The VMAX VX2 Lite has just been officially released in the USA.
Let me take you through my experience unboxing the newest VMAX electric scooter! Next week, I’ll fully test it on the Electric Scooter Guide test course, but before the full review and test results are ready, I wanted to open the box, build it up, unlock Beast Mode, and take it for a blast around the neighborhood!
The quick version: The VX2 Lite has the same full suspension as the VX2 Hub, a 25 mph top speed, but starts at $799 rather than $1,199.
That makes it VMAX’s most affordable full-suspension scooter, and after the first ride, the big takeaway is clear: the ride quality of this Swiss-designed scooter is unbeatable at this price.
What Comes in the Box
Inside the box, the VX2 Lite comes with the basics you need to get rolling:
2 amp charger, hardware, tools, and a air-valve extender.
Assembly is straightforward. There is one electrical connector to plug in, then the handlebars slide onto the stem. From there, it is just two fasteners on the back and two fasteners on the front.
That’s it. The VX2 Lite is assembled and ready to charge.
Wait, Isn’t That a VX2 Hub?
At first glance, a lot of people are going to look at the VX2 Lite and think, “Isn’t that a VX2 Hub?”
And that makes sense. The VX2 Lite shares the same deck, footrest, along with similar overall dimensions. It has the same kind of adult-sized presence, commuter stance, and the same full-suspension.
But there are some important differences.
The VX2 Lite starts at $799, while the VX2 Hub starts at $1,199. The VX2 Lite has a 25 mph top speed, compared with 34 mph on the VX2 Hub.
The braking setup is also different. The VX2 Lite has a drum brake up front and regen braking in the rear, instead of the rear-disc-brake+regen setup found on the VX2 Hub.
The display is different too. Instead of the full-color display on the VX2 Hub, the VX2 Lite uses a simpler LED display with a linear battery meter.
So the VX2 Lite is not trying to be the VX2 Hub. It is a more accessible version of the platform in every way. The controls and display are simplified, and the throttle is even smoother, which is great for beginner to intermediate riders. But it got all of the features that matter most for everyday commuting: suspension, comfort, hill-climbing power, and price.
Basically, we kept the core features that make the VX2 Hub such a strong performance commuter, but left out some of the speed. Many riders tell us they don’t feel the need to go 34 mph. So if you’re one of the many riders who feel that 25 mph is more than enough, the VX2 Lite gives you the same essential ride experience without having to pay for extra speed you won’t use.
Unlocking Beast Mode
Before the first ride, I wanted to check the scooter’s settings and see what kind of free-spin speed it would show.
Out of the box, I turned on the VX2 Lite and gave the power button four clicks to engage zero start mode because I don’t like having to kick-off to start. Then I unlocked Beast Mode. Five clicks to unlock, one push of the throttle to reveal top-speed-mode 2 (Beast Mode), then 5 more clicks to the power button to lock it in. Unlike Boost mode from Segway, Beast Mode never times out. Also unlike Segway, you’re not forced to use the app, or even set up an account in order to access the full performance of VMAX scooters.
With Beast Mode unlocked, the wheel free-spun up to 26 mph. Later, after fully charging the scooter, I saw a 29 mph free-spin peak, which gives us a good idea of the electronic limit.
Now, to be clear, free-spin speed is not real-world top speed. A wheel spinning in the air is not the same thing as carrying a rider down the road with wind resistance, rolling resistance, rider weight, and voltage sag.
That is what the full test is for.
But it is always interesting to check the firmware limit by free-spinning before taking it out on the road, and now we know for sure that it’s unlocked and ready for a real test.
First Ride Impressions
Once Beast Mode was unlocked, it was time for the first ride.
The VX2 Lite immediately feels like a fun, capable commuter. At 25 mph, it is not as fast as the VX2 Hub, but it still has enough speed and power to feel genuinely useful and fun around town.
It has enough punch to be a strong commuter, enough power to climb any hill you’re likely to encounter, but the suspension is strikingly smooth for a scooter of this price point, and the slightly more mellow throttle response compared to the VX2 Hub, accentuates the smoothness further.
The most surprising part really is the suspension, though. I keep circling back to it.
It’s true: there are lots of scooters at this price which have suspension. But, good suspension at this price is like spotting a unicorn. Most suspension used in $799 scooters is simply made with undamped springs.
Do you know what else is made with undamped springs? Pogo sticks! When you ride a cheap generic scooter you’ll feel exactly that, but on wheels. But not so with the motorcycle style oil-damped forks and elastomeric suspension VMAX uses.
The VX2 Lite brings high-end suspension comfort into a much more accessible category for the first time.
This is one of those things that is hard to explain in a spec sheet, but if you listen to firsthand accounts the difference is clear. Bad pavement can be very revealing. It makes basic scooters feel cheap and makes Swiss-engineered scooters shine.
Braking Feel
One interesting detail is the braking setup.
The VX2 Lite uses regen braking in the rear and a front drum brake. The left brake lever controls the front drum brake and is linked to the regen brake at the rear. It gives you a surprising amount of stopping power from just one lever.
For normal riding, the dedicated regen lever on the right side will recharge your battery every time you stop, and extend the life of your brake shoes!
Brakes that are easy to use are especially important on a commuter scooter because the best braking system is not just the one with the biggest spec. It is the one that feels predictable and impossible to get wrong in an emergency stop.
I’ll measure braking distance in the full review, but for a first ride, the setup feels very natural.
Premium Ride. Lite Price.
If I had to sum up the VX2 Lite in four words, they would be:
Premium Ride. Lite Price.
That really captures what this scooter is designed to do. It packs full suspension, a 25 mph top speed, and enough performance to keep up with the cross-town commute into a fun $799 scooter big enough for adults.
No, it is not as fast as the VX2 Hub. It does not have the same display or the same rear disc brake setup, or spicy throttle response. But that is also the point.
The VX2 Lite keeps the comfort and everyday performance that matter most, without making you pay for speed you may not need.
For riders who want a comfortable, capable, full-suspension commuter without stepping all the way up to the VX2 Hub, the VX2 Lite is it!
Full Review Coming Next
Stay tuned here and to the VMAX YouTube channel, because next week I’ll be doing the full test: top speed, the Electric Scooter Guide range test and hill climb, braking, and full riding impressions after I’ve put some miles on.
But even after just one ride, I’m excited because this feels like it might be our new best seller: quick, comfortable, fun, and surprisingly premium for the price.
Full review soon.
Ride safe, and don’t forget to wear a helmet.
