I have owned my new Buddy for a week. I have ridden it a total of twice, today included. It has fourteen miles on it. This afternoon, I fell over and scratched it!
I was practicing my u-turns, slowly and carefully in a parking lot near my house, and I got too close to a curb, lost my balance and fell over to the outside of the turn, onto the curb and into the grass.
I didn't get hurt, and the only damage to the Buddy is a few scrapes (one of 'em is more like a gouge ) on the bottom plastic, but still...
That sucks, I've rode a half dozen used scooters for years, never an incident (barring the scoot I totaled), this summer I finally bought a brand new buddy and dropped it in the 1st month, twice! Luckily the cowl guards took most the damage.
the deeper scratches you can try a chip stick or something like that, last resort is you can just replace the panel, its not that difficult, where you bought the bike should be able to order you the part. Its also a great oppertunity to customize your ride, check on the photos in the gallery for some 2 tone ideas.
The first time I went down on my scooter, it was coming to a stop on the side of the road. The shoulder was sandy, and both Buddy and I got lightly scraped hitting the ground. My initial reaction was... unprintable... but afterward I was relieved, because it meant that I wouldn't have to worry anymore about marring the scooter's virgin exterior.
This is unfortunately a pretty common occurrence with new riders. Sadly, I can sympathize with the pain of having a new scoot damaged. It really sucks.
Glad you're okay, though, and good that you were practicing.
Have you taken the MSF Basic Rider Course? Having someone observe and provide tips and instruction when practicing these things is invaluable.
mjm1374 wrote:That sucks, I've rode a half dozen used scooters for years, never an incident (barring the scoot I totaled)
I'd call that an incident!
Eric // LA Scooter Meetup Group // Stella 4T // Vespa LX // Vespa LXS // Honda Helix // some, uh, projects…
That sucks, but I agree with TVB that you don't have to worry now about the pristine quality of your scooter, just ride it, and if you haven't done the MSF you should. It helps a LOT.
I'll be taking my MSF course (on a motorcycle! ) next weekend, actually. I can't wait, because then I know I can really go places legally. I am a little bit nervous, though, because I have never ridden or driven anything I've had to shift before, so I was hoping to feel pretty decent about riding and balancing so I could have some brainpower left for learning the shifting and stuff.
I'm pretty over the scraping up of the bike, just bummed that I did it, and feeling like a total dork for doing it.
scootermom wrote:I'll be taking my MSF course (on a motorcycle! ) next weekend, actually. I can't wait, because then I know I can really go places legally. I am a little bit nervous, though, because I have never ridden or driven anything I've had to shift before, so I was hoping to feel pretty decent about riding and balancing so I could have some brainpower left for learning the shifting and stuff.
But, that is part of what they teach, and yes it all happens in a very short period of time, but it still progresses slowly. You ride in first for a while before they show you how to shift while riding, you just ride slowly. I never drove anything until I did the MSF course, and I was glad to have had that experience before I rode my scooter. It sucks that you scratched your baby. I haven't done it yet, but pretty much everybody does it sometime. I have almost gone down several times. If it weren't for the fact that the buddy is so light, and my legs shot out to hold up the bike out of reflex, I would have several scratches. I have a CB 550 that I laid down, ever so slowly at a stop sign, when I didn't negotiate the stop and turn properly. Picking up a 400 lb bike (or somewhere near there) was interesting to say the least. But I got it up and realized that I could lift it if I needed to, but I like the 225 lb. buddy a lot better.
scootermom wrote:I'll be taking my MSF course (on a motorcycle! ) next weekend, actually. I can't wait, because then I know I can really go places legally. I am a little bit nervous, though, because I have never ridden or driven anything I've had to shift before, so I was hoping to feel pretty decent about riding and balancing so I could have some brainpower left for learning the shifting and stuff.
But, that is part of what they teach, and yes it all happens in a very short period of time, but it still progresses slowly. You ride in first for a while before they show you how to shift while riding, you just ride slowly.
That makes me feel better. I kind of figure I can learn to ride the motorcycle AND do what I need to for the license endorsement, but it's always good to know that other people have done it successfully.
WHEW! You got THAT out of the way. I'm not being flip. The first scratch is the hardest. You're ok and that scratch is low enough most can't see it. You can now breathe easier because really, that has hurt your pride more than your scoot. My scooter got blown over in the wind for goodness sakes! It broke my heart to think of her on her side. I also cracked the top cover (around the speedometer) when I was messing with my stereo speakers. This thing is plastic so it's a blessing and a curse.
MSF is going to do wonders for your confidence. Let's call this your "accident" so that you can safely say you've had your "one" and can move on knowing it's outta the way!
Hang in there. It's not as bad as you feel and your scoot's still gorgeous. Have fun scooting and learn lots in MSF!
Now that you got that out of the way, call them 'beauty marks' I think I've done like that to mine with my boot heels!
Don't let the small spill scare you, but that is however, exactly what happened to the previous owner of my Saint....... (Her loss )
Practise, like they say, makes perfect, but don't practise the falling..
jijifer wrote:WHEW! You got THAT out of the way. I'm not being flip. The first scratch is the hardest. You're ok and that scratch is low enough most can't see it. You can now breathe easier because really, that has hurt your pride more than your scoot. ... This thing is plastic so it's a blessing and a curse.
