Excellent and very helpful video! Thank you for posting. I looked up Carl’s and y’all are completely on the other side of the country from me, otherwise, if you were anywhere fairly nearby, I’d be buying from you. Regardless, much appreciation for explaining the model differences. I’m taking your advice and looking for a local dealer, though they are getting harder and harder to find as we all surrender our lives to the purely transactional bid box stores.
After pouring over many comparisons and articles, this video really nailed the differences right. The explanation on the advantages of the mixed mode bag/much system on the HRX based on the season really helped a lot. Very nice job dude!
Exactly what I wanted to know... Knew I wanted a Honda, but didn't know the major differences between these two mowers. Thank you so much for the video. Just bought the HRX.
Upgraded to a HRX last summer. The difference was very noticeable. Cut quality is much better than my previous orange mower. It also mulches / bags much better so less debris left after making a pass. Oil changes are easy and so are blade swaps. Highly recommended!
My 1998 Troy-Bilt mower gave up today. I watched your video and decided on the HRX217. Thank you for helping me make a decision on a mower that should last well into my retirement years.
@@bc_usa Yep, 4 years ago it was like getting it for free. Today's prices in 2024 almost 2025 you have to save for 4 years to buy one. Or go hungry for 1 month. 🤣 Or steal the one he stole. 🤣
Just what I wanted to know, thank you. Your explanations were efficient and practical. I bought the HRN 216 today. The first use proved how superior these machines are over my others.
The biggest advantage of independent wheel height adjustment is mowing along a curb you can lower one pair of wheels onto the road and mow along the top of the curb stones.
@@ScooterKid659 I'm pretty sure Honda make the best walk behind mowers but no I don't work for Honda or any dealership. I'm just a retired soldier who likes neat edges. I might add that should Husqvarna expand their EPOS system to their 4WD models, and answer my techy questions about the wireless coverage, I will gladly give up walking behind a mower, even if I do have to strim the curbs and get the Billy Goat or Stihl Leaf Vacuum out to pickup the cuttings (cos I don't need to with the Honda).
Back when the manufacturer had to compensate for idiots by putting labels on the mower such as "Do not place hands under mower when engine is running" I'm sure because some dip shit put his hands under there while it was running cut his hand off and sued the manufacturer saying "I didn't know I couldn't do that" and won his case.
@@bigbilltoady412 When I was 12 running barefoot in Florida I stepped on a garden rake (the heavy metal ones) and needed stitches as it cut the foot wide open. While in the hospital a boy around my age had cut four fingers off due to trying to clean the blades while it was running!
@@loriwitkop1389 Yours was an accident and boy I'll bet that one hurt. The guy that lost two fingers. Well, lets just say that was from pure stupidity.
I just went to school there. Excellent video which really helps me make the choice for the HRX. A few hundred more is worth it especially when you mention the deck.
I use the HRX for my lawn business and it's indestructible. My has a roto stop system that stops the blade but not the engine, its a bit pricier but its worth it. Also the "plastic" deck is incredible. No dents, no rust and what's most important - it weighs much less than a steel deck. When you have to pick up a mower 10 times a day to put it in a van, the weight difference shows.. Also with a versamow system you don't have to carry around mulch plugs or chutes for side discharge. Honda HRX is the best 21" professional mower on the market. Period.
Excellent comparison, well done. Have had an HRX for 15 years, use it nine or ten months out of the year, from spring clean up to late fall leaf mulching (into December not unusual), on a half-acre lot. It is a beast!
I should have gone the HRX route as well. My steel deck Honda runs perfect but it has huge rust holes that I can no longer patch. Grass is shooting out through the holes. Time for a new mower when I probably could have just bought one HRX.
My HRX 217 is 7 years old, starts every-time, the bar height is perfect for me and my wife. Works perfectly. I mow 2 times a week, "lawn nut" I love it. The only problem I have found is I need new blades after only 7 years.
Nice video. I just bought my mom an HRN and she loves it. I used it once and found it to be a solid mower. My fiance's father has a 2016 HRR mower that's been used pretty heavily over the last 4 years and doing great. I kind of influenced them buying that since I have a 2014 HRX217 with the blade clutch and hydrostatic self propel. I will not buy another lawn mower, at least for walk behind mowers as no other even compares! I never thought I'd enjoy using a hand mower but the Honda makes it so much less of a chore and is just a really good product. I've raved about them over the last 6 years that I've had mine, anyone who asks for my advice I always tell them to spend the money on a Honda. You'll be glad you spent the money instead of buying a cheap mower that you're going to end up replacing in a matter of years. Not to mention your lawn is going to look so much better.
Okay .... update. I purchased the HRX and tried it on and off for 3 days. Now you might say I'm crazy but for my purposes of trimming and cleaning up the yard after mowing with a riding mower I found it a little to heavy and hard to maneuver. Don't get me wrong it's a great mower with great features. So .... I took it back and got the HRN. I love it. It just fits my needs better. I also found it rolls better in revers and the handle bar is set just a little higher than the HRX making it more comfortable. I also got the blade stop model on the HRN. Anyway, hope this helps someone making the decision between the two models. Both are great units.
Not only lighter and easier to move around, but the smart drive makes it easier to mow a yard with elevation differences and lots of weird geometry/obstacles. With the HRX you have to either do a lot of small moving adjustments by hand or constantly be twiddling that stupid speed knob.
Good comparison. I never knew about the HRN. I had to replace my 20 year old HRX when the valve seats came loose in the engine. Repair shop said that it cannot really be fixed properly and said I needed a new engine. I just bought a new machine. I don't like the automatic choke on the new one, it does not start as clean or as easy as the old one which always started first pull. There is no throttle control for the engine on the new one so it basically runs wide open until you shut it off. I liked the controls of the older model. Despite these changes, I still like my Honda HRX
Nice Video for comparing the two mowers. I went with the HRX and like it alot. A bit heavier than I'm used to but my last mower was a 9 year old Craftsman push. Honda quality is apparent on this mower. Should last a long time with proper care. Very happy with it! Thanks again.
I have the HRN, I live in East Texas, and we have to mow every 5 days, we have so much moisture our grass grows fast in the summer. I love the machine and haven't had any trouble with it. I bought this model because my neighbor has had one for 15 years, he's replaced the wheels 3 times. Thanks for the video, maybe someday I'll need a new one and I'll get the HRX
Thanks for the video! On the HRX you can adjust the front wheels higher than the back wheels to allow leaves to get sucked in and trapped for better mulching.
Honda builds great mowers ! I have the HRX 217 ! I’ve never been disappointed My yard looks sharp after cutting. Sharp blades are Key ! The HRX 217 commands a premium price . I saw one with a electric start . Mine you pull start it .
*Honda mowers are the best. I'm still using my old 2008 honda hrt216 mower and it starts first pull and makes my lawn look like a golf course every time.*
Thank you. Was just ignored for ten minutes at my local AgPro and found your excellent video by doing a Google search while I waited in vain for someone to answer a few questions and sell me a mower. You answered all my questions and then some. I'm going to look you up, But probably need to just get one at Lowe's today as I live in Florida and the grass is growing like crazy, especially after our recent tropical storm...
I'm glad we could help!! Is AgPro your local dealer? Usually local dealers give better service than box stores, plus your equipment should come assembled, fueled and ready to use when you get it home.
@@Carlsmower You guys are exceptional! To reply to this message all the way from Washington State... Yes, Ag-Pro is a local dealer. I wanted to buy it there to support them, but they lost my business. Amazingly, I was able to get the floor model at Lowe's. The guy who worked in that section at my closest Lowe's, Corey, was exceptional. He was taking care of another customer when I came in, just like the guy at Ag-Pro, but he let me know that he would be with me as soon as he could and he got to me after you finish with the other customer and focused on me, and answer all my questions, and got the device he needed to get the mower down from the display shelf which was at basically eye level height, he made sure everything was accounted for as far as the bag, the warranty stuff the bag of oil etc. He rolled the mower around to make sure it felt right, he rang me up, folded the mower up and got it in my CR-V for me. I will always try the local place first if it has a good reputation. I thought Ag-Pro did but they really lost me when they couldn't even acknowledge my presence in the store. I will say that the good thing that came from that experience was I did a Google search and found your video. I really think people in your area are very lucky to have you there. I hope your heat wave abates soon. I can't even imagine mowing in that heat! It's hot and humid in Florida but the heat in the Pacific Northwest sounds really rough!
I should clarify that Lowe's didn't have any more of the HRXs for at least an hour's drive (each way) except for that one last display model. They are obviously popular mowers. I replacing my 15 year old Honda mower, because everyone is so backed up on repairs that they can't fix it for at least 2 or 3 weeks...
Ag pro took over many of the dealerships around this part of Ohio. From what I've heard, unless you're looking at buying a multi hundred thousand dollar tractor, they don't want to be bothered by you.
