Noob Getting New Buddy. Suggestions?

riancurtis · Post by **riancurtis** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 8:51 pm

I am picking up my 2008 Buddy 125 in Black on Saturday morning.
Aside from riding it, does anyone have any tips or suggestions for things I should do before anything else. It will be my first scooter ever (I normally ride my bicycle - http://flickr.com/photos/riancurtis/157 ... 370286961/) so advise on ANYTHING about the buddy that a new owner should know would be appreciated.

madtolive · Post by **madtolive** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 8:56 pm

read the posts on this forum extensively, especially the "for all new owners thread".

take the msf course.

gear up.

keep the shiny side up.

ride happy.

welcome to modern buddy.

Buddy_wannabe · Post by **Buddy_wannabe** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 4:45 am

What she said....

also...... here are a couple of things I learned

Always use the center stand (mine fell over one time because it was on the side stand and I reved it while I was not sitting on it

) .... if you ever use the "kill switch" remember to flip it back again(I used mine one time. Hit the starter .... nothing .... kick and kick and kick ....nothing .... said some bad words ... nothing ...... remembered the switch....... BINGO ....all better...

nissanman · Post by **nissanman** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 1:53 pm

Remember that bikes will lift the front easier when tilted to a side (i.e. turning and applying throttle). That's how my friend messed up my Rattler. Stood 'em straight up and smashed the back on the ground. Never underestimate the power of a scooter + physics. Or the stupidity of a distracted cager

EP_scoot · Post by **EP_scoot** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 2:46 pm

Everything already said, plus assume nobody can see you. Assume you have no right of way and please remember, it is not a bicycle although you might feel it is just a nimble.

If you start feeling great after a few weeks thinking you have lots of experience, look in the mirror and tell yourself you don't. Once you have 20,000 miles, then you might start feeling comfortable. OK, maybe not 20K, but you get the idea.

Oh, and don't forget to wipe your smile off your face once on a while. We don't want you to strain your muscles

KRUSTYburger · Post by **KRUSTYburger** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 3:58 pm

EP_scoot wrote:Oh, and don't forget to wipe your smile off your face once on a while. We don't want you to strain your muscles

Actually, this is no joke! I had an ongoing headache for like WEEK after I got my Bud125 from smiling... dangerous stuff.

KABarash · Post by **KABarash** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 4:18 pm

riancurtis wrote: It will be my first scooter ever (I normally ride my bicycle - .

DON"T forget that the RIGHT hand lever is the FRONT brake!!!

I made that mistake once!!

brimstone · Post by **brimstone** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 4:35 pm

KABarash wrote:
riancurtis wrote: It will be my first scooter ever (I normally ride my bicycle - .
DON"T forget that the RIGHT hand lever is the FRONT brake!!!

I made that mistake once!!

HAHAHA!!!! i've done that too.....luckily i didn't drop it, but really scared the crap out of my self though.

Scooterpup · Post by **Scooterpup** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 7:46 pm

Being the dope that I am, I posted this response in the wrong forum. So here's my two-cents in the right location:

Remember that this thing really moves when you need it too, but can also stop on a dime. That means your front brake can make you go ass-over-teakettle if you grab the front brake hard. Practice making safe stops at increasing speeds and make sure you really feel where the center of gravity lies.

Always wear a helmet. This point was really driven home to me and others when my brother on his scoot met the back end of a toyota at speed. The helmet he was wearing kept his head from being a pile of goo.

Remember to have loads of fun. The buddy is one sweet ride.

Buddy_wannabe · Post by **Buddy_wannabe** » Thu May 01, 2008 5:09 am

..... one thing that you will have to get used to is spending less then $5 at the gas station....

tyger23 · Post by **tyger23** » Thu May 01, 2008 5:21 am

Buddy_wannabe wrote:..... one thing that you will have to get used to is spending less then $5 at the gas station....

I wouldn't get used to that.

Today, it took $4.04 to fill 'er up.

I remember the days when I could fill my wife's '99 Saturn for around $15. It has a 12 gallon tank. I bought my Buddy the day after it took me $49 to fill that same car.

Gas prices are going to top $4 by the end of summer.

riancurtis · Post by **riancurtis** » Sun May 04, 2008 4:19 am

GOT IT. 45 MILES on it in the first day.

brimstone · Post by **brimstone** » Sun May 04, 2008 8:42 am

nice, congrats!! ride safe and have fun.

Tenchi · Post by **Tenchi** » Sun May 04, 2008 3:19 pm

Pretty lady. Nice bike. Good choice on both counts.

Now, get her own Buddy, and teach her to ride. My wife and I rode scoots in Hawaii back in 1984 (I know, Pre-Devonian period for most of you guys) and there's nothing like two folks who love each other riding side by side. Those memories will last a lot longer than flowers, chocolates, and Hallmark cards.

mandyscoots · Post by **mandyscoots** » Mon May 05, 2008 9:37 am

Congrats on your new buddy! I love the pic with you looking through the rear view mirror. lol when I brought my buddy home I think I was looking in the mirror more than at the road!

Tips that I can tell you after having my buddy for 2 wks.

