I am done with 2-stroke! This machine, even though it is a domestic unit is a 4-stroke and everything that I hopped for. Quiet, powerful and easy to use. My only negative would be the balance of it - the controls need to be a little higher up the shaft to make it more comfy when using. Easy to start and you can't over-prime it. So simple now just using normal unleaded fuel. Have had it for 6 months and never missed a beat.

This machine is a reliable, easy to start and user friendly. It's a little more expensive than most trimmers but the old adage is you get what you pay for. Replaced a Stilhl fs 38 which was rubbish. This is my first Honda product and won't be my last after having used this trimmer.

This is a really reliable trimmer from the 4 stroke, easy start motor to the shaft, right up until you get to that horrible bump head. I've never had a single bump head trimmer that feeds the trimmer cord reliably. I told the salesperson that when I bought it and they assured me this one was reliable...nup! It started out OK but after 3 months it was more petulant about feeding the line and the last time I used it it fed the line out too fast and continuously (no - I didn't wind it incorrectly!)
Shame really. It makes an otherwise well designed and reliable unit really frustrating to use.

Best ever Whipper Snipper, easy to handle and being four stroke means no more mixing fuel. May have to change spark plug every twelve months but that is all the maintenance it requires. Easy cord replacement and i find a 2.0 mm size cord works very well for a smooth fine cut on your garden edges. Thoroughly recommend this product and with special care it will last you forever.

I have owned several others eg Ryobi, Stihl and TAS, this is the most reliable, easy to start, easy to load the head, a pleasure to use. My elderly father has one for many years, even fitted the head with a circular saw blade to trim along the electric fences at the farm, has done hundreds of hours trouble free, even my brother has one... Fantastic piece of equipment Honda tough!!

Brought this whipper snipper for my wife to use as she wanted one she is a small person she has no trouble using it, starts easy that was one of the main reasons for buying Honda but no instruction on how to put line on the head
I had to google it to find out, other wise good machine.

I bought this Honda after reading a lot about them on here and other websites. The combination of being 4 Stroke and a Honda as well as the good feedback was what won me over. So far I have used it twice. Heaps more grunt that my previous Stihl (which developed many problems in lt's last years), great balance, great feel. So quiet when running. Easy to start - the guy at the Honda shop took me through the procedure as well as all the other things about it.
So time will tell. I will do another write up to add to this one in say 6 months after using it over summer in Queensland - that should try it out well enough.

Starts easily, is fairly lightweight, 4 stroke just keeps going, does not vibrate or induce joint problems, nicely balanced - a joy to work with. Maintenance wise, the clutch has gone twice over several years, and the 2nd time, the vibration that happened before I fixed it, wore out the bearing, so it was leaking oil. Being too costly to fix, I sold it one eBay and bought a new one. Bump heads for the new one are about $50, a bit steep, whereas with the old one only the knob was needed.

In 4 years had to replace spark plug twice same for carby rubbish hard to start only good thing parts are cheap on internet I used to repair small engines for a living have now gone for a Stihl, Honda easy to repair though can get to all parts with no trouble

Works okay. Is hard to start at times. Seems to splutter quite a bit when warming up. I expected a bit better than this from Honda. I found it light and easy to handle just a bit hard to get going. Hope it will last years as I would expect but I'm still a bit sceptical.

Does not start first pull I will not buy honda again every time I accelerate it revs then dies it vibrates. Don't like it, would not recommend this unit to any one. I am buying a stihl kombisystem because honda is crap. I have a honda mower runs really good love the honda mower.

Starts first time, quiet so can cut edges in the morning, wife can start and use it. love it so much I bought the matching blower, salesman said honda was not as good as it used to be, Im glad I didn't listen, several neibhours have now bought Honda's after borrowing mine. Honda still rules

I just returned my 1month old Stihl brush cutter because it wouldn't start. Used it once and didn't want to start. Traded for the Honda I should have bought - lesson: don't trust the salesman! The dealer was good and gave me a good trade-in value.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE! The Honda starts easily every time. It idles easily and quietly and does an excellent job. The trimmer spool is pretty easy to refill. But, like every line trimmer I've owned refilling, while easy doesn't always allow for easy automatic line feed, so I need to stop and manually feed more line. Could be my lack of experience. But this is a minor issue as it starts easily every time.

The most common action needed by an owner is to change the line, why there is no detail of this in the manual is beyond belief.Where does Honda have this detail that can be downloaded or where can I contact someone to post the information which should have have been in the manual in the first place?

Have had this whipper snipper for many years now and great. Only ever had one issue where for some reason after half hour use loses power and stops on and off. Took to local dealer for full service and never happened again. Also have an HRU19R mower and same thing except never an issue. I'm not too crash hot on newer mowers though too much going on with safety, etc. Think the HRU19R was the last of the basic cut my grass no problem mowers. Why change so much Honda.