I bought a Honda HR216 in 1989 - I remember it was expensive. 31 years on it still starts up first pull and runs and drives like new. Looks great too. My model has an alloy deck. I change the oil regularly but have never had to clean out the carburetor in spite of leaving high ethanol fuel in the tank during the winter. It even looks like the latest models. Moral of the story: buy a Honda and you will never have to buy another lawnmower.
similar experience here! It was probably 1990-91. I talked my Mom into spending probably $700 on probably the same one as yours, allow deck. No issues, still going strong, first pull start. Mom is 82 now, and she starts it and uses it to this day. I bought the same model in 1999-00, called a Masters by then. Probably spent $800 or so. Mine has been as reliable as hers.
@@Carlsmower It's between the HRX217VYA and HRX217HYA. I know they have the VYA as I took a picture of it before I left the store on Friday. I will find out tomorrow.
I have both and the HRN is my goto mower. Lighter and easier to operate than the HRX and it cuts just as good as the HRX. Save yourself 1 to 2 hundred with the HRN. Oh, and get the HRN with the clutch blade, it`s well worth it.
But wait a lot of people buy the cheaper one because they can't afford the better more expensive one. And then they cope by claiming the cheaper one is superior. In reality, the more expensive one is always the best one as the price justifies the difference. We have seen a lot of Xbox Series S owners claim their gaming system is better than the Series X. We all laugh at them because there is no comparison. So are you telling the truth or coping?
I have to disagree. You always go with what you need. Is your yard sloped? Then maybe you want to go with the hrn since it's lighter and easier to push on a slope. The hrx takes more movements to adjust over the hrx. But being as I've owned both clearly you get more advantages with the HRX, but I think your opinion is way too simplified by stating because it's more money, you'll get a better mower. That's like saying you buying a 500 horse power car is better than a 400 horsepower car, and yet you both hit the same lights and both get stuck in the same traffic lol@@brentmichael4770
@@brentmichael4770 He says he has both. For my smaller lot where I need to do a lot of maneuvering, the HRN is more suitable because it is significantly lighter weight.
Pretty well done review. Do agree with others that the HRN is a little down played. That said I was set to buy a HRX but bought the HRN. So think of if this way. If you want to neglect the deck and never clean it, then the HRX is for you, with a big caveat = it is 11 pounds heavier than the HRN steel deck. That may or may not be a big deal if you have a postage stamp lawn. If you are cutting on slopes or a larger lawn you will tire quicker with the extra weight. Don't forget, if you start out heavy and also bag, you are going to feel the difference big time. I had an old HRR that was much heavier than the HRN. I was amazed how much the weight difference made when I bought new. So you are paying for a plastic deck on a mower that will likely last you the same amount of time that is heavier. Again if you have a small lawn it may not matter but in 90+ degrees you might have buyers remorse.
I agree with Matt. This is the best review ever! I bought an HRX that I had for 12 years until the handlebar snapped near the adjustment knob. It was an HXA and I loved it. With the repair costs creeping towards $300 plus with a tune up, I decided to get the exact mover you are displaying. The HRX VYA is just an awesome mover. The roto stop feature is a must for anyone who does a lot of cutting. I can’t image having to stop and start 5-9 times while cutting. I’m sure it is less stress on the engine also. Also, having the ability to “semi mulch” is wonderful, especially with a dog running around as you can return 50% of the mulched clippings back into the lawn instead of all or nothing. I also bought a can of Mo Deck based upon your recommendation. Honda lawn mowers cost more for a reason…..they are worth it. Thanks again for useful information.
I wish they made an HRN with a GCV200 and ball bearing wheels. I just love the way the HRN looks and the two height adjusters. I ended up getting the HRX217, and it's a good mower
I know it's a 4 year old post, but I have to agree. The HRN is a nicer looking mower and about 30 pounds lighter than the HRX, and if you have to pull back a lot, which I do, it's much easier than the HRX. Does the HRX pull backwards easily for you?
I have owned the hrx with the plastic deck for 14 years now. self propelled and it has been flawless and has been nothing less than perfect every time. still have the same drive belt. The only thing I have changed is a set of blades and only because I felt guilty I changed the spark plugs at about 6 years old because I felt like I had to do something. I cant say enough about it. Cost me about $700 when I bought it as I recall but it was worth every penny. Nothing else has ever performed as well. This thing is bad ass no lie
Excellent and helpful in making a somewhat difficult decision; wish you guys had some shops here in GA. What are also helpful are the experience-backed comments, especially with the weight and drive differences between the two mowers. I'm replacing my dearly departed, 27 year old, Snapper High Vac push mower with the Vari-Speed Human propulsion system. It has a steel deck showing no signs of "rusting through". It has plastic wheels that respond well to occasional oil ...like I suspect the ones on the HRN will. I thought the ergonomics of the HRX drive would be better than the HRN setup, but feedback from user comments brought up advantages of the HRN drive system I run up against when I mow. The lighter weight of the HRN is also a major factor. And it will be lighter on my wallet. My local dealer has the "VYA" version of the HRN 216 ...which means it has a throttle ...the "gearhead" in me having its say. Which means you can actually allow the mower to warm up a bit at idle speed as opposed to the engine going from stone cold to full tilt in a matter of seconds ...IMHO, not a practice conducive to ultimate engine longevity. And when you're done mowing, you can allow the engine to idle for a minute or so, allowing it to cool down and stabilize, before shutting it down. So I'll post this, add to the knowledge base, and be off to purchase my new HRN216-VYA Honda.
The HRX is worth the money.. My HRX is 12 years old when they were doing the hydrostatic drive on them and the only thing that I have as to replace other than maintenance items was the carburetor last year. I could have rebuilt it but it was more convenient to just buy a new carb and stick it on. If it ever does you bet I will buy another HRX to replace it.
I had an HRN. After about 10 years the deck rusted out completely. Rest of mower was fine. Had to junk it, and bought an HRX because the deck will never rust out.
I have an HRX 217 that I bought in 2000. It’s the model with the orange speed lever. With the exception of needing a carburetor and a transmission adjustment, it’s been an amazing machine. The cut always looks so much nicer than with a riding mower.
Fantastic-Detailed-Professional comparison! After watching your video I purchased the exact HRX-VYA as seen in the video at my local/family owned Honda dealer. I did call Lowe's for a price comparison and after waiting 20 minutes for the Lowe's sales associate to get back to me, she said she couldn't find the lawn mowers in her store! After going in they didn't even carry that model of HRX. Box stores SUCK! and can not compete with the knowledge and service you get from a LOCAL dealer, especially now in these challenging times. Appreciate you for going over and above.
My one year old HRX has the new 200 CC engine. 4-5 pulls to start, not one pull like older Honda engines. The Auto choke & new emissions have effected it, I was told by Honda. It gives a great cut, extremely powerful, the thumb drive on this model is the Pitts! Sore thumbs in 20 minutes. Glad I kept my Toro Personal Pace as a back up!
Al Gorel I am sorry to hear of your starting problems. It may be worth having a certified Honda shop check it out. What type of fuel are you using? How quickly do you go through your gas? Hoping to make your Honda experience better.
Hi, I only use non-Ethonal 91 Octane Gas. I have about 10 small engine machines. I am reading about my issues 4-5 pulls all over UA-cam this year. Last year when Honda introduced the new 200 cc engine with the new autochoke system nonetheless nh was posted. Now with more new owners it’s a problem. I think I will call Honda again to see where hey stand on this auto choke issue. I think they should fix this under warranty. Do you think they should also?
every time i watch your honda mower vidoes I cant help but notice the fact my handle setup is always different.. finally figured it out after I went and looked up my invoice for it.. its an HRX217HZA with a "hydrostatic" self propel.. not sure what that means but I know in the midwest where we have frequent winds.. sticks falling the yard and such, its nice to be able to leave the engine on without the blades spinning.. it has a GCV-190 instead of a GCV-200 but with the 'CLIP' ive never stalled it out like I did my previous "top of the line" craftsman mower.
Thank you for that break down. I bought the non Commercial one 16 years ago. Used it not commercially but a lot a heavy use still running rental house flip home my home. I think every 20 year old should just bite the bullet by the commercial one and never buy another mower the rest of their life.
Having watched your video I bought a Honda HR537HYE which has the hydrostatic drive. Gives a really nice cut whether bagged or mulched. It bags damp or wet grass really well.
I've had the Honda HRX mower for almost 10 years. Best mower I have ever owned. Period. On my recommendation, my son also bought a Honda -- the HRN model. He loves it. BTW: The Nexite deck is also quieter than a steel deck. If my mower fell apart tomorrow, I would head to the local power center and buy another HRX. No question! And I just purchased a new Simpson pressure washer and I chose it washer because it had a Honda engine. Love 'em!
