Kirby is a fantastic machine. Getting a new one isn’t worth it though when you have countless 30, 40, 50 year old machines still around and in working condition. It’s a shame the company hasn’t made any real new innovations or improvements since the 90s. Just go for one of the classics like G3 or a model from the 80s.
In 1969 I was a young Kirby salesman. After three months of home demonstrations, I learned very quickly that the Kirby was a work horse. Now it is 2024 and I own a used 2002 Kirby. I had a local Kirby repair center go over it and, with a few adjustments, I now have a monster of a vacuum cleaner. I couldn't be happier! I miss all the attachments that were available back then like the flexible shaft with the knife sharpening attachment. Thanks Kirby for still making a hell of a product!
I love Kirbys,they are like a classic car,shiny,built to last(some)high maintenance though,re-polishing,belt,bag,weight some what of a pain. I believe they remind me of the old times when things were chromed. It is what it is.
They remind me of Harley Davidsons. Big and heavy seemingly for the sake of being big and heavy. They make lots of noise. There are acres of shiny aluminum to polish, or not. They only like big wide flat surfaces. Anything else and they quickly become bulky and cumbersome to handle. And their partisans are rabid, gleefully and blindly denying their many faults.
As someone who has a miele c1 Delphi and this exact kirby, I find both have their place in my cleaning business. I clean airbnbs and often use my kirby when cleaing airbnbs because of how well the grrom carpets. I use the hose to dust and vacuums my floors, then use the kirby in upright mode to fisnish with the carpeting. Going back and forth is a little annoying, but i feel they deep clean the best. My c1 is great and has awesome suction, but in my opinion, it does not groom the carpet as well. I have made me hard wood in my house and a couple area rugs, so I prefer the c1 as my house is also smaller. But when cleaning larger homes with a lot of carpet, i chose my kirby.
@@PerformanceReviewsI have that power head and idk... personally I guess I like the kirbys more for carpets. Do love my miele but I even use my simplcicty wonder with the tandem air nossel more than my c1.
The classic G series Kirby's are definitely nostalgic to me, and despite all its facelifts over the years, it's still the same system. I admittedly do like the blue color of the Avalir 2, it almost reminds me of a Kirby Tradition.
The self propelled feature is nice and makes it almost effortless to use, but can be a chore if it has to be moved up and down stairs. Used a few of the G Series, work well but are a little heavy and bulky but since it’s a proven design and changes aren’t made just for the sake of changing things, can’t really complain. Will continue to use my ‘65 DS 50 which is easier to maneuver and surprisingly picks up quite a bit of dirt with it set to 5 on the hight setting.
I've found the G-series Kirbys don't do as well on carpets as Royal metal vacs with similar motor power. I keep my old Royal 9700 around for carpets - it does a bang-up job on them - but I find modern canisters do a better job with heavier debris, and certainly on hard floors.
I have a sentria 2, g5, and heritage 2. The classic series (including the tradition) and both heritage models are my favorite. They last a lot longer and the aluminum polishes up better. Plus the general concept and function is the same
Also, there's a lot of cheap plastic bits and parts and the graphics are cheesy too. What makes Kirby a Kirby is their dedication to metal. If you want a great plastic vacuum cleaner, buy a SEBO.
I just got a Sentria for FREE on Facebook Marketplace. It was a little dirty but had been used sparingly. I cleaned it up and vacuumed my bedroom, hall and living room. I got 1/4 bag of dirt after just cleaning with a Dirt Devil.
i wish i could own a kirby but not going to pay the prices they want for a new one also for hard floor couldnt ya just lift the belt to stop the brush and lift the head up so its not rubbing the floor and can actually use its *airflow* to pick up off hard/tile floors
@@PerformanceReviews You were using the brush. We are saying turn the crank so the belt is released and the brush isn't turning. I have used it that way to clean hard floors and it does an ok job. I don't set the nozzle all the way down on the floor so it doesn't snowplow. I only have done this a couple of times when I had it out to deep clean a rug and was too lazy to put it away and drag out a proper canister, but it did work ok.
