Honda Self-Propelled Mowers with Easy Start: Which Model Fits Your Lawn?
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Honda has a long reputation for dependable walk-behind lawn mowers, and its newer battery models carry that over to cordless mowing. For anyone who has fought with a pull cord on a cold spring morning, a battery mower is a relief: there is no gas engine to crank, so there is no recoil rope to yank. You switch the mower on with its controls and the electric motor spins up. Honda says these motors match the power and torque of its GCV series gas engines, which power many of its classic mowers.
Three of the four products below are Honda battery mowers that differ mainly in battery size, speed control and warranty, while the fourth is a third-party recoil starter for owners of older Honda gas engines who want to fix a worn pull cord rather than replace the mower.
Honda Self-Propelled Lawn Mowers Compared
| Model | Battery included | Run time per charge (listed) | Self-propel speed | Residential warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda HRN-BV 21-Inch Walk Behind Battery Mower | 8Ah | Up to 30 min, about 1/4 acre | 0 to 3.8 mph, Smart Drive | 3 years |
| Honda HRX-BE 21-Inch Walk Behind Battery Mower | 12Ah (two bays) | Up to 45 min, about 0.37 acre | 0 to 4 mph, e-Select Drive | 5 years |
| Honda HRX-BV 21-Inch Walk Behind Battery Mower | 8Ah | Up to 30 min, about 1/4 acre | 0 to 4 mph, Select Drive | 5 years |
| GCV160 Pull Start Recoil Starter (Aniro Moto) | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | 3 months (seller) |
Honda HRN-BV 21-Inch Walk Behind Battery Mower for Smaller Lawns
Honda
Honda HRN-BV 21-Inch Walk Behind Battery Powered Lawn Mower (HRN216YXBVKA4)
Price and specifications are read from the Amazon product page and can change.
Honda HRN-BV 21-Inch Walk Behind Battery
Best for: Small lawns around a quarter acre
Pros
- No pull cord, battery powered
- Smart Drive 0 to 3.8 mph
- 8Ah battery and charger included
- MicroCut twin blades
Cons
- Shorter 3-year residential warranty
- Single battery bay not mentioned
The Honda HRN-BV 21-Inch Walk Behind Battery mower (HRN216YXBVKA4) is the entry point to Honda’s battery range. It cuts a 21-inch strip, the standard width for home mowers, and comes with an 8Ah lithium-ion battery. Ah stands for amp-hours, a measure of how much energy the battery holds. Honda lists up to 30 minutes of run time, or about a quarter acre, per charge depending on conditions, and says a 12Ah battery is available separately.
“Self-propelled” means the wheels are driven by the mower, so you guide it rather than push its full weight. The HRN-BV uses Smart Drive, a variable speed control you adjust while resting your hands on the handlebar, with five positions from 0 to 3.8 mph. It has Honda’s twin blade MicroCut System, which uses four cutting surfaces to chop clippings finer, and a sliding Clip Director that switches between mulching, bagging and side discharge. A dual-lever system gives 7 cutting heights from 1 to 4 inches.
In the box you get the mower, one 8Ah battery, a standard 2A charger, a wall bracket for the charger, a 1.9-bushel grass bag with frame, and the owner’s manual. The mower rides on 8-inch wheels and carries a 3-year residential warranty plus a 90-day commercial warranty. This model suits a first-time homeowner with a modest yard. If you have more grass than a quarter acre, the HRX-BE’s bigger battery is the better match.
Honda HRX-BE 21-Inch Walk Behind Battery Mower for Bigger Yards
Honda
Honda HRX-BE 21-Inch Walk Behind Battery Powered Lawn Mower (HRX217YXBEXA6)
Price and specifications are read from the Amazon product page and can change.
Honda HRX-BE 21-Inch Walk Behind Battery
Best for: Larger yards needing longer run time
Pros
- 12Ah battery, up to 45 minutes
- Two battery bays
- Push-button e-Select Drive speed
- 5-year residential warranty
Cons
- Heavy at 99 pounds listed
The Honda HRX-BE 21-Inch Walk Behind Battery mower (HRX217YXBEXA6) is the long-running model in this group. It ships with a 12Ah lithium-ion battery rated for up to 45 minutes, or about 0.37 acre, per charge. It also has two battery bays, so adding a second 12Ah battery (sold separately) doubles the run time without stopping to recharge.
Speed is controlled by e-Select Drive, an electric transmission adjustable from 0 to 4 mph with the touch of a button. The deck uses the 4-in-1 Versamow system with Clip Director: mulch, bag, discharge and leaf shred, with no attachments needed. The twin blade MicroCut System fills a larger 2.2-bushel bag, and cutting height adjusts to 7 positions from 0.75 to 4 inches.
The box includes the 12Ah battery, a 2A charger, a wall bracket, the 2.2-bushel bag and frame, and a manual. Honda backs it with a 5-year residential warranty and a 90-day commercial warranty. The listing shows a weight of 99 pounds, which may be a shipping weight, but it does not say. This is the pick for larger suburban lawns or anyone who wants to finish in one go. If your lawn is small, the HRX-BV offers the same deck with a smaller battery.