Great video, excellent explanation of all of the features. Honda should pay you, it's better than their own marketing videos for their own products, if they have a video for that product, which often they don't. Thanks.
At 3:51 you talk about the adjustable mulching feature, VersaMow. I love my six-year-old HRX but I must say this is another pain point for me. Unless you are meticulous in regularly cleaning the underside of the base around the sliding plate, the lever will not operate. It jams. When this happens no amount of wrestling with the adjustment lever works. The only solution is to stop work, turn the mower on its side and work at releasing the compacted grass and dirt between the base and the mulching plate.
I would need the HRX model with each wheel separate adjusting. I like to drop the height on one side of the mower to cut a chamfer on the grass that borders the street, driveway, and side walk. I also put a chamfered edge cut on the property line, my neighbor cuts low and I cut high. It makes a less noticeable transition from low to high grass.
Guys the HRN does versa mow as well. Once you have one you will understand how it works or watch the video closely when he is doing the demonstration on both.
1: I have the hrn. Got it this year. 2: it doesn't have it. But are you saying you can just leave somewhere in between to act as versa mow? 3: If the second half of 2 is what you meant, I actually thought of that while watching the video. Not only that, to prevent your positioniong from closing or opening up, you can cut your own notches so that it doesn't move during vibration/bumps.
As a hobby I repair junk thrown out mowers and resell them but when it came time for me to buy a lawnmower money meant nothing and my first home I bought the HRX 217HYA and never looked back 👍❤️
Been trying to get my hands on one of these since March. Been back ordered the whole time. My old JD finally blew up, so now I'm borrowing one every week because I will wait to buy the Honda.
My only gripe about the HRX217 (mine is a 2008 doubt it has changed much) plastic honda deck is that the door of the Mulch / Bag lever gets stuck from grass clippings that build up which you have to clean after every mow especially if it's wet. Plus there is a honeycomb design in the under deck around the edges, for strength purposes, that traps grass clippings major pain in the a**. Don't forget about the hidden area where the belt connects to the transmission, grass can collect there and you'll never see it unless you stick your nose in there, the belt can literally ride in a bunched up pile of grass.
We just bought a craftsman 140cc mower with a Briggs and Stratton motor. I made one trip around the yard with it and it pretty much broke. It was junk, garbage so we took it back and got the 170cc Honda HRN and man that thing is nice, night and day better than craftsman which has obviously gone downhill in a big way since they used to be sold at sears. That said the Honda mower at 30 cc’s larger feels like driving a v8 vs a four cylinder and it’s shockingly fast, so fast in fact that going uphill with it you almost have to fight keeping the front end down. It’s a shame they’re not going to be making Honda mowers much longer if they already haven’t stopped production. Best mower I’ve ever owned.
thanks for sharing , speed of mower major point for me ,as i cut a lot of slopes and knee,,s are creaking ,i need good paced self propelled mower with power to get up slopes this helps with my decition ,HRN looking good
I love my HRX, but at 2:14 I think you're stretching a little to find an advantage for the height adjuster on each wheel. I own an HRX and most of the time it's a pain in the neck to adjust the height, particularly the rear wheels where most of the weight is concentrated. Plus it gets harder with age as parts clog up with dust, dirt and grass. But there is one advantage I've found for my lawn. On my first cut around the perimeter I have the left side lower than the right to get the grass level closer to the perimeter paths. Then I raise the left side to match the right for the remainder of the lawn. I have to admit I don't do that as often these days as it's getting so damn hard.
@@Carlsmower Thoughtful of you to follow up. It was difficult removing the compacted debris between the sliding mulching plate and the body, but it's done. I also sharpened the upper blade (no spares in Australia) and replaced the lower blade with one I bought as a spare about a year ago. Bought a torque wrench also to make sure I got it reassembled correctly. Since then it's rained, wouldn't you know it. Extreme floods in some areas. Most unusual weather. Cheers, Greg.
I’ve been using a poulan pro 625 for 6 years now and last week decided to spend a little more money and went for the HRX and boy, the feel and the cut is so much better.
the smart drive system is a poor drive system. Right out of the box trouble with drive wheels lock when rolling back. There too many people having this problem.
I have a Honda GVC 160 and the nice thing about it is when you release the handle the mower keeps running but the blade stops, eliminates restarting after emptying the bag.
@@Carlsmower Yes, I may be wrong but I don't think the newer Honda's come with that Roto Stop, or do they? I've noticed several neighbors who own the newer Honda models all have to restart.
@@Orange-Jumpsuit-Time Honda still makes models with that feature. It’s just most people don’t understand the value of it so they don’t spend the extra money.
I rarely set my Mulch/ Bag door in the middle but it's nice to have it if you want to bag half for compost, and mulch half to feed the lawn. You will get less thatch in your lawn that way too. Problem is with composted grass is that you pick up a lot of seed from grass and weeds that will one day grow excessively in the garden. If you plan to pick up leaves in the fall with the mower go for the larger bag model, it will fill up fast. If you don't have a lot of leaves the lesser model will suffice. And bottom line small yard, small model; Larger yard larger model
Peter Hi Peter. I saw your comment and since I just bought an HRX and learned a bit about Honda’s pricing policy, I thought I share some info. Honda sets the price of all its mowers. From time to time they make price adjustments which will lower the prices of some mowers. So no matter where you go to purchase a Honda mower, you will find the same price. If you go to Honda’s website, they advertise the price of each model mower, thus it would be easy to see the difference in cost between the HRN versus the HRX. When checking prices its important to know which, if any options, such as electric start, etc. that you might want on your mower. You will find several models (with different price points) within each of Honda’s series (HRN, HRX, etc. of mowers. This is important to ensure you are comparing apples to apples when looking at various Honda mowers. I’m not sure, but I think that the Honda HRX series mower has at least 3, if not more, models; all with different price points.As long as you know which features you want on your mower, its pretty easy to compare prices between the various series of Honda mowers. Hope this helps...Ed
I have had about 9 of the hrx and I like them but the one thing i hate is that it doesnt have a good vacuum due to the deck underneath having too much loose parts that grass gets stuck on them
It’s actually the deck design / blade design that affects the vacuum. In order to mulch we don’t want vacuum. Honda relies on the blades throwing the grass on the bag vs vacuuming it in. The “loose” deck parts are not part of that factor
My Honda mower is a HRN 26 inch steel deck and I have a Milwaukee 21 inch electric mower. I use the 21 inch for the edges as its easier and lighter to use and use the Honda to do the main sections of the lawn. The 26 inch deck gets the lawn down in minutes.
Thanks for the video. Either one should work well for the majority of the home owner. I love Honda mower for varieties and reliability. I hope mine last forever!
Sold my HRX for HRN. The HRN or lower series has made some significant improvements such as adding the mulch/bag lever and single axle wheel adjustment. The wheel adjustment of the HRX rear wheels is a chore, especially for those mowing more than one lawn and need to make frequent adjustments. Try it, and you will know what I mean. Save yourself 200 and get the HRN. I have both right now and everyone pics the HRN due to adjustment and lighter/smaller weight. Always go with the thumb drive on Honda with the blade stop; there is an HRX with blade stop that is a full-bar drive (poor, unless you mow always in straight lines). It will take years to wear out a steel deck. The HRX bag fits on the HRN--there is really no difference in bag capacity. Both the HRN and HRX have the exact same blade--so your grass will not know the difference ;)
I have had this exact mower for several years. It was on sale for $400 at Home Depot and I got 10% off for military so I jumped on it. The self propelled function works great and you can very to speed to how fast you want to walk behind it. It has been a great mower, cuts great and mulches great as well. Only complaint, is the electric start. The battery does not have much power and runs out of juice too quick. I have had to use gum out spray most times to get it started, but once it starts it is easy to restart if you need to stop and dump a bag of grass or put gas in it.
The single per axle adjustment is so much better. The "If one breaks" is a joke and that it is bolted on is a non issue. Okay..the steel vis plastic deck is still a non issue. I am 63 yrs old and have never had a deck fail so again a non issue. The versa mow is splitting hairs. The 9 inch rubber wheels I see as a advantage but in reality I am not riding on it so a non issue. The larger engine again a non issue unless you wait for your lawn to get out of control and it is so tall it put strain on your engine. If your lawn is that tall then you have other issues such as poor bagging and mulching. The two vs. 3 heights may be good for taller folks "I have to say how much effort would it have been for Honda to make 3 holes instead of two...awh...marketing" The bigger bag, no brain needed here..yes please! Smart drive vs. select drive, now we are getting somewhere that a owner will notice a difference and of course it is a personal choice. If you are mowing a average size lawn then why spend the extra money for very little benefit. The HRN he is showing is NOT a entry level Honda but a mid level. It has the Blade stop function that lets you keep the engine running without the blade spinning. GET THIS FUNCTION! When you have to stop briefly to remove a object, talk to the wife or any other reason it nice to not have to start the engine every time. Look, if you feel you need to buy the top of the line...go for it. If you want to save money and still have a world class mower get the HRN with the blade stop. Of course all this is my opinion and after many years at this game I never pay more for items that in the end are more bragging rights then items that make a real difference. Hope this helps someone feel good about saving some money and getting a great mower. I love my HRN and could afford to buy any mower I wanted.