I got a G5 with all attachments at a thrift store for $25 and an Avalir 2 at a yard sale for $50. I clean houses for a few people and use these for carpet, amazing for pet hair but the stairs are definitely a challenge. Even with its quirks I prefer it to just about anything else for carpet. It’s not good at all on hard floors, even when it’s put into “canister mode”. I used your videos for help with restoring the G5.
Similar performance to older Kirbys? Reminds me of other antique vacuums seen various places. Will stick with the Sebos. side note: Eureka's now selling a Tinco-style floorwasher.
However. I just did and didn't miss anything. Kirby has flaws. Tell me what vacuum doesn't. I've used alot of different brands and styles and have not found the perfect one yet. If you do please let me know. Lmao!!!
Oh... I only paid a 150 for my Avalir 2.. I thought that was a great price. I do love your videos and your expertise. Keep making them and I'll keep watching them.
I have my Classic Omega for forty nine years and with the exception of a few replacement cords, brush rolls and belts the machine has never needed a single repair though I only use it once a month now for the last ten years when I turn my area rugs upside down and vacuum them from underneath to reset the nap. It’s just too heavy and I have a Miele strait suction canister on each floor as well as a Sebo G4 upright for my carpets upstairs in the bedrooms and a Riccar R25 upright downstairs for my rugs. They’re just a lot more convenient and lightweight and have better filtration than the Classic Omega.
I retired my Kirby G3 and replaced it with a Sebo E3. No way could the Kirby keep up with an Alaskan Klee Kai in the house! The Sebo is an absolute joy to use after 30 years of that Kirby.
I love my Kirby Sentria II, but I make no excuses for thinking that its something modern or revolutionary. Its a decent vacuum but its compromised due to its basically 100 year old design principles. But, I like weird machines, my other vacuum is a Rainbow, so I guess I've got both strange and expensive tastes, though I got a good deal on both. Plus, I'm very handy, I fix cars, so a Kirby's internals are no sweat for me.
an idea for a video if you get bored: Those Kenmore intution uprights that are popular... there's not a single video I can find on UA-cam of how to replace the lower hose... You know, the one that often will crack... It blows my mind no one has done a video for that issue on how to replace...
I’ll never forgive whichever Kirby salesman convinced my grandmother to buy this machine. She loves it and thinks that it does a great job, but she physically cannot change the belt or convert it to use attachments. When a belt wears out, she has to wait until one of the kids/grandkids visits and walk them through a belt change. We all hate the machine because it doesn’t seem to clean any better than the vacuums we own that are about a third of the weight.
@@PerformanceReviews I have paper work from just buying the brand new one and it’s says the lifetime rebuild is included with the purchase of the brand new machine
I bought one of these brand new about 20-30 years ago and I got the lifetime rebuild. Are you saying that it’s no longer any good? That rebuild policy was the only reason I bought the damn vacuum!
No thanks. I' ll keep my 40 year old Royal upright that I paid $10 for two years ago at Goodwill. Essentially the same as a Kirby yet simpler to maintain.
