EGO LM2135SP vs Honda HRN-BV: Which Self-Propelled Mower to Buy?

EGO LM2135SP vs Honda HRN-BV comes down to run time and charging, and the EGO wins both, so it is my pick for most lawns. The Honda wins only on a small, level lawn where a nearby Honda dealer and dealer service matter more than minutes on the pack. I mow a level house lawn and the grass alleys of the orchard around it, and a battery mower earns its place by how long it keeps cutting before I carry it back to the charger. Below I compare the two kits on run time, charging, drive, weight, warranty and value, and I say who should buy which.

EGO LM2135SP vs Honda HRN-BV: The Short Answer

Buy the EGO LM2135SP if you want the longer run time, the faster charger and the longer tool warranty. The Honda HRN-BV suits you if your lawn is small and level and you want a Honda dealer behind the machine. Both cut a 21-inch swath, both self-propel, and both come with one battery, so the table compares one kit against the other.

Two rows decide it: run time and charging. Every other row is close, or it depends on your lawn.

What Each Kit Actually Contains

Model codes confuse buyers here, so I start with the box. EGO Power+ LM2135SP 21-Inch Self-Propelled Mower ships with one 56V 7.5Ah battery, EGO’s Rapid Charger and a two bushel bag. EGO lists three lower blades for it (mulching, high lift bagging and extended runtime) plus the upper blade, but it does not say whether all three come in the box. Check that the listing says LM2135SP before you order, because EGO sells several 21-inch kits. I go through the EGO kit and its drive in more detail in my review of the EGO LM2135SP.

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On its Amazon listing the Honda HRN216YXBVKA4 is sold as Honda HRN216 21-Inch Battery Self-Propelled Mower, and it comes with one Honda 8Ah battery, a 2A charger and a fabric grass bag. The quick 8A charger and the 12Ah battery are optional extras, not part of the kit. Honda also sells a larger HRX-BV, so keep its figures out of this comparison.

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Run Time and Battery Capacity

Run time is where the two mowers separate. According to EGO, the LM2135SP runs up to 60 minutes on its 7.5Ah pack, and EGO’s operator’s manual for this mower family lists 60 minutes at light load, 45 at medium load and 30 at heavy load. Honda claims up to 30 minutes for the HRN-BV on its 8Ah pack, and it states no load for that figure. Do not compare the packs by Ah, because the EGO pack is 56V and Honda publishes no voltage for its pack. Compare the makers’ advertised minutes instead, and keep in mind that their test conditions differ or are unstated.

Both numbers are best cases. Tall, thick or damp grass pulls them down, and EGO’s manual says to cut no more than 1.5 inches of grass at a time. Take no more than a third of the grass height as well, because in a university field study mowing by the one-third rule cut the number of required mowing events by about 31 percent compared with mowing weekly (1). On my house lawn I plan in minutes of real mowing, not in the figure on the box. Honda also lists a 12Ah pack for up to 45 minutes, sold separately. The mowers that cope best with dense growth are in my list of mowers for thick grass.

With the Honda, the pack ran out before the last strip of the alley was done, and the stop was abrupt. That is the moment to plan around if your lawn takes close to half an hour. If one pack is not enough, I compare the one-pack and two-pack EGO kits in LM2135SP against LM2134SP-2.

Winner: The EGO LM2135SP, because it claims twice the minutes on the pack in the box, and even EGO’s heavy load figure of 30 minutes only matches the Honda’s best case.

Charging Time

According to EGO, the Rapid Charger refills the 7.5Ah pack in about 60 minutes. Honda says the 2A charger in the kit takes about 4.5 hours, and the optional 8A quick charger takes about an hour. Charge only with the maker’s charger, within the temperature range in your manual, and never use a damaged pack.

In the workshop, an hour on the EGO charger fits inside a short tool job, while the Honda pack on its standard charger is an evening job. The Honda still allows a second session later the same day after about 4.5 hours, and the optional quick charger or a charged spare pack shortens the wait; the EGO simply needs the least turnaround. Packs, chargers and run time across more models are in my ranking of the best battery lawn mowers.

Winner: The EGO, because the charger in the box is the faster one. Honda closes the gap only with an optional charger.

Drive and Handling

Both mowers self-propel, and both leave the speed to you. According to EGO, Touch Drive uses palm pressure with a speed dial, from 0.9 to 3.1 mph, and EGO does not publish which wheels it drives. Honda’s manual describes the Smart Drive paddle on the handle, which drives the rear wheels from 0 to 3.8 mph depending on how hard you press. The paddle has five handle positions, so different hand heights suit it, and the HRN-BV is a Honda self propelled lawn mower with a drive that turns only the rear wheels.

