As a pro gardener. I have been using rma 448s for years now. The grass boxes last forever. The only thing I have had to replace is the rear wheels and pinion drive. Cheap and easy to do.
The petrol version looks to be discontinued, it's no longer on the Stihl website. I have one, it's a very good mower that has replaced my aging Hayter Harrier.
Hi josh,great review but i cant really see any stripes,i have the petrol rear roller stihl rm 655 rs which is a brilliant machine and leaves a great stripe,it weighs 57 kg so almost twice as heavy as the battery version,the mono handle is fantastic as it makes it much easier to get access to the on😊 grass box,also the grass box is mich better than a bag as its sturdy and easy to wash out,maybe you could do a review of that mower sometime 👍
Thanks Eddie, yeah a heavier mower would leave a better stripe, but as it’s designed at the domestic market, not commercial they have had to compromise to get this to sell.
The mono handle is great. I believe the roller is the way it is due to keeping weight down for some domestic users. But the flip side a heavier roller will leave a better stripe. If we have used this on shorter grass I recon it would have left a nicer stripe.
I have the petrol engines version of this mower. It has the same rear roller. It does leave a stripe, but ultimately striping performance is directly related to the weight of the overall mower. The more weight on the roller, the better the stripe. Nothing stripes like my Hayter Harrier (for a rotary) but it feels like it weighs a ton compared to my 545Vr.
For us, the best thing about Stihl mowers is their wet collection. All the new ones they are bringing out seem to have ditched the high lift blades in favour of multi purpose blades which will inevitably reduce their wet grass performance. If the trend continues we may have to start looking elsewhere for the mowers we use on rainy days. That would be a shame as used Viking/Stihl mowers for wet days for about 15 years now.
Agree a high lift blade is the way forward for collection. But being this is a domestic machine and not designed for commercial use, I would say this is better for the people it is designed for.
Hopefully there is a universal high lift blade that would fit on it. Watched another video where it stopped every 8ft when cutting wet grass because of the sensors 😬
Hi Tinker, im a commercial gardener, and I thought the same about the hopper design, ive had my petrol rm448 mower for 3 years and the plastic clips have never let me down
@dazza14778 Thank you for that. Just when I saw Josh shaking it, my thoughts were they are going to break but it's good when you get replies back like yours
I’ve ordered one but looks like the supplier I’ve used is waiting for them them to arrive. I had an ego mower last year and took it back due to there being battery/charger issues and been waiting for stihl to bring something out that takes the 300 s batteries now they have I’ excited to see how it does.
Update it was the end of June now the end of July. Not sure still know their arse form their elbows as that’s crap lead times to be giving your suppliers you either had them in stock or never had them and lied. Stihl should be embarrassed with themselves.
For some reason, my Mountfield SP505R cut down to -15mm! What's the price on this mower with batteries? Don't know if Stihl have done the same as Husqvarna, but their prices have gone through the roof!!!😮
Awesome video would love to see one on the RMA 453 Cordless Lawn Mower - AP System , we have recently brought and use a RMA 443vc and at the moment I have only a couple of problems 1 being the single leaver arm weve been running the mower for just over 3months and it saging already , 2 being the grass box is a bit flimsy the clip doesnt always clip in, oh sorry I lied 1 more thing is the ramp bit that is part of the catcher box does get in the way ,I dont know why so many of the brands are doing this , we cut the one off the Husqvarna box, but apart from that the RMA 443vc has been a little beast , really hoping to find a good deal on the 453 at some point
I had one, but sold it on. I didn't think the grass box was very good, blew clippings out when full, and the box full indicator wasn't very reliable. But it did give a nice cut.
Great video! Thanks for giving us all a demo. I’m considering selling my old Honda hrh 536. I’m hoping this one will be lighter? How do you find the weight of it? Thanks
They’ve been using this design on their boxes for several years now, even when they were branded as Viking. Agree I prefer a fabric grass box. But being this is a domestic mower they generally fit a plastic box on as the air flow is more consistent and does not block up like a fabric grass bag. Domestic users are known for not cleaning their grass bags and then moan their mower is not collecting like it used to haha.
Thanks for the video. The materials used look very flimsy and weak, for example the speed adjuster had a lot of play, the roller looks cheap and motor stalled at 15mm. Not convinced this is better than the Honda powered mower you showed recently.
