Modern Buddy

Hi,

I'm new here. I dig it! I've checked around and searched quite a bit and can't seem to find the exact answers I'm looking for. Forgive me if that's incorrect.

I'm about to buy either a Rattler or a Roughhouse. Problem is the dealer doesn't have the Rattler; I'd have to buy it for them to order it. So I was hoping someone in the area (Greater Boston) might have one and would be willing to let me take a spin.

Also I'm wondering if the Roughhouse is enough for me. Majority will be city driving but I have the desire to use it for more, trips around New England, pop down to the Cape for an afternoon, and so on. Maybe with a friend on board.

Within the city, where just about everyone who gets behind the wheel seems to turn into an aggressive a-hole, I'd like the power and confidence to stay out of danger, which really is an every-moment possibility in Boston. I'd like the driver behind me who is expecting to honk while being held up by me drop his jaw as I leave him in the dust, or at least marvel as I lead him quickly through the lights.

So is the Roughhouse capable of all this? I mean not at its limits, but always, whenever I need it. I understand it's the most powerful in its class, quicker/torque-ier than the other 50s. I read a lot about 50cc buyers wanting more power pretty quickly down the road. I already know I want a good deal of power, and top speeds around 50-60. But the idea of parking on the sidewalk is very very appealing, and of course I'd save 700 bucks.

Where do you park a scooter that's over 50cc? Is that really something I should be so concerned about?

If I can't try a Rattler should I assume it's similar to the feel/speed of a Buddy 125 and pull the trigger unseen? I am obviously more into the style and everything else about the Rattler/Roughhouse.

That's it! Thanks a million. I'll be out of internet touch for the next five days so I won't be able to clarify anything here, but I am really hoping to buy one or the other next week or within two weeks at the latest so I wanted to get this going here. Hopefully I'll come back to some good info!

spacemonkey

Since you have to have a license and tags for a 50cc in MA now you might as well get the Rattler to start with. A de-restricted Roughhouse or 70cc kitted one is pretty quick though. I have a feeling you'll love either one

If you think that you may want the extra power, even maybe, I'd say pull the trigger on the Ratty (if it's financially viable, which it sounds like it is). Then break it in, slap on a unifilter, and upjet, best $30 you'll ever spend!

I'd let you ride mine... if you happen to be in Central CT (about 2hrs from ya).

Well I can't comment on the Rattler (never seen it or ridden it), but I do own a Roughhouse and live on Highland Ave in your town, so I have some idea of what most of your riding will be like.

I guess the first thing I'll say is that I'm very happy with my purchase. My use sounds a little more local than yours might be (I mainly use it to commute to Cambridge and to run out and get groceries). For zipping around town it is great, and as you surely know, free sidewalk parking throughout the Boston area is a huge perk.

I have no problems accelerating off the line with it. It's quick and punchy, and you won't feel like you're holding anybody up when the light turns green. However, based on what you've said, you might be a little disappointed with the top end. It's top speed is about 50 miles per hour, and it can get up minor hills at over 40. I'm not sure what route you'd take to the cape, but obviously that's not going to get you on the highway. I will say that I've taken it out on back roads about 30 miles or so west (Ashland, specifically), and it performed like a champ.

I'm super happy with my purchase--wouldn't trade it for anything else out there right now given my primary use case. I'd be comfortable taking it on longer trips, too, so long as I could travel on backroads. However, if you'll be going on roads where you need to cruise above, say, 45, I'd consider stepping up.

Turns out there is internet here ... guess the whole world is blanketed with wifi.

Thanks for the replies. Especially to robby; it's great to hear from a Roughhouse owner in Somerville--that could be me very soon.

To tell you the truth, I don't know where I'll end up going with a scooter. I've never even been to the Cape--just seemed like somewhere I could pop down to with motorized transport. I'd definitely like to go to the North Shore and cruise near the beaches.

I do know I'd like to go on long trips though, like to western Mass and Vermont; would you be comfortable riding that far on back roads or routes (like 16 or 28 etc.--that's legal, right?) on the Roughhouse?

