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

I also own a HRR216 and bought this HRX217 because of problems with the 216 mower. I love the 217 blade control and the easy set and go pace that can be sped-up or slowed down on the go. The cut was great, mower is much quieter to run. BUT I DO HAVE ON CONCERN.... THE MOWER I PURCHASED WAS HRX217HYA, BUT THE MOWER I RECEIVED IS MODEL HRX21K6HYA. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN THESE MOWERS, DID I RECEIVE AN OLDER OR NEWER MODEL?

I just purchase a New HX217HYA to replace my old Honda HR215 . As always this new Honda is working great except has some new and better engineering. I really enjoy the power and ease of using the bag or mulching with a turn of a knob. It starts on the first pull everytime.. Mowes thru damp or wet grass easily. Pickup power is great.

I have bought a brand new HRX217HYA today i have one that is 10 years old and its still in great shape but i just wanted a spare one i had to wait about 6 months to get the new one

by far the best mower you will ever have. Reliable, powerful, easy to use, mulching animal.

In years past I was a landscaper who only used commercial honda mowers. As my career shifted, I found myself still needing the power and quality of a honda mower without the weight and expense of the commercial line HRC mowers. I settled on the HRX217HYA because it checked all the boxes of the commercial line. It weighs less, has 2 blades to mulch better, and can propel itself. Altogether, it was a very good investment I can expect years of use.

I have only used this mower three times so far. The first time I used the full mulch and cut my mowing time by 30 minutes. Did not even notice the clippings in the grass. The other two times I bagged because there was a lot of leaves. I was so impressed how it picked up everything and mulched it so fine that I used less bags than last year. My other lawnmower was a Honda that I had for 20 years. I hope that this one last as long!

I have only had this mower for the last 3 months of the cutting season. In spite of the weight, the racheted rear drive system is much easier to manipulate and turn than my previous mower (a Cub Cadet) which would dig up the sod occasionally. The strength needed to start it also is much less than my old mower which has injured my pull arm once or twice. Changing the oil is very easy and not messy due to the positioning of the oil spout. Having the fuel cutoff has solved some problems as well. I love the throttle type speed control that doesn't need your hand on it all the time to maintain a particular speed (one of my favorite features and it is as good as I had hoped) I've only been using this a short time now but I do have some concerns. The throttle tends to creep down over time and is easy to bump when changing drive speeds (which I do all the time). The detent for the handle doesn't seem to hold the throttle well and it slips out resulting in the engine speed slowly dropping over time. I need to keep pushing the throttle back into the high speed position. Also, in reading many reviews on these mowers with the hydrostatic transmission, I read where some folks were getting a growling sound coming from the drive mechanism and the mower moving forward at a slower speed than normal for a given setting of the speed lever. The last time or two I used this mower this season, I started getting this same noise and the speed of the drive becoming a bit slower. This is a great concern for me over a very expensive mower that I've only been using the last 3 months. It's not real bad at this point but others have run into this problem with this mower. Also, the clip director doesn't seal very well on the mulch setting and grass clippings build up in the rear discharge area occasionally falling out as a big lump of grass onto the lawn. I understand that some gaps are necessary so that the clip director doesn't get jammed up with clippings, but the spillover during mulching is a bit of a nuisance.

This Honda replaces an earlier version. Much earlier--it was old, but the person we gave it to was excited because it was still working. The new one is much lighter and runs much more smoothly. Starts easily.

At 13 years of moving a very large yard, I just replaced my last mower with the same model. It really gets a work out so I'm very happy with how long it has lasted. Regular maintenance helps of course, but this Honda mower has been been a real champ.

This mower was bought as a back-up for another walk behind. It is used as a bagger for 5,000SF of front yard turf and as a edge trim mower for rear yard before cutting 20,000 SF of turf with a riding mower. The pros on the Honda Mower are a mulch feature with easy switch between bag and mulch, wheels move more easily through the heavy Floratam St. Augustine turf, rear discharge allows mower to get into tight spaces better and mower continues to run/ blade stops so don't have to restart each time you empty the bag. The cons are the throttle control and shift lever are close together and you have to be careful not to move the throttle lever when moving the shift lever, the bag does not have a tight seal around the opening so very fine grass particles get all over the mower, grass also collects in the channel where the bag hooks attach (you really need a blower to clean the mower off when done), deck is composite and not steel so time will tell how durable it is. Overall it seems to be a quality product for the price.

Pretty much ready to go out of the box, add (supplied oil), and fuel, instructions are very clear. Great cutting height and handle adjustment positions. Drive clutch, blade, speed controls all very accessible. Fuel valve shut off another good feature, also all the options for partial/full, mulching/bagging options. The 200 cc engine is very strong, rear bagging puts the weight where the traction is needed and it is very maneuverable. Blade control allows you to leave engine run while emptying clippings. The double blade system assures a very smooth cut.

This is my 5th one to buy because I never have problems with them.

