night shot of my buddy

the story of Buddy....

Earlier this fall, my car was totaled in a rear end collision. For some reason, I got a decent insurance settlement and I decided to throw caution to the wind and buy a motor scooter rather than put the money toward another car. I have two other cars, two sons in college (who can easily share one car) and I live close to work with very easy access to the bus that takes me right to work - it even drops me off in front of the building I work in. I would probably be getting rid of one of the cars in the next few years anyway. I have had my eye on a scooter for several years - having test driven a Vespa two or three years ago. Vespa's are very expensive but now there are quite a lot of viable, less expensive alternatives. I did a web search and decided that I would like a Buddy made by Genuine Motor Scooter Company. I went in and tested the 49 cc and the 125 cc and decided on the Buddy 125 series Italia. I am a sucker for things’ green. I figured I will probably only be in this buying situation once in my lifetime. (Even though my son accused me of stopping for a yellow light recently as a way of sacrificing a second car to rear end demolition!) I ride Buddy to work and on errands. I strapped a small basket (my neighbor calls it my Toto basket) to the rear rack allowing me to carry a few groceries (plus there is storage under the seat).

I have experienced a steep learning curve with the scooter. I was terrified the first times I rode it. In fact, I would sit on it in my driveway gathering my courage to head down the hill and out into traffic. But now two months later, I find myself scheming for opportunities to ride Buddy. Tomorrow, I need to take one of the cars in for electrical repairs so I probably cannot ride Buddy. Yet, tomorrow is supposed to be a fantastic fall day to be followed by a day of deteriorating weather. I need to be practical. I want to ride Buddy!

I can't say what is right for you but I am having a great time - commuting just got a lot more fun.

to be continued ...