Buddy Hill Climbing Capabilities
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- ellen
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Buddy Hill Climbing Capabilities
Has anyone who has ridden a Buddy actually attempted any hill climbing?
- jess
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I took Buddy out in the Oakland Hills today. We did about ten miles over range of hills. Some long and sloping, other steep and straight up. Buddy did fine on all of them. I weigh @150, so YMMV. Felt safe and capable on every approach, I didn't look up at a hill and wonder, will I make it? Funny, it is a throatier engine rumble than my other scooters, so I felt kinda like a sportbike roaring through the turns.
- jess
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I did some more hill riding last night on the Buddy, up one of my favorite twisty curvy roads. It's reasonably steep (although I can't give you an exact grade) and I was able to hit an indicated 42 going up the hill. For reference, I weigh in at around 220. I probably could have gone faster if I had kept my momentum up, but I stopped in one part near the beginning of the hill (before I checked my speed) and it felt like the remainder of the hill was slower. Could have been steeper, too, I don't know.
It was very nimble and "flickable" through the curves, enough that I had to adapt my riding style just a bit to un-compensate for the quick steering. Downhill was fine as well, no particular issues with steering stability, but I really felt the lack of a solid rear brake.
On the way home, there's a long straight semi-downhill segment, and I pushed the scooter up to an indicated 55 before backing off (the speed limit is considerably less than that). I really want to get it up to the real top end on a flat road, but haven't had the chance to yet.
It was very nimble and "flickable" through the curves, enough that I had to adapt my riding style just a bit to un-compensate for the quick steering. Downhill was fine as well, no particular issues with steering stability, but I really felt the lack of a solid rear brake.
On the way home, there's a long straight semi-downhill segment, and I pushed the scooter up to an indicated 55 before backing off (the speed limit is considerably less than that). I really want to get it up to the real top end on a flat road, but haven't had the chance to yet.
I am glad someone got it.chuck0325 wrote:Wow, Freddie Marsh, you don't hear that name too often anymore. I live about 1/2 mile from the dealer that he opened. He was still riding mopeds until his death at ,I believe, 104.
When you mention hillclimbing, he was one of the 2 local Greats that I have met. As I recall, I think he did that into his 70s or 80s.
http://www.wgby.org/localprograms/india ... marsh.html
http://www.mgnoc.com/_overlay/Archives/fred_marsh.htm
Yes I also saw him on the moped; the only Guzzi moped I ever saw.
I saw him at their Spring open house just before he passed.
I remember going in his shop when I was in high school almost 40 years ago! That's a life of a real biker.
- ellen
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Actually I was there when the former owner of the moped was picking up his new ride. There was some mention of the Guzzi but I didn't see it.ellen wrote: Beamie, 2 weeks ago Scooter Centrale had a Moto Guzzi moped. Some guy who had since the 70's used it as a trade in.
I was very tempted to jump on it. But I'm really running out of room in the garage!