UPDATED: May 2020
The Scag V-Ride II is the newest stand on mower in the Scag line up. It is a major upgrade from the original V-ride. The mower gives an amazing cut and is one of the top stand on mower on the market.
Starting with the positives the Velocity deck on this stand on is hard to beat. It doesn't really get much better as far as cut quality. It cuts good in many different conditions and terrains. It also stripes very good, even without a stripe kit.
The negative of this machine is the driving and controls of the mower. The mower is much jerkier than other stand on units. It also spins out a lot. It feels like there isn't enough weight on the rear wheels so they lose traction easily.
Overall, it is a huge improvement and a great mower but has a few areas that it could improve in!
Comparison:
This mower compares to nearly all stand on mowers in the market. Their design approach is similar to that of Wright or Ferris.
| Features | Scag V-Ride II | Ferris Z3X | Wright ZK |
| Cut Width | 32″, 36″, 48″, 52″, and 61″ | 52″, 61″, and 72″ | 52″, 61″, and 72″ |
| Engine | 16-25hp Kawasaki, 25-29 hp Kohler or 37 hp Vanguard EFI | 37 hp & 33 hp Briggs & Stratton Vanguard with oil guard OR 29.5 hp Kawasaki FX850 | 37 hp Briggs & Stratton Vanguard, 29 hp Kohler ECV860, 27 hp Kawasaki FX850 |
| Drive System | Hydro-Gear 12cc pumps and 14 ci Parker motors (10 cc and 12ci for 32″ & 36″) | Hydro-Gear ZT-4400 Transaxles | Hydro-Gear 16 cc pumps with 15 ci motors |
| Speed | 10.5 mph or 8.5 mph (32″ & 36″) | 12 mph | 12.5 mph |
| Fuel Capacity | 8 gal., 6.75 gal. (36″), and 5 gal. (32″) | 11 gallons | 15.5 gallons |
| Deck Type | Velocity Plus Deck or Advantage deck (32″ and 36″) | ICD Deck | Aero Core Deck |
| Spindle Type | Cast Iron | Cast Iron | Ductile Iron |
| Deck Adjustment | Hand Lever, 1.5″ – 4.5″ | Hand Lever, | Hand Lever, |
| Suspension | Spring suspension platform | Full Suspension Platform | None |
| Front-Axle Type | Fixed | Pivoting | Fixed |
| Warranty | 2 Year Unlimited hours | 2 Year Unlimited hours OR 4 Year/500 hours | 2 Year Unlimited Hours |
| Price (61″ model)* | $11,547 (37 hp Vanguard) | $11,099 (37 hp Vanguard | $10,982** (37 hp Vanguard) |
**This is Wright's “starter fleet” pricing… the MSRP is $12,480
Power:
The V-Ride II ranges from 16hp to 25hp Kawasaki, 25-29 hp Kohler or 37 hp Vanguard EFI (61″ model only). The 36″ model is available in 16 hp Kawasaki. The 48″ comes with a 22hp Kawasaki. The 52″ is available in either a 23hp Kawasaki or 25hp Kohler EFI. Finally, the 61″ is available in a 25hp Kawasaki, 29hp Kohler EFI, or 37 hp Vanguard EFI.
New for 2020 is the 32″ Scag V-Ride II. This mower will come with the 16 hp Kawasaki. It could be a great mower for getting inside the gates. It may be the only 32″ stand on in the industry.
Features:
- 48″-61″ Velocity deck (32″ and 36″ is Advantage deck)
- 12cc Hydro-Gear pumps and 14ci Parker wheel motors (32″ and 36″ model has 10cc pumps and 12ci motors)
- 8 Gallon Fuel Tank (6.75 gallons on 36″ model and 5 gallons on 32″)
- 10 MPH forward / 5 MPH reverse (32″ and 36″ model goes 8.5 MPH forward)
- Cast-iron spindle housings with tapered roller bearings
- Tiger Eye: Advanced On-Board Monitoring System
- Replaceable front caster extensions
- Easy deck level adjuster
Durability:
This mower holds up to Scag's regular durability. It is built tough and very well built machine. The V-Ride II will definitely be a long-lasting machine.
This mower has now been out a couple years and has definitely showed to be a reliable mower. There have been very few known issues with these stand ons. Scag has really made an incredible mower with the V Ride 2.
Comfort:
The comfort of this mower is much better than the original V-ride but could still be better. The wheel covers can be a little uncomfortable if you hit your ankles on them… they are pretty sharp corners.
The deck adjustment is also in an uncomfortable position. Raising and lowering the deck is easy but actually adjusting the height of the deck is in an awkward position.
Overall, this is a comfortable stand on that is very comparable to the best in the industry. Many will put this mower in the running for the best stand on mower on the market.
Aesthetics:
The V-ride II is a good looking mower. Comparing it to the previous model it looks much better! It's a machine that looks well put together and a very sleek looking mower.
This compact machine is a similar look to most of the other stand ons on the market… except for maybe the color. It seems like almost every mower manufacture has gone to a platform between the rear tires of the past couple of years. This is definitely for the better in my opinion.
Safety:
The Scag V-ride II has the safety presence on the platform. If the blades are running and you step off the machine will shut off. So if you fall off the mower the mower will shut off. The platform presence is much nicer than having it on the control bars.
Other than operator presense, this mower is comparable to most others and is very safe. It will hold a hill pretty well and can mow places most zero turns cannot.
Warranty:
Scag's commercial warranty for V-Ride 2 is very similar to the other brands across the industry. It is basically the same warranty as the Ferris and Wright warranty. It may not have the crazy high hour warranty that some other brands have but they actually honor a lot with their warranty. Check out the details here.
Their warranty covers a lot of things for 2 years. It also has a 3 year warranty for the spindles. This is important as it is a vital part of being able to cut grass.
Price:
Pricing for this mower can be found at your local Scag dealer.
The MSRP of the mowers is $8,253 – $11,547. When looking at the price of these stand ons it really depends on which deck and engine option you're looking at.
For example, the 32″ V-Ride II with 16 hp Kawasaki at $8,253 seems insanely expensive.
For the most part, Scag is a top of the line brand, with a top of the line price. There V-Ride II is no different. They are definitely expensive machines and a bit higher than most other comparable machines but they make great mowers.
It will be up to you to determine if the mower can justify the price. We always recommend demoing a mower before purchasing.
Overall:
| Performance: |  (4.0 / 5) |
| Cut Quality: |  (5.0 / 5) |
| Durability: |  (4.5 / 5) |
| Comfort: | (4.0 / 5) |
| Price: |  (3.5 / 5) |
| Overall: |  (4.2 / 5) |
Wrapping it up
The Scag V-Ride 2 is a great stand on mower. It has come a long way since the original V-Ride. It is now a very close competitor to Wright and Ferris. Now that this mower has been out for awhile it has truly proven itself and shown how great of a mower it is.
What's your opinion on the Scag V-Ride II?
Have you ever used the V-Ride II? Leave a comment below with your opinion on it!
The new VRide2 is a monster. We got a 36″ deck with a Kawi 19HP engine. With these types of mowers, you get what you pay for! We had Wright, and they were good, but this Scag puts Wright to shame. Everyone has their price point that they have to work with. But if you have the extra cash, this is the way to go. When I hear stories of guys spinning tires and scalping grass, I just think that you have to be more in tune with your machine.