Professional Tool Reviews for Pros
On a recent visit to Waiblingen, Germany, we got a sneak peek at the Stihl RMA 765 V Cordless 25″ Lawn Mower. This marks the first cordless professional mower from Stihl, and it features a dual-blade cutting system with die-cast aluminum mowing deck. In form factor, it’s very different from the Stihl RMA 510 lawn mower.
Not only did Stihl go with an aluminum deck, but they added a polymer deck insert that shapes the mowing channel and also helps in directing air through to the bag. It also provides a bit more protection for the aluminum chassis. And, yes, you can swap out the polymer chassis after one or two seasons as needed.
Interestingly, Stihl synchronized the twin blades, connecting them via a belt. Because of this, Stihl was able to overlap the blades, ensuring a consistent cut without the potential for a central “mohawk”.
Stihl designed the blades to optimize runtime as well as handle mulching tasks. The blades look a lot like what we’ve seen from Honda commercial mowers, and they do seem capable of both mulching and bagging. In Germany, the mulching plug is an accessory for this mower.
The twin blades spin at 3300 RPM at full speed and drop to 2800 rpm on Eco mode.
As you’d expect for a commercial mower, height adjustment occurs per wheel. Those wheels are attached from above, hanging down like casters. The design reminds me of both the Worx 56V lawn mower we reviewed some time ago and some Cub Cadet gas models.
A safety plug and diagnostic plug live on the side of the mower’s central power plant. This is the same diagnostic port used with the new Stihl iMow robotic mower. The way Stihl handled the battery on this mower is brilliant. First, you can use the new Stihl AR1000 L (60 cells) or AR 3000 L (90 cells) backpack batteries. Unlike the AR 1000 and AR 3000, these battery packs detach from their backpack harnesses, making them dockable with products like the commercial mower.
The new Stihl AR 1000L and AR 3000 L backpack batteries use new 21700 cells from Samsung, giving them longer runtime and the capability to produce more power when needed.
Aside from the backpack batteries, Stihl also lets you use their standard 36V battery packs thanks to a dual-pack docking module. We saw this demoed with a pair of Stihl AP 300 S batteries. The new Stihl AP 300 S 36V batteries are rated to 281 Wh of power (that translates to roughly 7.8 Ah capacity).
While we wouldn’t consider this a review, we did get to drive the mower for a time over some damp grass. The mower features a very interesting height-adjustable single offset handle. The design makes it particularly easy to insert and remove the grass collection bag. It felt sturdy and had zero effect on my ability to drive the mower in a straight line.
Speed adjustment occurs via a rotary control knob at the top of the handle. You get 5 speeds (plus Off). At the top speed, I rather felt like I was guiding a jogging stroller more than a lawnmower. If you don’t have wet grass and you fancy a jog, I suppose that’s your mode. Most will find settings 2 or 3 more to their liking.
The rotary dial also shows the remaining battery life, indicates which battery is feeding the mower (it uses Slot 1 first before switching to Slot 2), and also allows you to select Eco mode for longer runtimes at the expense of some blade RPMs.
Stihl includes the expected safety bar for starting the mower. It uses a magnet on the bar itself to activate the control—a tad unusual but very effective. The self-propelled mechanism also uses a magnetic switch to engage. It starts quickly (as you’d expect), and the handles feel comfortable as you mow. Because of the design, you can use either a side or top grip.
The included woven grass bag looks very heavy duty and should be more durable than a plastic shell. You get over 80L of volume. That’s equivalent t just under 3 cubic feet or just over 21 gallons… depending upon how you like to measure your grass!
Since the grass we were mowing on was damp, it was a great way to test both the mower’s cutting and bagging capability. I ran it until the bag filled up—and then I ran it some more for good measure. It was immediately apparent that the blades provided enough suction to continue cutting. The mower did an excellent job sending the grass into the bag—even compressing it further once the bag filled up.
That’s simply not the case with many mowers—let alone battery-powered ones. I have to admit being impressed with its cutting power and the quality of bagging. I emptied the bag and continued a bit more. Steering is stiff, but it allows you to easily maintain a straight line. The front caster wheels do make turning much easier at the end of a cut.
The biggest problem with this mower, for those in the United States, is that I can’t tell you when it will come over the pond. Since we don’t know that, I also can’t accurately communicate a price. What I can do is make your mouth water in anticipation of this mower and its associated battery technologies hitting the US market. Whether that’s a year from now or more—who’s to say. In the meantime, it’s at least great to know what’s possible from Stihl and what we might be looking forward to seeing in the hopefully not too distant future.
Check out the Stihl website for more information.
When he's not playing with the latest power tool, Clint DeBoer enjoys life as a husband, father, and avid reader—especially the Bible. He loves Jesus, has a degree in recording engineering, and has been involved in multimedia and/or online publishing in one form or another since 1992.
Clint’s career has covered nearly the entire realm of audio and video production. After graduating at the top of his class with an Associates Degree in Recording Engineering, he began working for the famed Soundelux studios in 1994, one of the largest post-production companies specializing in audio for feature films & television. Working on a myriad of feature films, Clint honed his skills as a dialogue editor, foley editor, and sound designer. Years later, he moved into the expanding area of video editing, where he served as the company’s senior AVID video editor for three years.
Working for such clients as Universal Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Paramount Home Entertainment, NASA, Universal Studios, Planet Hollywood, SEGA, NASCAR, and others, Clint DeBoer dealt extensively with client management as well as film & video editing, color correction, and digital video & MPEG compression. He also carries several THX certifications (Technician I and II, THX Video), and is ISF Level II Certified.
After founding the CD Media, Inc. publishing company in 1996, he went on to help start or grow several successful online publications, including Audioholics (as Editor-in-Chief for 12 years), Audiogurus, and AV Gadgets. In 2008, Clint founded Pro Tool Reviews followed by the landscape and outdoor power equipment-focused OPE Reviews in 2017. He also heads up the Pro Tool Innovation Awards, an annual awards program honoring innovative tools and accessories across the trades.
Crediting God and his excellent staff for the success of what is now the largest power tool review publication in the industry, Clint DeBoer hopes to see continued growth for the company as it rapidly expands its reach. Pro Tool Reviews critically reviews hundreds of hand tools, power tools, and accessories each year to help inform users about the best and newest products in the industry. Reaching everyone from the construction industry professional and tradesman to the serious DIYer, Pro Tool Reviews helps tool consumers shop better, work smarter, and stay aware of what tools and products can help put them at the top of their game.
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Would be nice to have a date on reviews. Just read about the RMA 765 V not yet available in USA. Would like to have a better idea when this was written.
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