Thank you for this video. My old, crappy Husqvarna has permanently died. I've been doing some research and your videos have been a huge help. Heading tomorrow to my local Honda dealer picking one up. Thank you so much. Great videos.
Just bought the push model, HRN216PKA. Bags/pulverizes leaves very well, which is what I'd hoped for. Simple, well-built...I'm actually thinking about buying another one and leaving it in the box since these mowers are going the way of the dinosaur. Too bad.
What a difference a year makes, with Honda exiting the market. Maybe offering 9 models or selling so many engines to others wasn’t very bright. The roto-stop and variable cruise are both welcome features, but not without long term maintenance requirements. Still worth the expense. After killing my original HR215 Masters out of stupidity I bought a used one I’m now diagnosing. I also bought a used HRX217HYA because I wanted the same features.
I have a dumb (to most) question. I like to push my mower and use the drive when I need it (I'm old and need the exercise). Can you do that with the HRX21K6VKA or does it "click/cause issues"? I'm hoping this model will allow it. I believe it's belt-driven.
@@shanemarcotte2062 personally I skip the electric start and go Roto stop. Believe it or not there are a fair number of people who have a hard time pulling the rope on a lawn mower and that would be one greater reason to get an electric start.
Would you buy the hydrostatic machine over the non hydro. I’m looking at the HRX217HYA for $699 or the HRX217HYA for $879. For $180 extra dollars you get the blade stop and the cruise control. Is it worth it?
@@Carlsmower for the extra $180? I bought mine from a Honda dealer Friday. When I got it home I realized the gasket was on the frame than I loooked underneath and saw the carburetor bowl and float was missing. The Honda dealer took it back and was going to resell it for brand new price. I’m suspecting this was a return like I did. I didn’t even put gasoline inside it. Moral of story, I’d rather have it boxed and shipped to my house after this as I know it be complete and nothing wrong with it. This dealer had it out of the box and ready to go they said. For $875+ tax I’d rather it not be out of the box. Just me.
I have the blade brake on my KAAZ and I love it! It's a great mower and powered by Honda but very heavy for a walk behind mower. Great drive though, so bit of a bulldozer!
Hey Josh - I'm looking to replace a hedge trimmer in my equipment inventory. I prefer the 30" blade length. What's your take on the stihl vs Echo model (i.e. price, power, weight, etc.)?
For the current area I mow I would definitely go HRX. If it were any bigger or rougher I would look to go with the HRC. But currently those are like unicorns
@@Carlsmower thank you. Hrx217vka a solid machine? I’m updating from the hRR216vka that I’m giving my parents. Had to replace the wheels every season on the thing
What a salesman! Nice job. The only problem is the HRX Versamow's Nexite deck will bust- cracks form and holes can be punched through it. I have a 2013 HRX217VKA3 that I really was excited to get and look forward to what: a 15, 20, 25+ year machine! Not even close. The Nexite deck is crap. And I am not talking abuse or extravagantly exceeding its operating limits or mistake or accident or ran over a manhole cover or pick your flavor, "duh, I guess I am an idiot..duh" scenario. The polymer can degenerate and become brittle. And so normal use on a homeowner lawn you've done for 9 years and poof....hole in the deck appears and trashed machine. Never seen anything like it on steel or aluminum. Frankly, it's an overpriced, over lauded, phony-ass premium, in actuality throw-away product after maybe 7 years. The Nexite lifetime warranty to original purchaser is a cruel tease. Honda will in all cases. call it outside influences that broke the deck and shove it up your ass. And then you're sheepishly going back to them to buy a $200 deck (making them richer) and rebuild your machine on your time, because you can't use it or sell it. But keep selling! I saw your Exmark video. That's a real machine! Fuck Honda. They're an old washed-out whore making millions on fraudulent quality.😁
The Exmark is an awesome mower. Unfortunately no mower deck is immune to problems. We see aluminum decks with holes blown through and steel decks rusted out. Often the problems are self induced, even if it was not intentional.
