02.Results
What to buy
- HONDA Buffalo Buck HRU 19R - $699
- MASPORT Lawnmarshall 983889 - $419
- ROVER Premier35192 - $599
- VICTA Bronco BRA484A (A) - $569
- VICTA Lawnkeeper LKS464A - $344
Price and availability check September 2006.
(A) New model number BRA484B, same specs except blue in colour.
Results tables
|
Performance |
| Brand / model (in rank
order) |
Overall
score 1
(%) |
Cutting
score2
(%) |
Ease of use
score 3
(%) |
Noise at 7.5 m
/
user position 4
(dB) |
| VICTA Bronco BRA484A |
84 |
90 |
74 |
71 / 85 |
| HONDA Buffalo Buck HRU 19R |
82 |
90 |
69 |
74 / 87 |
| ROVER Premier 35192 |
82 |
90 |
71 |
74 / 90 |
| MASPORT Lawnmarshall 983889 |
81 |
88 |
70 |
73 / 86 |
| VICTA Lawnkeeper LKS464A |
81 |
88 |
71 |
73 / 87 |
| MASPORT Maxicatch 450 983915 # |
80 |
90 |
66 |
73 / 86 |
| YARD-MAN 408A |
80 |
92 |
61 |
76 / 89 |
| ROVER Easy Start 30026 (A) |
79 |
86 |
69 |
74 / 88 |
| MORRISON Vinaro 380 ST (B) |
77 |
88 |
60 |
74 / 86 |
| SUPASWIFT Lawn Leader 767JB |
74 |
86 |
57 |
76 / 89 |
| TALON TOUGH TOOLS Eagle Cut & Catch
AM3050 # |
66 |
66 |
66 |
71 / 84 |
| |
|
Specifications |
| Brand / model (in rank order) |
Cutting
positions5
|
Cutting
height
range(mm)5
|
Width of
cut
(mm) |
Weight (kg)* |
Warranty (years) |
Origin |
Manufacturer/
distributor |
Price
($)** |
VICTA Bronco
BRA484A |
10 |
15–70 |
480 |
24.9 |
2.0 |
Australia |
Victa Lawncare |
569 |
HONDA Buffalo Buck
HRU 19R |
11 |
15–80 |
475 |
27.5 |
(D) |
Australia |
Honda Motorcyle &
Power
Equipment |
699 |
| ROVER Premier 35192 |
12 |
10–55 |
450 |
27.3 |
(E) |
Australia |
Rover Mowers |
599 |
| MASPORT Lawnmarshall 983889 |
9.0 |
15–75 |
460 |
22.6 |
(F) |
New Zealand |
Masport |
419 |
| VICTA Lawnkeeper LKS464A |
11 |
10–70 |
455 |
23.1 |
1.0 |
Australia |
Victa Lawncare |
344 |
MASPORT Maxicatch
450 983915 # |
10 |
10–70 |
460 |
24.7 |
(G) |
New Zealand |
Masport |
589 |
| YARD-MAN 408A |
9.0 |
10–65 |
455 |
26.2 |
2.0 |
New Zealand |
MTD Products |
575 |
ROVER Easy Start
30026 (A) |
9.0 |
10–55 |
455 |
23.4 |
(E) |
Australia |
Rover Mowers |
398 |
MORRISON Vinaro
380 ST (B) |
9.0 |
10–75 |
460 |
22.0 |
(H) |
New Zealand |
Masport |
358 |
| SUPASWIFT Lawn Leader 767JB |
12 |
10–65 |
455 |
23.6 |
(J) |
Australia |
Allpower Industries |
539 (L) |
TALON TOUGH TOOLS
Eagle Cut &
Catch AM3050 # |
12 |
35–85 (C) |
480 |
30.6 |
2.0 (K) |
China |
Talon Tools |
299 |
| |
Table Notes
* Mower only; doesn't include catcher
**Recommended or average retail. Price and availability check September 2006.
# Discontinued: see table notes and profiles for details.
(A) Replaced in November 2005 by model 30028 with a new engine
(B) Replaced by a new version with the same model number, made in China and with a 'quickcut' blade
(C) The manufacturer says there's a new version of this model with a range of 16 —66 cm
(D) Two years for engine, one year for chassis (domestic use)
(E) Two years for engine, one year for all other parts
(F) One year for engine, four years for chassis, 'lifetime' for catcher, two years for all other parts
(G) Two years for engine, six years for chassis, 'lifetime' for catcher, two years for all other parts
(H) One year for engine, two years for all other parts
(J) Two years for engine, not stated for other parts
(K) Service recommended after first five hours. Warranty voided if not serviced after 12 months/50 hours. Of course statutory warranties still apply
(L) The price we paid in July 2005
1 Overall score
The overall score is a combination of cutting performance and ease of use scores, weighted as follows:
- Cutting: 60%
- Ease of use: 40%
2 Cutting score
This is based on the following equally weighted assessments:
- Cutting short grass
- Appearance of short grass after mowing
- Cutting medium-length grass
- Appearance of medium grass after mowing
- Cutting long grass
The appearance of long grass after mowing wasn't assessed, as it's done without the catcher fitted and all mowers tend to leave a messy finish.
3 Ease of use score
Ease of use is based on the following equally weighted assessments:
- Vibration
- Pushing/manoeuvring
- Handle comfort
- Controls
- Cutting height adjustment
- Starting
- Catcher
4 Noise
We measured the noise from the user's position and at 7.5 m from the mower. They're all loud.
5 Cutting positions/cutting height range
The length the grass is cut to can be varied by adjusting the height of the blade above the ground. These columns show the number of positions available and the range of approximate lengths of grass you can cut to.
The cutting heights shown aren't the exact length of grass you'll get, as we measured the distance between the blade and the bottom of the wheels, but it does give a sense of the differences between each model. A mower with a comparatively low maximum cutting height will probably have more trouble cutting a very overgrown lawn.
This article last reviewed September 2006.