A professional landscaper working on commercial projects maintains grounds of all shapes and sizes: with particularly challenging terrain, you need equipment up to the task.
Steep slopes and commercial contracts often go hand-in-hand. Roadsides and undulating grounds can pose a difficult problem when operating a ride-on mower becomes unsafe. Fortunately, the technology that solves it exists in remote control slope mowers.
A remote control slope mower is a significant investment for your business, but it's one that opens up opportunities for new customers and projects that would otherwise be out of reach. With any large investment, however, you need to weigh up your options and make a decision that's right for your business.
Here are a few things to consider before committing to a specific brand or model.
A robotic lawn mower and remote control lawn mower (or RC lawn mower) perform very different roles – despite this, the two are often confused.
As suggested by the name, a remote control lawn mower is operated by a qualified professional through a remote controller. Robotic mowers are programmed in advance and operate autonomously. A robotic lawn mower is typically suited to flat lawns, and commercial robotic mowers are most useful for maintaining a single area repeatedly. The time required for programming a route makes them unsuitable for professionals visiting multiple sites – a remote control mower gives the operator extra flexibility.
Unlike robotic mowers, remote control lawn mowers are powerful enough to mow through rough terrain, tall and wet grass, and even brambles. They're most often associated with mowing on an incline and improving operator safety.
One of the key advantages of remote control mowers is their versatility; they can tackle turf that other mowers can't.
Their low centre of gravity means they can handle slopes and steep inclines with ease, while the reduced weight without a rider allows them to glide over lawns without compressing the grass – even after a rainy day when the ground is particularly soft.
While ride on mowers are suitable for most jobs, easily covering large lawns and grounds, remote control mowers are preferred if you have to cut grass on very uneven ground, rough terrain, under obstacles, and steep slopes. They're easy to transport, and relatively simple to operate: a remote control mower will fit seamlessly into your fleet.
Perhaps the most important benefit is that you can stand at a safe distance while operating remote control mowers, removing risk when mowing in dangerous conditions such as steep drops, cliff edges, near high-speed roads, railway sidings, or by any body of water.
And while a robotic lawn mower needs guide wires or satellite boundaries to operate in a specific area, remote control machines can quickly be deployed in any new environment with little preparation.
To summarise, the benefits of remote control lawn mowers include:
Kawasaki Engines is renowned for quality and reliability, and we partner with OEMs with similar trusted reputations.
If you're considering a new remote control slope mower, it can be hard to make sense of today’s options. From size to manoeuvrability, there are many different factors which can determine the right mower for you.
In our OEMs, you have machinery you can trust to perform at the highest level. To help you decide which is right for your business, we've provided some insight into your options.
SPIDER is a Czech company founded in 2004, renowned world-wide for its patent-protected remote controlled mowers. Alongside the serial production of SPIDER mowers, the company develops cutting-edge technologies for professional mowing, agriculture, the photovoltaic sector, and even military applications.
The SPIDER ILD01 mower is built for fully professional use and for mowing uneven, sloped, or hard-to-reach areas where manoeuvrability and lightweight equipment are essential.
Ideal for intensive mowing in medium and large green spaces, the SPIDER ILD01 can achieve an impressive coverage of up to 3,000m² per hour. With this mower, Spider states you can maintain slopes up to 55 degrees on fine turf or heavy brush; a hydraulic winch provides extra support on especially steep inclines.
The mower includes Spider's patented drive system, which, together with constant 4-wheel drive, guarantees exceptional manoeuvrability and gentle treatment of turf on all terrains. You'll also benefit from hydraulic skip steering, which allows for easy and quick rotation of the mower around its axis, making navigating obstacles simple.
Its advanced features and remote control mode remove the physical strain associated with manual mowing – and without the need for work breaks due to operator fatigue, the SPIDER ILD01 ensures a consistently efficient workflow and improved daily productivity.
Technical information:
Powering the SPIDER ILD01 is the Kawasaki FS541V, an engine designed to withstand a demanding workload with ease, and provide you with performance you can rely on.
These are just some features of the FS541V:
BARBIERI GROUP is an Italian pioneer in small-scale agricultural machinery and the management of green and forested areas, particularly in steep and challenging terrains. The company remains deeply connected to its customers by offering innovative, reliable solutions tailored to their needs.
The Barbieri X ROT 95 EVO is a state-of-the-art remote control mower designed to deliver exceptional performance in challenging environments, making it a reliable choice to mow on uneven ground and tackle slopes of all kinds. Barbieri states the mower can withstand a demanding 100 percent incline.
Equipped with GPS Servo Drive technology, the mower can be seamlessly controlled through a smartphone app compatible with both iOS and Android systems; you can also adjust cutting height from 3cm to 15cm by remote control. Its compact, lightweight design simplifies transportation and makes the mower suitable for work under low-clearance structures such as solar panels, where traditional machines might struggle.
Additionally, the Barbieri X ROT 95 EVO can mow in both forward and reverse directions, enhancing the flexibility and efficiency of your operations.
Technical information:
Instant full power, exactly when you need it. The FS730V EFI engine uses electronic fuel injection technology to deliver exceptional performance, meeting the unique demands placed upon remote control lawn mowers.