Honda HRX-BV 21-Inch Walk Behind Battery Mower for Leaf Shredding
Honda
Honda HRX-BV 21-Inch Walk Behind Battery Powered Lawn Mower (HRX217YXBVKA4)
Price and specifications are read from the Amazon product page and can change.
Honda HRX-BV 21-Inch Walk Behind Battery
Best for: Quarter-acre lawns with leaf shredding needs
Pros
- 4-in-1 Versamow with leaf shred
- Select Drive up to 4 mph
- 5-year residential warranty
Cons
- 8Ah battery, about 30 minutes
- Listed at 115 pounds
The Honda HRX-BV 21-Inch Walk Behind Battery mower (HRX217YXBVKA4) combines the HRX deck with the smaller 8Ah battery. You get the same 4-in-1 Versamow system with leaf shredding, the MicroCut twin blades, a 2.2-bushel bag and 7 cutting heights from 0.75 to 4 inches. Run time is listed at up to 30 minutes or about a quarter acre per charge, with a 12Ah battery available separately.
Its drive works a little differently from the HRX-BE. You set your walking pace with a speed dial, then engage the Select Drive control, which offers variable speed from 0 to 4 mph. The box includes the 8Ah battery, a 2A charger, a wall bracket, the 2.2-bushel bag and frame, and a manual. Warranty is 5 years residential plus 90 days commercial.
The listing gives a weight of 115 pounds, heavier than the HRX-BE’s listed 99 pounds even though its battery is smaller, so these figures may include packaging. This mower suits someone with a smaller yard who still wants leaf shredding and the longer warranty. For a bigger lawn, the HRX-BE’s 12Ah battery and two bays give more room to work.
GCV160 Pull Start Recoil Starter for Older Honda Gas Engines
Aniro Moto
GCV160 Pull Start Recoil Starter Compatible with Honda GCV135 GCV160 EN2000 HRU19 GC135 GC160 Engine Lawn Mower Pressure Washer Parts
Price and specifications are read from the Amazon product page and can change.
GCV160 Pull Start Recoil Starter Compatible
Best for: Repairing an older Honda gas engine
Pros
- Fits GCV160 and GC160 engines
- Three-month seller warranty
- Light 1-pound part
Cons
- Third-party, not made by Honda
- Not for battery mowers
The GCV160 Pull Start Recoil Starter Compatible part is not made by Honda. It is an aftermarket part sold under the Aniro Moto brand. A recoil starter is the spring-loaded pull cord assembly on a gas engine. When the rope stops rewinding or snaps, replacing this assembly is usually enough to get the mower starting again.
The listing says it fits Honda GC135, GC160, GCV135 and GCV160 engines, as well as EN2000 and EN2500 generator engines and several Honda mower models. It lists the Honda part numbers it replaces, 28400-ZL8-013ZA, 28400-ZL8-023ZA and 284400-ZM0-003, and the seller offers a three-month warranty. It weighs about 1 pound.
This part will not fit the battery mowers above, which have no pull cord at all. It suits someone who owns an older Honda gas mower and would rather repair it than buy a new one. Compare your old starter’s part number with the ones in the listing before ordering. If you are still weighing gas against battery, our Honda gas vs battery self-propelled mower guide explains the trade-offs.
How to Choose the Right Honda Self-Propelled Lawn Mowers
Lawn size and battery. An 8Ah battery covers about a quarter acre, so the HRN-BV and HRX-BV suit small yards. The 12Ah HRX-BE reaches about 0.37 acre and accepts a second battery for twice that.
Starting. All three Honda mowers here are battery powered, so there is no pull cord to tug. That makes them friendly for anyone who finds recoil starters tiring. The recoil starter part is only for gas engines.
Speed control. The HRN-BV’s Smart Drive tops out at 3.8 mph with five positions. The HRX-BV uses a dial plus Select Drive up to 4 mph, and the HRX-BE uses push-button e-Select Drive up to 4 mph. If you walk briskly or mow on slopes, a wider speed range helps.
Clippings and leaves. The HRN-BV mulches, bags and discharges. Both HRX models add leaf shredding and a larger 2.2-bushel bag.
Warranty. The HRX models carry 5 years residential, compared with 3 years on the HRN-BV. For more on Honda’s range, see our main Honda self-propelled lawnmower overview.
FAQ
Do Honda battery mowers have a pull cord
No. They run on a lithium-ion battery and electric motor, so there is no recoil rope. The listings describe the drive controls but do not detail the exact start sequence, so follow the owner’s manual.
How long does a Honda battery mower run
Honda lists up to 30 minutes, about a quarter acre, with the 8Ah battery, and up to 45 minutes, about 0.37 acre, with the 12Ah battery, depending on mowing conditions.
What is the difference between the HRX-BV and HRX-BE
The HRX-BE comes with a 12Ah battery, has two battery bays and uses push-button e-Select Drive. The HRX-BV comes with an 8Ah battery and uses a speed dial with Select Drive. Both have the 4-in-1 Versamow deck and 5-year warranty.
Will the GCV160 recoil starter fit my Honda battery mower
No. It is designed for gas engines such as the GCV160 and GC160. Battery mowers do not use a recoil starter.
Which Honda mower should I buy for a first home
For a small yard, the HRN-BV is the simplest start. If you want leaf shredding and a longer warranty, choose the HRX-BV, and for a larger lawn choose the HRX-BE.