I've used Kirby Vacuums most of my life so does my family use it before my family and I chose the Kirby G Diamond Edition because it was the only vacuum of recommended to my family a Salesman came to my home my parents asked to lower the price we were the first customers to have a Kirby my parents were so interested so they paid it because my family thought I was the oldest of you know to clean they gave the Kirby salesman my Social Security money to pay for the Kirby cuz my parents added me to their contract I was the oldest in the family so my family thought is this like an early birthday gift how's my parents have managed to afford Kirby I was like in my kid mind so I just was obsessed with it I started vacuuming stuff I was like my little kid body was too heavy for the tech Drive so I learn how to use Tech Drive we didn't have any carpet on my house really high like a rock and carpeting in my bedroom and then my parents carpeting each other bedrooms back then I have carpet in my bedroom my parents are carpet in their bedroom are Kirby salesman demo the Kirby on my bed cuz I thought I was sleeping on bed bugs and then I remember watching the whole demo when I was just a little kid while my brother was a baby cuz I was rolling him to room to room and I remember watching the whole demo of the Kirby salesman doing my bedroom my parents room the guest bedroom and they gave my parents a discount because we're like a family of four if we recommend the Kirby to each of our family members that's how I remember seeing the whole demo of the Kirby salesman and when he left he left the machine to my family that we gave him the payment got the paperwork was done we signed everything I remember seeing the Kirby salesman signing the paperwork it said August 1st 2005 my mom was aging rapidly she couldn't pick up the Kirby no more so my mom went back to back vacuum cleaners so my parents put the Kirby in a storage unit when we moved out of my old house the the Kirby vacuum was Rusty the handle tail latch melt into pure rubber
Thank you for this review! There are too many people out there who refuse to believe anything is better than a Kirby, but these are very far from the best machines out there.
@@amlesh8638 The answer heavily depends on what carpets you have, what type of dirt you're regularly dealing with, and how much you actually care about deep cleaning ability vs how convenient it is to use the vac.
I do really like Kirby iv got one myself but it is a shame that they haven’t really changed anything they really do need to upgrade their design in my opinion
But if they redo there design they will have to redesign most things and that will cost them thousands, so that’s why they proably have kept the same designs for decades
They need to send a couple of their engineers if they have them, or hire a couple if they don't, and send them to do an internship with KTM, Aprilia, Ducati or BMW Motorrad and learn how to design and manufacture modern high strength light weight aluminum castings, like the ones you see in modern motorcycle engines from the aforementioned companies. Their engine castings are works of art while being very strong and light weight. A Kirby with those qualities would not need Tech Drive and all that failure prone complication. I would also say use a brush roll with an electric motor inside the roller like Kenmore uses. No more belt or belt lifter. Come on Kirby, you can do it.
The most overrated vacuum on the market, peddled by shameful door to door salesman in retirement communities. Your carpet pickup test mirrors my own experiences. Grinds heavier stuff into the carpet, and what heavier stuff it does suck up gets caught in the corners and just falls back out. “Your height isn’t adjusted right” or “your belt is worn” is what I’ve heard. No… it’s just not that good.
What's even worse, when you have a carpet type that the Kirby actually performs "Well" on, it performs well on it because it's slowly destroying the carpet by beating the absolute hell out of the carpet.
Kirby is a fantastic machine. Getting a new one isn’t worth it though when you have countless 30, 40, 50 year old machines still around and in working condition. It’s a shame the company hasn’t made any real new innovations or improvements since the 90s. Just go for one of the classics like G3 or a model from the 80s.
In 1969 I was a young Kirby salesman. After three months of home demonstrations, I learned very quickly that the Kirby was a work horse. Now it is 2024 and I own a used 2002 Kirby. I had a local Kirby repair center go over it and, with a few adjustments, I now have a monster of a vacuum cleaner. I couldn't be happier! I miss all the attachments that were available back then like the flexible shaft with the knife sharpening attachment. Thanks Kirby for still making a hell of a product!
Kirbys are great for wide open carpets. Once you have nooks and cranny or a small house it's very bulky
The belts last a lot longer if you don’t leave them tensioned when you aren’t using the vacuum.
I love Kirbys,they are like a classic car,shiny,built to last(some)high maintenance though,re-polishing,belt,bag,weight some what of a pain.
I believe they remind me of the old times when things were chromed. It is what it is.
They remind me of Harley Davidsons. Big and heavy seemingly for the sake of being big and heavy. They make lots of noise. There are acres of shiny aluminum to polish, or not. They only like big wide flat surfaces. Anything else and they quickly become bulky and cumbersome to handle. And their partisans are rabid, gleefully and blindly denying their many faults.
I love my Kirby, only because I got it for 20 bucks and this thing Is a BEAST for that price.
I'd NEVER spend the insane amount they want MSRP.
