As an owner of a BX that researched the 4100 and NH21D before buying, I thought I'd answer point for point, as the salesman SHOULD be doing.
* The BX is 12-15 year old technology.
The design of the machine certainly isn't! Take a look at the deck, nice and flat, without a huge hump to straddle. Notice the ergonomics of the BX compared with a tractor made in '88. No, it isn't an old design.
The JD on the other hand has that old familiar case to straddle, I remember getting on and off frequently, stepping up and over it each and every time. I also remember thinking that it wasn't nearly as new a design as the BX.
* They are seriously lacking in their safety features.
Which safety features? All moving parts are safely behind guards.
* The ROPS is useless, and doesn't meet North American safety standards.
Where is the documentation on this? I have a hard time believing this. I drove under a swing set once at a decent clip, i might add, and the entire front of the tractor pointed at the sky. After I backed up and changed my shorts, no dmagae to the ROPS at all, not even a dent. Some paint from the swingsets is still there, though.
* The
BX2200 does not have safety features such as having to be on the machine before it is started, or the PTO is engaged.
FALSE. The tractor will NOT start with the tractor in gear or with the PTO engaged. Ask my son, as he is always forgetting to take it out of gear and turn the PTO off. (I always put it in gear and activate the PTO after I shut it off as a deterrent to thieves...as they are usually too dumb to think of stuff like that). What the salesman MAY be talking about is a seat safety, where you MUST have your weight on the seat, otherwise the tractor shuts off. I believe that this safety can be a problem, and thankfully the BX does NOT have this. ON my CUB I disabled this "safety" on my second mowing. You need to be able to raise up a bit every now and then to see what you are about to anhiliate with your tractor. Especially with a FEL. This would be a major obstacle for getting work done, and you don't see them on any larger tractors either. Can you imagine having to sit on the tractor for 20 mins while your diesel warms up? This is where education and common sense comes in. If you need this safety you shouldn't have a tractor, buy a GT like the JD455.
* The Category 1 hitch is not a "true" Category 1 hitch, compared to the JD4100.
It meets minimum CAT 1 specs. The problem is that not all implements are designed for minimum standards. The JD does however handle non standard CAT1 implements better than the BX, mostly due to it's larger stance.
* Deere has more HP than advertised, because they always under-rate the published horsepower.
Prove it.
* The Yanmar engine is far superior to the Kubota engine.
HUH??? Not a chance. The Kubota engine is very well known for its reliability. The Kubota also sports what is arguably the best HST transmission made. Get on one, move it around, notice how smooth it is compared to the JD.
* The JD4100 has a much better and more useful FEL than the
BX2200.
The JD does have better lift ratings. I recently looked at a 4100, though and it seemed to me that their bucket wasn't built nearly as heavy as the BX. The metal seemed noticably thinner and lighter duty. I don't remember this a year ago...could they have changed that?
* That the 4100 is built in the USA. (Their literature says the 4200-4700 are built in Georgia, and I thought I saw on another post that the 4100 is a green Yanmar - funny how the JD salespeople don't mention that!)
False. The 4100 is built by Yanmar. Examine the tag for serial number, you'll see it is made overseas. My BX on the other hand is built right here in the US. My tag says so.
THe JD costs quite a bit more that the BX, and it isn't nearly as stable on a hill. Don't get me wrong, I like the JD, for what it is, but it is not a serious competitor to the Kubota BX. It remains to be seen as to whether the "X" will be.
