We are looking at a feature rich zero turn lawn mower for a pretty reasonable price. The construction quality of the Bad Boy MZ Magnum is right there with the best commercial machines. From 7 gauge steel to laser cutouts in the frame, I’d say that this is a win for Bad Boy.
Bad Boy has been around for a little high and have a pretty good entry level commercial brand. There aren't many lawn care companies that use these mowers. Most of the Bad Boy users are either homeowners or weekend warrior lawn care guys.
We took a look at the Bad Boy MZ Magnum and were able to demo it. Below is the comparison charge of the offering and our full review of this mower.
Specs | Kohler 48″ | Kohler 54″ | Kawasaki 48″ | Kawasaki 54″ |
---|---|---|---|---|
Deck Size | 48″ | 54″ | 48″ | 54″ |
Engine | 725cc Kohler 7000 | 725cc Kohler 7000 | 726cc Kawasaki FR651 | 726cc Kawasaki FR651 |
Drive System | Hydro-Gear EZT | Hydro-Gear EZT | Hydro-Gear EZT | Hydro-Gear EZT |
Fuel Capacity | 5 Gallons | 5 Gallons | 5 Gallons | 5 Gallons |
Speed | 6 MPH | 6 MPH | 6 MPH | 6 MPH |
Suspension | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Warranty | 4-year Residential | 4-year Residential | 4-year Residential | 4-year Residential |
Price | $3,399 | $3,499 | $3,899 | $3,999 |
Power
I always like to start with the engine and power features because of its highly sought after nature. Bad Boy gave us a 725cc from Kawasaki or a 726cc engine from Kohler, reliable options.
At 6 mph forward speeds, it most definitely competes with others in its range while not exactly blowing them away in the speed category. One downside is the Hydro-Gear EZT transaxles. I would have liked to see at least the Hydro-Gear ZT2800 for this price range.
Features
Here are some key features that stood out to me.
- 7 gauge welded steel deck (with baffles)
- Steel frame with cutouts make it aesthetically pleasing
- 5-gallon fuel tank
- Flip up deck cover with rubber mat for easy pulley maintenance
- Dial style deck height adjustment with optional electric lift
Look and Feel
The overall look of this mower is pretty impressive. Some are more reserved than others, but I think it looks quite nice, and Bad Boy is bold enough to show off their true colors. If you like striping kits, chrome wheels, shiny exhaust, and heavy-duty welded steel, give this mower a look.
This is where Bad Boy shines. To me, there brand is all about appearance and accessories. They have cool looking mowers and tons of great accessories to add comfort and convenience.
This may come at a cost of performance… on this mower the transaxles in particular. Most similar competitors will beat the specs on this mower but probably not the look of it.
Accessories
You can get accessories straight from Bad Boy and even get them to install for you. Chute blocker, led light bars, electric switches, you name it. To have readily available accessories that you don’t have to search for and customize to fit is an excellent thing. Kudos to Bad Boy for that.
Quality
Bad Boy swears by their quality. They put the same ingenuity into their residential models as they do their commercial models. No gimmicky electronics or gadgets that can be overly sensitive will be found anywhere on this mower.
Welded and not stamped, the frame and also the deck are incredibly rugged. The baffles and design of the deck keep it discharging even in tough conditions.
Overall, the build quality of this mower is pretty good. It is a solid option if you want a flashier mower.
Maintenance
Mower maintenance is crucial no matter if you are a homeowner or a commercial company. This can significantly influence the life of your machine and is called routine for a reason. Why not make it easy? They did.
Maintenance is pretty simple with easy to reach oil filters, grease fittings, and a digital display for those friendly reminders. Sometimes keeping it simple can be a lifesaver when it comes to DIY maintenance.
Our Rating
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Price
Ok, so here it is… the price. The price ranges from $3,399 to $3,899, depending on the bells and whistles you prefer. The cool thing about the accessories from Bad Boy is that they are willing to add on to your liking and roll it into your loan.
There are certainly less expensive mowers at this tier of zero turn lawn mowers, but it will be hard to find a mower that will go head to head against the Bad Boy MZ. It ranks in the mid-range for price at this tier but at the top for performance.
Final Thoughts
I am one of those people who would rather be safe than sorry. That’s sort of how I look at this lawn mower. Bad Boy gave us a mower that will provide an excellent cut quality, especially with a striping kit, rugged durability that shows, and a 4 year warranty to back it up.
The price isn’t anything to be blown away by, nor will it break the bank. Seriously consider this zero turn mower if you are a homeowner wanting to be proud of their lawn, or even an entry-level commercial company.
What do you think?
Do you have the Bad Boy MZ Magnum zero turn mower? What do you think of it? Leave us a comment below. We would love to hear from you!
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For more information on this mower check out Bad Boy's official site. To find a dealer near you check out their dealer locator.
Does your Bad Boy 54” zero degree mower offer a grass catch bag/box?
Not very happy with this mower… After 300 hrs. the frame is cracking all over. Called the company and they said sorry it’s out of warranty so fix it yourself. The brake cable and lever assembly is poor quality. Have replaced two times so far and am sure this one wont last long as well. Have bolts falling out of the transaxles. Discovered the assemblers were hit and miss on using thread lock. Some places they applied it and on one unit and none on the opposite unit in places. The deck spindle bearings are shot already. The pot aluminum spindle units are corroding and crumbling. Wont buy another Bad Boy
I bought my BadBoy in May, 2023. It is a 54” Magnum 725cc. Having mowed my relative small yard for 3 months the belt squeals when I engage the blades. The motor has a serious drag when engaging what could or should I do?