Customer Reviews for Honda GCV190 21 in. Variable Speed Walk Behind Gas Self Propelled Mower

Purchased to replace my 15 year old Honda mower. Old mower still worked great but was just getting wore out. New mower was easy to set up and started on second pull. Love mulching feature. It saves me lots of time not having to bag.

A big step up from our previous 3 speed Honda mower. Every feature is improved, from adjustable handle height (I'm 6' 2") to the more powerful 190 engine - no stalling or slowing down in tall grass. Quality cutting and mulching job. The picture is of only the second cutting this season. As you can see, there are no clumps of un-mulched grass. Very pleased as I mulch everything! Also like the blade stop feature, so I can leave the engine running and roll over something like a mole dirt mound without damaging the blade. Hydrostatic cruise control, I have read, is far superior to the 3 speed, which quit on us after 3 years. This mower has a 5 year warranty with an additional 1 year for a limited time when registering with Honda. Started first pull out of the box, and as long as you follow their guidelines, should deal with the bad gas we have these days. Free shipping to your home, too! Definitely worth the investment!

I was initially hesitant about spending this much money on a walk behind mower. However I was disappointed with the fact that my previous Craftsman lawnmower only last me 6 years before dying. So this time around I was hoping to make a purchase that will last me a while. In talking with friends and family who own Honda lawnmowers, the advice was unanimous... if you were willing to spend a few extra dollars it was well worth it for a Honda. I was told that many really old Honda lawnmowers have engines that still work perfectly fine, however the bodies get all rusted out. It appears that Honda solved that problem with the Nexite decking that has a lifetime warranty. I was a little skeptical of a "plastic" decking. But after using it for a few months, I definitely think it works well. Lots of great features on this one, my favorite of which is the blade stop. My only gripe about this lawnmower is the bagger. It allows far more dust through and into my face than my previous Craftsman did. Also, the bag opening is nice and large, which is great to make sure that it gets filled up. However I find it a pain trying to empty the bag into one of those compost paper bags. My previous Craftsman fit into the paper bag opening just right. This bagger is too big to fit into the paper bag and makes a mess when trying to empty into it. Not the end of the world, but more of a nuisance than anything and the cons of this lawnmower absolutely outweigh it. Highly recommend it and would make the same purchase again.

It was delivered to our door. Took it out of the box and added oil and gas and it started on the first pull. The grass was wet the first time I used it, there were no problems. I read the reviews before I bought and had some concern about the controls, after using it I found them very easy to use and not confusing at all. I've used it 4 times now and it has started on the first pull every time. The leaves have started falling now and I have several oaks and maples, it picks up every leaf and twig that has fallen. The only complaint I have is the steep price on this machine, but it does a very nice job mowing and mulching and picking up all the clippings,(I've tried all the settings) it's easy to use time will tell if it lasts.

Have used this 3 times but so far so good. The good: - Very powerful engine. Never bogs down even with very thick grass. Quiet too. - Pretty good mulching. I hope to never bag again. - Very fast. I put it on the top setting and I have to hustle to keep up with it. 4 mph apparently. - 5 year warranty. The not so good: - Hoping for no issue requiring repair since I hear Honda's are expensive to repair. 5 year only covers non wear items. - Expensive. I am hoping this is better than the Toro Super Recycler with is ~$100 cheaper. - Still some minor clumping with high grass.

Mower came almost ready to run. Oil was included in box. I used to run Honda mowers when I had my yard service and have never been disappointed in them. After purchasing this one, my opinion has been confirmed. Mower is extremely easy to start, adjustable speed is great, don't have to shut the mower off to empty my bag (I prefer to bag), mulching option is available. My only complaint about the mower is the height adjustment handles on the wheels seem to be a little more flimsy than they used to be, but a great mower all around!

I had a Toro mower that was 52 years old and it was hard to replace it / let it go. Toro does not make a quality mower like they use to. I absolutely LOVE this mower. It was very easy to take out of the box and set up. You have to put the oil in before you start it up. I was a bit taken back by the Nexite deck. I did not expect it to be a hard plastic. This is only a small issue, if it is an issue at all. It mows my yard without an issue. I like the mulching mode. It evaporates the grass clippings in nothing. It is pricy, but I fully expect that this Honda mower will last as long as my old Toro...if not longer. Honda has a great reputation. I checked Consumer Reports ( I have a subscription to C.R.) and it received the highest rating of any powered push mower, 83 out of 100. I also check as many other reviews on this & other mowers and this one came out on top. Weight is not an issue for me. i am a 42 year old male. If you want to disengage the drive to pull it backwards it is very easy to do. I also like the variable speed control. Bottom line....you can't go wrong with this one. Cons: None ( at this time ) Length of ownership: 1 month

I am very impressed with the overall performance and quality of this mower. The mulching and cut is excellent. The engine has an automatic choke that works very well. The mower always starts on the first pull even on a cool morning. I have two small issues with the mower. First, the throttle and the propulsion speed controls are next to each other and I find it is easy to move one when you intend to move the other. Second, when stopping to empty the bag, I often end up with a clump of grass left where I had stopped. Overall I am happy with the mower and would recommend it to a friend.

