DAP
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2001
- Messages
- 1,199
- Tractor
- JD LX288 and a B7800
Kubota vs. Kioti
Having put more than 10 and less than 24 hours on various kubota B series tractors (and a several hours on a couple of different L and Grand L series machines), I took a 60 mile ride to the nearest Kioti dealer. I spent an hour and and a half driving the new CK20, 25 and 30 HST machines with loaders. Here's my take on the 'other orange'.
1. If you don't read the ENTIRE specification for each of these tractor makes, you will be confused, fooled or both.
2. The Kioto CK series does NOT compare well with the Kubuta B series.
Case in point, I thought casually that the CK25/30 machine would match up close to the B7800/B2910.
This comparison is a poor one. Although I've read each of the specs more than once, it still didn't dawn on me how much more B-E-E-F-Y the Kioti machines are: B7800 weighs in at 1700+- lbs and the CK30 is almost 3100 lbs. They are bascially the same size, same tire size, very close in width/height but the Kioti outweighs the Kubota by nearly 1400 pounds!!!! Guess what, it is translated into it's feel and handling as well. The CK30 is really a Grand L 3130 comparison at the very least! FPM are all significantly higher in the Kioti as well.
Too darned bad too, cause the L series and now I think the CK30 are too big for my needs.
The CK25 is an exact clone of the CK30 except for the engine, it's displacement and a coupla hundred pounds less in weight.
Anyone who might decide to tell you that fit and finish differences favor Kubota are either lying, ignorant, love to hear themselves talk babble or all three. The Kioti is a quality machine as good or better than the other orange, green or blue product.
The only minutia I can come up with is the lack of a quarter-inching valve on the Kioti.
This dealer was in western connecticut, so JUNKMAN, please PM me. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif ...and has been selling Kioti's for over 8 years.
For you CK20 owners out there, that is an unusual machine as far as size and weight go. Not sure where I'd place it compartively, but it looks like a B2410 sized machine (and I'll bet it weighs a lot more though I don't have the spec in front of me).
Now, mind you, due to comparative marketing design, the Kioti's (CK25/30) suffer from the same problems most of the other CUTS do:
1. Bad fuel filler location
2. Poor ergonomics in lever/control placement for cruise and parking brake, FWD selector, etc.
All in all, these machines are competitive with anything out there. This includes the accuracy of my prophesizing regarding price. I posted back in March that I thought Kioti would engage in some perception management and MSRP their new CK machines at or above the competition. This is now a fact in the NE region.
I know this might lead to the continual debate regarding weight arguments in the manufacturing process. So be it.
The other than the typically bad ergonomic design of some levers and rods, the operator station rivals the Blue machines and was terribly comfortable (although the seat didn't swivel).
The CK20 DID have a rather bad tap in the engine, especially under load. I would like to have investigated that further with the mech - the machine was JUST put together that day - although he didn't PUT THE ENGINE TOGETHER! LOL
Anyway, I came away both impressed and a little dissapointed (the power to weight ratio is eating at me a little).
There you have it.
Having put more than 10 and less than 24 hours on various kubota B series tractors (and a several hours on a couple of different L and Grand L series machines), I took a 60 mile ride to the nearest Kioti dealer. I spent an hour and and a half driving the new CK20, 25 and 30 HST machines with loaders. Here's my take on the 'other orange'.
1. If you don't read the ENTIRE specification for each of these tractor makes, you will be confused, fooled or both.
2. The Kioto CK series does NOT compare well with the Kubuta B series.
Case in point, I thought casually that the CK25/30 machine would match up close to the B7800/B2910.
This comparison is a poor one. Although I've read each of the specs more than once, it still didn't dawn on me how much more B-E-E-F-Y the Kioti machines are: B7800 weighs in at 1700+- lbs and the CK30 is almost 3100 lbs. They are bascially the same size, same tire size, very close in width/height but the Kioti outweighs the Kubota by nearly 1400 pounds!!!! Guess what, it is translated into it's feel and handling as well. The CK30 is really a Grand L 3130 comparison at the very least! FPM are all significantly higher in the Kioti as well.
Too darned bad too, cause the L series and now I think the CK30 are too big for my needs.
The CK25 is an exact clone of the CK30 except for the engine, it's displacement and a coupla hundred pounds less in weight.
Anyone who might decide to tell you that fit and finish differences favor Kubota are either lying, ignorant, love to hear themselves talk babble or all three. The Kioti is a quality machine as good or better than the other orange, green or blue product.
The only minutia I can come up with is the lack of a quarter-inching valve on the Kioti.
This dealer was in western connecticut, so JUNKMAN, please PM me. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif ...and has been selling Kioti's for over 8 years.
For you CK20 owners out there, that is an unusual machine as far as size and weight go. Not sure where I'd place it compartively, but it looks like a B2410 sized machine (and I'll bet it weighs a lot more though I don't have the spec in front of me).
Now, mind you, due to comparative marketing design, the Kioti's (CK25/30) suffer from the same problems most of the other CUTS do:
1. Bad fuel filler location
2. Poor ergonomics in lever/control placement for cruise and parking brake, FWD selector, etc.
All in all, these machines are competitive with anything out there. This includes the accuracy of my prophesizing regarding price. I posted back in March that I thought Kioti would engage in some perception management and MSRP their new CK machines at or above the competition. This is now a fact in the NE region.
I know this might lead to the continual debate regarding weight arguments in the manufacturing process. So be it.
The other than the typically bad ergonomic design of some levers and rods, the operator station rivals the Blue machines and was terribly comfortable (although the seat didn't swivel).
The CK20 DID have a rather bad tap in the engine, especially under load. I would like to have investigated that further with the mech - the machine was JUST put together that day - although he didn't PUT THE ENGINE TOGETHER! LOL
Anyway, I came away both impressed and a little dissapointed (the power to weight ratio is eating at me a little).
There you have it.
