# VX5/setup questions: reverse and Throttle in Default gear mode
**URL:** https://foil.zone/t/vx5-setup-questions-reverse-and-throttle-in-default-gear-mode/26939
**Category:** Build, Repair & Mod
**Tags:** remote-control
**Created:** [August 4, 2026, 5:44pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/vx5-setup-questions-reverse-and-throttle-in-default-gear-mode/26939 "2026-08-04T17:44:36Z")
**Posts on this page:** 13
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Rhodesengr](https://foil.zone/u/Rhodesengr)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2026, 5:44pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/vx5-setup-questions-reverse-and-throttle-in-default-gear-mode/26939/1 "2026-08-04T17:44:36Z")
Hey folks. I bought a turnkey system from Flipsky. This one:
[https://flipsky.net/products/flipsky-sup-motor-fin-thruster-2800-4200w-waterproof-underwater-thruster-electric-boat-thruster-for-rov-rc-boat-jet-boards-outboard-motor-drive-boat-jet](https://flipsky.net/products/flipsky-sup-motor-fin-thruster-2800-4200w-waterproof-underwater-thruster-electric-boat-thruster-for-rov-rc-boat-jet-boards-outboard-motor-drive-boat-jet)
Except I asked them to send it with the VX5 remote instead of the VX3. I am hoping that some of you here are pretty familiar with the VX5 running the FT85CS ESC.
It is a turnkey setup and it basically worked right away. However, there are two things I noticed that aren’t ideal.
The main one is that I can’t get the motor to run in reverse. I believe I have been through all the VX5 related settings but no reverse. The brake trigger does operate a brake function stopping the motor quickly but I have not been able to get the motor to actually run in reverse. I am planning to use this thruster on a Kayak. I also have the Bixpy motor and it does both forward and reverse. Maybe I have to actually change settings in the ESC? I have some RC buggies and and the brake operate an actual brake on the first press but operates reverse if I release and press it again. So I guess that is what I was expecting (or hoping for).
The second thing has to do with the default “gear” setup. In the Default gear setup, there are three gears L, M, H and you can set throttle % for each. What I see when I run in this mode is that the throttle is basically on or off. Maybe that is intended but not what I intuitively expected. Once I get past some deadband, the motor runs but the speed doesn’t change with throttle position. If I change the gear setup to 8 gears, then the throttle does vary the motor speed as I would expect.
There were a couple of “gliches” with my order. They shipped me the wrong power cord for the battery charger. I am in California but the shipped the charge with the Euro 220V power cord.
The second glitch is they assembled the thruster backwards relative to how the slip-in fin-socket is mounted to my Kayak (Sea Eagle 300X). The fin-socket is attached so the fin slides in from front to back. As received, if I put the Flipsky in that way, the motor is pointing the wrong way. It’s not a huge deal because I opened the housing and flipped the ESC over. The only problem is that the ESC has mounting holes on its bottom and when flipped over there are no matching holes in the housing. The cover holds the ESC down pretty tight so it isn’t a big deal but just one of those little glitches. At least I was able to change it. Kind of made me wonder if there is a standard for the direction of the fin socket. My Bixpy motor came with its adapter pointed the right way.
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### Author:  [@ludwig\_bre](https://foil.zone/u/ludwig_bre)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2026, 5:59pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/vx5-setup-questions-reverse-and-throttle-in-default-gear-mode/26939/2 "2026-08-04T17:59:54Z")
> [@Rhodesengr](#):
>
> Maybe I have to actually change settings in the ESC?
Pretty sure you will have to enable reverse in the ESC
> [@Rhodesengr](#):
>
> What I see when I run in this mode is that the throttle is basically on or off
Out of the water or with load? This behavior is normal for current control, without load it will go straight to maximum rpm
Try it in the water, it will be fine
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### Author:  [@Rhodesengr](https://foil.zone/u/Rhodesengr)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2026, 6:47pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/vx5-setup-questions-reverse-and-throttle-in-default-gear-mode/26939/3 "2026-08-04T18:47:35Z")
It was out of water on the bench last night. I won’t be able to try this out for real until December. My Kayak is down in Mexico and my next trip is not until December. I also have to ship the flipsky stuff down there.
I guess we’ll see about the throttle control. It’s just that the throttle was variable in 8 gear mode but not Default mode.
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### Author:  [@Foilguy](https://foil.zone/u/Foilguy)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2026, 7:50pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/vx5-setup-questions-reverse-and-throttle-in-default-gear-mode/26939/4 "2026-08-04T19:50:20Z")
I have never tried to run my efoil prop in reverse so can’t 100% say the following is factual.
In VESC setup in my 75200 there was an option for “no reverse” which I chose. I would assume your vesc would need to be “enabled” to allow reverse to happen at all.
The VX5 has a lot of variables so my recommendation is to download the full user manual that matches the ver of firmware you are using. See VX5 topic for the link.
The reverse option is a little different if you are using esk8 or surf. Here is relevant page from manual
The gear stuff in a little confusing. The VX3 version of the remote came with the H,M and L ability and that carried over to VX5. The VX5 added in the ability to use “gears”. They are both ways to limit the max output. The number of “gears” just chops the max into more than the 3 pieces of H,M and L.
Again page from manual
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### Author:  [@Rhodesengr](https://foil.zone/u/Rhodesengr)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2026, 10:28pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/vx5-setup-questions-reverse-and-throttle-in-default-gear-mode/26939/5 "2026-08-04T22:28:11Z")
I did download the full manual last night before even turning the things on. One thing that is not clear is if 100% of the ESC settings are programmable via the VX5. A lot of them in “board setup” are very low-level ESC-ish (motor pole count, etc). There may well be some setting that aren’t ported to the VX5. I spent a while last night digging for any setting that mentioned reverse but I may have missed something.