MSF is going to do wonders for your confidence. Let's call this your "accident" so that you can safely say you've had your "one" and can move on knowing it's outta the way!
Hang in there. It's not as bad as you feel and your scoot's still gorgeous. Have fun scooting and learn lots in MSF!
Agreed, agreed, & agreed. Hello fellow Richmond scooterist! Sorry you fell and scuffed up your scooter, but there's lots of good news as jiffer points out above. You didn't get hurt. You got your learner's shunt out of the way already. You chose your scooter wisely, so all you have to do is replace an inexpensive plastic panel instead of hauling a wheelbarrow full of money to the shop to get a "real steel" scooter repaired. You didn't lose your nerve or your desire to ride, choosing rather to learn from your experience. Last but not least, you get to add your experience to our Who's Crashed thread (please) so that others can benefit from your experience (thank you). Just reply to the first post in the thread and answer the short list of questions.
Mostly, and quite seriously, we're glad you're not hurt.
scootermom wrote:I didn't get hurt, and the only damage to the Buddy is a few scrapes (one of 'em is more like a gouge ) on the bottom plastic, but still...
I felt like a total DORK, too.
I understand your feelings. Still, what matters is that you are ok and you are learning from your experiences how to ride safer. There are many other Buddy model scoots on the streets identitical to yours. There is only one of you and that can never be replaced.
you might need to ask yourself did i look at the curb or did you look where you needed to go. you will always go where you look so always look at your way out.
well all i can say is it looks better they my scoot did after a cager tried to run me over get some touch up paint and touch her up and no one will ever know the diffrence
or this gives you the option to cusomise the scoot in what ever way you want to cover up the damage
scootermom wrote:jrsjr, I added my info to the Who's crashed thread.
Thanks for doing that. Somebody new might read that and have it make a difference to them.
scootermom wrote:Are you a part of Seven Hills club? I am hoping to get to a meeting after I get my license.
Um, I was supposed to be a charter member but I missed the meeting, and then... Oh well, Chelsea knows me. Next time you're at Scoot Richmond tell her that John Smith says, "Hi," and watch her go
My MSF instructor told my class everytime you get a new ride, hit it a few times with a wrench or something. Then, the first time dropping won't be so bad.
I dropped my MP3 for the first time with my scooter peeps. Some rushed to me to help out. Others just turned the other way because they would want me to do the same if they were in my shoes. One guy who wasn't there at the time said, "At least, you didn't puke. I puked the first time I dropped."
Jackie F wrote: One guy who wasn't there at the time said, "At least, you didn't puke. I puked the first time I dropped."
So, be grateful that you didn't puke.
Yikes!
Yes, I am grateful I didn't puke. Not really a puke-worthy occasion for me. Maybe if I had been in traffic, or gotten hurt or something, then I could see it.
TVB wrote:The first time I went down on my scooter,... My initial reaction was... unprintable... but afterward I was relieved, because it meant that I wouldn't have to worry anymore about ... the scooter's virgin exterior.
Hey, I'm one of those people that does not like to see scratches and gouges on his scooter so I feel your pain. Fortunately that is one place the Buddy shines. Those small plastic panels are only about $20 apiece and easy to replace. Fix them up whenever you are ready.
But I agree with a couple others on this forum. Just replace the panel, and let it go. We are expecting some snow here in the Char. WV area in the next couple of days. You guys are going to be getting some stuff as well. Hope you are able to take the class. In WV, I THINK we are allowed to use our own bikes if we have a way of getting them to the site in a legal fashion. The bikes they use in WV for the riding part are NightHawks, I THINK. You would be way more comfortable on your bike than on a tall bike like a Nighthawk. You may want to inquire about this. Everybody dumps at some point. I wrecked on a Yamaha 750 once due to stupidity. Sprained my big toe. The worst wreck I ever had was on my bicycle coming down a hill at 35 mph. Broke a rib and sprained my back. Slammed my head into the asphalt. My helmet saved me. Be safe.
I'm all lined up to take my MSF class this weekend, and I doubt we'll have weather problems, but it is going to be cold. Good thing I got some new gloves!
The Motorcycle Safety Center of Virginia (where I will be taking my class) does not permit students to ride their own bikes, they supply them. Thanks for your concern, hillbillybear, but I am sure they will match me with an appropriate bike given my size and experience level. I can completely understand why they have 'program bikes', and it doesn't bother me at all. The bonus is, I get to learn how to ride a motorcycle in addition to learning what I need to know to operate my fantastic scooter safely!
Thanks for all the support guys. Wish me luck this weekend, and Happy New Year to all!
I didn't replace the scraped up panels on Puca until I was pretty confident I wasn't going to put MORE scratches on them. Yeah, they're cheap to replace.
Have fun at your MSF class! Remember to relax...night and day difference when I took it between who was staying loose and who was tensing up.
) on the bottom plastic, but still...
) 
sorry TVB your phrasing just struck me funny
Yeah, they're cheap to replace.