The Buddy V2 is a lightweight city model by SXT, which is being made by INOKIM. The scooter aims to ensure safe transport around the city over medium distances. Despite its low weight, this is a fully fledged scooter offering 100 kg load capacity. Its wheels are not sprung. However, the scooter uses 8.5-inch tires with inner tube that help absorbing small vibrations and uneven surfaces. Moreover, these wheels are not too prone to getting a flat tire. As one of few scooters in this weight category, it comes with two mechanical brakes contributing to safety and good riding comfort. The entire scooter radiates experience in design as SXT and INOKIM are among oldest manufacturers of electric scooters in the world. The Buddy V2 weighs 13.7 kg and reaches speeds of up to 35 km/h while maintaining practicality and compactness other city scooters can only dream about, its particular advantage being the folding handlebars.

Use and practicality

This is one of the lightest models by SXT brand, offering sufficient power for medium-long trips around the city while maintaining low weight and decent range. In addition to low weight, the scooter’s great advantage are the compact dimensions when fully folded, as this model allows easy and quick folding of not just the scooter body but also the handlebars and even the brake levers. The load capacity of 100 kg is sufficient for the majority of users and the scooter’s weight is such that it allows briefly lifting the scooter, whether while boarding a bus/train or when putting it inside a car trunk. This scooter is world-famous for its quality and reliability as it is a model that has been selling for many years and its manufacturer (INOKIM) has been gradually perfecting it, step by step. We recommend this model for making daily trips around the city shorter than 20 km and to those people who are looking for a practical and reliable scooter that would them serve for many years. In addition to reliability, it is appropriate to also mention that in this weight category it is one of the few lightweight folding models that offer mechanical brakes on both wheels. The majority of manufacturers use only one brake or possibly electric braking in order to reduce the scooter’s weight. However, this model relies on standard drum brakes, which is why it brings safer riding and a good feeling that you can brake and come to a stop even in emergency situations. Moreover, the brakes are maintenance-free and fully enclosed, which means no dust or dirt penetration. That is why you do not have to constantly adjust them, as is the case with their competitors – disc brakes.

Safety

Safety comes first when it comes to the Buddy V2 model. That is why it is made of an extremely strong aluminum alloy used in the aerospace industry. The entire structure is robust and rigid, so it does not unnecessarily swing sideways but rather maintains stability even at top speed. This scooter does not make compromises when it comes to safety, which is why the Buddy V2 is fitted with two mechanical drum brakes made by Tektro, reflecting its top speed of 35 km/h, and features standard brake levers you typically see on bicycles. Moreover, it is the scooter’s rear wheel that is driven, which significantly improves safety in the event of motor failure compared to models that come with a front wheel driven. The majority of small lightweight portable folding scooters designed for use in the city have no mechanical brakes but rather rely on electric brake mounted on the front wheel, or possibly come with an added mechanical brake in the rear wheel. However, roughly 70% of the braking effect is attributable to the front wheel, which is why the efficacy of the rear brake is always significantly lower. Nevertheless, this model steadfastly continues in its path of pursuing maximum safety, which is why it has mechanical brakes both on the front and rear wheel. Therefore, if you are looking for a model that will transport you safely and which allows stopping over the shortest possible distance without unnecessarily endangering the rider or the surroundings, a model that is also lightweight and compact, consider the Buddy V2.

Lightweight scooters will always require some kind of a compromise. If you desire the comfort of a sprung chassis and, at the same time, you want a decent range and low weight, you simply have to save weight on brakes. If you wish proper brakes, you have to save weight by using unsprung chassis and replace the suspension with air-filled wheels, which is what you have with this model. Thanks to these measures and despite featuring two fully fledged brakes, it weighs just 13.7 kg and offers a reasonably sufficient range and power.The front and rear LED lights contribute to safety. The rear light also serves as a brake light. The battery made of high-quality LG cells is important as well. The less experienced riders have the option to limit their top speed. The scooter also comes with a kick-start feature that prevents any unwanted start up and with the safety lock on its folding mechanism preventing unwanted folding of the scooter while riding.

Design

This is an iconic model by SXT and clearly one of the most beautiful solutions in the category of lightweight city scooters. This is a scooter you are not going to confuse with any other, radiating ease-of-use and practical stylishness. Arriving to a meeting on this scooter is therefore always elegant and suitable for any occasion, be it a meeting in a café, school, office or a luxury restaurant. Moreover, once folded, you can hide it under the first chair or table – it takes up minimum space and looks great even when folded. Despite having mechanical brakes, the levers are elegant and most of the cabling is hidden inside the scooter’s body, not spoiling the looks of this model with a clutter of cables. The height-adjustable, aerodynamically-shaped steering rod hiding the necessary cabling inside looks very elegant. SXT offers this model in two color finishes, thanks to which you can match your scooter with your favorite colors. If you are looking for more colors for this model, you may also look at the original made by INOKIM (Light 2) as this manufacturer also offers light blue, light green and orange finish.