The lawn we used it on had never been cut that low, so a lot of thatch in what is predominately field grass. Being a domestic machine, it would be made lighter weight. Certainly not a commercial machine.
This is almost perfect for what I want. Just wish Stihl would ditch the boxes and start using bags like almost every other manufacturer has (I know Stihl has a couple of professional mowers with bags but nothing in the AK line, especially with a rear roller).
For us, the plastic box is probably the best thing about Stihl mowers. It makes their collection in wet grass far superior to anything that uses a canvas bag. When you regularly have to be using them in the rain it's priceless.
There are reasons I consider going back to petrol mowers. Cheaper to buy. More selection of equipment. Better suction. But I just don’t want to deal with the weight, the fuel, and the NOISE. I’m not going back
Nice Demo Josh having a flap not a large plastic mulch plug is a good thing Thanks again
100% love this design 👍🏼
Hi Josh, Great demonstration looks a good battery mower, take care
Thanks Shaun 👍🏼
As a pro gardener. I have been using rma 448s for years now. The grass boxes last forever. The only thing I have had to replace is the rear wheels and pinion drive. Cheap and easy to do.
As an owner of an RMA 339C this looks fantastic and an upgrade in every single way, dare I look at the price tag...
It is for sure, you will have to give it a Google 👍🏼
Cheapest price at the moment is around 550 for a bare unit.
@@LeeFrancis-f6y Hi, wheres that, am a gardener having the 239c thinking of this 448rv for larger garden lawns, seen only for around 700£
This is something I will definitely look at I have a Honda Hrb 475 at the moment but one of these would be nice maybe the petrol version as well
The petrol version looks to be discontinued, it's no longer on the Stihl website. I have one, it's a very good mower that has replaced my aging Hayter Harrier.
Hi josh,great review but i cant really see any stripes,i have the petrol rear roller stihl rm 655 rs which is a brilliant machine and leaves a great stripe,it weighs 57 kg so almost twice as heavy as the battery version,the mono handle is fantastic as it makes it much easier to get access to the on😊 grass box,also the grass box is mich better than a bag as its sturdy and easy to wash out,maybe you could do a review of that mower sometime 👍
Thanks Eddie, yeah a heavier mower would leave a better stripe, but as it’s designed at the domestic market, not commercial they have had to compromise to get this to sell.
Looks good, I especially like the handle and the folding mechanism but the rear roller looks tiny and barely leaves a stripe
The mono handle is great. I believe the roller is the way it is due to keeping weight down for some domestic users. But the flip side a heavier roller will leave a better stripe. If we have used this on shorter grass I recon it would have left a nicer stripe.
I have the petrol engines version of this mower. It has the same rear roller. It does leave a stripe, but ultimately striping performance is directly related to the weight of the overall mower. The more weight on the roller, the better the stripe. Nothing stripes like my Hayter Harrier (for a rotary) but it feels like it weighs a ton compared to my 545Vr.
For us, the best thing about Stihl mowers is their wet collection. All the new ones they are bringing out seem to have ditched the high lift blades in favour of multi purpose blades which will inevitably reduce their wet grass performance. If the trend continues we may have to start looking elsewhere for the mowers we use on rainy days. That would be a shame as used Viking/Stihl mowers for wet days for about 15 years now.
Agree a high lift blade is the way forward for collection. But being this is a domestic machine and not designed for commercial use, I would say this is better for the people it is designed for.
Hopefully there is a universal high lift blade that would fit on it. Watched another video where it stopped every 8ft when cutting wet grass because of the sensors 😬
Wow. For the mower and a couple of batteries you are looking at £1000 or thereabouts. Perhaps Cobra will get my business?
Great demonstration Josh, it's a nice looking machine but the grass box lid looks a little flimsy for my liking 👍
Hi Tinker, im a commercial gardener, and I thought the same about the hopper design, ive had my petrol rm448 mower for 3 years and the plastic clips have never let me down
@dazza14778 Thank you for that. Just when I saw Josh shaking it, my thoughts were they are going to break but it's good when you get replies back like yours
@@tinkeringtaylor3053 so much stronger than I expected it to be, I thought new hopper ever year, but the damn thing keeps on going 🤣
Thanks Nev, didn’t notice it was, I will take a look 👍🏼
Hi Josh, Can you demo the Stihl RMA 453 PV Please?? I'm looking at buying one shortly. Thank You.