Hi do you have an issue with front left hand side freewheeling?? I got a new hrn basic model and it does that.its only mm difference but some people say they dnt have it some say they have it and won’t make any difference to mowing.whats ur thoughts???
As an HRX owner, I have to say the Versamow clip director is one of the reasons for considering the HRX over the HRN. It works exceptionally well, especially if you have a thick lawn that grows quickly. If you get a little behind and your grass has grown a little taller but you like to mulch, being able to put it halfway between and bag some of the clippings but still mulch some is such a nice feature. It takes so much stress off the engine and results in far less grass clippings being visible on your lawn. The lead shred mode also works great for the fall. So I would say the HRX has a place for sure, and stepping up to the model with the blade clutch and the hydrostatic self propel (which I have) is well worth it. I do agree that most homeowners will be very happy with the HRN, but you won't feel like you wasted your money if you spend extra on the HRX.
mhtube01 I’ve owned an HRX217VYA for the last 7 years. I have thick grass and never found the clip director useful. If I set to half open it would plug up lol. So I was finding myself either full mulch or full bag. I also found the HRX to be bulky and clunky in tight spaces, along fence lines and maneuvering around trees. Sold it for an EGO Select Cut and wasn’t happy with that, went back to gas and bought an HRN out of curiosity, thinking I’d return for the HRX that was used to. To my surprise I like it a lot more, the mower feels more nimble, I’m able to maneuver it around stuff in the yard better and don’t even notice the difference in power, seems to mow just as efficiently. At the end of the day I’d be lying saying I miss the HRX, I don’t. I don’t see the value in the price point of it and features I didn’t find useful for me personally, saved myself couple hundred bucks this time around
look into the speed selection... I had the HRX at home and returned it for an HRN before using. Cant imagine the pain of speed adjustment with a dial when going around obstacles. Large flat areas though hell yeah HRX
@@TripleAstyle1 that is a good point. Just bought the hrn today and was thinking if swapping it out for the Hrx but now that I think about it tuning the speed on turns sounds like it'll be in inconvenience but I do like the fact that you can choose how much you want to mulch vs mulching 100% to none
@@TripleAstyle1 Watched a how to and the speed can still be adjust by how far you depress the handle. You just set the max and then you can slow down by backing off the handle. I don't see a problem.
Have you run into any issues with the thermowax cartridge and the auto choke? It's a known issue with Honda mowers for about the last 5-7 years. In addition, there have been problems with the weak fuel filter that's within the fuel line. I recently added an external fuel filter and tonight I had to remove the carb to put in new thermowax cartridge. Hopefully the 2020 models don't have the auto choke issue.
I just purchased an HRN216VKA early this month, and definitely would "not" recommend it. The issue is the deck. I can't really adjust it to the height I need without the deck getting caught on the ground. This was never an issue with my other mower. I could set it even lower than necessary and the deck would never touch.
I think each mower is good for different specific needs depending on the person and lawn. I have a brand new HRX and can’t wait to use it this year! The video was good and I liked it!
I have an HRR (I guess the HRN is the replacement ) and an HRX. The HRR not only has a smaller bag, but it also generates more vacuum some how. That results in lots more full bags in bag mode. The HRX with its more powerful motor does a better job mulching. I actually use both regularly. I use the HRR on my front lawn because after edging the sidewalks and driveway, the HRR vacuums all the debris up. For my back lawn where I have no sidewalks, I use the HRX on full mulch mode. It’s easier to vary the speed on the HRR as the self-propel lever acts like a gas pedal. The HRX is harder to vary speed as you have to adjust the dial to set speed and the lever is such that it’s either on or off. I actually find the HRX more usable as a push mower than the HRR model. The wheel bearings do work wonders. The twin blade design on both mowers results in a very even cut. Like he implies, it is easier to sharpen the blades off the lawnmower. For that reason, I have 2 sets of blades for each. I’d have a hard time choosing between the 2 models if I had to pick one. In case you are wondering, my HRR is 16 years old and it broke so I bought the HRX after having taken the HRR to 2 different shops to fix. They couldn’t fix it. After owning the HRX for a year, I found that the HRR was missing a circlip on the rear axle and fixed it myself!
What's the difference in manufacturing cost between 8" and 9" wheels? (0:47) Negligible, so it's a marketing decision to differentiate the HRN from the HRX.
Tom Hints I’m still running a 1999 proline with the Suzuki two stroke motor. Still cuts like the day I bought it. The deck on the prolines can’t be beat. Also it holds 1 gallon of gas.
3:56 lol I've had an HRX217 w/ Versamow for 10+ years and never adjust the sliding door. I just mulch everything, all the time. And I hand-sharpen the blades w/ a file, or use a benchtop belt sander/grinder. Love this mower, but if I'm honest, I don't use Versamow at all, b/c I don't bag I guess.
I don't bag unless it's wet or there are leaves down. The leaf blower is for those winter days when there's less than 2" of powder, or if I need to blow mulch clippings off the drive.
Excellent and very helpful video! Thank you for posting. I looked up Carl’s and y’all are completely on the other side of the country from me, otherwise, if you were anywhere fairly nearby, I’d be buying from you. Regardless, much appreciation for explaining the model differences. I’m taking your advice and looking for a local dealer, though they are getting harder and harder to find as we all surrender our lives to the purely transactional bid box stores.
Enjoy your new mower!
@Carl's Mower & Saw hey Carl do u know the weight difference between the two, is it that much?
@@Carlsmower nope 👎 you can throw away the Honda mower to dumpster
@@Carlsmower camshaft gear ⚙ = junkyard is that
Best mower review I've seen; you're a terrific host and gave a lot of great insight into the differences/benefits/pros/cons of both. Thanks!
I’m on my second HRX Gave my first one to my daughter. Both are excellent and I’m a retired landscaper.
After pouring over many comparisons and articles, this video really nailed the differences right. The explanation on the advantages of the mixed mode bag/much system on the HRX based on the season really helped a lot. Very nice job dude!
Exactly what I wanted to know... Knew I wanted a Honda, but didn't know the major differences between these two mowers. Thank you so much for the video. Just bought the HRX.
Exactly!!
Upgraded to a HRX last summer. The difference was very noticeable. Cut quality is much better than my previous orange mower. It also mulches / bags much better so less debris left after making a pass. Oil changes are easy and so are blade swaps. Highly recommended!
My 1998 Troy-Bilt mower gave up today. I watched your video and decided on the HRX217. Thank you for helping me make a decision on a mower that should last well into my retirement years.
I got a HRX-217 for free did a tuneup and changed the blades and I love it!!!!
You stole it? 😂😂😂
@@bc_usa Yep, 4 years ago it was like getting it for free. Today's prices in 2024 almost 2025 you have to save for 4 years to buy one. Or go hungry for 1 month. 🤣 Or steal the one he stole. 🤣
Just what I wanted to know, thank you. Your explanations were efficient and practical. I bought the HRN 216 today. The first use proved how superior these machines are over my others.
The biggest advantage of independent wheel height adjustment is mowing along a curb you can lower one pair of wheels onto the road and mow along the top of the curb stones.
hmmm...does anybody do this? Just curious, because it sounds like something the Honda Rep would say.
@@ScooterKid659 I'm pretty sure Honda make the best walk behind mowers but no I don't work for Honda or any dealership. I'm just a retired soldier who likes neat edges. I might add that should Husqvarna expand their EPOS system to their 4WD models, and answer my techy questions about the wireless coverage, I will gladly give up walking behind a mower, even if I do have to strim the curbs and get the Billy Goat or Stihl Leaf Vacuum out to pickup the cuttings (cos I don't need to with the Honda).
Nice!! Thanks for sharing that tip!
i wanted a lawnboy, my pap(grandpap) bought me mower from sears in 1976, i was 12 and mowed lawns around my small town. those were good days!!!
Back when the manufacturer had to compensate for idiots by putting labels on the mower such as "Do not place hands under mower when engine is running" I'm sure because some dip shit put his hands under there while it was running cut his hand off and sued the manufacturer saying "I didn't know I couldn't do that" and won his case.
@@bigbilltoady412 When I was 12 running barefoot in Florida I stepped on a garden rake (the heavy metal ones) and needed stitches as it cut the foot wide open. While in the hospital a boy around my age had cut four fingers off due to trying to clean the blades while it was running!
