Modern Buddy

Posted: **Fri Apr 03, 2015 6:23 pm**

Check it out from Justgottascoot. They have reviews of several different scooters that are very good. Enjoy.

http://www.justgottascoot.com/hooligan1 ... sBlackJack

Posted: **Fri Apr 03, 2015 7:13 pm**

Now that IS an interesting review. David Harrington has given us many useful reviews in the past. This one, though, was a somewhat odd match up with surprising conclusions.

Posted: **Fri Apr 03, 2015 7:23 pm**

Dooglas wrote:Now that IS an interesting review. David Harrington has given us many useful reviews in the past. This one, though, was a somewhat odd match up with surprising conclusions.

Not to badmouth the Hooligan, but I think I've scratched it off my list for a future buy. I love the flickability of the Buddy, and if I am going to sacrifice that, I am going to go bigger than the Hooligan.

He took the words out of my mouth mentioning he would like to see the Blackjack concept applied to the 170i. The BlackJack II? It's not like they have to retool the factory. It would be easy to do, and it would sell well.

Posted: **Fri Apr 03, 2015 11:24 pm**

We took the opportunity to test ride the new 2014 Hooligan 170 against the 2014 Buddy 170 at our local dealer almost a year ago and my wife was all in on the spot. She liked the Hooligan right away, not just for all the obvious reasons like the newer 170i engine, the bigger wheel size, the headlights, the layout of the dash, the bigger under seat storage capacity, but the quite, smooth way it rode. This was a surprise to me because she really likes her Prima pipe on her Buddy, that and the Hooligan doesn’t come in pink!

Then there are the not so obvious upgrades (to her) like the clip on webbing over the floorboard so you can strap on your fresh fish you just caught or the flip out foot rests/pegs, the addition of the rear disk brake and then the only real downer, no rear rack for a top case which she uses all the time on her Buddy.

Yet for me it was an instant no brainer as my older Buddy (see Pamp-Jack in the Gallery) was a mod’ed 150 that went beyond the Blackjack and I would take it OR a Blackjack any day over the Hooligan. Even the stock 2014 Buddy 170i we test rode against the Hooligan wins hands down with the typical Buddy pep and handling. My impression of the Hooigan ride was it was trying to impersonate a maxi scoot, and felt more like a barcalounger wannabe than a member of the Genuine family. It was quite, it was smooth, yet just did not have any life in it that I was so used to with the Buddy. I would have to say even my daughter on her Buddy 125 could outrun it.

So I have to agree with the review, it isn’t a bad scoot; it may be very reliable long term and be a great commuter or good for long strolls in the park or gentle rides down a country lane, yet if you want to get after it, forget about it. Plus it is longer than the Buddy so it will not fit in my truck and that just won’t work.

We did buy two new scoots after that and both from our local dealer – both 2014 Genuine Buddy 170’s. We chose to stick with what we know.

Posted: **Sat Apr 04, 2015 12:56 am**

After the break in the hooligan really wakes up.

I always felt cramped when i tested out buddys
But each to their own

Posted: **Sat Apr 04, 2015 1:44 am**

theemptythrone wrote:After the break in the hooligan really wakes up.

I always felt cramped when i tested out buddys
But each to their own

I'm sure the Hooligan is a fine scooter. It's made by PGO and they make good stuff. And for a bigger person a Buddy would be cramped.

Posted: **Sat Apr 04, 2015 2:54 am**

Countering an opinion with another opinion usually only results in a difference of opinions. So here we go. I've ridden Buddies and I bought the Hooligan. What you are looking for in a ride will define your experience. If you want to flick about with abandon the Buddy is lighter and has a shorter wheelbase. The Buddy is faster - once again - all things being equal the Buddy is lighter. If, on the other hand, you want greater comfort and stability the Hooligan provides that. The Buddy is fairly small and a bigger rider might be cramped - not so with the Hooligan. Twelve inch tires with a stronger suspension handle bad roads. So - that's why I chose the Hooligan. Neither bike is better than the other - they just ride differently. How you ride determines the better bike for you.

As for the review - a reviewer disliking the Hooligan because of the name Genuine gave to the bike is not useful information to me.

