Chicago: Heart Break @ 1300 W. Belmont

sargelee71 · Post by **sargelee71** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 2:35 pm

My heart sank yesterday while leaving work. It was also yesterday that Ken at Scooterworks accepted my offer on an '07 Italia, and I was so pumped. Well, coming out the door of my office building, I see a beautiful cream Buddy lying on its side---SOMEBODY KNOCKED IT OVER AND JUST LEFT!!!! I felt so bad for the owner.

Couldn't help but wonder whether this was a sign to me NOT to get my Italia.

Some questions this brought up:

1. Can a strong gust of wind knock a Buddy over?
2. What precautions do you all take to avoid this?
3. How much damage can this do, besides perhaps the obvious to the body?

Thanks! I a new member as of yesterday, and am so glad to have this resource and distraction.

Peace.

NathanielSalzman · Post by **NathanielSalzman** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 2:49 pm

It would have to be a hell of a wind to blow a Buddy over if it's on the center stand. However, it could be that whoever parked it parked it improperly. They may have only used the side stand or parked it with the nose pointed downhill. Or someone could have backed into it without seeing it. Hard to tell. Could have been some punk kid whose shoes are too tight.

As for omens, that's pretty weak, I think. At least in my experience, when God's trying to tell us something, it's a little more obvious than scooter + gravity.

sargelee71 · Post by **sargelee71** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 3:04 pm

As for omens, that's pretty weak, I think. At least in my experience, when God's trying to tell us something, it's a little more obvious than scooter + gravity.

[/quote]

Ah, a good point. What was I thinking??

Thanks!

EP_scoot · Post by **EP_scoot** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 3:22 pm

Sargelee,
congrats on your Buddy !

Just go and enjoy it, and pay attention when you park it. The wind won't blow it over, unles you put a cover on it, then it might as that would act as as sail. Most likely what Nathaniel said.

Have fun !

sunshinen · Post by **sunshinen** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 3:26 pm

1. Can a strong gust of wind knock a Buddy over?
2. What precautions do you all take to avoid this?
3. How much damage can this do, besides perhaps the obvious to the body?

1. Yes. This has happened to mine at least 4 times.
All during storms with wind advisories (as in 60-70mph gusts).
I have a large windshield, I'm sure that has caused some of the problem.
It has usually been with the cover on.
It has always been when it was just my scooter alone in a parking space.

2. Don't put the cover on when it is going to be windy.
Some recommend the side stand rather than the center stand, for the three point support when you know a storm is coming (Every time mine has been knocked over, it has been to the left, and I have not had it knocked over when trying the kickstand)
Pay attention to the direction that winds normally gust. Obviously, park in places that will be sheltered from the wind when possible. If not, park to streamline the Buddy.
Park with something to the left that will keep the Buddy up right (something that won't be damaged if the Buddy "leans" into it).

3. A few others have had the brake lever broken and the DOT turn signal broken. The windshield I have covers the brakes, but in the last fall, the section of my windshield that covers the brake lever cracked off. Otherwise, I've had almost no noticeable damage. The plastic has held up surprisingly well.

illnoise · Post by **illnoise** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 4:19 pm

Chicago is tough for scooters, I'd think twice about buying a scooter if you don't have a secure place to park at night. Theft and vandalism are pretty rampant. If you can't at least chain it to a fence inside your courtyard or something, then it's pretty likely to get knocked around by cars/wind/vandals.

Insure the hell out of it, that's really all you can do.

Also, whatever scooterworks tells you about parking, you generally have to follow the same laws as cars. If you're planning on commuting, MAKE SURE it's OK to park where you're expecting to park. Sometimes even if you see a cluster of scooters somewhere, you'll end up getting ticketed and towed (ie thrown on a truck) eventually if it's not a legal space. Parking downtown is nigh impossible unless you have a plan worked out.

It's illegal to park on the sidewalk everywhere in the city, though in a side residential street, you can get away with it unless the neighbors complain.

Also, (dealers never tell you this) you need a Chicago medallion (the scooter equivalent of a city sticker for your car) They're $40, and you'll get ticketed like crazy if you don't have one. The medallion does allow you to park on zoned residential streets, which is nice if you travel a lot between congested neighborhoods.

More info:

http://2strokebuzz.com/index.php?p=3560
http://tinyurl.com/52v3e9
(download that PDF from the city site, lots of good info in there)

This is a lot more detail, but it's a little out-of-date:
http://2strokebuzz.com/index.php?p=2564

sargelee71 · Post by **sargelee71** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 5:01 pm

Thanks again, Illnoise! I have a garage with a dead bolt. It will be parked in the back of it. Good point you made though. I'll get the Chicago medallion for sure. I saw a Sunburst by my house while on a walk last night, and it had one.

I've seen one of two other scooters parked outside my office at the corner of Belmont and Lakewood (1300 West), and haven't seen tix.

Thanks EVERYONE for your suggestions. I just need to chill a little...but just a little.

Cheers,

Tina

Queen · Post by **Queen** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 5:51 pm

Glad to hear you have a garage! My niece lives in Wrigleyville and the scooters parked outside her building are usually decorated with beer cans/bottles, fast food debris, and the occasional drunk Cubs fan.

sargelee71 · Post by **sargelee71** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 6:29 pm

Pax wrote:Glad to hear you have a garage! My niece lives in Wrigleyville and the scooters parked outside her building are usually decorated with beer cans/bottles, fast food debris, and the occasional drunk Cubs fan.

