Ryobi 80v Zero turn mower [change the way you mow forever] 

I'm thinking about the 30" model. How's the power with wet grass?

That’s good to know and now it’s not going to be as fun as I thought it would be.

@@zephirinedrouhin3735 another thing I've noticed. We had a Gehl brand machine, their version of a Bobcat. The street department would borrow it when streets were being resurfaced to load blacktop that was ground out around manholes. When they turned on the rough ground blacktop, it really wore the tire tread. It was about like taking a grinder to the tread.

@@bwselectronic Wow! That’s pretty harsh on the tires!

Thanks!

Huh! I’ve never heard of the country clipper! Is it still around? They still sell them?

Like a lot of green stuff it's about the payoff. If you compare the cost per hour of operation to a gas zero turn these things pay for themselves within the 5 year warranty period. It is a lot more up front, but compared to something similar like a Toro TimeCutter MyRide 54 at 4700 and the 54 Ryobi at 7000 you make up for that gap in gas, oil, belts, etc. There are far fewer consumables on this machine even if you don't value electric over gas. I ordered this for the joystick though. I look forward to having a free hand while I mow like I do on a riding mower but with the speed of a ZTR.

If the new lithium battery lasts for a while. Seems worth it.

Thank you for your kind words!

@@livefreeandtoolon Ryobi Australia contacted me yesterday and the great news is the 80v will be launched in Australia in the next few months, I'm so excited by this, as the lead acid batteries of the 48v are not very good as they struggle if run under 50%

Great to hear. Thanks for sharing also in Aus waiting on one. Agreed about lead acid batteries- glad they’ve made the switch.

@@schelletick Did Ryobi give you an idea of price? Only available thru Bunnings?

@@rocknral Yes I assume through Bunnings, and they didn't give a price, but I am guessing it will over over $9000, as the 48v are $7,500

Now 06/03/24

Hello again Great Dane! After assembling my 42" on Friday, I noticed that the charger didn't seem to be charging the 40v batteries at all although it had charged the 80v to 100%. After reconnecting the charger multiple times it kept saying I was 100% charged even though the 40v batteries weren't! However, with the charger disconnected and mower turned on it showed an accurate assessment of what was charged. I then charged the 40v with my 40v rapid charger most of the way. (I contacted Ryobi and have a 'case' going with them) After doing a bunch of test driving over the weekend to get used to it, I mowed my lawn today (Tues.) starting with around 80% total charge. After carefully mowing my small yard (approx. 5K sf) I was at 51%, and the 40v batteries were fairly low like you mentioned. (One with 1 bar and one with just barely 2) The 80v were at 73%. I plugged it in and the 80v were at 100% in less than 40 min. but the 40v didn't seem to be charging again! I left it plugged in this time, and they eventually started to charge, but VERY slowly. (By comparison to the 80v) It took at least an additional 2 hrs to charge the 2 40v batteries. Ryobi says that it has something to do with them 'syncing' to the mower/'system'. I gave Ryobi my 'report' today when they called, including how much the 40v batteries were surprisingly depleted and how slowly they charged, and they said that might improve and that they would continue to check back with me and remedy the situation if necessary. By the way, I watched one of their assembly videos and saw a direct contradiction to what the manual had said about plugging in the charger. The video said to plug it in the wall first, the opposite of what the manual said! When speaking to Ryobi today, they consulted and said it doesn't matter which way you do it! Go figure... Perhaps this reviewer might have something to say about all of this!

Correct

@@livefreeandtoolon But why?

@@Peter_Riis_DK because it is, watch the video again and you'll see

@@livefreeandtoolon No I will not see. I have absolutely nothing to compare your claims to - as a reviewer that's your job. And it seems rather suspicious that a company makes a brand new product with all perfect functions and not even a single draw back. I am actually rather fond of Ryobi and have a few of their tools myself - that's why I know they're not sheer perfection.

​@Peter_Riis_DK if you are still on the fence about one of these mowers, run down to your local Home Depot now and see if they still have one on sale. I bought one yesterday for a thousand bucks out the door. It drives like a motorized wheelchair that doubles as a lawnmower.

You'll love it!!!

