The new Buddy 50cc

k80478 · Post by **k80478** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 7:05 pm

so i'm looking into getting the new 50cc buddy and i would like to hear what others think about it. i want to get the 2 seater and i'm wondeing how it will ride with 2 people.
i also will be driving it around the city so going super fast isn't a concern for me.

Tbone · Post by **Tbone** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 8:14 pm

2 up on a 50cc...hmmm... Personal preference here but I'd go with the 125cc, especially 2 up riding.

rablack · Post by **rablack** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 9:14 pm

If you are living in a really flat area and don't mind going slow, the 50 cc will work (barely). Ask me how I know. Otherwise, I'd go for the 125 if I were you.

peabody99 · Post by **peabody99** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 11:58 pm

Hi rablack-search around a little and you will find the 125 is probably the way to go. I am no expert but I understand the 50cc has to work harder and you wear it out sooner. The 125 is more useful-use it on more roads (not jus tones 35 and under), and it can handle two up better

BlueMark · Post by **BlueMark** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 1:36 am

so i'm looking into getting the new 50cc buddy and i would like to hear what others think about it. i want to get the 2 seater and i'm wondeing how it will ride with 2 people.
i also will be driving it around the city so going super fast isn't a concern for me.

Buy a 50cc if you can't afford a 125 or if you can't handle the license and insurance requirements of a 125.

The Buddy isn't a two seater. But it is designed for to allow 2 up riding. The Buddy isn't the best for this, unless you are both fairly slender. In any case you definitely want 125cc's if you plan to do much 2 up riding.

I don't quite understand this idea that 50cc's are plenty for city traffic. That's fine for a suburban neighborhood, a resort village, or anyplace with no traffic. In the city you want to be able to keep up with traffic and get out of the way if necessary. 125cc's doesn't mean you have to ride fast, but you'll have the power to get away from trouble.

-Mark

NHBailey · Post by **NHBailey** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 3:24 pm

My wife and I just got a Buddy 50 and ride it together downtown Chicago, did it this morning in fact. While I see what people are saying about the 125, you can definitely get by in Chicago with the 50. Downtown Chicago traffic is a lot different than other "city" traffic, and how often do you get above 40 mph downtown Chicago anyway?
If you have the money to get the 125, by all means, do it. But, you also have to get a Motorcycle license (and take a course if you want) and you can't park on the sidewalk with a 125. You might get a ticket with the 50, but you can mail it in along with the statute that says 50cc and under can park on the sidewalk like bikes and they'll let it go.
As far as two people, my wife and I do it fine but it is a bit of a squeeze (you better be pretty comfortable with your passenger, you might end up with an intimate relationship if you don't already have one). You won't want to go too far, and I stress this, whether a 50 or a 125. We rode from the Loop up to Scooterworks and my wife's rear was a little sore by the time we got back downtown (she was on back). We just got the new Genuine trunk for the Buddy, which also acts as a back rest for the passenger and I'll let you know how that goes once we get it installed (rear racks are backordered).
All that to say, the 50 will suffice downtown Chicago. It is much zippier when riding alone, but we can still get up to about 45 mph when riding together. The only time we get passed is on a long road when traffic gets up over about 35, but most of the time we're passing everyone else because we can squeeze through rush hour traffic at lights. It is great to watch people in SUV's get mad when you can scoot around a bus that is stopped and they are stuck... that's what you get for driving a Hummer in the city I guess!
So, if you have the money get the 125, but so far we love scooting around Chicago on our 50!

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 4:33 pm

Good to hear you're able to ride 2-up on a Buddy 50! I think a lot of factors probably make this possible—combined weight, size and height of riders, and so on.

I'm 5' 11", my wife 5' 9", with size 12 and 9 feet respectively, and (thanks to me) slightly over average weight for our heights. We take the Vespa when riding 2-up; for us, it just isn't comfortable or even safe on the Buddy.
125 or 50 becomes kind of moot.

So I'd definitely suggest getting on one and seeing how you fit before making the leap.

Marnor · Post by **Marnor** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 5:54 pm

I also have little to complain about with my 50. It handles Atlanta traffic just fine -- and with derestriction and a few tweaks easily tops off around 50 (speedometer) mph on flats. My wife and I 2-up occasionally for evenings out -- it's totally novel in nice weather -- without much of a problem. Yeah, it's a little sluggish with the extra passenger, especially on hills, but I'm certainly not kicking myself for not going with the 125.