter, specifically.
I live in Salem, MA and drive all around the North Shore all year on a 50cc. You don't really need more power for most of the roads you will be traveling around here.
I have the Pamplona 50cc and I live in the city of Saint Louis. I LOVE it... I don't want to get in my car now.... There lies the problem. Most of the roads I am on are 35 or less and I can go all over town in it. Being a 50cc makes life very easy as parking is no issue, which is a big reason why I went for the 50cc and not larger. BUT, I am finding that I am riding it a whole lot, and some roads that I would like to use have areas that are 45mph and that is a real problem. Because even broken in, and derestricted, if I could even get close to 45 on the speedo, it is more likely doing more like 40mph... And most drivers in cars are going over the limit.... I don't want to speed but I dont want to hold it up either.... Just want to go with the flow. The speed demons are going to pass you regardless. But I have only had my Buddy since February and I am looking for a bigger scoot or a small cycle... Keeping my Buddy 50 though. But if I want to ride to where I teach, I definitely need something bigger. That may never be an issue with you. It really depends on where you want to ride and how often etc. But you may find that you love it so much that you want to ride it more than you thought.... That is EXACTLY what happened to me. Food for thought.
If it is because you don't want to take the motor cycle riding safety course, to be very frank... Don't get a 50 either. I am a newbie myself but I am bright enough to realize that the Buddy is DECEPTIVELY easy to ride.... Almost stupidly so. The plus is that it is not scary for someone like you are me, who has never ridden a motorcycle to feel non-threatened by its simplicity and cuteness. It is still very much a motorized vehicle that you will be riding in traffic, and 35MPH, 20MPH, even 5MPH can KILL you or seriously injure you. For me, the Buddy is easier to ride than my bicycle and that ease can give you a false sense of security. Before you go any further, read the "who's crashed" thread. Also read Chas' thread... He just got his Buddy and had an accident and cracked a rib on the first day. Not going to keep him from riding, but it goes to show how easy these things are to ride. I almost got I to a situation on the second day I rode mine... Not my fault, but only luck kept me from getting hurt because I did not know the proper way to break, swerve, etc... I only got lucky or I would have been down just like Chas... I was no smarter than he was. I came home, and looked up how when and where to take the Motor Cycle Riding Safety Course. Ill be taking it in about two weeks. I have been riding, but very carefully in fairly controlled situations. No rain, no real wind, not heavy traffic, etc. Take the course... It is not that expensive, and it is your life... Can you put a price on that? Also, get the gear. One of the reasons I got a Buddy and not a Vespa was that it is a good reliable scooter with excellent quality, that is a good $1,000 less than a similar Vespa, and with what I saved I got great gear and signed up for the course. Just a fellow newbie here, but I am sure the experienced scooterists will say the same thing.
Other than that.... Oh baby, you will so love a Buddy.
I've been riding a 50cc for three years (almost 14K miles). In fact, I just got back a few hours ago from renewing my 3-year "moped" registration. It's been perfect for me. I can't claim I've never wished I had more power (e.g. when I've taken it on highways or busy major streets were I really didn't belong, climbing some unplanned long hills on a road trip up north), but most of the time, being able to go 35-40mph (derestricted) has been just enough speed for me. I mostly use it for getting around town, on 25-45mph roads (but not the busy ones where people really go 55), and once a year I take it on a week-long road trip around the state via local roads. It's great for those uses.
A lot of people live by the principle that you can never have "too much", but I don't mind some limits. In fact, I think my road trips around Michigan have been made better by the fact that I was forced to take "the scenic route" at 35mph instead of hopping on faster roads and zipping along at 55mph. Saving money on the bike and registration in the process has been icing on the cake.
The bottom line is that you should get a scooter that matches what you want to do with it. That's what I did, and I have no regrets. Most of the folks who bought 125s or larger did the same thing, and I'm sure they're happy they did too. Only you can answer the question for you. But assuming my Buddy holds up for another 14K miles (it wouldn't be the first), I expect I'll probably end up renewing that "moped" sticker again in 2015.
TVB wrote: assuming my Buddy holds up for another 14K miles (it wouldn't be the first), I expect I'll probably end up renewing that "moped" sticker again in 2015.
Amen to that! Even if I got something different, I want to keep mine forever .
I'm out in western Colorado and have a 50 Italia. Out of the box figure on a max speed of 45 mph which can be bumped up, but it's a lot of cost for a little improvement.
Buy for what your uses are and what you want. I got the 50 over the 125 because of license/registration/parking benefits in Colorado for 50's. The counter point is I have to go the back way everywhere (which for me is actually fun).
The 125, 150, 170's are more "functional" in some ways, but also come with more regulations (here at least)
Last item for me was "fun-ness". I tinker with it to get more speed, and enjoy the buzz of angry bees as I go places.
