I'm not in the market for a mower, but this self-propelled model with a Honda engine, a 5-year warranty, electric start, and twin blades is a GREAT deal for $399!
Agreed! Not to mention the nexite deck (touch plastic, won't rust) and it's the more powerful 190 engine as opposed to the "entry" 160. I bought a lower model HRR216VXA about 5 years ago for this price and it's been great so far.
I don't believe this one has the blade brake clutch (Rotostop) which is one of the nicest features I've ever used. It makes it so you can stop the blades and let go of the mower without shutting down the engine. Very useful for moving stuff out of the way etc. You have to get the $730 or $850 models though to also get the 190 engine and nexite deck.
My Honda has has had drive mechanism problems and the factory won't talk to U. They will only tell U to go to a dealer; that's the problem 'cuz the dealer is not nearby and won't service the thing anyhow and just quotes a ridiculous repair cost. While the engines are much better than the B&S ones, the rest of the mower has the same bad design in the drive. H keeps trying new designs and mods but these are not much better. That said, I just cranked up the H to use only to collect leaves; only low speed works with the drive, so for this its OK. The thing was not used since last Fall and it started up after a shot of carb cleaner and some fresh gas.
I don't believe this one has the blade brake clutch (Rotostop) which is one of the nicest features I've ever used. It makes it so you can stop the blades and let go of the mower without shutting down the engine. Very useful for moving stuff out of the way etc. You have to get the $730 or $850 models though to also get the 190 engine and nexite deck.
One more thing to break. How hard is it to pull a cord to start an already warm/primed engine?
While the engines are much better than the B&S ones, the rest of the mower has the same bad design in the drive.
Decades ago Honda engines were more refined than B&S. In recent years you'd never notice a difference except for the excessive price... "maybe" needing to pull it twice instead of once to start if comparing against low-end B&S engines but how much trouble is that really when you already have the cord in your hand, compared to something that follows like mowing?
There is a difference in the cheap B&S models in that the carb uses a diaphragm that needs replaced every few years, but that takes only 5 minutes and $5, and you can just clean the carb while you're at it which should be done on any mower at least every few years if not essential due to the leaner running engines we have today.
There are people who state things like Hondas are quieter, without realizing that anyone can lower the RPM or put a quieter muffler on their mower if they prefer that, with the associated loss of power that comes with it.
Comments & Reviews (7)
I don't believe this one has the blade brake clutch (Rotostop) which is one of the nicest features I've ever used. It makes it so you can stop the blades and let go of the mower without shutting down the engine. Very useful for moving stuff out of the way etc. You have to get the $730 or $850 models though to also get the 190 engine and nexite deck.
One more thing to break. How hard is it to pull a cord to start an already warm/primed engine?
Decades ago Honda engines were more refined than B&S. In recent years you'd never notice a difference except for the excessive price... "maybe" needing to pull it twice instead of once to start if comparing against low-end B&S engines but how much trouble is that really when you already have the cord in your hand, compared to something that follows like mowing?
There is a difference in the cheap B&S models in that the carb uses a diaphragm that needs replaced every few years, but that takes only 5 minutes and $5, and you can just clean the carb while you're at it which should be done on any mower at least every few years if not essential due to the leaner running engines we have today.
There are people who state things like Hondas are quieter, without realizing that anyone can lower the RPM or put a quieter muffler on their mower if they prefer that, with the associated loss of power that comes with it.
Thank you!