Releasing the paddle disengages the drive, so you can push the Honda around an obstacle by hand, but it is not a brake and you stay in control of the mower. On the level house lawn I eased off the Honda paddle at the trees and pushed around them by hand, and I set the EGO dial once for the long straight runs and turned it down for the corners. Neither maker wants you pulling the mower backward unless you have to, and Honda says to look down and behind before and while moving backward.

Winner: Tie. The Honda reaches a higher top speed, and the EGO gives you a dial to set one.

Cutting Heights, Blades and Grass Handling

Both mowers cut a 21-inch swath and both go down to a 1 inch cut. According to EGO’s manual, the LM2135SP family has eight height positions from 1 to 4 inches on a one-handed lever, while Honda gives seven settings from 1 to 4 inches on two levers, front and rear, on the left side. Set the rear lever first on the Honda, then match the front, and stop the mower, wait for the blade to stop and take out the battery before you touch either lever.

The blade systems differ. EGO’s Select Cut lets you swap the lower blade for the job, and its manual names the extended runtime blade as the first tip for more minutes; a swap needs a torque wrench and both blades fitted, and you stop the mower, wait for the blade to stop and take out the battery first. Honda’s Clip Director switches the deck between mulch, bag and rear discharge, and its twin MicroCut blades work as a set. Returning clippings raises soil nitrogen and can keep turf colour with less fertiliser (2), which is why I mulch when the grass is dry.

I mulch the apricot and plum leaves in late October instead of raking, and with either mower I keep the blade sharp. A dull blade lowered turf quality and raised leaf spot on a susceptible grass in a Nebraska field study (3). Before you touch either blade, stop the mower, wait for the blade to stop, take out the battery and wear heavy gloves. If mulching is your main job, my picks for the best mulching lawn mowers are worth a look.

Winner: The EGO on flexibility, because you change the blade to the job. It is a tie on the lowest cut.

Weight, Slopes and Wet Grass

EGO does not publish a weight for the LM2135SP kit, so I cannot give you a fair weight comparison. Honda’s manual gives 82.3 lb dry mass including the grass bag and battery. That is a heavy mower. The drive does the pushing, but I notice the Honda’s weight when I lift it into the car or over the step at the shed door.

Both manuals set a 15 degree slope limit and tell you to work across the slope, and both ban mowing wet grass. Wet grass clogs the deck faster, so I wait for a dry day, and I clear a clog only after I stop the mower, wait for the blade to stop and take out the battery, using a stick and heavy gloves instead of bare hands. The stakes are real: US emergency rooms treated an estimated 84,944 lawn mower injuries a year from 2005 to 2015, and the hand and finger were the most injured part (4). Across 2014 to 2023, an estimated 17,509 lawn mower injuries ended in an amputation of the upper limb, and 97 percent of the reviewed cases involved a finger (5). For slopes close to the limit, I rank mowers for hills by drive and slope rating.

Honda tells you to keep children, other people and pets at least 100 feet away while you mow, and I clear stones and sticks before the first pass. Honda gives a sound power level of 93 dB for the HRN-BV, which is sound power and not the level at your ear, and EGO publishes no noise figure to compare it with.

Winner: No winner on the figures. EGO publishes no kit weight, and the slope and wet grass limits are the same.

Warranty, Service and Value Over Three Seasons

According to EGO, the LM2135SP carries a 5 year limited tool warranty and a 3 year limited battery and charger warranty for household use. Honda’s manual gives the mower 36 months for private residential use, and Honda’s page gives the battery and charger 3 years, with service through authorized Honda dealers. That dealer network is the best reason to choose the Honda.

The EGO sat in the premium tier and the Honda in the mid-range at the Amazon price on the day I checked, and Honda’s list price is higher, so that tier can move. To close part of the gap on run time and charging, the Honda needs the optional 12Ah pack and the quick charger, both bought separately, so the kit price is not the whole cost over three seasons. For a wider choice, I compare battery and gas options by yard size in my ranking of the best lawn mowers.

Winner: Value and tool warranty go to the EGO. Dealer service goes to Honda.

Choose the EGO LM2135SP If

Choose the EGO if a mowing session can run past half an hour or if you want to mow again the same day. These are the situations where it fits best:

• You mow a medium lawn or long strips: EGO claims up to 60 minutes on one pack, and heavy cutting can cut that toward 30, so a charging break or a spare pack covers a thick cut.
• You want a short turnaround between sessions: the Rapid Charger in the box refills the pack in about an hour.
• You want to match the blade to the job: mulching, high lift bagging or extended runtime, as EGO lists them.
• You want a long tool warranty: 5 years for household use.

With the EGO on the house lawn, I stopped watching the pack halfway through the job, and that never happened with the Honda. Skip the EGO if you want a Honda dealer close by for service, or if your ground is steeper than 15 degrees.