I don't really want to be traveling at 60mph on a scooter. I just want to know when I do get out on 45/55mph roads that I can consistently move along at 40-50mph. I'm in Vermont right now, seeing all these rough dirt roads that meander up and down; I'd like the power to perform well on those too.

Ultimately, for the next two years at least, most of my time riding will be in Boston, and mostly within Somerville/Cambridge. So parking on the sidewalk is indeed key, but more importantly, and I think you answered this, feeling confident and up to moving steadily with traffic, avoiding cars barreling through intersections right into the middle of the road before they "stop" and look both ways ... etc. I ride a bicycle now and I ride as fast and aggressive as I can to stay safe and keep my presence known; I'd like to do the same (to a lesser degree of speed and aggression, but the same principle behind it) on a scooter.

So I'm definitely leaning towards the Roughhouse--cheaper, sidewalk parking, and I can test drive it (it was raining the day I checked it out, but I rode the Buddy a few days earlier) as opposed to having to buy the Rattler sight unseen. If you don't mind giving me one more reply, robby, with your thoughts on what I've said here, I'd really appreciate it. I know you pretty much covered it all before, but I could use another go around to help push me in the direction I think I'm headed in anyway. Then one day we can take a cruise on our matching rides through the 'Ville together ...

Thanks a lot!

Hey spacemonkey,

No problem - I'm happy to give my impressions.

With regard to long trips, there are basically four factors as far as I'm concerned:

1. Comfort

No issues here. I have to remember to stretch/twist/crack my back every half hour or so at a red light, but aside from that I've had no noticable strain from riding. My longest trip thus far has only been about an hour, however.

2. Storage

Aside from a touring bike, this is always an issue for longer trips on two wheels. If you plan on lugging gear, don't forget to budget for a rack. Or at least some nice bungees.

3. Reliability

Not an issue at all. Way more reliable than my car and if you buy new, you get two years of roadside assistance. The beefier tires give me better peace of mind, too.

4. Speed

This is where things get iffy. I would be comfortable driving on any road where the flow of traffic is 45 miles per hour or less, or if it's 50/55 and there is a bike lane to the right. Note that I'm not talking about speed limits; I'm talking about how fast traffic actually moves.

Personally, if I wanted something that could top 50 miles per hour, I would probably go with a motorcycle. You definitely feel bumps, potholes and other obstacles more on a scooter than you would on something with bigger wheels. Others might not mind it so much, though.

As for your specifics, I've driven on parts of 16 (just east of Natick), and I take it on McGrath/28 here all the time. It does just fine. You obviously don't want to just hang out in the left lane on that thing, but as far as getting around without holding everybody up, you're fine. Especially with all the damn traffic lights here!

Legally, well, it's a little gray. Technically if you have a scooter that can top 30 miles per hour, you need to get "limited use" license plates for it (previously they had to be registered as motorcycles). The new law goes into effect on August 1. Personally I'm not concerned; they didn't really enforce it before and I don't expect them to now, but it is *possible* for an officer to pull you over in an unplated vehicle that is going faster than 30 miles per hour. But yes, it definitely legal to ride on those roads.

I'm dying to take a trip up to Maine one of these days and tour along the coastline. Just have to get my girlfriend on board -- literally.

If I've convinced you to get a Roughhouse, just do me a favor - do go back and test drive it before you commit. Maybe even ask if they have a derestricted one you can try (not sure if they can do that). I've tried to be objective, but we all have our biases and you should definitely be sure that it's the right scoot for you. Seems like you're doing a good job on the research side of things though!

Any more questions, don't hesitate to ask; otherwise good luck and safe travels!

Thanks a lot robby. Very good info. I think the Roughhouse meets all my needs; super long trips and high speeds are just fantasy thinking at this point. Sidewalk parking and saved cash are reality.

I am going to go test ride it this week and hopefully, if it rides as nice as the Buddy (I did test ride a de-restricted Buddy, so that helps), drive it home that same day. I'll come back here to let the hundreds watching this know what happens ...

