I demoed one this past year for a week! It was a 72" with the 32hp B&S engine on it! I for the most part use Dixie Choppers in a 72" and the Bad Boy dealer was and still is wanting my buisness! Here is my impressions of the machine!
Heavy machine it is too heavy for normal yards. in wet grass it tends to leave a rutting pattern.
Cut is ok nothing special about it. No real stripping at all!
Hillside is about like the dixie but I was not as comfortable, probably because I have not run it near as much as a chopper.
Suspension is ok but it gets in the way in the front castors I could not trim near as close with it. The ride was not really any better than what I use currently.
Speed was pretty close to the chopper but not mowing I had to slow it down to get a clean cut.
Price not anything special there at least the price I got was within a few dollars of what I use now.
Build is simple design It is obvious that they have done some copying but so does everyone else.
Warranty! Very POOR in comparison!
Would I buy one? I am not saying that I would not but for now probably not! Because it is not a step up from what I am useing it has not price advantage and is atleast here not a proven product! Also the Dixie dealer I deal with just blows the others away with service!
Monte, what mowers are you comparing the Bad Boy to as far as weight goes? Scag, Hustler, and Exmark are right around the 1200-1300# mark, while the Bad Boy is under 1200#...
The striping quality depends on a number of variables. Most folks I've talked to are fine with the striping quality. Best way to find out is demo one to see how it works with the grass in your area.
I'm trying to figure out how the front suspension gets in the way (I read your post before when you originally demoed it). The overall width on the 72" cut mowers is 72.5", and the decks have a near 1/2" reinforcing bumper around the bottom. It's not sticking out any farther than the side of the deck...
I doubt the Dixie comes close in price. What price were you quoted on the Bad Boy compared to the Dixie? (and are you getting special pricing on your Dixies because you've been running them awhile?)
As far as the warranty goes, look at the money you save on the Bad Boy. If you want a longer warranty, extended warranties are available. I will say right now out of all the local LCOs running Bad Boy, the only ones that have come back for warranty work are the ones that bought the $5000 units and are abusing them (and even they have only had minor issues). Not a peep one from those that spent $6000+ on a Pup, Lightning, or AOS, unless it was to get new blades.
Sorry for another debate thread, but there is so much misinformation about the Bad Boy Mowers that somebody needs to come in and clean up. I understand brand preference, and if you just love your Dixie, Scag, Exmark, Hustler, etc, that's fine. Don't go making things up about another mower just because you prefer a different brand. It's just ridiculous some of the stuff people say about the Bad Boy Mowers on here.
Ramair, demo any of the Bad boys with suspension. You will fall in love with them for sure! Either of the Cat diesels are great choices, and another favorite is the big block Vanguard engine specs. There's an available 35hp model on the AOS platform as well for alot less than the diesels.