New owner -- some quick questions

redding · Post by **redding** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 5:12 pm

Hello, all. I just won a Buddy 125 Italia in the Bolla Wine sweepstakes. As you all know, the owner's manual is woefully inadequate. Some, a couple of questions:

The scoot arrived with a dead battery. Although I'm guessing that once I get my paperwork I can get a new one under warranty, I should be able to kick start her, right? I had a battery tender hooked up, but the battery wouldn't take a charge.

Are the tires tubeless or use innertubes?

Finally, what tools/emergency stuff would you recommend I carry? The supplied toolkit seems kinda lame.

A bit of background: I have a 2006 Honda Elite 80, plus a 1964 Vespa Allstate in pieces in my dining room. Whenever possible, I prefer to do my own wrenching.

Thanks!

Sunil · Post by **Sunil** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 5:26 pm

Congrats! Its a great scooter. Im sure you will enjoy it. It should kickstart if the battery is hooked up. Try it and see. Im not sure if the warranty covers batteries. Hopefully since its new they will replace it. The tires on the Italia use innertubes. The wheels will take tubeless tires if you care to switch. The tool kit is pretty basic. I carry a small adjustable wrench and zipties. also rain pants, a scarf and a bungee net always seem to be in my underseat bin.

ryder1 · Post by **ryder1** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 5:35 pm

Bring battery to the local dealer and have them put it on their charger which is more quicker. They can also test it to see if the battery will hold a charge or not.

Better to find out then to have problems with the battery while riding. You may need a new battery.

Kevin K · Post by **Kevin K** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 5:57 pm

Most likely the battery was shipped dry. You will need to take it to a dealer (or any scooter/MC shop) and have them fill it before you can charge it.

And congrats!
-K

Dan Buddy · Post by **Dan Buddy** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 6:14 pm

Just an FYI, I was able to start and drive our Buddys without the battery installed. A friend of mine has a large garage about a block from my house and I drove both of our Buddys there without batteries to store them for the winter. Yes, I was too lazy to carry the batteries back to my house so I pulled them first. The horn and blinkers didn't work (no sure about the headlight) but since it was only one block on a residential street I wasn't worried about it.

lojical1 · Post by **lojical1** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 9:47 pm

Check out this link, which is basically a compilation of experiences, advice, and technical how-tos. Enjoy and welcome to MB !

Dooglas · Post by **Dooglas** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 1:08 am

redding wrote:Hello, all. I just won a Buddy 125 Italia in the Bolla Wine sweepstakes.

I hate you ! But I guess someone else had to win if I didn't so welcome aboard anyway. Enjoy the scoot !

KABarash · Post by **KABarash** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 2:36 am

redding wrote:Hello, all. I just won a Buddy 125 Italia in the Bolla Wine sweepstakes.

Congrats on the win!

polianarchy · Post by **polianarchy** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 8:50 pm

Judith, is that you?!?!

If so, then maybe...MAYBE I am not as jealous that you won the sweepstakes. Hmph.

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 8:52 pm

GUess that means I didn't win. Shucks.

Congrats and welcome to the forum!

redding · Post by **redding** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 9:50 pm

Thanks, everyone, for the helpful suggestions.

Please don't hate me because I won a Buddy. All my close friends wanted me to sell her, but after running my hands over all that olive green goodness I couldn't possibly.

Polianna, I will now be able to keep up with you. :)

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 10:31 pm

redding wrote:Please don't hate me because I won a Buddy. All my close friends wanted me to sell her, but after running my hands over all that olive green goodness I couldn't possibly.

Polianna, I will now be able to keep up with you.

Not hate, maybe just a little jealousy. Actually, I'm quite happy that the winner of that scoot is now a member here. We had a lot of discussion about the contest. It's good to know it went to someone who will ride it and take good care of it instead of some jerky professional contest enterer.

Dooglas · Post by **Dooglas** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 1:16 am

Okay, I'm beginning to get beyond hatred, frustration, and self-loathing. Glad to hear somebody won the scoot that will enjoy it and give it the use it desires.

You didn't say if you got the battery issue sorted out yet? It made me wonder. Surely this scooter was set up by a dealer somewhere. They shouldn't pass it on to you with a dead battery or one that has not been activated yet. On the other hand, if the importer or the contest folks just sent it to you in the crate with no set up, thats not good. I presume set up and checkout at initial delivery is part of the warranty process just like the first service. Let us know how this plays out.

redding · Post by **redding** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 3:08 pm

I'm taking the battery today to my local dealer. They're great guys in general, and said no problem to sorting it out. Plus, they're going to give me a copy of the dealer prep sheet, just so I can check that everything is done.

I have to say, I'm still kinda in shock that I won this. While I'll still be using my Honda Elite for the wear and tear of the city commute, I'm planning on taking the Buddy for some long-range trips. And yes, I do really appreciate her and she'll be spoiled silly.

lobsterman · Post by **lobsterman** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 3:11 pm

redding wrote:I have to say, I'm still kinda in shock that I won this. While I'll still be using my Honda Elite for the wear and tear of the city commute, I'm planning on taking the Buddy for some long-range trips. And yes, I do really appreciate her and she'll be spoiled silly.

Congratulations on the win.

I'll be curious to see if you start using the Buddy for your commute, since it's really well suited to that task.

polianarchy · Post by **polianarchy** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 6:49 pm

YAY!!! Judith, I'm glad that's you. Congrats very truly! Couldn't happen to a nicer scooterist. Well, other than me, of course.

So...what's happening to your Elite?

redding · Post by **redding** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 7:32 pm

I'm keeping the Elite 80, even though she's only marginally faster than a 50cc. I'm still planning on using her for the daily commute, because I rarely get above 40 mph in rush-hour traffic, but also because I have no place to chain up a scooter near my office and the Elite has an alarm. Plus, let's face it, no one wants to steal an Elite.

With the Buddy, however, I'll be able to hit the local highways and do some serious weekend travelling.

Dooglas · Post by **Dooglas** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:08 pm

Holy Smoke ! Did everybody see that one of the other Bolla contest winners posted his brand new SI on the "For Sale / Wanted" page for $1800 with 2 miles on it. One of you buy this one quick before I am overcome by impractical urges and head East in a pickup truck.

redding · Post by **redding** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 3:46 pm

The price tag is probably because the invoices we got from Scooterworks listed the scoot at dealer cost. Thanks, guys, for saving me some money on sales tax! That winner probably doesn't understand that retail value is higher.

By the way, my paperwork also said my scoot had 6 miles on it, but the odometer actually read 0.7.

So yes, somebody here should snap that sucker up quick!

dubbylove · Post by **dubbylove** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 6:19 pm

I've never ridden my Buddy in Downtown Seattle and plan to soon. You guys have any tips/suggestions in where I should/can park and should I bring a cable lock? Also do scooter riders have to pay for electronic street parking? And where do I stick that little darn parking sticker? Any other suggestions you may let me know.
Thanks!

Modern Buddy

New owner -- some quick questions

New owner -- some quick questions

Re: New owner -- some quick questions

Re: New owner -- some quick questions

Yes, Polianna, It's me.

Re: Yes, Polianna, It's me.

Re: battery

Re: battery

The Elite stays.

Parking in the City