Power and range

The motor offers 650 W power, which gives you the ability to ride at speeds of up to 35 km/h. For riders weighing no more than 80 kg, this power is sufficient even when riding up the hill. This model’s great advantage is a pleasant delivery of power, meaning that the scooter does not make any unnecessary jerking movements and is pleasant to ride both at low and high speeds, contributing to the pleasant feeling of riding safely. Despite its low weight, the scooter does not save on battery, hiding a 36 V, 10.4 Ah battery with total stored energy of 374 Wh and cells made by LG. Given the weight of 13.7 kg, these are good specs providing a range of almost 40 km when riding economically. Even if you ride uneconomically, accelerating and braking often, or ride at near maximum speed, you can still count on a range of more than 20 km. This is twice a standard trip envisaged for this model, which means the range should be enough for everyone. Moreover, to keep the battery in good health, it is better to charge the scooter every night rather than to ride it until the battery dies. With a completely empty battery, the charging takes less than 6 hours.

Comfort

Because of the unsprung chassis of the Buddy V2 model, the shock absorbers were replaced by 8.5-inch, air-filled tires, which are sufficient for riding on all standard roads and sidewalks. These tires are good at dampening small vibrations, although it is only natural that an unsprung chassis like this is not the most comfortable solution existing on the market.

This is definitely not an off-road model, nor a model designed for riding fast on bumpy roads. That is why we recommend slowing down before hitting any potholes, to avoid needlessly getting a flat tire. On the other hand, the scooter will reward you with its high reliability, low weight, excellent compactness, maintenance-free operation and high-level safety while riding. The integrated kickstand, as well as the front and rear lights, further contribute to comfort. Considering its intended use, the comfort offered by this scooter is sufficient and it will be surely appreciated by those looking for a lightweight, practical, foldable scooter for medium-long distances around the city.

Our rating

This model is definitely not for everyone. However, it keeps its die-hard fans all around the world. The unsprung chassis discourages some customers, but this is a compromise outweighed by improved safety in the form of two maintenance-free drum brakes made by Tektro while preserving low weight and overall strength of the scooter. Riding this scooter on a normal sidewalk is surprisingly pleasant even where potholes are present. However, when hitting a large hole, it is only natural to notice the scooter’s unsprung chassis. If you are not sure whether this is a right model for you, the best thing you can do is to visit us and test ride it for free, experiencing yourself what it feels like riding it. Another great advantage is that this scooter continues to be developed and innovated, thanks to which it is a well-tuned model not suffering from any childhood diseases, on which you can always rely to take you safely and stylishly home. Moreover, this scooter is very nicely designed and it is definitely one of the most beautiful lightweight city models out there.

Service

We are the largest authorized importer and dealer of the SXT brand in Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary and Ukraine. We provide direct warranty and post-warranty servicing, which is arranged at our stores in Prague, Brno, Bratislava and Uzhhorod. We keep most spare parts in stock and we are the certified provider of warranty and post-warranty repairs. Therefore, when buying this scooter, you do not have to worry about servicing or unavailability of spare parts. Thanks to representing the manufacturer directly, we can handle difficult repairs or diagnostics.

About the brand

Established in 2005, the SXT is one of the oldest electric scooter brands in the world. It is one of just few brands based in Europe, namely in Germany close to the southern border with Switzerland. The SXT headquarters is in the German city of Rheinfelden where the sales department, design team and the central service shop and warehouse are located in the company-owned building spanning total area of over 3 000 m2. The SXT’s strategy is to establish local representations so that customers always have at hand the advice and service in their own region and local language and do not have to solve every issue remotely via the Internet. Voltride is the largest representation of this kind in Central Europe, operating a network of stores in Bratislava, Prague, Brno, Uzhhorod and also an e-shop in Hungary. The production itself takes place in 9 factories located in China that have been carefully selected by SXT to provide high standard and quality of production. They manufacture more than 10 million units per year. SXT ensures regular inspection and presence in the production process so that the high demands are met, as required by SXT from its suppliers. All SXT products meet the European standards (such as CE, ROHS, IQC, IPQC and FQC) and are regularly checked by internal audits so that you can rest assured that by buying genuine SXT products you get a high quality scooter. SXT warrants it by its own name. Voltride only offers genuine SXT products coming from the European central warehouse, which is why we are able to guarantee their originality. We have established good relationships directly with the SXT owner and we often visit the company in person. That is why we can confirm that in our own experience the SXT brand is serious about personal electromobility and believes in the future of this mode of transport with the same passion and enthusiasm as we believe ourselves.