$20 is the right price! Thanks for watching!
As someone who has a miele c1 Delphi and this exact kirby, I find both have their place in my cleaning business. I clean airbnbs and often use my kirby when cleaing airbnbs because of how well the grrom carpets. I use the hose to dust and vacuums my floors, then use the kirby in upright mode to fisnish with the carpeting. Going back and forth is a little annoying, but i feel they deep clean the best. My c1 is great and has awesome suction, but in my opinion, it does not groom the carpet as well. I have made me hard wood in my house and a couple area rugs, so I prefer the c1 as my house is also smaller. But when cleaning larger homes with a lot of carpet, i chose my kirby.
You should buy a SEB228 for your Miele. You'll never use the Kirby after that.
@@PerformanceReviewsI have that power head and idk... personally I guess I like the kirbys more for carpets. Do love my miele but I even use my simplcicty wonder with the tandem air nossel more than my c1.
The classic G series Kirby's are definitely nostalgic to me, and despite all its facelifts over the years, it's still the same system. I admittedly do like the blue color of the Avalir 2, it almost reminds me of a Kirby Tradition.
The self propelled feature is nice and makes it almost effortless to use, but can be a chore if it has to be moved up and down stairs. Used a few of the G Series, work well but are a little heavy and bulky but since it’s a proven design and changes aren’t made just for the sake of changing things, can’t really complain. Will continue to use my ‘65 DS 50 which is easier to maneuver and surprisingly picks up quite a bit of dirt with it set to 5 on the hight setting.
I've found the G-series Kirbys don't do as well on carpets as Royal metal vacs with similar motor power. I keep my old Royal 9700 around for carpets - it does a bang-up job on them - but I find modern canisters do a better job with heavier debris, and certainly on hard floors.
Royal was better. I have a few videos on them too
I have a sentria 2, g5, and heritage 2. The classic series (including the tradition) and both heritage models are my favorite. They last a lot longer and the aluminum polishes up better. Plus the general concept and function is the same
Also, there's a lot of cheap plastic bits and parts and the graphics are cheesy too. What makes Kirby a Kirby is their dedication to metal. If you want a great plastic vacuum cleaner, buy a SEBO.
I just got a Sentria for FREE on Facebook Marketplace. It was a little dirty but had been used sparingly. I cleaned it up and vacuumed my bedroom, hall and living room. I got 1/4 bag of dirt after just cleaning with a Dirt Devil.
i wish i could own a kirby but not going to pay the prices they want for a new one
also for hard floor
couldnt ya just lift the belt to stop the brush and lift the head up so its not rubbing the floor and can actually use its *airflow* to pick up off hard/tile floors
Yes, exactly. This is what a Kirby sales person showed me.
I show that not working.
@@PerformanceReviews You were using the brush. We are saying turn the crank so the belt is released and the brush isn't turning. I have used it that way to clean hard floors and it does an ok job. I don't set the nozzle all the way down on the floor so it doesn't snowplow. I only have done this a couple of times when I had it out to deep clean a rug and was too lazy to put it away and drag out a proper canister, but it did work ok.
You're right I didn't edit that footage in. I do have footage of it not working as well. I will post it to X or Instagram sometime this week.
I got a G5 with all attachments at a thrift store for $25 and an Avalir 2 at a yard sale for $50. I clean houses for a few people and use these for carpet, amazing for pet hair but the stairs are definitely a challenge. Even with its quirks I prefer it to just about anything else for carpet. It’s not good at all on hard floors, even when it’s put into “canister mode”. I used your videos for help with restoring the G5.
Thanks for watching!
Great review!!
Similar performance to older Kirbys? Reminds me of other antique vacuums seen various places. Will stick with the Sebos. side note: Eureka's now selling a Tinco-style floorwasher.
💯
I don't seem to have as many issues as you are in this video. Yeah, it snow plows, but that why you raise the head to suck up larger stuff first.
Somebody didn't watch the video till the end.