@@loriwitkop1389 Yours was an accident and boy I'll bet that one hurt. The guy that lost two fingers. Well, lets just say that was from pure stupidity.
I just went to school there. Excellent video which really helps me make the choice for the HRX. A few hundred more is worth it especially when you mention the deck.
I use the HRX for my lawn business and it's indestructible. My has a roto stop system that stops the blade but not the engine, its a bit pricier but its worth it. Also the "plastic" deck is incredible. No dents, no rust and what's most important - it weighs much less than a steel deck. When you have to pick up a mower 10 times a day to put it in a van, the weight difference shows.. Also with a versamow system you don't have to carry around mulch plugs or chutes for side discharge. Honda HRX is the best 21" professional mower on the market. Period.
Excellent comparison, well done. Have had an HRX for 15 years, use it nine or ten months out of the year, from spring clean up to late fall leaf mulching (into December not unusual), on a half-acre lot. It is a beast!
I should have gone the HRX route as well. My steel deck Honda runs perfect but it has huge rust holes that I can no longer patch. Grass is shooting out through the holes. Time for a new mower when I probably could have just bought one HRX.
how long does it take you to mow?
I bought the Honda HRX a year ago and I love it! Best mower I have ever had 100% recommend it for sure!
HRX worth the money. Best mower I have owned. Cut is clean and runs great.
My HRX 217 is 7 years old, starts every-time, the bar height is perfect for me and my wife. Works perfectly. I mow 2 times a week, "lawn nut" I love it. The only problem I have found is I need new blades after only 7 years.
You probably need to change them every year
Nice video. I just bought my mom an HRN and she loves it. I used it once and found it to be a solid mower. My fiance's father has a 2016 HRR mower that's been used pretty heavily over the last 4 years and doing great. I kind of influenced them buying that since I have a 2014 HRX217 with the blade clutch and hydrostatic self propel. I will not buy another lawn mower, at least for walk behind mowers as no other even compares! I never thought I'd enjoy using a hand mower but the Honda makes it so much less of a chore and is just a really good product. I've raved about them over the last 6 years that I've had mine, anyone who asks for my advice I always tell them to spend the money on a Honda. You'll be glad you spent the money instead of buying a cheap mower that you're going to end up replacing in a matter of years. Not to mention your lawn is going to look so much better.
Okay .... update. I purchased the HRX and tried it on and off for 3 days. Now you might say I'm crazy but for my purposes of trimming and cleaning up the yard after mowing with a riding mower I found it a little to heavy and hard to maneuver. Don't get me wrong it's a great mower with great features. So .... I took it back and got the HRN. I love it. It just fits my needs better. I also found it rolls better in revers and the handle bar is set just a little higher than the HRX making it more comfortable. I also got the blade stop model on the HRN. Anyway, hope this helps someone making the decision between the two models. Both are great units.
Not only lighter and easier to move around, but the smart drive makes it easier to mow a yard with elevation differences and lots of weird geometry/obstacles. With the HRX you have to either do a lot of small moving adjustments by hand or constantly be twiddling that stupid speed knob.
@@nilz23 I have a sloped hill in my back yard. Do you think that’d be an issue with the HRN?
Have they fixed the camshaft problem that can cause a violent recoil when starting ?
@@LordGandor3Yes! Make sure you buy one with a green sticker on it. It means you have one that has already been fixed.
Good comparison. I never knew about the HRN. I had to replace my 20 year old HRX when the valve seats came loose in the engine. Repair shop said that it cannot really be fixed properly and said I needed a new engine. I just bought a new machine. I don't like the automatic choke on the new one, it does not start as clean or as easy as the old one which always started first pull. There is no throttle control for the engine on the new one so it basically runs wide open until you shut it off. I liked the controls of the older model. Despite these changes, I still like my Honda HRX
Nice Video for comparing the two mowers. I went with the HRX and like it alot. A bit heavier than I'm used to but my last mower was a 9 year old Craftsman push. Honda quality is apparent on this mower. Should last a long time with proper care. Very happy with it!
Thanks again.
I have the HRN, I live in East Texas, and we have to mow every 5 days, we have so much moisture our grass grows fast in the summer. I love the machine and haven't had any trouble with it. I bought this model because my neighbor has had one for 15 years, he's replaced the wheels 3 times. Thanks for the video, maybe someday I'll need a new one and I'll get the HRX
Thanks for the video! On the HRX you can adjust the front wheels higher than the back wheels to allow leaves to get sucked in and trapped for better mulching.
Absolutely.
Honda builds great mowers ! I have the HRX 217 ! I’ve never been disappointed My yard looks sharp after cutting. Sharp blades are Key ! The HRX 217 commands a premium price . I saw one with a electric start . Mine you pull start it .
*Honda mowers are the best. I'm still using my old 2008 honda hrt216 mower and it starts first pull and makes my lawn look like a golf course every time.*
Thank you. Was just ignored for ten minutes at my local AgPro and found your excellent video by doing a Google search while I waited in vain for someone to answer a few questions and sell me a mower. You answered all my questions and then some.
I'm going to look you up, But probably need to just get one at Lowe's today as I live in Florida and the grass is growing like crazy, especially after our recent tropical storm...
I'm glad we could help!! Is AgPro your local dealer? Usually local dealers give better service than box stores, plus your equipment should come assembled, fueled and ready to use when you get it home.
@@Carlsmower You guys are exceptional! To reply to this message all the way from Washington State... Yes, Ag-Pro is a local dealer. I wanted to buy it there to support them, but they lost my business. Amazingly, I was able to get the floor model at Lowe's. The guy who worked in that section at my closest Lowe's, Corey, was exceptional. He was taking care of another customer when I came in, just like the guy at Ag-Pro, but he let me know that he would be with me as soon as he could and he got to me after you finish with the other customer and focused on me, and answer all my questions, and got the device he needed to get the mower down from the display shelf which was at basically eye level height, he made sure everything was accounted for as far as the bag, the warranty stuff the bag of oil etc. He rolled the mower around to make sure it felt right, he rang me up, folded the mower up and got it in my CR-V for me. I will always try the local place first if it has a good reputation. I thought Ag-Pro did but they really lost me when they couldn't even acknowledge my presence in the store. I will say that the good thing that came from that experience was I did a Google search and found your video. I really think people in your area are very lucky to have you there. I hope your heat wave abates soon. I can't even imagine mowing in that heat! It's hot and humid in Florida but the heat in the Pacific Northwest sounds really rough!
I should clarify that Lowe's didn't have any more of the HRXs for at least an hour's drive (each way) except for that one last display model. They are obviously popular mowers. I replacing my 15 year old Honda mower, because everyone is so backed up on repairs that they can't fix it for at least 2 or 3 weeks...
Ag pro took over many of the dealerships around this part of Ohio. From what I've heard, unless you're looking at buying a multi hundred thousand dollar tractor, they don't want to be bothered by you.
I bought a Honda HR216 in 1989 - I remember it was expensive. 31 years on it still starts up first pull and runs and drives like new. Looks great too. My model has an alloy deck. I change the oil regularly but have never had to clean out the carburetor in spite of leaving high ethanol fuel in the tank during the winter. It even looks like the latest models. Moral of the story: buy a Honda and you will never have to buy another lawnmower.
similar experience here! It was probably 1990-91. I talked my Mom into spending probably $700 on probably the same one as yours, allow deck. No issues, still going strong, first pull start. Mom is 82 now, and she starts it and uses it to this day. I bought the same model in 1999-00, called a Masters by then. Probably spent $800 or so. Mine has been as reliable as hers.
I have a 1994 hrm215.......runs great. Quite pricey but 25 years later it seems like a bargain. Honda is tbe best.
My neighbor had the same mower. After using it a couple times I was sold on buying an HRX.
Super informative. I'm buying one tomorrow and you answered all my questions. Great job!
What did you decide on? Does your local dealership have it on hand?
@@Carlsmower It's between the HRX217VYA and HRX217HYA. I know they have the VYA as I took a picture of it before I left the store on Friday. I will find out tomorrow.
@@michaelzera9361honestly I went for the VYA the handle bars are more comfortable for me
I have both and the HRN is my goto mower. Lighter and easier to operate than the HRX and it cuts just as good as the HRX. Save yourself 1 to 2 hundred with the HRN. Oh, and get the HRN with the clutch blade, it`s well worth it.
The clutch blade is awesome!
But wait a lot of people buy the cheaper one because they can't afford the better more expensive one. And then they cope by claiming the cheaper one is superior. In reality, the more expensive one is always the best one as the price justifies the difference. We have seen a lot of Xbox Series S owners claim their gaming system is better than the Series X. We all laugh at them because there is no comparison. So are you telling the truth or coping?