Posted: **Sat Apr 04, 2015 3:00 am**

I'm just happy another PGO scooter is available in the states. Great company.

And Elder, yeah the whole name thing was just filling out the review being cute. The site is a good one for reviews, though.

Posted: **Sat Apr 04, 2015 4:43 am**

I never quite understood the Hooligan. If it were a 250, I'd understand.

Posted: **Sat Apr 04, 2015 7:59 am**

k1dude wrote:I never quite understood the Hooligan. If it were a 250, I'd understand.

PGO doesn't make a 250. They missed the boat on that one.

Posted: **Sun Apr 05, 2015 3:52 am**

KrispyKreme wrote:
k1dude wrote:I never quite understood the Hooligan. If it were a 250, I'd understand.

PGO doesn't make a 250. They missed the boat on that one.

That was my point.

Posted: **Sun Apr 05, 2015 5:16 am**

I'd bet that with the right parts, it could get close. If the Hooligan case is derived from the GY6B case, you might be able to punch it out to 232cc. I'd want liquid cooling on it at that point; it could make more power and handle long high-speed runs without cooking.

Posted: **Sun Apr 05, 2015 4:13 pm**

az_slynch wrote:I'd bet that with the right parts, it could get close. If the Hooligan case is derived from the GY6B case, you might be able to punch it out to 232cc. I'd want liquid cooling on it at that point; it could make more power and handle long high-speed runs without cooking.

But there already is the Genuine Blur at 220cc which is close to a maxi cruiser although I was never able to get mine past 67 mph. Maybe it should have been called the Genuine Buddy Blur?

Bill in Seattle
'09 150 Blackjack
'12 170i Italia

Posted: **Sun Apr 05, 2015 5:15 pm**

For years, PGO has balanced and honed the Buddy, making it a difficult act to follow in that class. I'm confident that PGO will get the Hooligan sorted out like the Buddy.

Posted: **Sun Apr 05, 2015 5:17 pm**

skipper20 wrote: But there already is the Genuine Blur at 220cc which is close to a maxi cruiser although I was never able to get mine past 67 mph. Maybe it should have been called the Genuine Buddy Blur?

I haven't had an opportunity to examine a Blur 220, so I can't say for sure if it has the same engine case as the Blur150 and Hooligan. If it was the same case, it would make souping up a Hooligan a lot easier though. As for speed, I suspect that that the air cooling is the biggest limit to the Blur 220's power. My Yager is only a 175cc, but it is liquid cooled. I have the same variator as a Blur 220 (same dimensions & casting marks) and a 12" rear tire. Yet, I can hit 77mph on the highway with a smaller motor and not overheat it in the process. I've ridden it WOT from Cortaro Farms on the northwest side of Tucson all the way up I-10 to Wild Horse Pass on the south end of the Phoenix metro area, so that sort of speed is not a "short bursts only" thing. A Blur 220 with liquid cooling would likely be even more capable.

Posted: **Sun Apr 05, 2015 11:50 pm**

" I've ridden it WOT from Cortaro Farms on the northwest side of Tucson all the way up I-10 to Wild Horse Pass on the south end of the Phoenix metro area"
That was a very, very fast stretch of freeway when I lived in that area, so you have a very stout scooter. I would have probably have taken the two lane highway through Coolidge.

Posted: **Mon Apr 06, 2015 4:58 pm**

k1dude wrote:I never quite understood the Hooligan. If it were a 250, I'd understand.

The Hooligan is a bigger, faster and more capable machine than the Yamaha Zuma - which has been around for a long time. It offers a wide range of riding experiences. In Houston we have a some bad roads and the larger 12" wheels and heavier shocks do smooth out most of the rough stuff. I would not hesitate to take my Hooligan onto an unpaved fire road for a gentle ride.* IMHO it is still light enough to move about quite easily and a 170 fuel injected motor gives it adequate power. I've had it on the freeway at 65 mph and it was quite stable. With a 250cc you'd probably want liquid cooling and that adds more weight and complexity. All things considered it does many things quite well.

* I raced amateur motocross as a younger man and I am not suggesting it is a dirt bike.

Modern Buddy

Black Jack vs. Hooligan review from Justgottascoot.

Black Jack vs. Hooligan review from Justgottascoot.

Hooli-What!