Get a full face helmet. It is SOOOOOOOO much better!
The wind is a little scary the first few times you ride.
People ARE going to stare at you. And other people are not going to see you!
Whenever you scoot to a public place, expect to get 20 questions from everyone.

Enjoy. I love my Buddy, and I'm sure you will too.

zemacar · Post by **zemacar** » Mon May 05, 2008 6:25 pm

Madtolive wrote

take the msf course.

Buddy_wannabe said

if you ever use the "kill switch" remember to flip it back again

My MSF instructor demanded that we always use the kill (ignition) switch. The starting sequence I learned is 1) key to ON, 2) ign switch on, 3) (brake on) push starter button. Stopping sequence is the reverse. This is so you will instinctively use that switch to shut off the ignition in an emergency.

ep_scoot wrote

Assume you have no right of way

I've noticed.

On my commute, where I have ROW, the supposed yielders look my way, then gun it every time!

mandyscoots wrote

The wind is a little scary the first few times you ride.

I recommend the small Buddy windscreen (~$70). This has been discussed elsewhere. They are more aerodynamic than our upper bodies. I like that it cuts the windchill.

I always use the starter switch and the center stand.

Rian, congrats. Nice scoot, great pics. It was fun driving my scoot home in the truck but I don't have a RVW shot.
Do you keep it in the house?

NathanielSalzman · Post by **NathanielSalzman** » Mon May 05, 2008 8:26 pm

Welcome! I also came from bicycles.

Assume that you are not only invisible but that every car entering or leaving the road, every vehicle set to make a turn into or through your lane, is going to pull out in front of you or merge into you because they are actively trying to kill you. Ok, a little over the top, but the best mindset to keep you off of somebody's grill.

Use your horn. Make sure people see you. Think of yourself as the Road Runner (Meep meep!) Watch where their wheels are going, not where they're looking ('cause they might look right at you and then pull out anyway - happens all the time).

I highly recommend you find a big parking lot somewhere and practice lots and lots of maneuvers. Practice emergency stops, practice low-speed and high-speed swerving, practice starting and stopping, weaving, and tight low-speed turns. You'd be surprised how many people have dumped their scooter simply turning from a dead stop at a red light or stop sign.

Lots of good tips here: http://msf-usa.org/downloads/Scooter_tips-screen.pdf

The parking lot would be another great place to set up and do the exercises they describe in the booklet.

Also, plan your routes very carefully for a while and avoid higher traffic roads. It's more fun that way anyway.

+1 on the full face helmet, gloves, armored jacket, boots, and pants. You'll actually be more comfortable if you do it right.

riancurtis · Post by **riancurtis** » Mon May 05, 2008 8:27 pm

no i keep it in my garage but when i leave for law school i will chain it somewhere outside with the cover on i am sure. At the dealer i went to, i bought a disc lock with an alarm on it. i will also be getting a chain. if someone steals it with those things on i will be sad (pay my $500 deductable and get a new one)

question.....

in the manual i see something like 1.50 kg/something for tire pressure. i am sort of retarted. when using a normal car tire gauge what reading should be appropriate on the buddy?

1.2 gallon tank? 100 miles? sounds about right for a 230 lb person right?

i really just want to know about tire pressure. i already have 200 miles on it in two days. i have a 3 1/2 hour drive back to the deal but i may try to just hit 500 before friday and take it back and have them service it.

jesus, i love this thing.

SScooterG · Post by **SScooterG** » Mon May 05, 2008 9:06 pm

riancurtis wrote:

Love this pic! My bf and I were scootering and we pulled up next to a Hummer, and we really wished someone had a camera!

maribell · Post by **maribell** » Mon May 05, 2008 9:16 pm

love the pic as well. I have a lady that sells Mary Kay take a pic with my scooter and send it to her boss with the caption, "can't afford gas for pink Cadillac".

NathanielSalzman · Post by **NathanielSalzman** » Mon May 05, 2008 9:31 pm

in the manual i see something like 1.50 kg/something for tire pressure. i am sort of retarted. when using a normal car tire gauge what reading should be appropriate on the buddy?

If you look just above your legshield cubby shelf, straight down from your speedo, there's a plaque with the tire pressure in psi. It's 30 psi, by the way. But the plaque is great if you ever forget. There's also a sticker in the under-seat storage compartment with that info if I remember correctly.

mandyscoots · Post by **mandyscoots** » Tue May 06, 2008 2:29 am

[quote="riancurtis"]i bought a disc lock with an alarm on it

Did you buy this from the dealer? If not where did you buy it? Do you know what size it was? I would like to get one.

zemacar · Post by **zemacar** » Tue May 06, 2008 3:14 am

MB server said it couldn't post, try later. Guess that ev'tually it did post, several times. I'm unable to delete the extra copies. (Is the site really busy or something?)
Sorry!

Modern Buddy

Noob Getting New Buddy. Suggestions?

Noob Getting New Buddy. Suggestions?

Re: Noob Getting New Buddy. Suggestions?

Re: Noob Getting New Buddy. Suggestions?

Newbie

Hey, riancurtis.....

kill switch, right of way

sorry for dupe postings