I have to disagree. You always go with what you need. Is your yard sloped? Then maybe you want to go with the hrn since it's lighter and easier to push on a slope. The hrx takes more movements to adjust over the hrx. But being as I've owned both clearly you get more advantages with the HRX, but I think your opinion is way too simplified by stating because it's more money, you'll get a better mower. That's like saying you buying a 500 horse power car is better than a 400 horsepower car, and yet you both hit the same lights and both get stuck in the same traffic lol@@brentmichael4770
@@brentmichael4770 He says he has both. For my smaller lot where I need to do a lot of maneuvering, the HRN is more suitable because it is significantly lighter weight.
Great, simple, video. Explained all the differences one would need to know, to make an informed decision.
Pretty well done review. Do agree with others that the HRN is a little down played. That said I was set to buy a HRX but bought the HRN. So think of if this way. If you want to neglect the deck and never clean it, then the HRX is for you, with a big caveat = it is 11 pounds heavier than the HRN steel deck. That may or may not be a big deal if you have a postage stamp lawn. If you are cutting on slopes or a larger lawn you will tire quicker with the extra weight. Don't forget, if you start out heavy and also bag, you are going to feel the difference big time. I had an old HRR that was much heavier than the HRN. I was amazed how much the weight difference made when I bought new. So you are paying for a plastic deck on a mower that will likely last you the same amount of time that is heavier. Again if you have a small lawn it may not matter but in 90+ degrees you might have buyers remorse.
thanks for input
I agree with Matt. This is the best review ever! I bought an HRX that I had for 12 years until the handlebar snapped near the adjustment knob. It was an HXA and I loved it. With the repair costs creeping towards $300 plus with a tune up, I decided to get the exact mover you are displaying. The HRX VYA is just an awesome mover. The roto stop feature is a must for anyone who does a lot of cutting. I can’t image having to stop and start 5-9 times while cutting. I’m sure it is less stress on the engine also. Also, having the ability to “semi mulch” is wonderful, especially with a dog running around as you can return 50% of the mulched clippings back into the lawn instead of all or nothing.
I also bought a can of Mo Deck based upon your recommendation. Honda lawn mowers cost more for a reason…..they are worth it. Thanks again for useful information.
Jeff love the feedback. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
I wish they made an HRN with a GCV200 and ball bearing wheels. I just love the way the HRN looks and the two height adjusters. I ended up getting the HRX217, and it's a good mower
I know it's a 4 year old post, but I have to agree. The HRN is a nicer looking mower and about 30 pounds lighter than the HRX, and if you have to pull back a lot, which I do, it's much easier than the HRX. Does the HRX pull backwards easily for you?
I have owned the hrx with the plastic deck for 14 years now. self propelled and it has been flawless and has been nothing less than perfect every time. still have the same drive belt. The only thing I have changed is a set of blades and only because I felt guilty I changed the spark plugs at about 6 years old because I felt like I had to do something. I cant say enough about it. Cost me about $700 when I bought it as I recall but it was worth every penny. Nothing else has ever performed as well. This thing is bad ass no lie
Might check to see if your mower is part of the gas tank recall.
@@cwytonweb did not know there was one. Thanks I’ll check into it
Excellent and helpful in making a somewhat difficult decision; wish you guys had some shops here in GA. What are also helpful are the experience-backed comments, especially with the weight and drive differences between the two mowers. I'm replacing my dearly departed, 27 year old, Snapper High Vac push mower with the Vari-Speed Human propulsion system. It has a steel deck showing no signs of "rusting through". It has plastic wheels that respond well to occasional oil ...like I suspect the ones on the HRN will. I thought the ergonomics of the HRX drive would be better than the HRN setup, but feedback from user comments brought up advantages of the HRN drive system I run up against when I mow. The lighter weight of the HRN is also a major factor. And it will be lighter on my wallet. My local dealer has the "VYA" version of the HRN 216 ...which means it has a throttle ...the "gearhead" in me having its say. Which means you can actually allow the mower to warm up a bit at idle speed as opposed to the engine going from stone cold to full tilt in a matter of seconds ...IMHO, not a practice conducive to ultimate engine longevity. And when you're done mowing, you can allow the engine to idle for a minute or so, allowing it to cool down and stabilize, before shutting it down. So I'll post this, add to the knowledge base, and be off to purchase my new HRN216-VYA Honda.
The HRX is worth the money.. My HRX is 12 years old when they were doing the hydrostatic drive on them and the only thing that I have as to replace other than maintenance items was the carburetor last year. I could have rebuilt it but it was more convenient to just buy a new carb and stick it on. If it ever does you bet I will buy another HRX to replace it.
Just want to say your videos and explanation is just amazing. We need someone like you in Toronto.
Thanks for the compliment. I’m honestly hope that our channels helps dealers worldwide to provide unparalleled support to their customers
I had an HRN. After about 10 years the deck rusted out completely. Rest of mower was fine. Had to junk it, and bought an HRX because the deck will never rust out.
How she holden up?
I have an HRX 217 that I bought in 2000. It’s the model with the orange speed lever. With the exception of needing a carburetor and a transmission adjustment, it’s been an amazing machine. The cut always looks so much nicer than with a riding mower.
Fantastic-Detailed-Professional comparison! After watching your video I purchased the exact HRX-VYA as seen in the video at my local/family owned Honda dealer. I did call Lowe's for a price comparison and after waiting 20 minutes for the Lowe's sales associate to get back to me, she said she couldn't find the lawn mowers in her store! After going in they didn't even carry that model of HRX. Box stores SUCK! and can not compete with the knowledge and service you get from a LOCAL dealer, especially now in these challenging times. Appreciate you for going over and above.
My one year old HRX has the new 200 CC engine. 4-5 pulls to start, not one pull like older
Honda engines. The Auto choke & new emissions have effected it, I was told by Honda.
It gives a great cut, extremely powerful, the thumb drive on this model is the Pitts! Sore
thumbs in 20 minutes. Glad I kept my Toro Personal Pace as a back up!
Al Gorel I am sorry to hear of your starting problems. It may be worth having a certified Honda shop check it out. What type of fuel are you using? How quickly do you go through your gas? Hoping to make your Honda experience better.
Hi, I only use non-Ethonal 91 Octane Gas. I have about 10 small engine machines. I am reading about my issues 4-5 pulls all over UA-cam this year. Last year when Honda introduced the new 200 cc engine with the new autochoke system nonetheless nh was posted. Now with more new owners it’s a problem. I think I will call Honda again to see where hey stand on this auto choke issue. I think they should fix this under warranty.
Do you think they should also?
I like the HRX I have, esp with the more traditional handle and speed adjust that is on the blade brake version
every time i watch your honda mower vidoes I cant help but notice the fact my handle setup is always different.. finally figured it out after I went and looked up my invoice for it.. its an HRX217HZA with a "hydrostatic" self propel.. not sure what that means but I know in the midwest where we have frequent winds.. sticks falling the yard and such, its nice to be able to leave the engine on without the blades spinning.. it has a GCV-190 instead of a GCV-200 but with the 'CLIP' ive never stalled it out like I did my previous "top of the line" craftsman mower.
Thank you for that break down. I bought the non Commercial one 16 years ago. Used it not commercially but a lot a heavy use still running rental house flip home my home. I think every 20 year old should just bite the bullet by the commercial one and never buy another mower the rest of their life.
think the residential version is 1/3rd the cost.... Id rather buy a new one every 10 years, slightly cheaper price and a new mower!
Having watched your video I bought a Honda HR537HYE which has the hydrostatic drive. Gives a really nice cut whether bagged or mulched. It bags damp or wet grass really well.
Great to hear! Thanks for the feedback!
I've had the Honda HRX mower for almost 10 years. Best mower I have ever owned. Period. On my recommendation, my son also bought a Honda -- the HRN model. He loves it.
BTW: The Nexite deck is also quieter than a steel deck. If my mower fell apart tomorrow, I would head to the local power center and buy another HRX. No question! And I just purchased a new Simpson pressure washer and I chose it washer because it had a Honda engine. Love 'em!
Very clear explanation of the differences between the two models. Have no choice but to go HRX
Great presentation man im sold on the HRX.
Glad to hear it!
Best mower I've ever had. The versa mulch is amazing.
Either one can't go wrong with it, great mowers I had 3 2 hrx and one metal
You had me at "undulations" haha. Great comparison, mate.
I hope this makes mowing easier on me😁 Getting up in yrs now. Gonna try the HRX👍👍👍
Hrx is the best the deck won't rust the other deck you see for sale and they are rusted out
I have an hrx that’s at least 15 years old. 100% worth the expense. Honda builds great stuff.
Nice presentation! Still deciding, like them both. Thanks.
my honda starts giving out white smoke, and became loud, what could be the problem??
Great video, excellent explanation of all of the features. Honda should pay you, it's better than their own marketing videos for their own products, if they have a video for that product, which often they don't. Thanks.
