Inokim Light 2: More Than Just Good Looks

Inokim Light 2 Review

Performance Summary

Performance with 165 lb rider

Acceleration (0 to 15 mph)	5.7 seconds
Acceleration (0 to 20 mph)	13.9 seconds
Top speed	20.7 mph
Braking distance (15 to 0 mph)	11.9 feet
Range	16.0 miles
Hill climb	19.0 seconds

Acceleration

The Light 2 has a 350-watt electric motor that reaches 15 mph in 5.7 seconds but crawls to 20 mph in a sluggish 13.9 seconds.

When launching from a standstill, you’ll notice that it is kick-to-start (no zero-start), meaning that you must kick before the motor engages. This is both a safety and energy-conserving feature. On some scooters, like the stalwart M365, this feature can be tricky and leads to many false starts. However, it is implemented superbly on the Light 2, and we found kick-starting it to be both reliable and easy.

Compared to other scooters, the Light 2 is tuned for leisurely acceleration that is smooth and comfortable — not jerky. We note that the scooter starts off slower then pulls stronger as you get to higher speeds.

Hill Climb

From a standstill, the Light 2 completed our 200 ft, 10% grade hill climb test (165 lb rider) in 15 mph in 19.0 seconds with an average speed of 7.2 mph.

Compare with other scooters on our performance page.

Top Speed

We tested the top speed of the Inokim Light 2 to be 20.7 mph on the flat with a 165 lb rider.

Range

The Light 2 has a 374 watt hour lithium-ion battery. We tested the range of the light to be exactly 16.0 miles, making it the longest-ranged ultra-portable on the market today.

We test the range of every electric scooter on the same urban loop with a 165 lb rider. You can compare our real-world tests on the performance page.

Compare this scooter with every other one that we’ve ranged-tested on our performance comparison page.

Braking

The Light 2 is somewhat of an anomaly for an ultraportable scooter due to it having not one but two drum brakes.

These brakes are activated by levers on the handlebars, making them a great safety feature and readily available for rapid stopping in an emergency.

The Light 2 had a 15 mph braking distance of 11.9 feet — the best of any ultra-portable electric scooter we’ve tested.

Ride Quality

Overall, the Inokim Light 2 is designed with ride quality and comfort in mind.

Starting with the deck, some things about this scooter are just different and better. The deck has exceptionally low ground clearance — only 2.3 inches by our measurements.

The downside is that you can’t drop off of curbs slowly without bottoming out. However, there is a massive advantage in terms of ride quality. The lower center-of-gravity makes for exceptional stability and handling at all speeds.

Despite its compact size, the deck is sizeable — 18.3-inches by 7.0-inches — giving you tons of room and elevating the overall comfort level. Simply put, this is a scooter that is very easy to ride.

The Light 2 has two large pneumatic tires that help to cushion your ride, yet lacks suspension. This means that the Light 2 can handle some rough roads, but is really best suited for riding on ones in good repair.

Inokim Light 2 Features

Portability

According to our definition of ultraportable, the 30 lb Inokim Light 2 barely squeaks by. It is light enough to carry up a few flights of stairs before it feels like a workout.

The Light 2 folds into a 37-inch long by 10-inch wide package thanks to its folding handlebars and stem. This makes it one of the most compact ultra-portable electric scooters you can buy.

The handlebars fold down via a screw mechanism and only have a slight amount of play when they are locked into place.

One of the very nice portability features of the Light 2 is the cantilevered folding mechanism that provides a cut-out for slipping a U-lock through.

Cockpit

One of the most distinguishing things about the Light 2 is its unique LCD throttle. This thumb throttle is one of the best in the electric scooter game. Holding the accelerator down for long periods is very comfortable. The LCD also saves its settings, so you don’t have to re-adjust your mode every time you power the scooter on and off.

The Inokim uses foam handlebar grips that are comfortable on long rides. They are reasonably thick and seem durable, but they may not be as resilient as harder rubber grips that we see on other scooters.

The other interesting thing you’ll notice about the cockpit area is that the handlebars are swept slightly backward, making for a more ergonomic grip angle.

Lights

The Light 2 has both front and rear lights. A cool feature is that the lights power on automagically at night time.

All lights on the Light 2 are low-mounted, meaning that you may want additional lights if you are riding around a lot at night.

See our guide to staying visible when riding at night.

Tires

The Light 2 has dual 8.5-inch pneumatic inner tube tires. These are supple and give excellent traction for riding in all conditions. We consider this to be the highest-performance type of tire.

However, the downside to air-filled tires is the risk of flats, though you can mitigate this by using tire slime.

Deck

The Inokim Light 2 has a massive deck for its size that offers 18.3-inches by 7.0-inches of standing space. The deck has 2.3-inches of ground clearance. The top of the deck is covered in rough grip tape that helps you stay firmly planted on it.

Build Quality

The Light 2 maintains Inokim’s reputation for outstanding build quality, and the Light 2 is no exception.

Inokim scooters are among the best in the world when it comes to design and quality and rate right up there with E-TWOW/UScooters. Both brands would be rated higher than the Unagi or Xiaomi M365.

We really appreciate the novel stem design. The stem has an interesting blade design that gives the scooter a unique look but is also functional. Elongating the stem in the direction you push and pull on the handlebars, creates additional strength and stiffness in the direction that you need, which contributes to the overall feeling of stability when riding. It also helps the stem not to twist, something other scooters with round necks are prone to experiencing.

Inokim really nails even the smallest details like the covers to the wheels. Compared to other scooters, which have a plastic fender or a rubber cap, Inokim created something that looks good and is functional — this is the essence of design. When we say Inokim is the best-designed scooters, this is the type of thing we are referring to.

Materials from top to bottom are top-notch, and we have had zero issues with the scooter, something rare as we always find something. Fenders are perfectly placed and don’t rub the wheel.

One issue that we have heard about which applies to the Inokim electric scooters, in general, are problems with the controller. Though this is specific to the Light 2, if you buy from a reputable dealer, this should not be a concern.

Inokim Light 2 Specifications

Make	Inokim
Model	Light 2
Weight	30 lb
Folded dimensions	37 by 10 by 14 in
Motor power, continuous	350 W
Top speed	21 mph
Range	20 mi
Battery capacity	374 Wh
Battery recharge time	5 hrs
Max rider weight	220 lb
Brake type	Drum + Drum
Tire type	8.5 in Pneumatic (Inner Tube) + Pneumatic (Inner Tube)
Built-in lights	Front + Rear
Water resistance	None