Honda’s Mean Riding Lawn Mower Sets New World Record

Honda maintains its grip on the much-coveted record for world's fastest lawnmower. It's Mean Mower V2 is powered by a stock CBR1000RR Fireblade SP engine, which allowed it to reach 100 mph in 6.29 seconds under the watchful eyes of Guinness World Record representatives in Dresden, Germany.

The achievement bests Honda’s previous record, set with the original Mean Mower back in 2014, which saw a top speed of 116.87 mph. Mean Mower V2 clocked 150.99 mph.

But this record is all about acceleration to 100, and the official title bestowed on this beast of a grass cutter is “the fastest acceleration 0–100 mph for a lawnmower (prototype).”

The 200 hp and 84 pound-feet of torque provided by the motorcycle engine are impressive in their own right, but when mated to a 308-pound machine (give or take a few pounds), the power-to-weight ratio tops even that of a Bugatti Chiron. And in case you were wondering, the CBR1000RR SP tips the scales at around 430 pounds.

In order to qualify for consideration for this particular record, Mean Mower V2 also had to show it was still capable of getting its chores done, so had to prove that it still could cut grass. Two carbon-fiber blades beneath the cutter deck achieved the feat without issue.

It also has to look like a lawn mower, so Honda designed this speed demon around its HF 2622 lawn tractor.

Design was also influenced by Honda’s partner in this project, Team Dynamics from the British Touring Car Championship. Team Dynamics provided some integral bespoke parts to ensure all functions of the machine were up to the challenge.

Here’s what Managing Director of Honda UK Dave Hodgetts had to say after the speed test was through:

“The original Mean Mower was an incredible machine, but this time we’ve taken it to a whole new level with version two. After taking the top speed record in 2014, we wanted to do something a little different by setting an all-new record for acceleration, and the result is fantastic. Team Dynamics have gone above and beyond in developing and building this real feat of engineering, and hats off to Jess (Hawkins) for being brave enough to get behind the wheel.”