I have a 20 year old Harmony Honda that still starts usually on the first pull. Only routine maintenance required.
CARL LOGAN ditto on that Carl. I have one too. I got to old so just use it for trimming. Have a John Deere rider for the main mowing
Thanks for posting! Very helpful video! You’re definitely a talented and knowledgeable salesman!
At 3:51 you talk about the adjustable mulching feature, VersaMow. I love my six-year-old HRX but I must say this is another pain point for me. Unless you are meticulous in regularly cleaning the underside of the base around the sliding plate, the lever will not operate. It jams. When this happens no amount of wrestling with the adjustment lever works. The only solution is to stop work, turn the mower on its side and work at releasing the compacted grass and dirt between the base and the mulching plate.
Flip it back and forth after every mow. It will keep it clear.
@@Carlsmower I'm turning it over today to check the blades, so I'll give the mulcher plate a good clean and then follow your advice. Thanks.
Good plan.
Thank you for the clear vid. Was hard to see differences just searching online.
Agree!
After years of heavy use on my old Honda, I finally bought a new HRX 217 with electric start.
It is like grass ninja my friends.
I would need the HRX model with each wheel separate adjusting. I like to drop the height on one side of the mower to cut a chamfer on the grass that borders the street, driveway, and side walk. I also put a chamfered edge cut on the property line, my neighbor cuts low and I cut high. It makes a less noticeable transition from low to high grass.
You could chamfer cut your whole lawn in both directions and have a cool checker board effect. You could play chess and checkers with real people.
Damn, this guy is good.
Guys the HRN does versa mow as well. Once you have one you will understand how it works or watch the video closely when he is doing the demonstration on both.
1: I have the hrn. Got it this year.
2: it doesn't have it. But are you saying you can just leave somewhere in between to act as versa mow?
3: If the second half of 2 is what you meant, I actually thought of that while watching the video. Not only that, to prevent your positioniong from closing or opening up, you can cut your own notches so that it doesn't move during vibration/bumps.
As a hobby I repair junk thrown out mowers and resell them but when it came time for me to buy a lawnmower money meant nothing and my first home I bought the HRX 217HYA and never looked back 👍❤️
Been trying to get my hands on one of these since March. Been back ordered the whole time. My old JD finally blew up, so now I'm borrowing one every week because I will wait to buy the Honda.
My toro scalped the lawn when the height mechanism went bad, deck just rusted out, still runs though. Just bought a 217 to replace it.
I own an hrx17 I love my mower .....I am just hoping Honda start making mower wider than 21inch
Time Traveler 2025 yeah 22 inches that’s it lol
Time Traveler 2025 he’s talking about actual Honda mowers , obviously there are Honda motors on tons of riders and walk behinds
22 in
Honda should start making zero turns
Dameyon Barnes it would cost like 20k
My only gripe about the HRX217 (mine is a 2008 doubt it has changed much) plastic honda deck is that the door of the Mulch / Bag lever gets stuck from grass clippings that build up which you have to clean after every mow especially if it's wet. Plus there is a honeycomb design in the under deck around the edges, for strength purposes, that traps grass clippings major pain in the a**.
Don't forget about the hidden area where the belt connects to the transmission, grass can collect there and you'll never see it unless you stick your nose in there, the belt can literally ride in a bunched up pile of grass.
We just bought a craftsman 140cc mower with a Briggs and Stratton motor. I made one trip around the yard with it and it pretty much broke. It was junk, garbage so we took it back and got the 170cc Honda HRN and man that thing is nice, night and day better than craftsman which has obviously gone downhill in a big way since they used to be sold at sears. That said the Honda mower at 30 cc’s larger feels like driving a v8 vs a four cylinder and it’s shockingly fast, so fast in fact that going uphill with it you almost have to fight keeping the front end down. It’s a shame they’re not going to be making Honda mowers much longer if they already haven’t stopped production. Best mower I’ve ever owned.
thanks for sharing , speed of mower major point for me ,as i cut a lot of slopes and knee,,s are creaking ,i need good paced self propelled mower with power to get up slopes this helps with my decition ,HRN looking good
Thanks for the update. I didn’t know so many new features existed. Will make my next shopping trip more interesting.
I love my HRX, but at 2:14 I think you're stretching a little to find an advantage for the height adjuster on each wheel. I own an HRX and most of the time it's a pain in the neck to adjust the height, particularly the rear wheels where most of the weight is concentrated. Plus it gets harder with age as parts clog up with dust, dirt and grass. But there is one advantage I've found for my lawn. On my first cut around the perimeter I have the left side lower than the right to get the grass level closer to the perimeter paths. Then I raise the left side to match the right for the remainder of the lawn. I have to admit I don't do that as often these days as it's getting so damn hard.
How did your vers a mow cleaning work out
@@Carlsmower Thoughtful of you to follow up. It was difficult removing the compacted debris between the sliding mulching plate and the body, but it's done. I also sharpened the upper blade (no spares in Australia) and replaced the lower blade with one I bought as a spare about a year ago. Bought a torque wrench also to make sure I got it reassembled correctly. Since then it's rained, wouldn't you know it. Extreme floods in some areas. Most unusual weather. Cheers, Greg.
Great work
I’ve been using a poulan pro 625 for 6 years now and last week decided to spend a little more money and went for the HRX and boy, the feel and the cut is so much better.
the smart drive system is a poor drive system. Right out of the box trouble with drive wheels lock when rolling back. There too many people having this problem.
I have a Honda GVC 160 and the nice thing about it is when you release the handle the mower keeps running but the blade stops, eliminates restarting after emptying the bag.
Nice so you have a model with the Honda Roto stop
@@Carlsmower Yes, I may be wrong but I don't think the newer Honda's come with that Roto Stop, or do they? I've noticed several neighbors who own the newer Honda models all have to restart.
@@Orange-Jumpsuit-Time Honda still makes models with that feature. It’s just most people don’t understand the value of it so they don’t spend the extra money.
Thanks, bro. I had no idea Hondas had dual blades on them. Interesting.
The four wheel adjustment allows me to cut slant slopes in my lawn.
Super important!!
Well I was all set to buy the HRN but now may go for HRX. It cost more but maybe worth it.
That definitely sounded like the one dude was pushing...all about the 💰.
To bad he didn`t tell us the difference in price between the two
I rarely set my Mulch/ Bag door in the middle but it's nice to have it if you want to bag half for compost, and mulch half to feed the lawn. You will get less thatch in your lawn that way too. Problem is with composted grass is that you pick up a lot of seed from grass and weeds that will one day grow excessively in the garden. If you plan to pick up leaves in the fall with the mower go for the larger bag model, it will fill up fast. If you don't have a lot of leaves the lesser model will suffice. And bottom line small yard, small model; Larger yard larger model
Peter Hi Peter. I saw your comment and since I just bought an HRX and learned a bit about Honda’s pricing policy, I thought I share some info. Honda sets the price of all its mowers. From time to time they make price adjustments which will lower the prices of some mowers. So no matter where you go to purchase a Honda mower, you will find the same price. If you go to Honda’s website, they advertise the price of each model mower, thus it would be easy to see the difference in cost between the HRN versus the HRX. When checking prices its important to know which, if any options, such as electric start, etc. that you might want on your mower. You will find several models (with different price points) within each of Honda’s series (HRN, HRX, etc. of mowers. This is important to ensure you are comparing apples to apples when looking at various Honda mowers. I’m not sure, but I think that the Honda HRX series mower has at least 3, if not more, models; all with different price points.As long as you know which features you want on your mower, its pretty easy to compare prices between the various series of Honda mowers. Hope this helps...Ed
I have had about 9 of the hrx and I like them but the one thing i hate is that it doesnt have a good vacuum due to the deck underneath having too much loose parts that grass gets stuck on them
It’s actually the deck design / blade design that affects the vacuum. In order to mulch we don’t want vacuum. Honda relies on the blades throwing the grass on the bag vs vacuuming it in. The “loose” deck parts are not part of that factor
21 inch hrx for my small garden home lawn. in service 10 yrs first pull start every time
My Honda mower is a HRN 26 inch steel deck and I have a Milwaukee 21 inch electric mower. I use the 21 inch for the edges as its easier and lighter to use and use the Honda to do the main sections of the lawn. The 26 inch deck gets the lawn down in minutes.
Thanks for the video. Either one should work well for the majority of the home owner. I love Honda mower for varieties and reliability. I hope mine last forever!
HRNs are cheaper. I bought one a year ago and love it. The first gas mower that I have owned that starts all of the time.