Also, I did start a chat with Flipsky last night and had one reply this morning. between time zone difference and communication difficulties, the conversation goes slow. Their reply related to the VX3 even though my order clearly was for a VX5. I think they were saying there is no reverse available but I can’t be 100% sure that’s what they said. I tried to ask a clearer question so we’ll see what come back the next time.
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### Author:  [@Foilguy](https://foil.zone/u/Foilguy)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2026, 11:31pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/vx5-setup-questions-reverse-and-throttle-in-default-gear-mode/26939/6 "2026-08-04T23:31:52Z")
I may be misinterpreting your post but there seems to be a little confusion about how to change options in the VESC.
I’m not familiar with your VESC as I’ve never even seen one but the settings I made to my 75200 VESC was via VESCTOOLS running on a PC or mobile phone connected to the actual VESC. I think your VESC is a Flipsky in-house model so I think they have their own equivalent to VESCTOOLS but the premise is the same.
The setup of the remote (VX5) is a separate exercise in my case and my assumption it is with yours as well
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### Author:  [@Rhodesengr](https://foil.zone/u/Rhodesengr)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2026, 12:21am UTC](https://foil.zone/t/vx5-setup-questions-reverse-and-throttle-in-default-gear-mode/26939/7 "2026-08-05T00:21:08Z")
Well my ESC is a non-VESC. Here is the product link if want to take a quick look.
> **[Flipsky IP68 Waterproof NON-VESC FT85CS 85V 150A With Aluminum Enclosure For...](https://flipsky.net/products/flipsky-ip68-waterproof-non-vesc-ft85cs-85v-150a-with-aluminum-enclosure-for-electric-scooter-ebike-speed-controller-electric-motorcycle-robotics-efoil-drones?_pos=1&_psq=FT85CS&_psid=7673d59fd&_ss=e&_v=1.0)**
>
> Specifications : Firmware: V1.6 and above (firmware update via Flipsky ESC Tool supported) Voltage: 14V-85V (safe for 4-20S) Continuous Current:85V/150A (Values depend on the mounting, ambient temperature and air/water circulation around the device.)...
In the description under features is says:
- Programmable via Flipsky ESC Tool to be compatible with multi-types of motors, different battery voltages and multiple control methods.
- Programmable via Flipsky remote controller VX4Pro(remote firmware version: VX4Pro\_V1.2 and above).
So ESC Tool is the non VESC version of the PC software. It also mentions programming via the VX4 remote which may mean also with the VX5 but they didn’t update the website. If you look in that full manual, there are two main sections in the setup menu: Remote and Board. The Board setting (look to me) like typical ESC settings. The question though is whether they ported 100% of the available settings or just some of them. Unless they tell me in chat, there would be no way to know without firing up the ESC Tool and comparing. But in any case, a lot of the ESC settings are available in the VX5.
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### Author:  [@Foilguy](https://foil.zone/u/Foilguy)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2026, 1:26am UTC](https://foil.zone/t/vx5-setup-questions-reverse-and-throttle-in-default-gear-mode/26939/8 "2026-08-05T01:26:01Z")
Flipsky website has a blog section where they post support material. This is what I was attempting to explain. Perhaps it’s possible to program your esc with a remote but I wouldn’t know how to do that.
> **[Differences Between FT ESC and FSESC](https://flipsky.net/blogs/vesc-tool/differences-between-ft-esc-and-fsesc)**
>
> Flipsky’s electronic speed controllers (ESCs) can be divided into two series: VESC (FSESC) and NON-VESC (FT ESC). Both series ESCs are programmable and offer strong compatibility with different batteries and motors, making them well-suited for...
You might find a specific blog for your model in the blog section
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### Author:  [@Rhodesengr](https://foil.zone/u/Rhodesengr)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2026, 3:16am UTC](https://foil.zone/t/vx5-setup-questions-reverse-and-throttle-in-default-gear-mode/26939/9 "2026-08-05T03:16:48Z")
I heard back from Flipsky:
" VX5 Esurf mode supports forward only with braking; reverse isn’t available there yet."
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### Author:  [@Foilguy](https://foil.zone/u/Foilguy)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2026, 4:34am UTC](https://foil.zone/t/vx5-setup-questions-reverse-and-throttle-in-default-gear-mode/26939/10 "2026-08-05T04:34:52Z")
Perhaps you can run it in rsk8 mode and get what you wanr
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### Author:  [@Rhodesengr](https://foil.zone/u/Rhodesengr)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2026, 3:23pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/vx5-setup-questions-reverse-and-throttle-in-default-gear-mode/26939/11 "2026-08-05T15:23:33Z")
I tried Esk8t mode and I did not see and reverse actually working. I did get another reply from Flpsky:
_Yes Mark, in Default mode the throttle is basically on/off at each gear; only 8‑gear mode gives smooth variable control._
_We’ll pass your reverse request to our engineers._
So what I observed in Default mode seem to be what they intended. It looks like they are open to adding reverse. Hopefully it’s just a firmware change.
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### Author:  [@bigben](https://foil.zone/u/bigben)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2026, 8:40pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/vx5-setup-questions-reverse-and-throttle-in-default-gear-mode/26939/12 "2026-08-05T20:40:23Z")
In my experience they’re pretty open to firmware tweaks. I had them completely redesign a version of the VX4 for us for esk8. They absolutely nailed it.
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### Author:  [@Foilguy](https://foil.zone/u/Foilguy)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2026, 9:28pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/vx5-setup-questions-reverse-and-throttle-in-default-gear-mode/26939/13 "2026-08-05T21:28:26Z")
@Rhodesengr
Did you get confirmation that the ESC can be programmed via a remote?