Honda HRX217K5VKA 187cc Gas 21 in. 4-in-1 Versamow System Lawn Mower

Made the switch from a HRR216 with blade stop to this model. I had issues with the blade stop not releasing and making it difficult to start the mower and I also had issues with it bogging the engine down right when the clutch engaged so much that it'd kill the mower. Once it engaged the engine would spin back up to the right RPMs and it'd be fine. The 160cc engine also just wasn't a fan of how thick our lawn's grass is so it had issues with bogging. This HRX is a noticeable step up from the HRR and I couldn't be happier with the change! I no longer have the concerns of the blade stop and, most importantly, this is a much more powerful engine to cut grass with. It had zero issues even when cutting at a lower deck height. Comparing the mulching abilities of the 160cc HRR to the 190cc HRX is a night and day difference as well. The HRR had issues with clumping and not mulching nearly as well as the HRX is capable of. The only complaint I have about my new HRX217K5VKA is with the Versamow system. It's very handy that you can bag, mulch, or a combination of the two but even when I have ours on the mulch only setting there is a good amount of grass getting through the door that should be shutting (to prevent grass from going into the bagger). I'm hoping this is an adjustment I can take care of but it seems I'm not the only one with the issue so I'm a little worried it's not. If that's the only issue I have with the mower, however, I'll happily deal with it. It's a bit pricey for a mower, but the quality of the cut and the quality that makes up (for the most part) a Honda mower is worth it in my opinion,

Absolutely the best mower I have ever owned. I bought it in August 2016, so I've had enough time to get a good feel for it. The rear-wheel drive is great; when the bag starts to get full/heavy, you don't lose traction, and if you keep the drive engaged on left-turns it will push through the turns for you. If you sharpen the blades (two-blade system!) one to four times a year, your lawn will look like you cut it with a laser. That comes in pretty handy if you cut your grass high. Typically, the higher you cut grass, the more difficult it is to get a good-looking cut. Dull blades and/or a low-powered engine can end up just chewing your grass, which looks bad and is hard on the grass. With sharp blades, that's not a problem at all for this mower. As far as starting the mower is concerned, I would say that at least 95% of my starts have been on the first pull, the rest on the second. It's never needed three, which kind of surprised me after sitting in the garage all winter. This mower makes the actual 'mowing' part of lawncare so easy that it's almost an afterthought. Just start it up, and follow behind.

It’s been a year , running well

UPDATE: After a few mowings and adjustment stated in the manual. This things a beast! Check out my video posted here. Nothing can kill it, not even 12" thick wet grass in mulch mode! Starts on one pull every time. I had a 17 year old push mower. So anything is better right? Not exactly. I'll explain below. THIS IS A REAL REVIEW AND A REAL PURCHASE. PROS: - You can jog with it. It won't cut at that fast of a pace but if you gotta run from ground bees, it'll keep up with ya. - the mulching is pretty impressive actually. I like it for that. - someone was thinking when they designed the bag. My wife loves dumping the bag. - the throttle and handle bar are very comfortable to hold and push. I forgot I was holding two things at once, the throttle and the mower stop bar. - the handle folds. This is great for storage. - half pull start. It did do that. - 5 year warranty. That cant be beat! No buying another lawn mower for over 5 years! - the BEST PART, the option to mulch or bag, or both without taking off the bag! This is the coolest idea and so easy. CONS. - the starter cord is so far down the handle, kinda sucks grabbing it that low every time you stop to empty the bag or pick up somethng. - the wheel adjustment is tough to do. Not a big deal, but still not easy. I had to pick up the bottom or the mower to lift the wheel off the ground to get it to adjust. - the dust. And again, the DUST! on a dry lawn, you will be eating plenty of dust or whatever. I have a thick lawn, very thick. And it still kicks up a cloud of dust! - heavy. Shes a tank. Big mama. A beast. ONE MAJOR DANGER! the reason for three stars. Again I go back to the pull cord. When you fold the handle, the cord gets wound in the flywheel. Well, one time, out of habit, I lifted the handle and also lifted the blade/engine stop together and pulled the bar up, and it started. My fault maybe, but it happened. Over all, it's a pretty good mower using it only once so far. Id like to see the pull cord mounted up higher I guess. The bag is a generous size as it holds a TON of grass and still the mower drive system pulls it along with ease. It's a sexy looking machine. My neighbors are envious. Yes it's expensive. But the motor is what makes it worth it. If taken care of, this honda motor will literally last a life time. In the end, I'm happy I got it for my wife who mows the lawn and reports back to me. So I'll up date here as she updates me. :-)

Maybe it's because I've never had a "real" lawnmower before, but this machine blew me away! Yes, it's crazy expensive, but then again I've bought about six $150 mowers, all of which are now junk and they were not that easy to use. This mower started on the first easy pull right out of the box (after adding the supplied engine oil, of course)! Since our old mower quit, our grass was getting tall, so I thought I'd see what the Honda could do. I was awed by how easily and quickly I was able to mow the entire side yard, which is uneven and on a hill. The speed controls work perfectly, and in fact - I had to slow the control down going UPhill! The drive control is literally a one-thumb action push lever. SO easy. You can control how much grass goes in the bag/mulching. Plenty of power, great flexibility, easy to start, easy to use. Totally exceeded my expectations even after reading all the rave reviews. It's worth the high price tag in my opinion. Wish I would have bought this years ago!!

Love it! This product was slightly damaged when it arrived. Contacted Honda and the broken part was replaced quickly. I was totally amazed that this mover started on the first pull. It is easy to operate. I bagged my first lawn cutting of the year and was surprised that there was not nearly as much grass as with my old lawnmower. Even though the grass was high, I decided to try mulching the next time. OMG. There were no clumps left behind. I am super happy with the results. I have lowered the deck slightly and mulched again with the next spring high growth. Again, no clumps or anything left behind. I am still not sure about the automatic speed. I am still figuring that out. Sometimes it appears it is faster and I have to slow it down and then it is slow and I have to speed it up. I suspect it has something to do with the pitch and grade of my lawn. Still working that issue. This is the best mower I have EVER owned. Very happy with this purchase.

Honda HRX217K5VKA 187cc Gas 21 in. is a proven winner. FedEx shipping from CA (5-days to FL), package full of air-wrap plastic that protected the box and inside, cut one side of box and rolled the mower out of box. Picking the mower up is unacceptable because you'll get a hernia, followed the instructions with no incident. Wheel height adjustment was easy and very secure. First start was very eventful, a blast of white smoke filled my driveway. It seemed like lubricant used to preserve the carburetor not motor oil, no smoke on later starts. I like its results of an even cut across the lawn, mulch capability, adjustable speed control, and power. I survived my first cut! Why? Transitioning from a front wheel drive, large rear wheel Craftsman to a rear wheel drive Honda has its difficulties. After decades of Craftsman mowers, I was forced to change due to an uncertain Sears' future and dependency on their available parts. I am happy I changed.

Honda engineering has worked out all the fussy details of power mowing: quality cut, durability, and ease of use. Simple assembly after delivery. Started on the second pull. Abundant power to cut and propel through thick grass, bagger fills completely, easy to feather the variable speed control to match your pace. Long oil fill tube simplifies oil changes - just tip the mower on its side and drain; this should encourage more frequent oil changes that is the single most important maintenance item in prolonging mower life. No throttle or choke - just a reliable starter and comfortable governed speed. Ball bearing wheels, duel blades for superior cut quality. Big gas tank opening that makes filling easy. Durable belt drive to the rear wheels gives great traction over varied terrain. Recommended.