REPLACED MY VERY OLD #HRR2165VXA WITH THIS BRAND NEW MODEL; MINOR ADJUSTMENT MUST BE MADE FOR NEW CONTROLS; AS THE DRIVE ENGAGER BAR IS MUCH DIFFERENT ACTION FROM THE EASIER THUMB OPERATED SYSTEM ON THE OLDER MOWER(AT LEAST INITIALLY); LOVE THE EASE OF FUEL ADDITION WITH THE LARGER OPENING; ALSO THE OIL LEVEL STICK IS EASIER TO WORK WITH

This is my first Honda Mower! I previously had a John Deer (All Metal - JA-15) push Mower which was a work horse it just got to hard to find parts. The Honda Mower has great mulching capabilities although it should considering it's new. The clutch for engaging the blades is a little clunky I afraid it my be a problem in the future. It pretty easy to maneuver on flat surfaces and hills. It appears to be easy to self service (Oil changes, spark plugs, air filter) . All and all if seems to be a pretty solid mower. The one suggestion I would have when buying any new mower is get one with a good warranty and make sure service center is close by in case you have any issues and for future repairs.

I’ve used the commercial version of the Honda mower for the last twenty years. My new yard is smaller and I needed a lighter version of this mower, but will never give up the hydrostat, so the HRX217 fit the bill perfectly!

Outstanding lawn mower! Gobs of power, easy to maneuver.

Works in wet and dry Conditions, easy to operate, IF YOU NEED TOO EXERCISE walking behind this mower will give you a good workout. You will need too mow your lawn more often. The blade brake clutch works wonderful. The self propelled Speeds adjusts too your own pace with a move of the lever 1-5. The mulching option WORKS GREAT in both wet and dry conditions also. The mower allows you half bag and half mulch which is good for your lawn. I would recommend this mower too a good friend. It took a little time too figure out how to use the different settings FROM BAGGING TO MULCHING YOU'll BE ALL SET.

Mowed three lawns and was disappointed that it leaves grass clippings behind when in full bag mode, also the amount of dust / grass that blows up behind the bag lid and back at ya, otherwise it's a great mower my old Honda hrr2168vya cut far better then this new more expensive model, wish honda would put the deck guards on from factory rather then needing to spend another 20 bucks, surprised they don't wrap the main handle with something

This is a replacement for the same mower I had for 15 years. Very dependable. I like the mulch/bag lever so I can adjust to what I need. The hydrostat feature if the best thing about this mower.

Just replaced my 26 yo hydrostatic Honda mower with a new one with the new improved features. Why mess with success!

I just bought a new 12.3hp honda hrx217 model love it I had little indensent with it while mowing and didnt see and the blades hit a tree stump and it was great the blades automatic stoped so wouldnt get damaged wich i love this honda and i looked under it and never bent or damaged the blades and all it did back off the stump and start up and mowing again wich hondas blade clutch system is the best smart thing to have if i had a husqavarna it wouldnt be going and honda passed its test hitting tree stump and no damage and it mowed 6 foot tall grass and weeds wich the hrx217 deserves a 100% pass of it test wich other branded mowers would fail cheers honda :) honda build tough like the kubotas :)

Had a Honda mower with a exited deck and it lasted 18 years. This new mower performs very good and I appreciate the travel speed control configuration of this model. Has great engine power that will take down the overgrown lawn.

Just unboxed my new mower and its better than i expected. Easy out of the box. Just add oil and raise handle. Cuts so smooth. O set it at three quarters mulch and one quarter bag. No large grass clumps left. Yard looked like a display yard when i finished.

I traded my 4 year old Honda in on a new one, exact model. The old drive system was very easy to operate, my wife could run it very well.. The drive system on the new one, the engineer that designed this should be fired. two levers at once is just a hand full....Would strongly try it at your dealer before you but. It's a BAD set up. MY wife won't touch it! I'll give it few more mows, and then I'll shop.

I used my Honda HRX217 for my home care. I love the blade stop for dumping the bag and clearing small items around the yard. the cut is smooth and even. I have always loved using Honda mowers since around 1996.

I have not used the new HRX, however If it preforms as good as the HRX I am replacing after 16/17 years, I'll be a happy camper. The Honda engine still runs great, but gear box needs work. Cost to repair VS new model with 5 year warranty. What the H.

I use my mower for about .33 acre of residential lawn. I love the mulching performance it has shown and I also like the operating controls. I am in my first year of use.

This mower has carburetor problems. Many owners have and are experiencing engine speed surging either being caused by the automatic choke or the recommended fuel having alcohol in it which tarnishes up the small fuel passage ways in the Carburetor.

Had this mower for approximately 2 years now. Mulches fairly well. Nexite deck holds up very well. It's always set it on mulching so can't speak much for rear discharge and bagging but I'm sure it does it well. It's also a honda so reliability speaks for itself. I highly recommend this mower. It my be on the more expensive end for what it is but pays for itself in the long run.

I have used this mower for 3 times and I love how it cuts the grass and mulches plenty of power starts up easy 2 pulls and it fires up