When will Kioti release the new subcompact?

hwew · Mar 19, 2011

I heard Kioti is ready to release a new subcompact very soon. The question I have is when? I am holding off on purchasing another subcompact because I heard it will have Position Control for the 3 point hitch like Cub Cadet/Yanmar Subcompact. This is one reason I could not stand my BX2200 and decided to sell it.

I hope we can hear more about these Kioti Sub's soon.

Come on Kioti!!! Don't keep us in the dark. I am ready to buy and I need to know when they will be available.

Henry

dbear · Mar 19, 2011

Isn't position control the default for all 3-pt regardless of make? The option, probably due to cost, is to also have draft, or load sensing, control.

hwew · Mar 19, 2011

Sorry, it is draft control. I don't know why all sub-compacts don't have it. What are the manufactures saving. $200.00 or $300.00 tops? That is a shame. I work in manufacturing and I know it won't cost more than that. This will be a huge plus for Koiti.

Henry

IslandTractor · Mar 20, 2011

dbear said:
Isn't position control the default for all 3-pt regardless of make? The option, probably due to cost, is to also have draft, or load sensing, control.

The BX and B series Kubotas do not have position control. It save them a very few bucks in manufacturing but I think the real reason they leave it off is to drive people to upgrade and purchase the L series tractors.

I'd guess only one in twenty subcompact owners would really use draft control. It is important only for ground engaging activities like plowing fields and that is a task rarely done by subcompacts. Adding even 200 bucks to the manufacturing costs would hurt competitiveness in this SCUT market especially as none of the other brands offer draft control. In the Kioti lineup you need to move all the way to the DK series to get draft control.

bp fick · Mar 20, 2011

IslandTractor said:
The BX and B series Kubotas do not have position control. It save them a very few bucks in manufacturing but I think the real reason they leave it off is to drive people to upgrade and purchase the L series tractors.

I'd guess only one in twenty subcompact owners would really use draft control. It is important only for ground engaging activities like plowing fields and that is a task rarely done by subcompacts. Adding even 200 bucks to the manufacturing costs would hurt competitiveness in this SCUT market especially as none of the other brands offer draft control. In the Kioti lineup you need to move all the way to the DK series to get draft control.

Not quite right. Actually, Kubota divides their Bs into two different series. The 20s are called "standard" and are lower priced, budget minded tractors, and use what is called 1/4" valving. The 30 series Bs, have deluxe features, do have position control, as they are higher priced.

TripleR · Mar 20, 2011

Actually position control and draft control are not the same thing. Lots of position control units do not have draft control.

http://www.tractorsmart.com/main/Tractor Three Point Lift Types.htm

The new John Deere subcompacts are supposed to have position control. Maybe with JD and Kioti leading the way, Kubota will be forced to follow.

bp fick · Mar 20, 2011

I also believe that Kioti skipped over this segment and now, perhaps, just perhaps, sees an opportunity. Deere seems to be investing heavily in new models, with forward thinking features into the segment and this will drive it.

Kubota, who some credit for inventing or at least capitalizing on the segment likely never foresaw the possibilities. Folks are using their subcuts as far more than the "glorified lawnmower" that detractors dub them. Not sure a Kubota exec, 10 years ago, wouldn't have scoffed at the idea of position control on the 3 pt. The early 3 pts were pretty limited in overall functionality, to say nothing of position control. I also believe that a segment that began with tractors priced around $6000 would have been wary of a market for $14000 subcuts, but here we are today.

If the consumer demands more, producers respond and market drives the competition.

IslandTractor · Mar 20, 2011

Although a risk in economic times like these, Kioti does have a unique opportunity to leapfrog the competition rather than simply catching up with a new SCUT. If they offer significant new or upgraded features but keep the price the same as JD or Kubota offerings they might attract new business in more than just price/value.

How about a built in air compressor or generator or welder? The power is there and each of those devices probably adds only a couple hundred bucks in parts. Lots of suburbanites or small country "estate" owners would be attracted to such a Swiss Army knife tractor. Even if they just offered a matched set of attachments of these types it would have value. Who wouldn't think about adding the color matched ready out of the box generator or air cimpressor?

hwew · Mar 20, 2011

IslandTractor said:
The BX and B series Kubotas do not have position control. It save them a very few bucks in manufacturing but I think the real reason they leave it off is to drive people to upgrade and purchase the L series tractors.

I'd guess only one in twenty subcompact owners would really use draft control. It is important only for ground engaging activities like plowing fields and that is a task rarely done by subcompacts. Adding even 200 bucks to the manufacturing costs would hurt competitiveness in this SCUT market especially as none of the other brands offer draft control. In the Kioti lineup you need to move all the way to the DK series to get draft control.

Cub Cadet/Yanmar have position control on there Sub-Compact I looked at it yesterday. That was the only feature that attracted me to look at it.

One feature that Kubota has on there BX series that others don't have is replacable bushings on the frame for the three point lift arms. This is a good feature to have so you don't have to replace the complete carage assembly like I had to do on my BX2200.
I wonder who gave them that idea. Yes I spoke to an application engineer for the BX series tractors and we talked about this for some time and he put it on the list for refinements for the next Generation. Yes Kubota listened and did something about it. I have to give them credit for listening to a consumer and doing somthing about a problem.

If anyone from Koiti is reading this PLEASE TAKE NOTE!!! This will save dollars on replacement. The reason I am bringing this up is we have very fine sand here in Raleigh, North Carolina and it wore out lift linkage quickly. Kubota found out it is a lot quicker and cheaper to replace bushings than a complete carrage assembly.

A matter of fact It would be an honor to meet somone at Wendell, NC and go over issues I had with the BX2200. Wendell is only 15-20 minutes away from Raleigh. I still have the list of problems that I had with the BX2200 and someone at Koiti might find it very usefull. If intrested please PM me.

Henry