42" ZTR for 1/2 acre w/ 18,500 fpm - Bad Boy or Exmark?

[sps]

Hi all - sorry for the typical "help me decide" post, but after searching I couldn't find anybody with quite the same needs or preferences. I'm looking to replace my lawn tractor with a zero turn for my 1/2 acre flat yard. My max size is 42" because I have a small space in the garage to store it (and since I have a small yard, 42" is plenty). Aside from the 42" (or smaller) requirement, I really want high blade tip speed (18,500) for the quality of cut and to ensure that clippings are well dispersed. I have the typical subdivision yard that I fertilize and water and the grass is very thick (a typical southern OH mixture of fescue and bluegrass, I believe). Bottom line is I want the striped, manicured look. The size and BTS requirements have eliminated a lot of choices. My budget is around $3,000, but I'm willing to stretch to close to $4,000 if I have to. Everything I've looked at has the EZTs but since I only have 1/2 acre and it's flat, I figure they will be fine for my uses. I looked at the Hustler Raptor, but ruled it out due to blade tip speed (16,700). I like the Hustler Sport, but that only comes with a 15hp Kawasaki with the 42" deck and I'm scared that it would be underpowered. The Hustler dealer also no longer stocks Sports since the Raptor came out, but he can order one. Neither Toro or Gravely make a 42" or smaller with high blade tip speed (except for the Gravely Compact Pro 34", which is $6k). I looked at the Country Clipper Wrangler, but don't like the joystick and it only comes with a Kohler Courage which I'm told is not a good choice. Bobcat makes a nice one that is double my price range.

Through process of elimination based on what's available locally, I've pretty much narrowed my choices to a Bad Boy MZ or Exmark Quest S Series. The local dealer has no Bad Boys with the Kawasaki in stock but can get one in a week for $3,399. He does have one Bad Boy with the single cylinder Briggs that he would sell me for $2,800 (he wants to sell it so he can order more). The Exmark is $3,699. To me, the Bad Boy looks more substantial than the Exmark. The Exmark also has narrower tires (7.5 rear and 4 front vs. 8.5 and 6), which makes me nervous for rutting (my John Deere weighs less and has 10" wide tires in the rear). The main advantage of the Exmark is more dealers around and a bigger user base (better availability of parts?).

Between those two can anybody share any first hand experience? Also if I went with the Bad Boy, is the Kawasaki engine worth $600? It seems like it wouldn't be. Also, have I ruled out the Hustlers too quickly for blade tip speed or HP? Anything else that I haven't listed that might be worth a look? Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks

 

[sps]

I forgot to mention - another that I ruled out (and maybe shouldn't?) is the Dixie Chopper Zee 1 or 2. The Zee 1 is $2,900 for a 19.5hp Briggs. The blade tip speed is only 16,900, BUT that's because it's a 3-blade 42" deck. The tip speed is lower because the blades are so short. I think the blade RPMs are as high or higher than the others I've looked at. The Zee 2 has about the same BTS but adds a 21hp Kawasaki and ZT2800 transaxles for $3,800. Is it tip speed or RPM that will have the biggest effect on cut and ability to make it through thick grass?

 

[djdicetn]

I forgot to mention - another that I ruled out (and maybe shouldn't?) is the Dixie Chopper Zee 1 or 2. The Zee 1 is $2,900 for a 19.5hp Briggs. The blade tip speed is only 16,900, BUT that's because it's a 3-blade 42" deck. The tip speed is lower because the blades are so short. I think the blade RPMs are as high or higher than the others I've looked at. The Zee 2 has about the same BTS but adds a 21hp Kawasaki and ZT2800 transaxles for $3,800. Is it tip speed or RPM that will have the biggest effect on cut and ability to make it through thick grass?

sps,
Welcome to the "overwhelming technical specifications shopping for a ZTR" world!!!!:0)
Blade tip speed is important, but I can't tell you(and don't think anyone else can) that higher BTS = better cut quality or what the "minimum" BTS for adequate cut quality is because I think there is more to it than that(my Commercial Gravely specifies 18,000 fpm, has a 2013 MSRP of $7,499 and there are some with higher fpm BTS but my wife LOVES the look of our lawn and I too am very pleased). And I think that torque rating(or cc displacement) versus hp is more reliable for engines and am uncertain about "RPM". BTW, the Gravely 42" ZTXL has 17,000 fpm BTS, serviceable ZT-2800 trannies and runs $3,999 MSRP(what you indicates may be your budget ceiling). In fall of 2012 I made offers on a Bad Boy Outlaw, Dixon DX100, Hustler FasTrak Super Duty and the Gravely Pro-Turn XDZ100(all "Commercial" models). I got the best bang for my buck with the Gravely although would most likely have been pleased with the others(but still have mixed emotions about the Bad Boy "overall quality" based upon a recent dealer survey). You've definitley got your work cut out for you to digest all the specs, compare what are MANY good ZTR's and make a buying decision based upon what your needs are:0( Hope we can give some feedback that will help!!!
P.S.
Ooops...my bad, missed the 1/2 acre in the title. You should be able to buy something around $4k that will serve you well for many, many, many years.

 

[sps]

Blade tip speed is important, but I can't tell you(and don't think anyone else can) that higher BTS = better cut quality or what the "minimum" BTS for adequate cut quality is because I think there is more to it than that

Therein lies the problem! The mowers with 17,000 or so might be just fine, but it seems like the one "spec" I can look at to help determine if I will get a good cut is the BTS. And you're right about all the specs to look at. My problem is that I know exactly what I want, but everything in my price range (which I agree is more than adequate for 1/2 acre) requires a compromise on one spec or another. As I think about it more, I'm thinking that BTS is only as good as the torque behind it. If the engine bogs down due to lack of power and can't produce the high BTS in thick grass (exactly when you need it most), what good is the mower? There! I think I talked myself out of the Bad Boy with the B&S and the Hustler Sport for sure. For the same money, I could get a Hustler Raptor (with lower BTS), but with the power (FR651V) to keep that speed (hopefully) through any conditions.

I still think I'd be more comfortable with the 18,500 fpm BTS though. The main contenders are still the Bad Boy with the Kawasaki for $3400 or the Exmark for $3700. Bad Boy doesn't have the reputation or parts availability that Exmark has (there is one Bad Boy dealer here and at least 3 Exmark), but the Exmark has a lot of plastic (just doesn't look that "substantial") and those skinny tires...

 

[RatRacer]

Exmark gets my vote.

7mph forward speed vs. 6mph on other 2.
Grass don't care if mower "looks" substantial. Plastic= un-sprung weight reduction, plus they've always been that way to get it right.
18500 bts- Cuts finer pieces, plus better for the faster forward speed cutting properly. OSHA limit is 19K bts.
Company history and rep. more solid, must be doing something right.

Just my opinion 8^)

 

[sps]

Exmark gets my vote.

7mph forward speed vs. 6mph on other 2.
Grass don't care if mower "looks" substantial. Plastic= un-sprung weight reduction, plus they've always been that way to get it right.
18500 bts- Cuts finer pieces, plus better for the faster forward speed cutting properly. OSHA limit is 19K bts.
Company history and rep. more solid, must be doing something right.

Just my opinion 8^)

I'm leaning that way as well. I just looked and the Exmark is only 25 lbs lighter than the Bad Boy. The narrower tires are the only downside to the Exmark. And there must be a reason that all the professionals around here use Exmark... If they put 1/4 of the design features into the residential mowers that their commercial units have, they have to give a good cut.