Genuine Buddy 125cc Classy and Beautiful Scooter

The Genuine Buddy 125cc deserves a higher ranking on this site. I've had mine since it was brand new, 2007, and it's going strong, maintaining excellent compression for passing bursts of speed and taking on hills. It keeps up in rush hour traffic (I use secondary streets for a saner trip), definitel...y street smart. I would recommend the Buddy 125 to anyone looking to get into scooter riding, but not quite ready for managing the clutch and gear shift of higher priced Vespa. The throttle is twist and go, and the response is as slow or fast as you need to get around town or make a leisurely Sunday afternoon ride into the countryside. On that note, the scooter looks good and classy, unlike the cheap scooters you see struggling along the side of the road, usually 50cc or less, favored by people who have lost their driver's license.

The style of the Buddy 125 recalls the classic vintage European style of the Vespa, so you don't have to spend quite as much to get on a scooter that really turns some heads as you go around town.

I maintain my 2007 Buddy 125 myself, changing the gear and engine oil every three months or so of summer riding, and when I winterize, and replacing the spark plug as needed, and cleaning the fuel and ignition systems as needed. We have a local shop with a certified Genuine Scooter garage, and I like to take it in once a year just to be sure the systems are looking good.

There are Genuine Buddy forums for exchanging information with other Buddy enthusiasts. Locally, scooter groups meet up for a ride to a fun destination. Whether you are new to scooters or a long-timer, there are many ways to enjoy the Buddy other than the trips to work or running errands. The 125cc engine means you can keep up with the pack on the fun rides, as well as the flow of traffic to the job and back.

I've owned two brands, first the Honda Vino 125cc, that I've not found for sale locally, and it was a fine scooter, but I like the response of the Genuine Buddy 125cc much better.

Under the very attractive exterior body panels of the Buddy 125cc (mine is two tone cream on top and black on the bottom and some chrome trim) is motor and transmission basically shared by other scooters with the PGO brand, from China. However, the Buddy becomes all-American when it reaches the Chicago-based Genuine Scooter Company in Chicago. The shift of parts and translation from metric to US standards of speedometer and odometer, the correct US standards of placement of lights, daytime running lights, and fuel type, make the Genuine Buddy 125cc an American scooter. The Genuine Scooter Company also maintains a web site with available parts and accessories, such as additional lock box or baskets to carry supplies, additional sturdy brackets to hold more stuff, wind screens, as well as the specific oil filters you need if you are the DIY type.

I admit, I was attracted to the American location of a scooter distributor, with local certified repair and service shops, rather than buying a scooter directly from China, or other outlets, and taking chances on finding the service I might need. In addition to taking the motorcycle course for endorsement needed to ride the scooter legally, I also took advantage of some education by the staff of our local Genuine Buddy dealer, Speed City Cycles, in the Speedway district of Indianapolis.

I added some comfort items to my scooter to extend the riding season. I got some heavy duty weather protection gloves and a Scooter Skirt. Starting out with proper gear is no different for a motorcycle. Leathers topped with a scooter skirt secured at the waist, a full-face helmet, good gloves (even mitts used by snowmobilers would be great), I can ride from late winter to late fall. I choose to avoid riding to and from work once the time changes simply because there are people who just don't see anything but cars, and when you add darkness to the mix, the commute feels treacherous. The more reflection added to the scooter and the gear, the better. One day, I was sitting in line at a traffic light, and someone roared up behind me, obviously oblivious to the space I was occupying. I had to quickly escape into the space between cars ahead of me. The Buddy 125cc managed the zero-to-safe instant speed that allows me to write this review today. I guess I am super-cautious, and I obey all the rules, and throw in a measure of prudence to watch the weather and the clock. That would go for any two-wheeled transport, and even for the four-wheeled "cages" I also drive.

One more personal bit of enjoyment of the Genuine Buddy 125 comes with loading it into the bed of my truck when I haul my travel trailer around for camping and seeing the country. Having the scooter is really helpful for a quick trip to the camp store. A few summers ago, I took a trip for a ten-day stay in Michigan to attend a conference. A friend went with me to attend a different conference. When schedules conflicted, we had two vehicles to drive to our respective conference centers. Parking the scooter is often very convenient, if it is possible to lock up to a bike rack. rather than backing up among a few other motorcycles in a parking space. I have a heavy-duty cable lock made for scooters, and I lock the scooter by putting the cable around the suspension spring and looping around the bike rack. Otherwise, the scooter is just about 250 pounds, too easy to pick it up and throw it into the back of a truck, or knock out the ignition and hot-wire the engine. So, taking the extra step of a heavy duty lock is peace of mind, whether it stops and thief or not. I choose to believe it does :-).

In conclusion, whether a scooter is your only means of transportation, for whatever reason, or you love the wind in your hair underneath your helmet, or you love the 90 miles per gallon fuel savings, the Genuine Buddy 125cc is a great scooter that, with tender loving care, will serve you for years and years and years. I give it all five stars. Read Full Review