@@PerformanceReviews No my friend I didn't. Sorry, I had to cut it short due to my nephew needing dinner...lol
However. I just did and didn't miss anything. Kirby has flaws. Tell me what vacuum doesn't. I've used alot of different brands and styles and have not found the perfect one yet. If you do please let me know. Lmao!!!
Oh... I only paid a 150 for my Avalir 2.. I thought that was a great price. I do love your videos and your expertise. Keep making them and I'll keep watching them.
I have my Classic Omega for forty nine years and with the exception of a few replacement cords, brush rolls and belts the machine has never needed a single repair though I only use it once a month now for the last ten years when I turn my area rugs upside down and vacuum them from underneath to reset the nap. It’s just too heavy and I have a Miele strait suction canister on each floor as well as a Sebo G4 upright for my carpets upstairs in the bedrooms and a Riccar R25 upright downstairs for my rugs. They’re just a lot more convenient and lightweight and have better filtration than the Classic Omega.
Yes, but that is a very different design made in a different time by now even a different Kirby company.
I retired my Kirby G3 and replaced it with a Sebo E3. No way could the Kirby keep up with an Alaskan Klee Kai in the house! The Sebo is an absolute joy to use after 30 years of that Kirby.
I love my Kirby Sentria II, but I make no excuses for thinking that its something modern or revolutionary. Its a decent vacuum but its compromised due to its basically 100 year old design principles. But, I like weird machines, my other vacuum is a Rainbow, so I guess I've got both strange and expensive tastes, though I got a good deal on both. Plus, I'm very handy, I fix cars, so a Kirby's internals are no sweat for me.
Only have the avalir and so far not dissapointed with the performance of it. Bought it awhile back for 2 bucks at an aucttion
Isn't cfm a better measurement of cleaning ability for carpet?
It's an important metric but not the end all. You'll probably find this video useful.
ua-cam.com/video/Om32r8ulID8/v-deo.html
Epic. Was about to buy a SH one at a 3rd of the price, but seems it makes no sense :))
We'll stick with the Dyson in this case.
You should buy something better than a Dyson.
ua-cam.com/video/kzhD_gtMuNM/v-deo.html
Are you gonna review the Kirby Avalir Platinum?
It's the same vacuum why would a color change make a difference?
@@PerformanceReviews Don't ask me, ask Kirby.
@@PerformanceReviews There could be a small difference, you do know that, right?
Bro he basically just did in this video. Same vacuum different name and colors.
I can confirm that the only difference is color & branding. Model number is the same.
an idea for a video if you get bored: Those Kenmore intution uprights that are popular... there's not a single video I can find on UA-cam of how to replace the lower hose... You know, the one that often will crack... It blows my mind no one has done a video for that issue on how to replace...
I love a Kirby. They aren't for everyone though
Any chance you can do a Riccar R40p?
I’ll never forgive whichever Kirby salesman convinced my grandmother to buy this machine. She loves it and thinks that it does a great job, but she physically cannot change the belt or convert it to use attachments. When a belt wears out, she has to wait until one of the kids/grandkids visits and walk them through a belt change. We all hate the machine because it doesn’t seem to clean any better than the vacuums we own that are about a third of the weight.
Thanks for the great Kirby story!
I have one thing Deus Royal beets Kirby on vacuum sales man
U mentioned the lifetime. The lifetime warranty is still offered as well the 3year warranty
It is not offered. I have on the screen towards the end of the video the service bulletin from Kirby themselves saying it's not.
@@PerformanceReviews I have paper work from just buying the brand new one and it’s says the lifetime rebuild is included with the purchase of the brand new machine
Good luck trying to use it, You bought New old stock.
@@PerformanceReviews no mine is the new platinum so they will have to honor if I file to use or receive legal action
I bought one of these brand new about 20-30 years ago and I got the lifetime rebuild. Are you saying that it’s no longer any good?
That rebuild policy was the only reason I bought the damn vacuum!
