Painting a Buddy125?

adahl · Post by **adahl** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 10:13 pm

I hope this is in the right place.. I'm debating purchasing a 2006 Buddy 125 that's for sale here.. it seems almost too good to be true!
http://racine.craigslist.org/mcy/3484845131.html

Pink though.. ugh. Does anyone have any experience with re-painting a moped? How much would it run to get professionally done?

Thanks!

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 10:19 pm

You can find some discussions about painting Buddies using the forum's Search feature. It's not especially difficult (if you know what you're doing): mostly just removing the panels and spraying them. Alternatively you can buy replacement panels in another color without spending a horrific amount of money.

P.S. If it doesn't have pedals, it isn't a "moped". Practice saying "scooter".

Post by **ericalm** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 11:52 pm

I'd be pretty dubious of any deal this much too good to be true.

Make sure they have the paperwork, title, etc. and any records from maintenance and repair.

New battery and carb cleaning could run more than $400—and there's no way of knowing if it needs more because it will neither start nor run until those things are done.

As far as painting goes, it can be done either DIY or professionally. The Buddy actually takes paints made for plastics quite well. Some, like Krylon Fusion, don't require sanding (though I think Fusion's discontinued).

adahl · Post by **adahl** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 12:02 am

Yeah that was my worry as well... $300 for a scooter with about 100 miles..

Would there be any way to tell if there's anything else wrong with it in addition to the battery/carb needing cleaned? I've never owned anything other than a car, and even then I'm not too knowledgeable with mechanics :/

Thanks for your advice though

Stitch · Post by **Stitch** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 1:48 am

Something seems fishy about a $300 buddy with 100 miles.

As far as painting , you could always swap out the body panels too. It was under $400 to change all the plastic the last time my dealer looked.

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 2:45 am

It could be legit. I bought a non running 08 B125 with 11K miles for $335 with all paperwork. It's tough to find a buyer for a non runner.

Here's the catch...how well do you know your way around a scooter? It could be just battery and carb, and fuel filter, and etc etc.

I put in about $200 worth of parts and mine is running like new...but I know my way around pretty well and I'm fully tooled up. The previous owner was on the right track but going about it in the wrong order.

Buying a non runner is a crap shoot but at 3 bills you could part it out and at least break even.

Robbie · Post by **Robbie** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 2:45 am

adahl wrote:Yeah that was my worry as well... $300 for a scooter with about 100 miles..

Would there be any way to tell if there's anything else wrong with it in addition to the battery/carb needing cleaned? I've never owned anything other than a car, and even then I'm not too knowledgeable with mechanics :/

Thanks for your advice though

If you can get to it to inspect it, I'd run right over.
As long as it has a title that shows the owners name and address I would proceed with the purchass.
I have made many 'distressed purchasses' like this over the years......just a good lookover for any hidden crash (or flood) damage, check the fuel tank guts for rust as well as the inside of the tailpipe (good flashlight required) at that price is about all you can do.

Pay up, take the signed title, load up and be gone......even if it all goes wrong you have far more than 300.00 in parts to sell.

Keep in touch,

Rob

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 1:32 pm

I'd figure with that few miles on it (not even due for first service), there's not much that's likely to be wrong with it. Sure, it's possible that it was a lemon (if so, why didn't they take it back?) or they did something horrible to it (but what?)... however it's far more likely that it just never got ridden, as the ad says. I'd take the risk, especially since it's worth more than that in parts. Heck, if I lived on the other side of the Lake, I'd consider buying it, getting it running and removing the stickers (not in that order), and reselling it.

adahl · Post by **adahl** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 1:59 pm

I'm gonna go check it out today, as long as nothing seems fishy about it, I'll probably take the deal.

I'll keep you guys updated

adahl · Post by **adahl** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 5:16 pm

It got sold even before I could look at it

My quest for a buddy continues.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 5:34 pm

adahl wrote:My quest for a buddy continues.

Have you tried dating sites?