Speediance 2S 1RM Exposed: How I Hit 388 lbs (And Why You Can't Find 260)
The Complaint
Someone bought a Speediance 2S and claimed it couldn't do 260 lbs.
I'd already shown the machine doing 260 lbs in my past videos. But there's a catch: I'd only shown it in Free Lift mode — not within an actual programmed workout.
This user went into Customize, typed in a value over 220 lbs, and the machine dropped them back down to 220. They concluded the machine was broken.
They were wrong.
The Customize Trap
Here's what happened: the Customize option has a hard limit of 220 lbs. You can type in anything higher, and it'll bounce back down.
This isn't a defect. It's by design.
The Speediance wants you to use the dynamic weight modes — Stamina, Gain Muscle, Strength — not Customize. These modes calculate weight as a percentage of your 1RM. They scale with your strength. They drive the progressive overload system.
Customize is for people who know exactly what they want and don't want the machine's logic interfering. But if you're using Customize, you're not using the system correctly — and you're not getting the benefits.
How to Actually Unlock 260+ Lbs
The key: use dynamic weight modes within a workout, not Customize.
Here's what I did:
I went into my custom deadlift workout — one set at 9 RM for 12 reps. The machine had me at 225 lbs for 12 reps.
I cranked the weight up. All the way to 260 lbs.
The machine accepted it. No bouncing back down. No error.
Why? Because I was in a programmed workout with dynamic weights, not in Customize.
I did 12 reps at 260 lbs. Then I checked my stats.
My new 1RM: **388 lbs**.
The machine calculated my true one-rep max based on what I'd just lifted. Not because I typed in a number — but because I actually lifted it.
The PR System Explained
This is where the Speediance's PR system comes in.
When you lift in a dynamic mode (Gain Muscle, Stamina, Strength), the machine tracks your reps and weight. If you hit more reps than prescribed at a given weight, it can trigger a PR — a new personal record.
But here's the catch: **unlimited sets doesn't automatically trigger PRs**.
If you turn on Unlimited Sets and do 16 reps when the prescription was 13, the machine ignores those extra reps for PR purposes. You have to manually increase the weight to get a new PR value.
I actually like this. On Tonal, doing extra reps would automatically recalculate your 1RM and bump your weights. That got annoying because some days you're just having a good day and doing extra reps doesn't mean you're actually stronger.
On Speediance, you control the progression. You decide when to bump the weight. The machine gives you the data, but you make the call.
Why This Matters for Progressive Overload
Here's the workflow:
1. Start with a weight where you can hit the prescribed reps comfortably
2. Do your sets
3. If you hit 15+ reps easily, bump the weight up lbs next session 2-5n4. When you bump the weight, you get a new PR value
5. That PR recalibrates all your workouts
This is safer than the Tonal approach. It's slower. It requires you to pay attention. But it also means the machine isn't aggressively increasing your weights when you're just having a good day.
I've been doing this for months. My deadlift 1RM has climbed from around 225 to 388 lbs — not because I forced it, but because I trusted the process.
What About The 220 Limit?
The 220 lb Customize limit only applies to Customize mode. In dynamic modes, you're not capped.
I've hit weights well above 220 lbs in multiple exercises. My barbell lat pulldown is regularly above that. My deadlift — as I showed — goes to 260+ easily.
If you're stuck at 220 and can't go higher, check which mode you're in. Switch from Customize to Gain Muscle or Strength. Set your target reps. Let the machine scale the weight based on your 1RM.
The Bottom Line
The user who claimed the machine couldn't do 260 lbs just didn't understand how the system works.
Don't use Customize if you want to lift heavy. Use dynamic weight modes within a workout. Let the machine track your PRs. Bump your weights when you're ready.
That's how you unlock 260. That's how you hit 388.
That's progressive overload on a digital resistance machine.