Swing by a dealer and try riding a 2t 50 and a 125 and see what you like, there isn't really a wrong choice if you're happy with it.
kimmiekarma wrote:Well there is the expense of licensing, the course etc. Then the time to do all that, also the 125 is more expensive. I am trying to keep costs down. I drove a scooter whn I lived in SF (mid 90's) so I know how to ride and operate, may be alittle rusty but know it will come right back. just want to have fun but don't want to feel like there is not enough power. I want to see how much I will use it etc. too so I can always upgrade in a few years if I want more power. I am feeling like this is an entry level endeavor for me.
You know best and I wouldn't dissuade anyone from their hearts desire- that's what it's all about with these vehicles.. FUN
But I would like to say, I don't think you'll find a slightly larger displacement vehicle to be any less entry level. After all, they all feel really fast when you're on them at first, and the scariest/most dangerous parts of riding will likely apply equally to both bikes.
Whatever you end up getting, welcome to the family! You're going to have a blast for sure.
I would also advise the motorcycle safety course whether you'll need a license or not. It's quite cheap compared to other safety gear you'll need, like a helmet etc and at least as valuable.
I don't have a license myself, because when I took the course in the early 90's it didn't come with a skills test waiver, and I've rarely had a bike long enough to complete my permit time. Later I just got lazy because the permit allowed me to do everything I needed anyway. Nowadays I'm actually thinking to take the course AGAIN just because it sounds like a better idea to get that refresher while I finish my license than simply hanging around at the DMV for an afternoon and turning circles in the parking lot for someone who may or may not know how to ride themselves.
I pulled the exhaust restrictor off but not the var. ring yet and there isn't any point where my top speed has been an issue driving in our small town which is pretty MC friendly (so far). A couple of times I wish I could get to my top speed quicker but I think there are solutions to my problem I can put in place after my 500 mile service and the ring is removed.
I think the slow car test is the most helpful thing I have heard/ done and it made us feel better after doing it a few times. Even at B42 mph I still feel like I'm at my limit being new at this. I do believe we will end up getting something bigger at some point but that may be well into the future and we are very happy with the 50 for both cost and ease of getting it on the road quickly.
Haven't the foggiest what summers by the coast in Massachusetts is like, but it also depends on how many cars you'll be competing with.
I've had my 50cc for nine months now and it covers about 90% of what I need it for. My route usually isn't heavily traveled but when it is, I still can manage so long as there's a steady amount of traffic to keep things in check. But are you carrying lots of stuff? A passenger? Stuff like that adds up and can affect how much performance that 50 will put out. Just things to consider...
In spite of tourists in SUVs, if it's a calm, laid back community where most folks walk or bike, a 50cc will fit right in. If it's narrow two-lane roads with people sweeping past at 10-15 miles over the speed limit, yeah you may want to go with something bigger.
Good luck!
"Why is it every time I need to get somewhere, we get waylaid by jackassery?"
kimmiekarma wrote:Well there is the expense of licensing, the course etc. Then the time to do all that.........
I'm probably sticking my nose in further than is welcome, but I have to repeat that riding scooters is sometimes hazardous and needs to be approached quite seriously. If you think that learning how to ride one safely is too expensive and takes too much time, then perhaps this is something that is not for you. (and if you think I am just a spoil sport, take a look at the very long "who's crashed" thread)
Ummm .. Dooglas, Yeah. .... I heard you the first time and yes you would be right about sticking your mose in too far!! I really don't need to hear from you again, maybe you should go volunteer as a safety instructor somewhere in your community....
Everybody else has been great!! Thanks soooo much for all the great ideas and positive feedback!!! I am really excited about my new scooter!!!
HAPPY SCOOTING!!
"I want to get a cycle with a motor, but I don't want a *real* motorcycle license"
hitting pavement at 40mph on a scooter is the same as on a "real" motorcycle. That's because both are motorcycles. If you have no interest in learning the skills needed to safely operate a machine, regardless of what you call it, DON'T GET IT!
Call me rude, but it needs to be said. You will only improve your enjoyment of the bike by learning how to PROPERLY ride it by going through the process. And, by getting another permit that expands your world view of other machines to ride as well. More ways to have fun are always better.
She didn't ask about whether or not she should get a motorcycle license, so let's move on. It isn't rude or sticking your nose to far — it's off topic. She asked whether a 50cc was enough. If asked about the weather no one would expect to hear about your opinion of the Red Sox. Right?
Back on topic I bought a 50cc and found that the many hills near my home were too much for the little guy. It was fun while I was in Boston (where I bought the scooter), but became frustrating after that. Around Boston 50cc is fine because no one can go much over 30mph due to the traffic and red lights. Outside of cities or short commutes I feel like I'd want more that 50cc.