The Honda HRX is and excellent mower cuts very well, easy start and the cruise control is the best. Quality control could have paid better atttetion to the loose front wheel bolt and loose blade engage cable. Other than that, I would buy again.

Once you mow your lawn with this mower, you won't want to use any other mower, plain and simple. I now have two of these Honda mowers, one at home and one at my mountain cabin. I bought my first HRX-217 over 5 years ago when Honda called it a "xenoy" deck, it still works perfect and starts on the first pull. It's smooth, has plenty of power, and does a magnificent job. The older Honda is the reason I fired my gardener (who infected my lawn with crabgrass with his old commercial mower) and I replaced him with this new Honda so I can take better care of my lawn. After 1 month of mowing with my new Honda, my lawn looks amazing now... Don't let the off-brands sold at the membership warehouses with their "Honda" engines fool you, you get what you pay for - there IS a difference and this one is the real deal!

I purchased this mower in April 2012 and wish that I had purchased this when I saw it 5 years ago. It is built extremely sturdy and I am sure it will last the next 25 years. I was caught between a Snapper and the Honda. Both great products, but the Lifetime Nexite deck and Hydrostatic cruise control feature caught me. It bags clippings with the grass wet or dry and stuffs the bag plumb full wet or dry. The clip deflector is a great feature for keeping up your mowing speed. It allows me bag some and mulch some. I mow .42 acres in less than 40 minutes with this mower. I was lucky to hit 1hr 45 mins with my previous 6 year old mower (the deck rusted out beyond repair even though I cleaned it every week). I am absolutely satisfied with this purchase and I recommend this Honda to anyone who wants to speed up their cutting time with hilly yards, thick grass and many obstacles (swingset, pool retaining walls, gardens). What a fantastic machine!

Was amazed how much better this new Honda cut and bagged my grass. It's quiet, easy to operate and makes short work of mowing my yard.

I have now had my HRX217HYA mower for two years. It starts every time and does such an excellent job of mowing the grass no matter the height of the grass. I have learned how to keep the blade engaged and just control the speed. The speed can be controlled while on the go with just a movement of ones finger on the control handle of the hydrostatic transmission. Smooth as silk ! It is a little heavy but once one masters the speed control it is no sweat changing directions.

I was so sad to hear Honda is not making gas lawn mowers anymore. My other Honda lawn mower is 22 years old and still running strong! I purchased this brand new Honda lawn mower so I could get one before they sell out and to buy one with BLADE STOP! I highly recommend Honda lawn mowers! I have never had any problems with a Honda engine or product.

I use my lawn mower for home i love how it handles. I only had it for 4days.

This mower is used to mow 1/2 acre of lawn. Grass discharges directly behind mower over shoes and pants legs. This machine badly needs a side discharge chute to discharge grass away from the mowing path. Other than this the mower performs well.

I love honda mowers and our family has used them all my life. Pretty bummed honda has decided to stop making lawnmowers. I purchased a new one after our last Honda. Mower, which lasted about 30 years stopped working. It appears there's some sort of recall on it. So I am taking it in for a safety recall warranty service. I'm really glad I don't have to return it for a refund to have this issue resolved like I said, we love honda mowers and our last one lasted us about 30 years.

This is the second Honda Power Lawn Mower I have purchased the first one lasted 14 years , I love the new one its so quite and powerful , it does an amazing job. The first one was just as nice but has seen better days so time for an upgrade and man what an upgrade it is..... Hope to get as many years out of this one as I did the first one.

This mower is fantastic, so far. The twin blades manicures the lawn. The only 3 issues are: 1. Honda like John Deere, Honda will no longer be selling lawnmowers in the US. 2. There is a recall d/t high compression kick back which I am looking into having repaired, and 3. The discharge/mulch/bag shoot collects lots of clippings in mulch setting

Won’t start after the first few times hurt my hand trying

I already own a Honda HRX217 that runs great (I purchased in 2013) but when I read that Honda was discontinuing the manufacture of their mower line, I was extremely disappointed & I decided to get a new mower and set it aside for the future. While Honda mowers aren't inexpensive, they are the best I've ever owned. The engine and hydrostatic transmission are almost bullet-proof, in fact, small engine, gasoline operated tool that I own (portable generator, pressure washer & lawn mower) are powered by Honda engines. I won't own anything else.

I bought the same model 24 years ago at the Depot.NEVER broke down! I hit a coconut and the body cracked - my fault. Bought a toro super mulcher horrible. Found this on Internet and almost cried with happiness! Bought immediately. Gave the Toro to the dealer that sold it to me and asked him to sell for whatever they could get me. My new baby is home and working as good as the original. I work for a major corporation and we have hundreds of Honda engines nothing I know of is as good . Period end of story!