No problem, and best of luck! If you're going to Scooters Go Green and you don't mind, tell them you talked to Robby - the guy who bought a black Roughhouse a few weeks ago - and tell 'em I encouraged ya!

Get a Rattler. Period.

Get a Rattler! Exclamation point!
Believe me, you'll wish you could cruise faster,
and for not much more $, you can't go wrong with a Rattler.
That even ryhmed. Even more of a reason.

Come over to the dark side.... RATTLER

Okay ... a lot of Rattler support here ... I can appreciate that.

True, it's not that much more money, and I'm sure I will crave the extra power sooner than later, but what about parking? Not only do I live in a city where sidewalk parking is just a huge foot-up in everyday life, but I've been reading a lot (here) about scooter security and basically "don't leave your scooter--ever--without locking it to something that can't be moved" seems to be how you keep your scooter.

Any input on that? And maybe this is a stupid question, but where *do* you park a scooter if not on the sidewalk?

One option would be to use velcro plates. It's not technically legal but lots of people seem to do it without any issues.

looks like your little scooter parking is going away

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massac ... _up_worry/

get the rattler

There's a separate thread with that story, and if you follow up on it, you'll see that the new parking rules won't be enforced.

The whole sidewalk issue aside, how/where do you (safely/securely/mostly-legally) park a scooter?

If I can't park my scoot on a sidewalk, I don't take it. Most garages in Boston won't even let you pay to park in them.

My town lets you park 'em anywhere, no matter what the cc's. I've seen them on the sidewalk, in the grass by the train station, in paid parking lots, chained to bike racks, etc. They even have a motorcycle/scooter street parking area in town. Smaller towns obviously have less restrictions.

I went to the dealer today and tested a Roughhouse and a Black Jack. There was no comparison; the Black Jack is seriously quick. Granted the Roughhouse was restricted, but I'm pretty sure I'm looking at only 110+ scooters now.

I will test the Rattler later this week, as well as the Buddy 125. I'm looking for that quickness the Black Jack has, as I felt much safer on the streets being able to keep up with (actually stay ahead of) the cars around me. The Black Jack is out of my price range though.

I read a not-so-hot review on the Rattler, the link is below. Anyone care to comment on it?

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/715/3707/ ... eview.aspx

Read it a while ago. The guy doing the test is over 6' tall. He's too big for it since his knees hit the handlebars. If you're 6' or over, I wouldn't reccomend the Rattler. And yes, it's different, but in a good way!

I'm 6' and have no problems with it. Keep in mind he tested a STOCK Rattler, nobody keeps a 2-stroke completely stock

Probably a long leg thing then. I'm only 5'9. I've kept mine stock so far and have had no complaints. By next Spring I'll probably be itchin for some upgrades though!

I don't think the review is that bad. He emphasizes that it's "different" and it seems like it just isn't his cup of tea. There's nothing about his objective analysis that I find alarming.

At 200lbs I found out real quick that the stock Ratler seems to be setup for somebody closer to 150lbs (as fas as the CVT is concerned). Just need to dial in the roller weights for your type of riding, and even in stock trim a larger jet couldn't hurt either.

Just went to the dealership for a gear oil change, and who did I run into but spaceman himself.

I'll keep you guys in suspense and let him fill you in.

Yes, it's true ... robby walked in right in the middle of my transaction. It was very serendipitous; not just the full-circle of starting on this forum to gather ideas and advice and then meeting one of the advisers as I'm buying the scooter, but also because it was pouring and I had no idea how to get back to Somerville, and robby waited for me (he might have beaten the rain if he left when his scooter was ready) and led me back to the neighborhood safely.

So thanks again robby! I really, really appreciated it.

As for what I bought, I don't think I have to say anything more than I went in thinking about getting the owner's BlackJack for a really good price and then they had a Rattler for me to test ride. The rest, as they say, is history.

Welcome to the black sheep of the genuine scooter family! I'm currently in the process of combining the blackjack and the rattler (ok, really it's just a paint job and a few minor upgrades, but it still will be SICK!). Happy scooting!