LOL damn dude! Tell us how you REALLY feel. But honestly, you just made me feel much better about going with the $469.00 HRN model with steel deck. Rust out! I DGAF :)
In this price range they are probably the best build quality. If you look at the honda that cost the same as the exmark it is built a lot better. Snapper and timemaster are the only ones close for the same money they have briggs engines which aren't bad but honda is better quality parts. Snapper hasn't been updated since briggs bought it they are nice but don't have a lot of what new mowers have it will last forever though or as long as the engine and you can swap it with 4 bolts.
You are paying for the warranty work the mower shop. At Lowe's etc. You can opt out of the warranty and that is your savings. The big boxes will sub out warranty work and no telling how soon it will get done. Mow shop does everything in house no middle men to screw stuff up.
Thank you for this video. My old, crappy Husqvarna has permanently died. I've been doing some research and your videos have been a huge help. Heading tomorrow to my local Honda dealer picking one up. Thank you so much. Great videos.
Thank you for taking the time to put videos like this together!!
We hope it helps
Carls you tube videos on all your products are very informative, researched and just down right Awesome!!!! Thank you
Just bought the push model, HRN216PKA. Bags/pulverizes leaves very well, which is what I'd hoped for. Simple, well-built...I'm actually thinking about buying another one and leaving it in the box since these mowers are going the way of the dinosaur. Too bad.
Great video! Thank you
For $200, I can pull the cord two extra times, after each bag empty. And not repair the additional parts to break.
Do the valve covers on these have sealant on them?
What a difference a year makes, with Honda exiting the market. Maybe offering 9 models or selling so many engines to others wasn’t very bright.
The roto-stop and variable cruise are both welcome features, but not without long term maintenance requirements. Still worth the expense.
After killing my original HR215 Masters out of stupidity I bought a used one I’m now diagnosing. I also bought a used HRX217HYA because I wanted the same features.
I have a dumb (to most) question. I like to push my mower and use the drive when I need it (I'm old and need the exercise). Can you do that with the HRX21K6VKA or does it "click/cause issues"? I'm hoping this model will allow it. I believe it's belt-driven.
I want the HRS216VKA but I can’t find it anywhere. Did Honda stop making that model too?
It’s gone. With the discontinuation of the GCV160 they dropped the HRS series. There may be a few out there somewhere, but don’t expect to see many
@@Carlsmower Damm, guess I have to start looking at other brands for a side discharge.
The great electric start issue 🤣. We have been missing the exact same models. I hope all of us start seeing some. Great video and thank you!
But when?
@@Carlsmower We received 2 HRX VLAs and 2 HZAs last week. I laughed at the quantities and we've sold them already.
i dont get it. Like it's so hard to pull start a lawn mower (with one pull on my Honda HRN). Weak? Lazy? Tell me??
@@shanemarcotte2062 personally I skip the electric start and go Roto stop.
Believe it or not there are a fair number of people who have a hard time pulling the rope on a lawn mower and that would be one greater reason to get an electric start.
@@Carlsmower Exactly. We get plenty of people with shoulder problems and things like that.
Very cool line up!!
Nice to see so many together
Honda has to many models, they could cut the choices in half and still have a great lineup
Would you buy the hydrostatic machine over the non hydro. I’m looking at the HRX217HYA for $699 or the HRX217HYA for $879. For $180 extra dollars you get the blade stop and the cruise control. Is it worth it?
So the VKA and the HYA? Depending on yard and whether you primarily bag or mulch, but more than likely I’d step up.
@@Carlsmower for the extra $180? I bought mine from a Honda dealer Friday. When I got it home I realized the gasket was on the frame than I loooked underneath and saw the carburetor bowl and float was missing. The Honda dealer took it back and was going to resell it for brand new price. I’m suspecting this was a return like I did. I didn’t even put gasoline inside it. Moral of story, I’d rather have it boxed and shipped to my house after this as I know it be complete and nothing wrong with it. This dealer had it out of the box and ready to go they said. For $875+ tax I’d rather it not be out of the box. Just me.