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Choose the Honda HRN-BV If

Choose the Honda if your lawn is small and level and a Honda dealer matters to you. These are the situations where it fits best:

• Your lawn takes well under 30 minutes: Honda’s claim for one 8Ah pack.
• You want dealer service: a mower serviced at a Honda dealer carries the 3 year residential warranty.
• You like a paddle drive: the paddle sets the speed by pressure, up to 3.8 mph.
• You want a heavy-duty steel deck: according to Honda, the deck is steel, with a 1 inch lowest cut.

The folding handlebar let the Honda fit in the shed beside my other tools. Skip the Honda if you mow for more than 30 minutes at a stretch, if you lift the mower often, or if you want to charge it in an hour without buying an extra charger. For a small yard and a shed with little room, I list mowers for a small yard that store easily.

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My Pick for Most Lawns

For most lawns I keep the EGO. It runs longer on the pack in the box, charges in about an hour and carries the longer tool warranty, and those three rows decide a battery mower more than any other line in the table. The Honda suits a small, level lawn and a buyer who wants a dealer nearby, but its single pack asks for short sessions and its standard charger asks for an evening. For other options with powered drive, I compare seven models in my ranking of the best self-propelled lawn mowers.

Whichever you pick, walk the lawn first, keep people and pets away, and before you touch the deck, stop the mower, wait for the blade to stop and take out the battery. Pick the EGO LM2135SP unless a Honda dealer nearby matters more to you than run time, and treat that as the deciding point in the EGO LM2135SP vs Honda HRN-BV choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the EGO LM2135SP a good mower?

The EGO LM2135SP is a good mower for a medium lawn on one pack, because EGO claims up to 60 minutes of run time, a one hour charge and eight cutting heights. It is a poor fit for steep ground, since the manual sets a 15 degree limit, and for wet grass, which the manual bans.

What are the key differences between the EGO lawn mower and the Honda lawn mower?

The key differences between the EGO LM2135SP and the Honda HRN-BV are run time, charging and service: EGO claims up to 60 minutes and an hour on the charger, while Honda claims up to 30 minutes and about 4.5 hours on its standard charger. Honda offsets that with authorized dealer service, and both mowers self-propel and cut 21 inches.

What are the common complaints about EGO lawn mowers?

The documented limits of the LM2135SP are run time and wet grass: a heavy load cuts the claimed 60 minutes toward 30, and the pack stops abruptly when it is empty, so plan the job around it. EGO’s manual also says not to mow wet grass, which clogs the deck, so a dry day matters.

Is a self-propelled lawn mower worth it?

A self-propelled lawn mower is worth it when your lawn is large, when the grass is thick or when pushing tires you, because the drive carries the machine while you steer. It adds weight and cost to the machine, so a small, flat lawn is often fine with a plain push mower.

Which model EGO mower is best?

The best EGO mower depends on the size of your lawn and how long you mow, and for a medium lawn on one pack the LM2135SP is a strong choice because it self-propels and EGO claims up to 60 minutes. EGO also lists two battery kits with longer claimed run times, which suit larger lawns better.

References

1. Law QD, Bigelow CA, Patton AJ. Selecting Turfgrasses and Mowing Practices that Reduce Mowing Requirements. Crop Science. 2016;56(6):3318-3327. doi:10.2135/cropsci2015.09.0595
2. Pornaro C, Novello A, Fidanza M, Macolino S. Grasscycling: A Key Practice for Sustainable Turfgrass Management. Grasses. 2022;1(1):45-52. doi:10.3390/grasses1010005
3. Steinegger DH, Shearman RC, Riordan TP, Kinbacher EJ. Mower Blade Sharpness Effects on Turf. Agronomy Journal. 1983;75(3):479-480. doi:10.2134/agronj1983.00021962007500030015x
4. Harris C, Madonick J, Hartka TR. Lawn mower injuries presenting to the emergency department: 2005 to 2015. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2018;36(9):1565-1569. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2018.01.031
5. Nemirov DA, Onor GI, Kwok M, Gallant GG, Beredjiklian PK. Epidemiological Analysis of Upper Extremity Amputations From Lawn Mower-Related Injuries. HAND. 2024;21(2):223-229. doi:10.1177/15589447241300697

Safety Note: A mower blade can cut through a hand or foot and throw stones and sticks with force. Pick up debris before you mow, keep the discharge guard, bag or mulch plug in place, never point the discharge at people, windows or cars, and keep children and pets indoors while the mower runs; never let a child ride on a riding mower. Never disable the operator-presence control. Before you clear a clog, tip the mower or touch the blade, stop the engine or motor, wait until the blade has stopped, then remove the safety key or battery, or disconnect the spark plug wire on a gas model. Mow across slopes with a walk-behind mower and up and down with a riding mower, within the slope limit in your manual, and stay off wet slopes, drop-offs and ditch edges; on a rider with a rollover protection bar, keep it up and wear the seat belt as the manual says. Refuel only outdoors with the engine off and cool, wear closed shoes and eye and hearing protection, and read the manufacturer’s manual.