I just opened a small lawn care buissness in my neighborhood in order to help our elderly neighbors. My current setup is a Stihl FS111 Komisystem, Redmax backpack blower, and Honda HRX217HYA. The ROTOSTOP system on the honda has saved me an arm sore, and a good amount of time. The pickup ability for leaves is also notably higher than my older mower, and this seems to chop them up into finer bits with the duel blade system. This was also impressive in tall, waist high grass, leaving a very clean cut, and did not clog with the discharge open. The hydrostatic drive is also much better than my previous mowers belt driven system, and this has more power, and speed. I was a little skeptical about this “Nexite” deck, but it seems to be pretty durable. I have experienced one minor problem that has been mentioned by other owners, and that is it does not take a lot of force for the air filter cover to come apart, making it so if you bump it slightly, it falls off.

My first Honda lawnmower lasted 30yrs when the differential just broke open spilling oil and parts in my yard. The new Honda HRX217K6HYAA was a change from the older mower that I learned pretty quick. I like all the improvements Honda has made through time. The one thing that still stands out is the quality the mower gives you when mowing your yard. Love the way it cuts and the way the yard looks when completed. The quality Honda put in there mowers will be missed. So sad you will not make lawnmowers any more.

I bought this lawnmower because of the Honda brand, the twin blade system, the adjustable mulching system, and the hydrostatic drive system. Unfortunately there is a problem with the camshaft assembly that when you run the mower and shut it off for whatever reason it is very difficult if not impossible to start again until it cools down significantly. In fact I had my mower partially sitting in the sun for maybe 10 or 15 minutes and it acted the same as it did running it and then shutting it down. I was finally able to start it but it was very difficult and I was going to give up and on the last attempt it started. The next time I attempted a week later it started no problem it was at room temperature! I hope Honda stands by its product and loyal customers and comes up with a solution. To this problem!!!!!

While the mower operates great after startup, it's often almost impossible to start. The engine appears jammed and the cord is extremely difficult to pull. This can happen on the first start of the day or after a short shut-down. Seems random. Doesn't really matter how many nice features it has if it won't start.

I bought this Honda product online. When I tried to start it, the pull chord would jam and it wouldn't start. I was advised by Honda to take it to the Honda dealer shop Expert Yard and Garden, LLC in Arlington. It has been there since June 24, 2023. Diagnosis from shop was that the Compression Release Valve Broke. I have had 4 Honda lawnmowers in the past and was always very satisfied. Will Honda dealer be able to fix this product?

I purchased the high end model HRX217HYA from a local dealer. The first mower i purchased failed to start so I took it back to the dealer. They repaired it but the engine was still surging. The dealer did right by me and gave me a new mower. That one started working good. Here are the Pro's and cons. Pros: 1) Easy height Adjustment. 2) The Transmission on the model is very seemless. I had a toro self paced mower for 18 years and I like the transmission on that one better. But this was easy to get used to after a few hours of usage. I specially like the fact that the mower moves itself on hills. 3) Nice wheels with ball bearing the rolling is pretty easy. 4) Except for one time the mower starts easy. 5) I like the blade deactivation system while the engine keeps idling. 6) Cut quality is very good on a bumpy lawn for Bermuda grass. 7) you can fold the handle and stow away easily Cons: 1) After about one hour of running, I tried to restart the engine after stopping it. I almost separated my shoulder. It was very hard to pull. Not sure if this needed break in or what but the mower has about 12 hours now and it starts smooth. 2) The chute collects grass in mulching mode. It is a pain to clean up. 3) There are lot of nooks and crevices under the mower where grass clippings are stuck 4) There are some washers by the transmission wheels and they are coming off. I used zip ties to keep them in place but I can see dirt get into these places affecting the transmission. Keep and eye out for this. 5) The plastic mower deck easily scratches. They do sell steel guards but it is another 30 dollars. At this price, it should have come with it. 6) The overall mower doesn't feel like it is 1100 dollars. I guess inflation has something to do with price.

I have been a Honda customer for years and thought that it would be hard to go wrong with a new Honda lawnmower. After some research I decided that the HRX217 would work for what I needed. Well, initially it did work. Then out of the blue it wanted to rip you hand off when trying to pull start the engine. After some digging this problem seems to be pretty common. Unfortunately Honda hasn’t see the need to issue a recall. In my reading this issue has people playing with rotating the blades to help bypass this issue. Seems pretty risky to me. I contacted my dealer and they knew all about the issue and ordered the parts to hopefully fix this serious issue. In the end the mowing that I have been able to do before this problem occurred has been good. I remember the good old days with a Green 2 stroke Lawn Boy. Not once did I have issues like this.

My 92 yr old aunt has been mowing with this exact same model for 15+ years. She still pulls the cord and starts it herself. That's why I bought mine in March of 2022. In a year and a half of mowing it has been exactly what I expected (the best mower I've ever used). Hydro transmission is a dream of speed, adjustability and power. Bagging leaves is a breeze. Mulching leaves no trace of clippings. Even cut a yard that was extremely overgrown for a neighbor with easy, using a very slow hydro walk setting. Perfect.