Build Photos of the Mean Mower

[metz12]

i still think you should be able to register it. and will they mass produce these if they become street legal by any chance?

 

[robert@honda]

i still think you should be able to register it. and will they mass produce these if they become street legal by any chance?

VERY unlikely they will make more than this one. It is really just a showpiece for Honda.

Here's the official press release text:

Innovation, pushing boundaries and creating extraordinary pieces of engineering is what Honda is all about. So when Honda (UK) teamed up with their title-winning British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) partner, Team Dynamics, to create what is believed to be the world's fastest lawn mower, you know it's going to be special.

Meet Mean Mower...
The brief for Project Mean Mower was very straightforward: to build a super-fast mower which retained its original look, but, crucially, could still cut grass. The staggering result is a machine capable of reaching an estimated 130mph and 0-60 in just four seconds with an ear-splitting roar reaching 130db.

The Birth of Mean Mower
Team Dynamics re-engineered a Honda HF2620 Lawn Tractor from the ground-up, adding an all-new fabricated chassis, custom-made from 4130 chromoly, to provide a strong, safe but very light platform. A 1000cc engine from a Honda VTR Firestorm was used, along with a bespoke suspension and wheels from an ATV.

Every effort was made to retain as much of the look of the original mower as possible. The cutter deck was custom-made in fiberglass, to reduce weight, while, in a stroke of pure genius, the grass bag provides a happy home for the fuel tank, a high capacity oil cooler and a secondary water cooling radiator.

The ability to still cut grass was also a key element of the brief, and the super-fast mower still can, admirably, thanks to two electric motors on the cutter deck, spinning 3mm steel cutting cable at an incredible 4000rpm. The mower can cut grass at around 15mph, more than double the flat-out speed of the original HF2620 from which it is derived.

Based on feedback from Honda Yuasa Racing drivers, three-time BTCC champion Matt Neal and reigning champion Gordon Shedden, the mower features a custom-made paddle shift six-speed gear system. Additionally it has a custom-made Cobra sports seat, a Scorpion exhaust system and a steering rack taken from a Morris Minor.

The result of this remarkable feat of engineering is a lawn mower set-up and geared to achieve a top speed in excess of 130mph, weighing just 140kgm, producing 96Nm of torque and an incredible PTW ratio of 532bhp/ton. In testing to date the mower has topped 100mph on a circuit, belting out a remarkable 130db at three-quarter RPM and 98db at idle.

"Honda is a great believer in collaboration, pushing boundaries and creating extraordinary pieces of engineering," said Kate Saxton, manager, Corporate Affairs, Honda (UK). "This project provided the perfect opportunity to not only highlight the breadth of our product offering but to also promote our sporty heritage and support our reputation as an innovative company. Above all else, we love a challenge!"

Safety was paramount to the project, so every effort was made to make the mower stable and secure. To achieve optimum balance ATV wheels were used -- ideal because ATV racing is held on rough off-road tracks. Super-soft tires ensure optimum grip and excellent handling on the tarmac.

Every effort was made to use Honda parts, where possible, including brakes and several motorcycle components. Almost everything else has been custom-made by Team Dynamics and its partners.

"One of the key challenges is that this has never been done before, to our knowledge, and so there are few learnings to call upon," Team Dynamics Team Manager Pete Crolla concludes. "From an engineering perspective, retaining the look of the mower, and the ability to still cut grass were the biggest challenge."

 

[mullins87]

The build of the Mean Mower was done by Honda UK, and over there, they offer the Varaderao, which I think was the source of the donor engine. That same engine was offered on a street-only bike called the VTR here in the USA, but has since been discontinued.

Varadareo Specifications

Ah, the VTR100F. I remember that bike, but have to admit I had never really paid any attention to it. I never saw one in person, but when I saw the pictures, I just assumed it was a larger and sportier version of the VFR and didn't bother to read anything about it. My loss......

 

[poncho144]

My Funky Yard Warrior...

 

[Boobala]

YO Robert, .......... I found this lurking in my collection of "Bucket-List Projects" ( LOL )

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFo7ztlMlmg

 

[bertsmobile1]

And no it is not for cutting grass.
While you were all looking at the engine, no one looked at the rear.
One piece solid axel says racing mower
So looks like we now have a factory racing mower team.