Sold my HRX for HRN. The HRN or lower series has made some significant improvements such as adding the mulch/bag lever and single axle wheel adjustment. The wheel adjustment of the HRX rear wheels is a chore, especially for those mowing more than one lawn and need to make frequent adjustments. Try it, and you will know what I mean. Save yourself 200 and get the HRN. I have both right now and everyone pics the HRN due to adjustment and lighter/smaller weight. Always go with the thumb drive on Honda with the blade stop; there is an HRX with blade stop that is a full-bar drive (poor, unless you mow always in straight lines). It will take years to wear out a steel deck. The HRX bag fits on the HRN--there is really no difference in bag capacity. Both the HRN and HRX have the exact same blade--so your grass will not know the difference ;)
I have had this exact mower for several years. It was on sale for $400 at Home Depot and I got 10% off for military so I jumped on it. The self propelled function works great and you can very to speed to how fast you want to walk behind it. It has been a great mower, cuts great and mulches great as well. Only complaint, is the electric start. The battery does not have much power and runs out of juice too quick. I have had to use gum out spray most times to get it started, but once it starts it is easy to restart if you need to stop and dump a bag of grass or put gas in it.
That Versamow system is pretty cool.
Best informational video I have watched , spotless clean showroom also . Great job.
rick lavoie thanks for the feedback. We strive to keep our showroom comfortable and presentable.
The single per axle adjustment is so much better. The "If one breaks" is a joke and that it is bolted on is a non issue. Okay..the steel vis plastic deck is still a non issue. I am 63 yrs old and have never had a deck fail so again a non issue. The versa mow is splitting hairs. The 9 inch rubber wheels I see as a advantage but in reality I am not riding on it so a non issue. The larger engine again a non issue unless you wait for your lawn to get out of control and it is so tall it put strain on your engine. If your lawn is that tall then you have other issues such as poor bagging and mulching. The two vs. 3 heights may be good for taller folks "I have to say how much effort would it have been for Honda to make 3 holes instead of two...awh...marketing"
The bigger bag, no brain needed here..yes please! Smart drive vs. select drive, now we are getting somewhere that a owner will notice a difference and of course it is a personal choice.
If you are mowing a average size lawn then why spend the extra money for very little benefit.
The HRN he is showing is NOT a entry level Honda but a mid level. It has the Blade stop function that lets you keep the engine running without the blade spinning. GET THIS FUNCTION! When you have to stop briefly to remove a object, talk to the wife or any other reason it nice to not have to start the engine every time. Look, if you feel you need to buy the top of the line...go for it. If you want to save money and still have a world class mower get the HRN with the blade stop. Of course all this is my opinion and after many years at this game I never pay more for items that in the end are more bragging rights then items that make a real difference. Hope this helps someone feel good about saving some money and getting a great mower. I love my HRN and could afford to buy any mower I wanted.
Thank you for making it easier for me to choose the HRN.
Hi do you have an issue with front left hand side freewheeling?? I got a new hrn basic model and it does that.its only mm difference but some people say they dnt have it some say they have it and won’t make any difference to mowing.whats ur thoughts???
Is that front wheel area on the HRN plastic or metal? Seems like most brands that’s all plastic.
As an HRX owner, I have to say the Versamow clip director is one of the reasons for considering the HRX over the HRN. It works exceptionally well, especially if you have a thick lawn that grows quickly. If you get a little behind and your grass has grown a little taller but you like to mulch, being able to put it halfway between and bag some of the clippings but still mulch some is such a nice feature. It takes so much stress off the engine and results in far less grass clippings being visible on your lawn. The lead shred mode also works great for the fall. So I would say the HRX has a place for sure, and stepping up to the model with the blade clutch and the hydrostatic self propel (which I have) is well worth it. I do agree that most homeowners will be very happy with the HRN, but you won't feel like you wasted your money if you spend extra on the HRX.
mhtube01 I’ve owned an HRX217VYA for the last 7 years. I have thick grass and never found the clip director useful. If I set to half open it would plug up lol. So I was finding myself either full mulch or full bag. I also found the HRX to be bulky and clunky in tight spaces, along fence lines and maneuvering around trees. Sold it for an EGO Select Cut and wasn’t happy with that, went back to gas and bought an HRN out of curiosity, thinking I’d return for the HRX that was used to. To my surprise I like it a lot more, the mower feels more nimble, I’m able to maneuver it around stuff in the yard better and don’t even notice the difference in power, seems to mow just as efficiently. At the end of the day I’d be lying saying I miss the HRX, I don’t. I don’t see the value in the price point of it and features I didn’t find useful for me personally, saved myself couple hundred bucks this time around
Great review
I’m in Australia and have had the HRX for 3 years.
Great mower, tad heavy but a beautiful cut.
Thank you for very informative video. Exactly what I was looking for
Wish you were in my area. I would come buy my HRX from you. Thank you for an excellent informative video.
HRN here I bought it because of the price.
It’s a very good mower. Easy starts.
HRX I see you soon baby 😘
look into the speed selection... I had the HRX at home and returned it for an HRN before using. Cant imagine the pain of speed adjustment with a dial when going around obstacles. Large flat areas though hell yeah HRX
@@TripleAstyle1 that is a good point. Just bought the hrn today and was thinking if swapping it out for the Hrx but now that I think about it tuning the speed on turns sounds like it'll be in inconvenience but I do like the fact that you can choose how much you want to mulch vs mulching 100% to none
@@TripleAstyle1 Watched a how to and the speed can still be adjust by how far you depress the handle. You just set the max and then you can slow down by backing off the handle. I don't see a problem.
I have had the hrx 17 for 8 years still wont die
Have you run into any issues with the thermowax cartridge and the auto choke? It's a known issue with Honda mowers for about the last 5-7 years. In addition, there have been problems with the weak fuel filter that's within the fuel line. I recently added an external fuel filter and tonight I had to remove the carb to put in new thermowax cartridge. Hopefully the 2020 models don't have the auto choke issue.
@@jasweb147 0 issues im 8 years mower is amazing just don't use ethanol gas,
I just purchased an HRN216VKA early this month, and definitely would "not" recommend it. The issue is the deck. I can't really adjust it to the height I need without the deck getting caught on the ground. This was never an issue with my other mower. I could set it even lower than necessary and the deck would never touch.
Great review. Very informative. Thank You Sir
My pleasure. What model did you go with?
@@carlsmowerandsaw
216. Couldn’t see spending the extra money. Turns out to be a great choice for me , so far anyway
Awesome review. HRN is in my near future.
Enjoy
I think each mower is good for different specific needs depending on the person and lawn.
I have a brand new HRX and can’t wait to use it this year!
The video was good and I liked it!
Loved your video sir, but that background music was distracting.
I here ya
I have an HRR (I guess the HRN is the replacement ) and an HRX. The HRR not only has a smaller bag, but it also generates more vacuum some how. That results in lots more full bags in bag mode. The HRX with its more powerful motor does a better job mulching. I actually use both regularly. I use the HRR on my front lawn because after edging the sidewalks and driveway, the HRR vacuums all the debris up. For my back lawn where I have no sidewalks, I use the HRX on full mulch mode. It’s easier to vary the speed on the HRR as the self-propel lever acts like a gas pedal. The HRX is harder to vary speed as you have to adjust the dial to set speed and the lever is such that it’s either on or off.
I actually find the HRX more usable as a push mower than the HRR model. The wheel bearings do work wonders.
The twin blade design on both mowers results in a very even cut. Like he implies, it is easier to sharpen the blades off the lawnmower. For that reason, I have 2 sets of blades for each. I’d have a hard time choosing between the 2 models if I had to pick one.
In case you are wondering, my HRR is 16 years old and it broke so I bought the HRX after having taken the HRR to 2 different shops to fix. They couldn’t fix it. After owning the HRX for a year, I found that the HRR was missing a circlip on the rear axle and fixed it myself!
What's the difference in manufacturing cost between 8" and 9" wheels? (0:47) Negligible, so it's a marketing decision to differentiate the HRN from the HRX.
Isn’t that’s what it’s all about 😉
I’ve got a toro toro commercial proline 2013 (white wheels) with a Kawasaki engine 179cc, I personally think toros are the best
Tom Hints
I’m still running a 1999 proline with the Suzuki two stroke motor. Still cuts like the day I bought it. The deck on the prolines can’t be beat. Also it holds 1 gallon of gas.
Mark Nelson yeah mine holds about a gallon, to keep you going all day😂
I have an HRM 21 SV, manufactured mid to late 80's I believe. Still starts first pull 95% of the time. Down side- some parts no longer available.
Better to hear the price first.
3:56 lol I've had an HRX217 w/ Versamow for 10+ years and never adjust the sliding door. I just mulch everything, all the time. And I hand-sharpen the blades w/ a file, or use a benchtop belt sander/grinder. Love this mower, but if I'm honest, I don't use Versamow at all, b/c I don't bag I guess.
I don't bag unless it's wet or there are leaves down. The leaf blower is for those winter days when there's less than 2" of powder, or if I need to blow mulch clippings off the drive.