Seems to be a good mower when new but repairing them seems to be a nightmare.

Just looked at the RM 655 YS assuming this is the top petrol model - the Kawasaki engine is the best thing about the mower...I wouldn't trade any of my 20+yr old John Deere's for this unit...maybe if I had a small property as a residential owner...to my brief look - the single (aluminum?) Handle attachment doesn't look robust enough for commercial use, I am not a fan of single/dual wheel height adjusters for the same reason - I give the industry win to the Exmark 21" Commercial for this. Lastly, I prefer a simple collection bag that tells me it is full when I kick it and can tell or when it stops inflating...I don't care for a collection box - I would be pleased to hear counter positions to my points as my 14SB's/JX75's won't last forever (or maybe they will!) 😊 Cheers.

@@kirkthebeerslinger Do you mean the Kawasaki engine on your John Deere mowers? As this mower has a Briggs & Stratton engine & newer ones have kohler engines. Stihl were concerned that Briggs were very close to going out of business so changed to kohler who I think they now own shares in. I had chance to demonstrate this mower from my local dealer and can say that the single handle bar design is surprisingly strong rigid and makes folding handles bar down so quickly and easy. However I think they have had to reinforce the rear of the deck to make this possible. I personally think makes the deck bit rear heavy so found it not as nice to maneuver as mowers that are on paper bigger and heavier. The other main thing I didn’t like is the small diameter smooth roller that I found will spin up a tiny incline even in pretty dry conditions. So although it will cut and collects well in wet conditions it will make more of a mess and isn’t as nice to use or comfortable to use as a hayter, Or Honda. I actually like single hight adjustment but found the cutting highs were bit on high side and could do with some more options in between on lower settings. The plastic grass box which helps with collection in wet is good but take up bit more room in van and clamshell design is bit more awkward if you empty into a ton bag. The handle bars have couple of different highs for taller and shorter people, which again is great idea but I found on the higher setting my feet would kick the grass box. And finally I prefer to have handle bar controls same way round as Honda and Hayter as that’s what I’m used too. There’s not a perfect rear roller mower out there but I’ve found Hayter most comfortable to use and ribbed rear roller and belt drive is nicer to used and makes less mess is the wet.

@@kirkthebeerslinger just realized you put YR version which is Kawasaki but also four wheelie. I think this RS version which is rear roller?

Reliability is a nightmare. Mines barely two years old and been repaired countless times for various faults, mainly the drive failing repeatedly. Stihl basically told me to get lost when I complained and wouldn’t exchange it. Avoid this pile of rubbish.