No thanks. I' ll keep my 40 year old Royal upright that I paid $10 for two years ago at Goodwill. Essentially the same as a Kirby yet simpler to maintain.
I can't stand how loud and hard they are to move 🤦🏻♂️
$2400 brand New? Oh HELL NO! For that you can buy a Brand New Top of the Line Riccar Tandem Air upright for at Least $600 Less.
They'll last forever and barely change. Might as well get a used one for pennies. Or just get a Miele
I've used Kirby Vacuums most of my life so does my family use it before my family and I chose the Kirby G Diamond Edition because it was the only vacuum of recommended to my family a Salesman came to my home my parents asked to lower the price we were the first customers to have a Kirby my parents were so interested so they paid it because my family thought I was the oldest of you know to clean they gave the Kirby salesman my Social Security money to pay for the Kirby cuz my parents added me to their contract I was the oldest in the family so my family thought is this like an early birthday gift how's my parents have managed to afford Kirby I was like in my kid mind so I just was obsessed with it I started vacuuming stuff I was like my little kid body was too heavy for the tech Drive so I learn how to use Tech Drive we didn't have any carpet on my house really high like a rock and carpeting in my bedroom and then my parents carpeting each other bedrooms back then I have carpet in my bedroom my parents are carpet in their bedroom are Kirby salesman demo the Kirby on my bed cuz I thought I was sleeping on bed bugs and then I remember watching the whole demo when I was just a little kid while my brother was a baby cuz I was rolling him to room to room and I remember watching the whole demo of the Kirby salesman doing my bedroom my parents room the guest bedroom and they gave my parents a discount because we're like a family of four if we recommend the Kirby to each of our family members that's how I remember seeing the whole demo of the Kirby salesman and when he left he left the machine to my family that we gave him the payment got the paperwork was done we signed everything I remember seeing the Kirby salesman signing the paperwork it said August 1st 2005 my mom was aging rapidly she couldn't pick up the Kirby no more so my mom went back to back vacuum cleaners so my parents put the Kirby in a storage unit when we moved out of my old house the the Kirby vacuum was Rusty the handle tail latch melt into pure rubber
Thank you for this review! There are too many people out there who refuse to believe anything is better than a Kirby, but these are very far from the best machines out there.
Thanks for watching!
What are the best machine then?
@@amlesh8638 There is not "best" vacuum, but it depends on your needs and your budget
@@amlesh8638 The answer heavily depends on what carpets you have, what type of dirt you're regularly dealing with, and how much you actually care about deep cleaning ability vs how convenient it is to use the vac.
Wow, great video, but a disaster vacuum.
I do really like Kirby iv got one myself but it is a shame that they haven’t really changed anything they really do need to upgrade their design in my opinion
But if they redo there design they will have to redesign most things and that will cost them thousands, so that’s why they proably have kept the same designs for decades
@@Vacuum-kid yep I guess it’s never going to happen they will continue to make as many avalir variations as they can
They need to send a couple of their engineers if they have them, or hire a couple if they don't, and send them to do an internship with KTM, Aprilia, Ducati or BMW Motorrad and learn how to design and manufacture modern high strength light weight aluminum castings, like the ones you see in modern motorcycle engines from the aforementioned companies. Their engine castings are works of art while being very strong and light weight. A Kirby with those qualities would not need Tech Drive and all that failure prone complication. I would also say use a brush roll with an electric motor inside the roller like Kenmore uses. No more belt or belt lifter. Come on Kirby, you can do it.
The most overrated vacuum on the market, peddled by shameful door to door salesman in retirement communities.
Your carpet pickup test mirrors my own experiences. Grinds heavier stuff into the carpet, and what heavier stuff it does suck up gets caught in the corners and just falls back out. “Your height isn’t adjusted right” or “your belt is worn” is what I’ve heard. No… it’s just not that good.
What's even worse, when you have a carpet type that the Kirby actually performs "Well" on, it performs well on it because it's slowly destroying the carpet by beating the absolute hell out of the carpet.