Buddy 50 or Rough house 50

[trs4729]

Hello everyone,
This is my first post. I'm in the market for a scooter to commute a short distance to work (~5 miles one way). From what I read buddy makes pretty good scooters. So I've been looking on CL and found two that caught my eye.

First is an 09 Buddy 50 with 3500 miles for $1100

Second is a 12 Rough house 50 with 1500 miles for $1250

I'm going to look at both of them tomorrow. My question is what thing do you suggest I look for on these scooter to judge which ones in better shape? Also is there any pros or cons for one over the other? Thanks for help.

[TVB]

The Roughhouse is designed with a suspension and tires suited for off-road use, and the Buddy is designed to give a smoother ride on pavement. So if you're just looking for a commuter the Buddy is a better choice, but if you want something for dirt roads and such the Roughhouse would be. They're both solid, reliable bikes (using the same engine), so either one will have many miles left on them.

You should ask about service; even though they don't require engine-oil changes, either of them (especially the 3500-miler) should have had the gear-oil changed by now, though they're both "young" enough that it wouldn't be catastrophic if not.

[trs4729]

The Roughhouse is designed with a suspension and tires suited for off-road use, and the Buddy is designed to give a smoother ride on pavement. So if you're just looking for a commuter the Buddy is a better choice, but if you want something for dirt roads and such the Roughhouse would be. They're both solid, reliable bikes (using the same engine), so either one will have many miles left on them.

You should ask about service; even though they don't require engine-oil changes, either of them (especially the 3500-miler) should have had the gear-oil changed by now, though they're both "young" enough that it wouldn't be catastrophic if not.

Thanks for the this info, this is helpful.

[skipper20]

Hello everyone,
This is my first post. I'm in the market for a scooter to commute a short distance to work (~5 miles one way). From what I read buddy makes pretty good scooters. So I've been looking on CL and found two that caught my eye.

First is an 09 Buddy 50 with 3500 miles for $1100

Second is a 12 Rough house 50 with 1500 miles for $1250

I'm going to look at both of them tomorrow. My question is what thing do you suggest I look for on these scooter to judge which ones in better shape? Also is there any pros or cons for one over the other? Thanks for help.

Just on looks alone plus 3 years newer and 1/3 the miles, I'd go for the Roughhouse. OK, it's $150 more but I'm sure the price is negotiable. To judge which one is in better shape, your first glance will tell you a lot. Look closely for evidence that the scooter has been dropped and/or ridden hard. Start up the engine and get a feel for how it idles and runs. Take a short test ride to check the brakes and feel how it rides. The owner may want cash in hand before you ride it outside of his sight but that's not unreasonable. Good luck!

Bill in Seattle
'09 150 Blackjack
'12 170i Italia

[lovemysan]

I weigh 220lbs and am 6' tall. IMO The roughhouse has a higher top speed. The roughhouse has the 17.5mm carburetor. The roughhouse has a softer suspension. The rough house has more leg room. I think the buddy has more storage volume under the seat but the roughhouse will take a larger helmet. The ride on the buddy is firm. On rough roads it gets pretty tiring crashing over bumps. The buddy has better handling and turn in, it feels more sporty. The buddy has a better headlight. I've put lots of miles on both. If they made a roughhouse 125 that's what I'd be riding.

[trs4729]

Thanks for all the good points guys. I saw the buddy today and I could tell the guy didn't take very good care of it. The battery was dead, the plastic on the bumper was falling off and to me if felt like it ran rough, when he drove away I saw dark smoke coming out of the exhaust, maybe that's because it's a two stroke?

But anyway I go to look at the rough house tomorrow, hopefully I'll have better luck.

[Neurotic-Hapi-Snak]

Thanks for all the good points guys. I saw the buddy today and I could tell the guy didn't take very good care of it. The battery was dead, the plastic on the bumper was falling off and to me if felt like it ran rough, when he drove away I saw dark smoke coming out of the exhaust, maybe that's because it's a two stroke?

But anyway I go to look at the rough house tomorrow, hopefully I'll have better luck.

Dark smoke would be indicative of a rich condition, aka poorly tuned carb, which might explain the feeling rough running. Two stroke smoke, if any, should be white or light blue in color.

[Wolfhound]

Go for the Roughhouse if it looks and performs well. Avoid the Buddy that you saw at all costs, The Buddy is a good ride but that one sounds like trouble waiting to happen. White/grey smoke good, black smoke is not.

[lovemysan]

Thanks for all the good points guys. I saw the buddy today and I could tell the guy didn't take very good care of it. The battery was dead, the plastic on the bumper was falling off and to me if felt like it ran rough, when he drove away I saw dark smoke coming out of the exhaust, maybe that's because it's a two stroke?

But anyway I go to look at the rough house tomorrow, hopefully I'll have better luck.

Roughness is a common complaint for a 2 stroke that is idling. The issue is at idle the motor is actually "4 stroking". Or firing every other combustion stroke. This normal. Dark or blue smoke is generally normal especially if it's been sitting. Oil will pool in the crankcase. Generally takes 10-15 minutes of running for the smoke to settle down. I've never seen a 2 stroke that would run normally puffing black smoke.

[00robertford]

I have a 2008 Buddy 50 that starts fine but will not idle. Changed spark plug. Is the idle adjustment the knurled knob or the gold screw.

[Stinkdyr]

The idle adjustment is the black knob.