@@Carlsmower both commercial?
@@appleztooranges nope. Both top end home owner
I have the blade brake on my KAAZ and I love it! It's a great mower and powered by Honda but very heavy for a walk behind mower. Great drive though, so bit of a bulldozer!
Now we’re talking foreign models. Not a lot of Kaaz in the US. They were a Honda aluminum deck knock off if I recall correctly
Hey Josh - I'm looking to replace a hedge trimmer in my equipment inventory. I prefer the 30" blade length. What's your take on the stihl vs Echo model (i.e. price, power, weight, etc.)?
Where are you going to get the best support? Have you watched any of our hedge trimmer videos? Have you considered the HL91?
If money wasn’t a concern would you get an hrx?
For the current area I mow I would definitely go HRX. If it were any bigger or rougher I would look to go with the HRC. But currently those are like unicorns
@@Carlsmower thank you. Hrx217vka a solid machine? I’m updating from the hRR216vka that I’m giving my parents. Had to replace the wheels every season on the thing
@@appleztooranges Definitely a step up and it does not have the rollback resistance which should save your tires a lot versus the HRR
Which one is the best? Make this easy for me
My Fave HRXVYA
Glorious.
It sure is
I feel like Peyton Manning is teaching me about mowers.
I think he would have thrown in a few more X's and O's.
🤣
Omaha Omaha
Nice review! Price points would’ve been helpful in your review though…. Come on man
i noticed my GVC wasnt in that group
GCV is the engine model #
What a salesman! Nice job. The only problem is the HRX Versamow's Nexite deck will bust- cracks form and holes can be punched through it. I have a 2013 HRX217VKA3 that I really was excited to get and look forward to what: a 15, 20, 25+ year machine! Not even close. The Nexite deck is crap. And I am not talking abuse or extravagantly exceeding its operating limits or mistake or accident or ran over a manhole cover or pick your flavor, "duh, I guess I am an idiot..duh" scenario. The polymer can degenerate and become brittle. And so normal use on a homeowner lawn you've done for 9 years and poof....hole in the deck appears and trashed machine. Never seen anything like it on steel or aluminum. Frankly, it's an overpriced, over lauded, phony-ass premium, in actuality throw-away product after maybe 7 years. The Nexite lifetime warranty to original purchaser is a cruel tease. Honda will in all cases. call it outside influences that broke the deck and shove it up your ass. And then you're sheepishly going back to them to buy a $200 deck (making them richer) and rebuild your machine on your time, because you can't use it or sell it. But keep selling! I saw your Exmark video. That's a real machine! Fuck Honda. They're an old washed-out whore making millions on fraudulent quality.😁
The Exmark is an awesome mower.
Unfortunately no mower deck is immune to problems. We see aluminum decks with holes blown through and steel decks rusted out. Often the problems are self induced, even if it was not intentional.
LOL damn dude! Tell us how you REALLY feel. But honestly, you just made me feel much better about going with the $469.00 HRN model with steel deck. Rust out! I DGAF :)
In this price range they are probably the best build quality. If you look at the honda that cost the same as the exmark it is built a lot better. Snapper and timemaster are the only ones close for the same money they have briggs engines which aren't bad but honda is better quality parts. Snapper hasn't been updated since briggs bought it they are nice but don't have a lot of what new mowers have it will last forever though or as long as the engine and you can swap it with 4 bolts.
Just got the Cadillac of mowers for my lawn business
If the local guy sold them for the same price as big box I would gladly shop there
He’s worth paying a bit more for.
You are paying for the warranty work the mower shop. At Lowe's etc. You can opt out of the warranty and that is your savings. The big boxes will sub out warranty work and no telling how soon it will get done. Mow shop does everything in house no middle men to screw stuff up.
This Is Far Better.Than Sex.Richard.