Anyone had Kill switch issues?

jamey9160 · Post by **jamey9160** » Mon Oct 14, 2013 12:27 am

I have a 2008 Buddy 125 that's been garaged it's entire life. Just went over 1600 miles & the kill switch died on me. When I try to cut the bike off, it doesn't do anything at all. I put gorilla tape over the top to keep it in the ON position so it doesn't accidentally get stuck in OFF, the way it's stuck in ON. I can live with turning the bike on & off at the key. No other problems at all. Greatest scooter I've ever ridden. But it just irks me that this happened at such an early stage in the life of the bike. I had just decided to start using it regularly & this happend after my first commute. Anyway, I was curious if anyone else has had problems with their kill switch?
On another note, I read that there is a vapor lock issue with the 2008 Buddy 125. I haven't had any issues with vapor lock & my tank cap doesn't have a hole drilled in it. My bike was manufactured 5/08. Anyhoo, it's nice to have found this website. Hope I get to emeet some of you here. Cheers fellow buddyheads! Jamey:)

Post by **ericalm** » Mon Oct 14, 2013 6:00 am

Hey, there! We have MANY SD Buddy riders on the forum or reading it. I see tons of them every time I'm down there riding.

This is an unusual issue; not something I've heard about or read about yet. The switch should be fairly inexpensive and easy to swap.

The kill switch is a good thing to have working.

jrsjr · Post by **jrsjr** » Mon Oct 14, 2013 11:52 pm

jamey9160 wrote:When I try to cut the bike off, it doesn't do anything at all.

The Kill Switch works by shorting the ignition pickup pulses to ground. No ignition pulses to the CDI, no ignition. My first suspicion is that the kill switch is simply unplugged. Usually, scooter kill switches have a fairly short wire that ends in a small connector in the headset (or under the front cover). There may also be a connector at the switch itself depending on how it is constructed. You'll have to get one of the Buddy experts to tell you exactly where it plugs into the wiring harness and whether or not there is a connector at the switch itself. Once you find the connector at the wiring harness end, you can test the switch assembly by unplugging it there and testing it with a continuity checker.

jamey9160 · Post by **jamey9160** » Tue Oct 15, 2013 3:42 am

Hey guys, thanks a lot for taking the time to give me some feedback on this killswitch problem. I saw a post last night on here that shows another person had a similar issue with their killswitch & he shows photos of what is necessary to pull the cover off the killswitch. It's not any simple job, looked like he had to pull half the front of the bike apart because other controls are also * cables are running through this cover in the same cover. If I were to pull everything apart that he did in that post, I'd surely bunk somethin' up. So for now I'm just happy it's running so well in spite of this one issue. On another note, I'm getting over 100mpg. Do they all get this good a milage? I had a Honda 80 elite that got about 105 mpg, but this goes soo much faster. How do they manage to get this kind of milage with such a powerful bike. I've been running it around at 45 to 50 mph & it's still getting better than the little Honda. Anyhoo, thanks again for the feedback guys, I really appreciate it! J:)

Post by **ericalm** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 7:55 pm

Many get between 90-100MPGs!

It's a combination of a lot of factors, but basically comes down to more efficient engines and transmissions.

The best ways to keep MPG high are to stick to the maintenance schedule, keep the tires properly inflated (about 30psi front & back), and not not ride like I do.

jamey9160 · Post by **jamey9160** » Sat Oct 19, 2013 1:12 am

I was judging MPG by where I was at half full, which was like almost 70 miles. But that last quarter tank before the red zone went down quicker than the first two. I put almost exactly 1 gallon in at the red line to fill it up and I had gone 88 miles. Which is still amazing considering how fast I've been riding around. And I'm 200 pounds. I love this bike! Thanks a lot for the feedback! Jamey

Post by **ericalm** » Sun Oct 20, 2013 6:51 pm

It's tough to correctly gauge MPGs. The best way to do it is to use an app or site such as fuelly.com and get an average.

I've never really obsessed over it for any scoot I've had, chalking it up as "really damn good!" The Stella is around 100MPGs when I'm not pushing it too hard, the Buddy 125 around 90, my Vepsa, eh, 60 or 65 after all the mods and because I ride like an man on a mission.

The cost per mile savings between 60MPGs and 100MPGs is actually pretty low, but it's good to have an idea of your range because the fuel gauges tend to be more like "estimates" on many scooters!

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Sun Oct 20, 2013 10:48 pm

Fuelly.com. Danged auto-correct.

Alexbv200 · Post by **Alexbv200** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 4:16 pm

Eric,

We do actually get Kill switches that go bad on Buddy, even brand new ones.
Does not happen often, but there are a few issued with them, but nothing that warrants a recall and they are inexpensive to replace.

Modern Buddy

Anyone had Kill switch issues?

Anyone had Kill switch issues?

Re: Anyone had Kill switch issues?

Thanks guys!

Thanks! Turns out mine was 88mpg.