I’ve ordered one but looks like the supplier I’ve used is waiting for them them to arrive. I had an ego mower last year and took it back due to there being battery/charger issues and been waiting for stihl to bring something out that takes the 300 s batteries now they have I’ excited to see how it does.
Update it was the end of June now the end of July. Not sure still know their arse form their elbows as that’s crap lead times to be giving your suppliers you either had them in stock or never had them and lied. Stihl should be embarrassed with themselves.
For some reason, my Mountfield SP505R cut down to -15mm! What's the price on this mower with batteries? Don't know if Stihl have done the same as Husqvarna, but their prices have gone through the roof!!!😮
Give a Google, prices vary so much 👍🏼
Awesome video would love to see one on the RMA 453 Cordless Lawn Mower - AP System , we have recently brought and use a RMA 443vc and at the moment I have only a couple of problems 1 being the single leaver arm weve been running the mower for just over 3months and it saging already , 2 being the grass box is a bit flimsy the clip doesnt always clip in, oh sorry I lied 1 more thing is the ramp bit that is part of the catcher box does get in the way ,I dont know why so many of the brands are doing this , we cut the one off the Husqvarna box, but apart from that the RMA 443vc has been a little beast , really hoping to find a good deal on the 453 at some point
would you recommend for commercial or is there one out for commercial
Looks like a great bit of kit, you should also check out the Hayter Hawk 43 I’ve just got one and it’s a great mower and gives a great stripe.
Thanks, we will take a look 👍🏼
I had one, but sold it on. I didn't think the grass box was very good, blew clippings out when full, and the box full indicator wasn't very reliable. But it did give a nice cut.
Stihl we need an AP mower with a rear roller, why only RK 😭
Agree a heavy AP version
Great video! Thanks for giving us all a demo. I’m considering selling my old Honda hrh 536. I’m hoping this one will be lighter? How do you find the weight of it? Thanks
Hi, the weights is around 25kg, heavy for a cordless, thinking of upgrading from a 239c which I use daily, Cheers
We need an AP battery variable drive roller mower in 2025!
100%
What is it like on a mild slope? Powerful enough to drive up it?
This is filmed on a mild slope, no lack of traction and plenty of power 👍🏼
I thought the lowest cut was 20
I would really question how long that grass box will last, it looks like a plastic laundry basket.
They’ve been using this design on their boxes for several years now, even when they were branded as Viking. Agree I prefer a fabric grass box. But being this is a domestic mower they generally fit a plastic box on as the air flow is more consistent and does not block up like a fabric grass bag. Domestic users are known for not cleaning their grass bags and then moan their mower is not collecting like it used to haha.
Thanks for the video. The materials used look very flimsy and weak, for example the speed adjuster had a lot of play, the roller looks cheap and motor stalled at 15mm. Not convinced this is better than the Honda powered mower you showed recently.
The lawn we used it on had never been cut that low, so a lot of thatch in what is predominately field grass. Being a domestic machine, it would be made lighter weight. Certainly not a commercial machine.
This is almost perfect for what I want. Just wish Stihl would ditch the boxes and start using bags like almost every other manufacturer has (I know Stihl has a couple of professional mowers with bags but nothing in the AK line, especially with a rear roller).
Why ditch the box?? Its a preferred feature. I wish the others would ditch the bags and use boxes lol
Hey Adam, the fabric bags are great if you can keep them clean for airflow, the plastic is so much better and easier to clean,
For us, the plastic box is probably the best thing about Stihl mowers. It makes their collection in wet grass far superior to anything that uses a canvas bag. When you regularly have to be using them in the rain it's priceless.
@ParkersGardens spot on, even in wet grass the plastic hopper works 100% better than fabric bags
The box is very sturdy, far easier to empty than a bag, and tells you when it's full. No need to ditch the box.
That is the ugliest lawn mower yet produced. I love Stihl but could never see myself buying this mower.
I love Stihl but I Stihl wouldn't buy a battery mower
Why is that?
There are reasons I consider going back to petrol mowers. Cheaper to buy. More selection of equipment. Better suction. But I just don’t want to deal with the weight, the fuel, and the NOISE.
I’m not going back