I think the advice given by pdxrita is best. If you don't drive more than 40 mph on the roads you'll be using 50cc is fine.
I have met people who thought their TV was too big. I've also met people who thought their motorcycle was too big. Scooters generally fall between small and medium, so I haven't met anyone who thought theirs was too big.
jonlink wrote:She didn't ask about whether or not she should get a motorcycle license, so let's move on. It isn't rude or sticking your nose to far — it's off topic. She asked whether a 50cc was enough. If asked about the weather no one would expect to hear about your opinion of the Red Sox. Right?
This is Modern Buddy-125-FF-MSF. Anyone who makes different choices will get lectured like children. Count on it.
"I want to get a cycle with a motor, but I don't want a *real* motorcycle license"
hitting pavement at 40mph on a scooter is the same as on a "real" motorcycle. That's because both are motorcycles. If you have no interest in learning the skills needed to safely operate a machine, regardless of what you call it, DON'T GET IT!
Call me rude, but it needs to be said. You will only improve your enjoyment of the bike by learning how to PROPERLY ride it by going through the process. And, by getting another permit that expands your world view of other machines to ride as well. More ways to have fun are always better.
Coming from someone who has owned a scooter for only a month, or just under, I don't think you are being rude at all.
Honestly a couple months ago when I was finalizing my plans for purchasing a scooter I didn't think about taking a MSF class, or buying an armored jacket. I'm glad there were people like you on this forum pointing out how important these things are, and reading the "who's crashed" thread is an eye-opener for sure.
GJLawyer wrote:I'm out in western Colorado and have a 50 Italia. Out of the box figure on a max speed of 45 mph which can be bumped up, but it's a lot of cost for a little improvement.
"Out of the box" a Buddy 50cc will be restricted and will not go 45 without the help of a pretty good downhill (it's possible GJLawyer's was derestricted at the point of purchase). I think top restricted speed is about 35. To the OP, some states have laws regarding the need for licensing, etc. that depend not only on cc's but also on top speed. Meaning that, even if you have a 50cc, if you derestrict it to get top speeds of around 45, you could be cited for not registering it or having an M endorsement.
jmazza - You are correct. Mine was de-restricted at time of purchase. I neglected that some people/dealers may not do that. My assumption was that this is a essentially a universal. Apologies.
GJLawyer wrote:jmazza - You are correct. Mine was de-restricted at time of purchase. I neglected that some people/dealers may not do that. My assumption was that this is a essentially a universal. Apologies.
No worries- we've heard stories of dealers who automatically de-restrict and others that don't. I mostly wanted to make the OP aware of the fact that, in some states, de-restricting can mean more registration/licensing requirements.
BTW, welcome to the forum from another Denver-area scooterist!
I have a garage-full of scoots (and one moped) and when the next one leaves (I'm looking at YOU, P200), it will be replaced by an Aprilia SR50. For bopping around town, there is nothing that beats a good 50cc scoot.
I'd recommend going for it, and remember that with a quality 50cc scooter (like the Buddy) you will always be able to sell it and get a higher displacement one if your riding patterns need it.
If you just want to drive around town then a 50cc is fine. I live in west roxbury and rode my buddy 50cc downtown every day that the weather was OK. the Jamaica Way was pretty much the limit of my comfort zone - wouldn't go on Storrow, for example.
I work in Worcester now and therefore can't ride my 50cc to work any more and have been trying to get my act together to sell it. It's black, has ~2K miles on it, has the rear luggage rack installed, and I can include my cable lock. I dropped it once at very low speed so there is minor scratch on the body and brake lever (they don't show up well in pictures). I was going to ask $1250.
we bring up safety and MSF classes because we care
that said, it sounds like from a couple of people's posts that the area you're in is small/slow enough that a 50cc would do. i test-rode both the 50 and 125 and they really don't ride that much different. what IS different is how quickly they accelerate and how fast they can go.
i consider being able to comfortably travel at 45mph in traffic and being able to go up hills w/o slowing down to a crawl (and it will slow down to a crawl) to be important factors. it gives me the option of doing so when i need or want to. what your situation like? some things to consider:
1) are there hilly areas that you will want or need to ride on?
2) what's traffic like? will there be time when you need to be in faster-moving traffic? and if there is, do you have an alt route that you can and are happy taking?
3) will this be a fun/additional form of transportation or your main form of transportation and therefore need to be more versatile...
4) are you looking to buy new or used? the money you save buying used will be more than enough to pay for the additional costs that you are worried about. and, like someone mentioned earlier, your safety is surely worth a couple hundred bucks.
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