Doesn't surprise me at all, Pax. I'm lucky to be north and west of Wrigley. But, I do work near there...Lakeview.

madtolive · Post by **madtolive** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 7:04 pm

finding a buddy on its side must be like watching someone kick a puppy.

BarnabyHooge · Post by **BarnabyHooge** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 7:48 pm

I just took my Buddy to it's first Cubs game the other day, and I must say it was a magical experience. I was a tad worried about it's welfare, but after the game I went straight to it and got the heck out Wrigleyville. Without having to abide by neighborhood parking permits it was really easy to find a spot to accomidate it.

sargelee71 · Post by **sargelee71** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 8:05 pm

madtolive wrote:finding a buddy on its side must be like watching someone kick a puppy.

TOTALLY!!! Right??? How does a person knock a scooter (and a cream Buddy, on top of that!!!) and not know they did or not PICK IT UP!?!?

Sorry, don't mean to yell. I'm with yah on that one.

Queen · Post by **Queen** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 8:42 pm

BarnabyHooge wrote:I just took my Buddy to it's first Cubs game the other day, and I must say it was a magical experience. I was a tad worried about it's welfare, but after the game I went straight to it and got the heck out Wrigleyville. Without having to abide by neighborhood parking permits it was really easy to find a spot to accomidate it.

What fun! Where did you find parking??

BarnabyHooge · Post by **BarnabyHooge** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 5:31 pm

Pax wrote:
BarnabyHooge wrote:I just took my Buddy to it's first Cubs game the other day, and I must say it was a magical experience. I was a tad worried about it's welfare, but after the game I went straight to it and got the heck out Wrigleyville. Without having to abide by neighborhood parking permits it was really easy to find a spot to accomidate it.
What fun! Where did you find parking??

Right behind the Gingerman!

sargelee71 · Post by **sargelee71** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 7:50 pm

Right behind the Gingerman![/quote]

Excellent! Not to self.

Christy · Post by **Christy** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 8:02 pm

sargelee71 wrote:
madtolive wrote:finding a buddy on its side must be like watching someone kick a puppy.

TOTALLY!!! Right??? How does a person knock a scooter (and a cream Buddy, on top of that!!!) and not know they did or not PICK IT UP!?!?

Sorry, don't mean to yell. I'm with yah on that one.

+1
+1

peabody99 · Post by **peabody99** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 1:56 am

my buddy has been backed in to and knocked over 2 x that I KNOW OF. the only reason I knew was b/c once I was in the car with one of the people and the other was a co worker that fessed up. Both times the Bud was legally parked in the middle of its own space...anyhow, it is a bummer, but I could not find a scratch on it, although my emotional scars are another thing.

This is why I call these things tupperwear. How many $100's would it have taken to repair a metel frame?

jmazza · Post by **jmazza** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 2:37 am

madtolive wrote:finding a buddy on its side must be like watching someone kick a puppy.

I don't know. I imagine puppies fly farther, which is generally more fun.

Christy · Post by **Christy** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 2:50 am

jmazza wrote:
madtolive wrote:finding a buddy on its side must be like watching someone kick a puppy.
I don't know. I imagine puppies fly farther, which is generally more fun.

JOE!?!

jmazza · Post by **jmazza** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 3:49 am

Christy wrote:
jmazza wrote:
madtolive wrote:finding a buddy on its side must be like watching someone kick a puppy.
I don't know. I imagine puppies fly farther, which is generally more fun.
JOE!?!

Ok Ok I'm sorry...

I, in no way, advocate, or participate in, kicking puppies.

sargelee71 · Post by **sargelee71** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 4:07 am

jmazza wrote:
Christy wrote:
jmazza wrote: I don't know. I imagine puppies fly farther, which is generally more fun.
JOE!?!
Ok Ok I'm sorry...

I, in no way, advocate, or participate in, kicking puppies.

Wow! When I posted this initial thread from a very empathic place, I had no idea it would come to this.

Christy · Post by **Christy** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 4:15 am

jmazza wrote:Ok Ok I'm sorry...

I, in no way, advocate, or participate in, kicking puppies.

yay!

Just say NO to kicking puppies.

jfrost2 · Post by **jfrost2** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 4:55 am

Wind shouldnt blow the bike over unless on the side stand, the center stand is hard to tip over unless you go and kick the bike or run it over with a car.

As for damage, oil and gas may leak, not too sure, but a long period of time, the engine could get flooded with gas. Not sure about anything, some people have problems after their bike falls over, then others have 0 problems.

I'd still say go get the italia.

illnoise · Post by **illnoise** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 2:45 pm

jfrost2 wrote:Wind shouldnt blow the bike over unless on the side stand, the center stand is hard to tip over unless you go and kick the bike or run it over with a car.

Yeah, but we had some pretty crazy wind in the last few days. I rode my bicycle home from the bar last night and the wind pretty much just pushed me home without pedaling. : )

Still, in Wrigleyville, I'd blame drunk frat boys before i'd blame the wind.

Bb.

Modern Buddy

Chicago: Heart Break @ 1300 W. Belmont

Chicago: Heart Break @ 1300 W. Belmont

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