VTR-Powered Honda Lawnmower Sets Guinness World Record + Video

Wed, 02 Apr 2014

A lawnmower powered by the engine from a Honda VTR1000F Superhawk has set a new Guinness record for the world’s fastest mower.

Honda UK revealed its 996cc V-Twin-powered Mean Mower last summer, claiming it had been tested at a speed of 100 mph but could reach a theoretical top speed of 133 mph. Those claims were put to the test in March at the IDIADA Proving Ground in Tarragona, Spain, with an official Guinness World Records adjudicator on hand to observe.

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Piers Ward of BBC TopGear Magazine was given the opportunity to attempt to break the previous record of 87.83 mph set in May 2010 by Don Wales and his Kawasaki-powered Project Runningblade mower. Ward had previously tested the Mean Mower, posting an unofficial speed of 87 mph, making him a good candidate to try for the record.

Ward rode the Mean Mower through a 100-meter speed trap twice, in opposing directions to obliterate the previous record, reaching a speed of 117.54 on his first pass and 115.603 on the return run to get an average speed of 116.57 mph. And to make sure the Mean Mower qualifies as an actual lawnmower, Ward also had to demonstrate that the Mower can actually cut grass.

“The original brief for Mean Mower was to create the world’s fastest lawnmower – and now it officially is, by some distance!” says Kate Saxton, Honda Motor Europe manager of PR communications. “We are all delighted to hold a Guinness World Records title and we’d like to thank everyone who was involved in what has been a challenging yet incredibly exciting project.”

The Mean Mower was designed and constructed by Team Dynamics, Honda UK’s British Touring Car Championship partner. The team built the mower from a Honda HF2620 lawn tractor, fabricating a new chromoly steel chassis and replacing the engine with the VTR powerplant. The suspension was specially made for the Mean Mower while the brakes were taken from a Honda TRX420 ATV.

Honda Mean Mower Specifications Engine VTR 1000F Firestorm/Superhawk (stock) Size 1000cc Power 109hp 0-60 4 seconds (est.) MPG 40 (est.) (when cutting) Optimum RPM 9,000 PTW ratio 532bhp/tonne Torque 96Nm Body Honda HF2620 Lawn Tractor Chassis Chromoly 4130 tubing (Custom-made) Weight 140kg (approx.) Length 2400mm Wheelbase 1425mm Width 1150mm Wheels & Tyres Rear Maxxis/Goldspeed 10 x 10 Front Maxxis/Goldspeed 6 x 10 Pressure .9 bar Cutting Cutter deck Fiberglass (Custom-made) Motors 2 x 15amp, 4000rpm Blades 2 x 3mm steel cutting cable Other Brakes Honda TRX420 ATV Steering Morris Minor steering rack Gears Paddle shift Fuel tank capacity 15 litres Exhaust system Scorpion Instrumentation Motorcycle Seat Cobra (Custom-made)

By Dennis Chung