I bought mine from a Home Depot the morning after they had received them the previous evening. They were still crated, unassembled, and covered in plastic, and I insisted that mine stay that way through delivery! The store manager also assisted in canceling my online order that I had made the moment that was possible. I believe I may also have convinced them how wrong it was to leave the electric mowers outside exposed to the elements!

@@waynebinder8547 that’s awesome!!!

@@waynebinder8547 I was so mad because I went two days before to Home Depot and they had just received them just like you said in plastic and well covered so i was excited to go back and buy one. I didn't have the funds at the moment so i returned two days later and they had them all built already and outside facing the harsh Florida summers.

@@Totomuncher That's too bad. I've been back to my Home Depot twice since I purchased mine. (on Tues. 6/28) If they have them on display somewhere, I haven't seen where! They definitely were NOT outside in front with other mowers. (Which did include some of the older Ryobi electric mowers and some Cub Cadet electric...) I couldn't believe it when they admitted that they left those mowers outside, and I told them bluntly that no one should ever buy an electric mower that has been left out in the elements! The store manager I was dealing with did say he had concerns about leaving mowers with the price tag these have outside!

EGO started out with a good voltage but Ryobi has had to play catch up. I think Ryobi found a good balance by allowing 40V batteries as extensions while still benefitting from the efficiency of a higher voltage system. Hopefully the voltage boost on the 40V batteries is efficient. The only problem with the Ryobi 80v I see is that if it's 8 or 900$ for an 80v 10ah like I saw one reviewer say, then they are about 20% more expensive per kWh then EGO. Since that video at a Ryobi event had a number of specs like charging speed wrong, I'm hoping the price is more reasonable.

BTW, I meant 2' in areas (..it's kinda like a hay field...)

@@stebro2738 I'm here in North Carolina as well. I have though the Ryobi 480e mower. I really like the fact that there's hardly any maintenance (not like a gas mower) and it's fairly simple to maintain what little bit there is.

Wonder what it will cost to replace the batteries in 8 years? Few grand?

@@matthewvanderbeek2847 lead acid: about $150 each.. But I plan on refitting li-ion when it gets to that.. 200 amp hour battery is only $250 right now.. so about $1000 plus the charger and controller and prices are dropping rapidly. It's now 2 1/2 years and honestly.. the performance has not degraded. I can still drive it 1/2 mile to my kids house, mow their 1 acre lawn and bag it along with all the gum tree seeds and magnolia leaves and seeds and them drive it the half mile home and still have 20 to 40 % charge left.... for 60 to 70 cents, that's not bad in my book.

cause battery replacement will be more than initial cost of entire unit

I saw a comparison video by Live Free and Tool On Video of the older and newer model of Ryobi’s 42” Z turns. Toward the end he does have a short bit showing their abilities on an incline.

I have a fairly steep front yard and it does just fine.

Problem is they are all zero turn and not good on an incline. I have zero turn and tractor and I can’t use zero turn at my lake because of the incline. I had a robot mower and junked it because it got stuck too often. Maybe in 5-10 years robot mowers will be perfected. For now go gas except for small jobs…

I can't imagine there is any return on investment for commercial guys yet. There will be, but i don't think it's there yet.

It’s based on the Mower deck where the blades are

@@livefreeandtoolon Thanks, any chance you would be able to tell me the width of the back tires at some point? Would be greatly appreciated and no rush

More like a recliner with a mowing deck! Jaha

It does okay

The chute can be held up with a bungee... then just deck width. The AGM's that came with my 48ZTR100 really do last 2 to 3 Ac. in grass 6-8" high.. less in taller grass.(see my comments ~August, 22) I am quite sure the lithium batteries will do some better..

Hi thanks for watching! 1.Yes mine came with a mulching cover standard and I had to install the chute. 2. Yes the deck is removable with coder pins. 3. NO! The mower will not stay up and it’s not light you will need a mower lift. I hope this helps.

@@livefreeandtoolon Perfect - thanks for the info.

Haha very soon!

Yes

That's an interesting comment I've had some difficult situations with mossy areas with the traditional Z turn with the joystick it the joystick it tempers the mower radius and slows down the mower so it doesn't overaccelerate the tires and rip the soil up

@@livefreeandtoolon I would like to see a demo on our type of grass. If these mowers prove themselves over the next few years, I might be a potential buyer.

