Modern Buddy

So my wife recently got a new job. It's about 2 miles away, but employees have to pay monthly for parking spots. We decided to look into a 50cc scooter as a solution. After visiting the dealer we wound up getting a Buddy 125. We had so much fun riding the Buddy that we decided we needed another scooter so we could go for rides together. So just over a month after buying the Buddy for my wife,we were picking up a Stella for me. Here's a few pictures from our first ride.

Great looking scoots! Welcome to MB.

Congrats to you both!

Some nice backdrops there. Where are you located?

Awesome!!! They look great together!!! Which do you like better Buddy or Stella??

I live in Philadelphia. The first 3 pics were taken at 2 parks near my house in South Philly. As for my preferred ride, I like my Stella way better than the Buddy. That said my wife would tell you the exact reverse. Really they are both incredible scooters designed for different personalities and purposes.

looks fun! my hunny bunny and i ride together, and it's more fun than having her ride on the back behind me. She drives the blackjack, and i use the stella - big fun! the only slight drag is she doesn't want to learn how to shift a 4 speed, so she's always the blackjack. But if she's having fun, then I am too!

evilbean42 wrote: As for my preferred ride, I like my Stella way better than the Buddy. That said my wife would tell you the exact reverse. Really they are both incredible scooters designed for different personalities and purposes.

you said it perfectly - my hunny loves the blackjack...but me? i can't decide - they are both so different styles of performance, construction, and style.

WHy how would ou describe the differences between the Stella and Buddy? And what are the differnet purposes you are siting?

I'd say it like this (in a bad Clint Eastwood impression) - "Fina (the stella) is a cruiser, but Sally (the blackjack) is a bruiser!"

Fina I like to drive in a more relaxed style. She's heavier and so she handles differently. The manual trans makes it a different riding style, as you really focus on operating the vehicle. If I'm not in a hurry to be somewhere, and I want to just cruise and take it mellow, I use Fina. She rumbles and shakes, sends out 2t smoke, and is a pleasure to ride. The shifting and rattling reminds you that you are riding a vehicle that has not greatly changed in design for 40+ years. Top speed is maybe 55mph, but then again, I'm not riding for speed, but riding for pleasure. It's strange, but you get almost a feeling of partnership - this comes as well from having to push her home after she's died, or taking it apart to figure out what's wrong. But it's a great feeling once you've figured it out, put her back together, give her a kickstart, and boom! you're back in the game. You learn to listen to the engine, learn the sweet spots to shift, and soon appreciate how smooth she'll ride once your balance, shifting and control all come together...plus, Stella's just look swank.

Sally, though, is my hot rod lol. She's a lot lighter, so I can hit 75mph (indicated) on a straight away. I can take her into turns a lot harder (in fact, one set of turns by my house I've scrapped the kick stand while banking). Being lighter, you can really move her around under you when you're turning. She can also smoke cars at green lights if I gun it (which is fun to do if folks in the car next to you are clowning you for riding a scooter). If I'm in a hurry, or feel like riding fast, or going 60+ miles one way, I'll choose the Blackjack 4 outta 5 times. She doesn't rattle, has better shocks, and a modern engine/transmission. With her riding has become almost intuitive. I can turn on a dime, and the operating becomes easy as breathing. It is on her that I still feel I have more control. She feels much more responsive than the Stella, but that may be because I've around 6000 miles on 3 different cvt scooters, and only 1900 on a manual 4 speed. And, Buddys look cool. The best blend of 'retro' and modern styling, hands down.

So - if I want a mellow, peaceful ride on a classic machine, it's the Stella.
But, if I want a fast ride on a lean, mean machine, it's the Blackjack.

NICE write up Tam Tam! Me want a Stella or Px even more now....

Nice scoots, nice pics. welcome to MB.

Sweet!! Thanks for explaining, now I can really understand!! How many cc's is your Blackjack?

My cousins live and San Antonio and have been loving my new scooter posts on Face-book and inquiring about them. I may have to get you guys together so you can give them some ideas about how great it is to have a scooter in SA!

I was there visiting in the summer of 2010. My favorite though, ws AUSTIN!!! That would be a great place to scoot around!!

CHEERS!

Both the Stella and the Blackjack are 150cc's. The difference in speed and handling comes from the engine design, the transmission, and the weight of each scooter.

Recommend The Motorcycle Shop in San Antonio to your cousins should they be curious/interested about scooters. They are a great, no pressure shop that sells and services all manner of scooters and motorcycles - I've bought 3 of the 4 scooters I've owned there. The staff is awesome, the mechanics awesome, and rather than try to upsell you instantly, they focus on getting you the scooter you are looking for.

My Wife and I also have a Buddy (150 Italia) and a Stella (4t, Avocado)
It really is remarkable, the difference. I think riding the buddy is like riding a la-z-boy. I prefer the Stella. I like to shift. lol.

I need to convince my future hubby (58 more days....) to get a Stella.

AlleyOops wrote:I need to convince my future hubby (58 more days....) to get a Stella.

Would make a great wedding gift!

Drum Pro wrote:NICE write up Tam Tam! Me want a Stella or Px even more now....

Thank you!...it can be done, I just had to do a little 'creative accounting' and tell myself that my next two traveling vacations are waiting in the garage to be ridden

AlleyOops wrote:I need to convince my future hubby (58 more days....) to get a Stella.

and could look super ultra cool in your wedding photos!

Tam Tam wrote:

AlleyOops wrote:I need to convince my future hubby (58 more days....) to get a Stella.

and could look super ultra cool in your wedding photos!

Oh I wish!!! We are actually getting married in Colorado though, we live in Western NY, so no wedding scooter photos for us. So sad.

We are actually getting married in Colorado though

Well, depending on where your ceremony is, perhaps you could rent some?

Here is a scooter rental in Estes Park...

http://www.zootscootestes.com/homepage.htm

How cool would that be?

303 whodat wrote:We are actually getting married in Colorado though

Well, depending on where your ceremony is, perhaps you could rent some?

Here is a scooter rental in Estes Park...

http://www.zootscootestes.com/homepage.htm

How cool would that be?

That would be awesome!! Our ceremony is kinda in the middle of nowhere though.. 30 miles outside of Estes Park, but maybe we'll rent some before/after during our trip

When is the wedding Ally?

There's A TON of MB members here, so we can point you to a lot of things.

7/7 in Lyons Colorado.. but flying out w/ the family a week before, Denver for 3 days, Estes Park for 3 days, Lyons for 3 days and Boulder for 3 days.

I went to college in Denver, but haven't been back to Colorado in about 8 years. I can NOT wait.

AlleyOops wrote:7/7 in Lyons Colorado.. but flying out w/ the family a week before, Denver for 3 days, Estes Park for 3 days, Lyons for 3 days and Boulder for 3 days.

I went to college in Denver, but haven't been back to Colorado in about 8 years. I can NOT wait.

Congrats! I love mountain weddings!

There is no better feeling than the two of you scooting together, I'll bet. Enjoy it!

Congrats!

For those joint rides, you might want to consider some type of communication system. When my wife is on the scoot, I often time ride an MC. On the longer trips, these systems are really nice ... at least they work for us. They also have the added benefit of a bluetooth interface to your phone or Ipod. They've made my riding even more enjoyable.

We originally used a Cardo Scala system but changed over to a Sena SMH10D Bluetooth system.


Rob

Me want Stella! Must . . . get . . . Stella!!