These are just a few features of the FS730V EFI:
With over 75 years of history and an extensive international distributor network, German-based Agria-Werke GmbH has built a strong global reputation for quality and excellence. The company specialises in hand-held and remote control equipment for green space maintenance, serving homeowners, landscaping professionals, and local governments.
The Agria 9500-80 remote control mower combines exceptional performance, advanced technology, and environmental care.
Its innovative design ensures precise mulching results in either direction, with minimal impact on lawns even after sharp turns. With zero-turn capability, it can be manoeuvred with ease and mow effortlessly on steep slopes of up to 50 degrees, simplifying your operations even on challenging terrains.
Image: agria 9500 : Products
The Agria 9500-80 features an advanced hybrid drive system that leverages electricity and a powerful Kawasaki combustion engine for optimal efficiency and reliability. Its fine cutting results and uniform distribution of clippings make it perfect for maintaining high-profile areas such as parks and other public landscapes.
Technical information:
Another engine from our FS series, the FS600V offers professionals exceptional power and performance, capable of maintaining an excellent quality of cut on steep slopes. The FS600V shares many features with the FS541V, including a dual element air filter and automatic compression release, but has a slight power advantage over the latter.
Husqvarna is a leader in professional products for forests, parks, and gardens with a legacy of innovation dating back to 1689. The Swedish brand manufactures cutting-edge solutions that combine performance, ease of use, safety, and advanced robotics.
We think of remote control mowers as strictly that: remote controlled. But this latest innovation in lawn care technology from Husqvarna combines remote control technology with that of a traditional ride on mower.
The Husqvarna P 524XR EFI is a front-mounted, petrol-powered ride-on mower that can also be controlled remotely thanks to its innovative FlexiDrive technology – which allows a quick and easy transition between seated operation and remote control, ideal for areas where ride-on mowing isn’t suitable.
Powered by a Kawasaki engine with Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) and featuring All-Wheel Drive, this model delivers superior efficiency and torque performance.
Like other models in the 500-series, the Husqvarna P 524XR EFI can accommodate high-capacity decks to reach a cutting width of up to 137cm and a cutting height ranging between 25 and 100mm, making it a particularly versatile option capable of covering large areas quickly.
Technical information:
Our FX series is equipped to handle the toughest conditions and most demanding professional schedules. As an engine designed for heavy-duty landscape maintenance, it's particularly robust and durable, but also offers outstanding power and performance.
With EFI technology, this engine is able to provide responsive, instant power according to its environment; maximising engine power and improving fuel efficiency.
Features of our FX730V EFI:
Why choose a Kawasaki engine for your remote control mower?
Remote control mowers handle some of the most demanding tasks in lawn care – as such, they need an engine that can offer exceptional performance and reliability.
Here are four reasons why you should choose a Kawasaki engine for your remote control mower.
Our engines are designed and tested with meticulous attention to detail to make sure they can provide the highest level of power and performance.
A combination of features, such as high performance lubrication systems, innovative air filtration systems, and high quality materials and components provide superior efficiency and performance to tackle even the toughest mowing challenges. We've earned our reputation for powerful engines over decades: a Kawasaki engine provides power you can rely on.
Durability and resilience are at the heart of our engines. That's why we choose the best materials and manufacturing processes to achieve maximum longevity.
Crankcases and cylinder heads are high-pressure die cast, made with automotive-grade aluminium; crankshafts and cylinder liners are made with forge-quality cast iron, while industrial-strength seals and gaskets provide additional resilience, making our engines ideal for prolonged professional use.
We design engines to meet the demands of a professional’s schedule, keeping you working through the busiest times of your year.
Engineered for consistent performance, our engines deliver power you can rely on year after year. We're proud to be recognised for reliability – a Kawasaki engine won't let you down.
Several features contribute to making our engines more reliable and prolonging engine life, from filtration systems to high pressure lubrication. But perhaps most important is our commitment to testing. You can rest assured that nothing is left to chance. We test our engines under extreme conditions to guarantee reliability, and every single V-Twin engine is started and run before leaving our US manufacturing plant.
With decades of expertise behind our designs, we continually integrate new technologies to stay ahead.
For example, our Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) engines provide instant throttle response, superior cutting efficiency, and the ability to easily adapt to variable terrain and conditions. These features boost both productivity and profitability, ensuring your machine is always ready to perform at its best.
Learn more about the benefits of a Kawasaki engine and how our European-wide network of authorised dealers can support you wherever you are.
Purchasing a remote control slope mower is a major investment, and a big decision – one we hope you feel better equipped to make after reading this guide. If you're interested in finding out more about the machines listed here, you can visit the Powered by Kawasaki page.
We know that a ride-on mower is no small investment in your business. A ride-on lawn mower that can keep up with a commercial-level workload doesn't come cheap – which is why, understandably, you want to ensure you're making the right decision.
In the demanding world of professional landscaping, the reliability and longevity of your equipment are paramount. Extra repair costs, unnecessary downtime and, ultimately, a hit to your bottom line can all result from purchasing machinery that's not fit for professional-level work.
Maximising your engine's performance and longevity requires regular maintenance: it can add years on to the life of an engine.
Kawasaki Engines’ consistent quality isn’t the product of chance. It’s the result of adhering to strict processes and extremely careful attention to detail.