Are your batteries Lead acid or Lithium ?

@@jimji2774 Lead

You can plug the mower's charger directly into the 80v batteries one at a time if you want or need to.

Wayne got it below!

It just cuts in reverse. No setting that I’ve seen, so far.

No I don’t, the dual blades mulch the grass up so well it’s not needed if you mow regularly

Does well

All good questions, however know this is completely different than a Tesla vehicle. The batteries are removable and sealed just like tool batteries. I think the 30” mower may be good for you if it’s only an acre the mower comes with batteries.

@@livefreeandtoolon Yes, that’s the one I’ve been eyeballing! Yeah, Tesla also has gas in it and the problem was with “outgassing”. I know these mowers only use batteries so I guess I shouldn’t be worried about the safety. Thanks so much for the reply. I watched the video for the 30” on the Home Depot website and I don’t think I need that big wall charger.

There is a video where some Australian guy is mowing down some grass that looks to be over two feet tall with no problem. I cut some pretty tall grass yesterday with mine and it didn't seem to bog down at all.

@@krisknowlton5935 awesome. Ours should arrive tomorrow. And my lawn is begging for mercy.

Yes it comes with 2 10ah 80v batteries and 2 12 ah 40v batteries

When I hit sticks and what not it cuts them and I keep going. I was mowing with a 23 hp diesel tractor and I do the same mowing. Here is another video that may help it show more aggressive mowing.

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-xgqCxKJSMeU.html

Damn, ive used gas and 40v ryobi weed eaters, and I see very little power difference. Not trying to be a battery tool fan boy or anything, I just really don't see a difference.

ru-vid.com5_pi95tPmAs?feature=share

Gas is better for brute power. I have a gas earth auger and tried replacing it with an electric that was supposedly almost as much power. It didn't have half the ability of the same-price gas model. I went back to gas. But for things that just spin, not that much power is used. My favorite chainsaw is electric. They don't really need that much power, just spinning a little chain sprocket, and you're not supposed to make the chain do a lot of work all at once but go at it gradually, good technique with any chainsaw. Maybe a big mower is more like a chainsaw than an earth auger.

I have the 42” and feel like it’s planted nicely but you have to be aware the the weight is only a couple inches from the ground so the center of gravity is super low I have not left the ground. Check out other videos on my channel I drive at angles on an incline

Check out this video it show driving at angles on a hill ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-zWwgqM4Y2o0.html

Any tumbler it’s a standard cup holder

@@livefreeandtoolon where did you get that Ryobi one?

@@jtcindahaus I had it made, but I know someone who can make them for you. On the Rebels Facebook group Riley Baker makes them too. Look him up he does great work!

Trust me, not worth it!

The 54” may have a hose port, however I lift the front and spray out the bottom

@@livefreeandtoolon I guess I could always use a jack to lift it up. thanks for quick reply.

It's the same as the first year!

I was wondering about this, thanks for letting me know

If the economy gets better and inflation gets back below 2% though Companies rarely do the right thing

IDK.. but I would assume that you would install a towing vehicle inverter and mount the charger so that between stops, you could recharge some.. depending on the size and thickness of your lawns, the lithiun mowers (smaller uses less battery. obviously) might work just fine.. And with less than % power cost per cut, they'd pay for themselves rather fast..

Have a neighbor that is very much into electric/solar/ and gadgets. When I see any mowing / landscaping professionals work on his yard with battery powered then I would be inclined to think its ready for use and cost effective.

@@darwinjina yea i dont see that trickling down to the masses anytime soon. Not to mention you will still need to use a string trimmer and blower to properly cut ur lawn, not worth it. NEXT!

No, Lithium.

One for coffee and the other for "water"

Depends on how much you mow, extra batteries may be needed.

I haven’t seen one for this model

For one of the 80v 10ah I found it at HD.com for 800.00

I love my eego z6 42 inch. Going on season 3.

Yes

@@livefreeandtoolonthanks for your reply Great review

I have had great luck so far with my ego z6 42 inch mower. This is season 3. No degradation on batteries yet!

Same with all my ego lawn tools including 42" z6 and 2 stage snow blower. Batteries are still going strong.