GR1600 KUBOTA PUTS PROFESSIONAL DIESEL RIDE-ON MOWER FEATURES INTO THE HANDS OF DOMESTIC USERS

An economical, durable and easy-to-use diesel ride-on mower has been launched onto the home user market by Kubota, the world’s leading manufacturer of diesel ride-on mowers for commercial applications.
Incorporating many similar design and build features to its professional stable mates, the GR1600 is powered by a Kubota 13.5hp twin cylinder water-cooled diesel engine. The power delivery and torque characteristics of this engine enable it to compete head-to-head with a petrol unit of more than 50 per cent greater power resulting in quieter, more fuel-efficient mowing operations with reduced engine wear, a greatly extended working life and lower running and life-time costs. These latter benefits are enhanced by the fact that the Kubota engine is able to use lower duty “red diesel” and requires no special out-of-season maintenance.
As the world’s number one producer of small diesel engines, Kubota has established an enviable global reputation for the reliability and performance of its power units. Add to these qualities the low levels of noise, vibration and fuel consumption delivered by the Kubota engine’s unique three vortex combustion system (E-TVCS) and domestic users of the GR1600 can look forward to unparalleled operating performance from a ride-on mower designed to produce a fine, commercial-grade cut on home lawns right through the growing season.
First sight of the GR1600 reveals a sleek, aerodynamic machine with a full-flat operator’s platform and a stylish integrated rear grass collector. Yet, the beauty of the GR1600 is far more than skin deep. Power is transmitted from the engine to the rear wheels through a rugged, shaft-driven hydrostatic transmission (HST) controlled by a single foot pedal to give infinitely-variable forward and reverse travel up to a maximum speed of 6.2mph.

Maintaining its professional features, the Kubota GR1600 has shaft drive also to its underslung mid-mounted rotary cutter deck, engaged via an oil-immersed mechanical PTO clutch for durable, trouble-free operation year after year. The cutter deck has a similar direct-cut grass collection system to Kubota’s commercial-grade mower decks with a rear-mounted 350 litre capacity collector gathering all grass cut by the twin rotating blades. Emptying requires just a light touch and the collector can be easily removed, if required, to be replaced by an optional grass deflector.
Overall cutting width is 1.07m (42in) and the GR1600’s height of cut can be altered from 25mm to 102mm (1in – 4in) by means of a hand dial positioned behind the operator’s feet.

Mower deck lift is gas-assisted, the blade drive belt is of ultra-durable, long-life hexagonal design and there is a water hose connection point on top of the deck for safe and enhanced cleaning of the shrouded blade area.

As with all Kubota diesel ride-on mowers, the operator’s platform is extremely comfortable with ample legroom, an adjustable seat and all controls positioned within convenient reach of the driver. The GR1600 also features Kubota’s Easy Checker dash panel that provides an instant read-out of key machine and engine functions. There is also a fuel gauge.

Priced in the region of £5,400 (incl VAT), the diesel-engined Kubota GR1600 is positioned fair and square as a high-end domestic machine capable of producing consistent professional results on larger lawns over many seasons.

For those home and estate owners who require a diesel ride-on mower capable of handling a wider and more demanding range of grass-cutting conditions, the new semi-professional Kubota GR2100 is a 21hp, three cylinder machine boasting a number of performance enhancing features over the smaller GR1600.

These include all-wheel drive for outstanding traction across all surfaces, wet and dry, together with enhanced safety on slopes. The mower also has Kubota’s revolutionary Glide Steer system which cuts power automatically to the inside front steered wheel when turning angle reaches an incredible 70 degrees. By allowing the inner wheel to spin freely while the outer wheel powers the mower through its turn, damage to the grass is avoided while the mower continues cutting effortlessly and tightly around trees, posts and other obstacles. When the turn is completed, drive is restored automatically to all four wheels.
The extremely tight turning circle provided by Glide Steer on full lock produces an uncut circle of grass measuring just 110cm – a very impressive figure for a machine with four driven wheels.

Other features unique to the semi-professional GR2100 include a 1.22m (48in) width of cut from three rotating blades, hydraulically-powered deck lift, power steering, a 450 litre capacity grass collector and suspension seat.

Priced at £6,995 (plus VAT), the Kubota GR2100 is available for demonstrations now, as is the smaller GR1600. Kubota is so confident of the performance and ability of the two machines that it is inviting users to pit either mower in a head-to-head test against any competitive model of similar size and cut width.