My new Kirby Avalir....

[marcusprit]

I'm not cheeky I have impeccable manners :-*

 

[sptyks]

I don't think you're an Idiot Chris. We have had many disagreements in the past, but I respect your opinions as I assume you respect mine. I think most of your posts contain very useful information about Sebo, Miele and other popular brands found in the UK. I also enjoy reading your posts regarding the European decision to reduce vacuum cleaner power levels and the testing of the new lower wattage cleaners.


 


From what I've seen from Mark, I can't say that I have the same respect for his posts.


 


 

 

[marcusprit]

Meeeeow! Hahahaha!

 

[luxman107]

Great job and very informative video.

 

[sptyks]

Bump, bump!


 


Uh oh. I think I just ran over a cat!


 

 

[marcusprit]

You'd have to do it nine times ))

 

[danielsand]

Since I'm a newbie here, I have no idea "who rubs who's back" here, who is cheeky, and who knows what they are talking about.

But I know machines, and I tore apart five Kirbys in the scope of six weeks, refurbished them, and I'm using them DAILY (not all five on the same day obviously).

I have no idea who "Marcus" from Cardiff is, but I agree that Ultimate G Diamond IS the best (for me!). I also must add that I never used Sentria (I've seen one in the pawn shop, but I was not handling it at all, just looking). The wobble I have on my G4 and my Diamond, I attribute to "one connecting point" vs. two (on older Kirbys). The ones that have the pin through the handle, connect the handle fork with the motor at TWO points (one on each side). No wonder this connection will feel more positive, than one contact point in the middle of the mass of the motor unit.

This is the ONLY gripe I have with the Diamond, and I LOVE the speed switch. If someone can not tell when the machine is on reduced power, they are either deaf, blind, or high (or all of the above at the same time!).

Now,....if Sentria doesn't have the "wobbly handle syndrome" (I don't know), it would be a GREAT improvement, but the fact that it has too much plastic on (which I detest), and it looks like something Dart Wader would vacuum with, keeps me away from it.

 

[daknx1994]

R&D...

Not to reiterate what other members have posted but why change something that has been working for a company for over two decades? I have no idea what Kirby does spend on their R&D but obviously they put whatever budget they have to good use. Whereas some companies spend a fortune on R&D and those companies have more problems than Kirby. So something tells me that Kirby is doing something right, that or I must be missing something. Well other than the obvious that 80% of must vacuum companies design their vacuums to fail within 3-5 years. So for the time being I am going to side that Kirby is doing the right thing.

BTW, I do not have a single passion for Kirby. I have a passion for all different machines and have almost every brand in my possession including a Dyson (which I am currently selling), and I work in a vacuum shop, The Vacuum Authority, and I have a good feeling of what vacuums are good and those that are not so good. However to each their own. (My personal disclaimer)

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Very

well put.
John

 

[cb123]

Kirby's motto: If it ain't broke don't fix it, besides, how can you improve upon perfection...can't be done! Now, I can really see why other vacuum companies are always innovating, and the simple answer is: Because they started off with a cheap piece of plastic trash design to begin with...just saying.

James, your Avalir ROCKS...vacuum on...vacuum on my friend!!!

 

[marcusprit]

There are plastic Vacs made in Germany that will last 10 possibly 20 years that cost a quarter of the price of a Kirby in the UK. They are also lighter and more user friendly.

 

[turbo500]

Thanks Stan, that's very nice of you to say. The feeling is entirely mutual, whilst I may not agree with you all the time, I still very much respect your opinion and experience. Heck, no one vacuum is perfect for everyone. If it was, we'd all own the same machine and this would be a very boring forum.

 

[tolivac]

Still waiting on mine---Will it come today???GREAT VIDEO.Do like the improved shampooer.I have a REALLY dirty section of carpet to try it on!And like how you can use it for hard floors.Since homes are going to more hard floors-good Kirby changed their shampooer.

 

[turbo500]

And like how you can use it for hard floors

Agreed, I thought that was a very welcome addition.

Didn't Kirby have a hard floor feature before where you disengage the belt and attach a plate to the nozzle to make it suction only? Not sure how well it worked though, I never had the chance to try it.

 

[tolivac]

Yes,Kirby had a hard floor mode with the floor nozzle on the machine.You disengaged the brushroll belt with the lifter and attached the felt hard floor shoe to the nozzle.Or-if you didn't have the felt shoe you set the floor nozzle close to the floor without scraping it and the belt lifter disengaged.The Kirby could then gulp up large things like cerial or crumbs-but don't think it could get fine dust and such unless you had the felt shoe attachment.Other way to clean hard floors-Remove the floor carpet nozzle and go to the hose and use their floor-carpet tool.I cheat and use a standard 1.25 In hard floor tool from the vac store-Simplicity-Riccar makes an EXCELLENT one that fits on the Kirby wand and is better than the Kirby tool.The tool has castle cut front bristles and solid rear ones.And the tool swivels up-down and sideways-like a similar Meile tool-which WON'T fit the Kirby wand.And with the Kirby in the hose mode you get high suction sort of like a canister.This will allow you to get that fine dust-dirt that clings to hard floors by static charges.I do this when I am in the mood to use my Kirby like a canister vacuum.

 

[cb123]

That's uncanny! I was just thinking, that over here " In the land of the free and the home of the brave,"  we have vacuums which last a hundred years or more! And they are really, really much cleaner to use than those plastic rattletraps.

 

 

[marcusprit]

Excellent! I'd still prefer my Sebo or Miele though but different strokes for different folks

 

[cb123]

As Arnold would say, " Whatcha talkin' bout Mr. Drummond!" There can be no doubt nor mistake, Kirby is in it for the long-haul! Here's a new jingle: Kirby is strong enough to shred a concrete highway, but gentle enough to clean you finest Persian rugs...Not only in this life, but the one yet to come. Now, that's both performance and reliability you can count on!

 

 

[marcusprit]

Don't forget there are plastic cogs in the tech drive that wear out. So there are weak points.

 

[cb123]

The forward cam which wears out in about the first thirty years can be substituted with its rev. cam, and conversely use the rev. for it forward - for it now wears on a new spot. If you like being cheap, this is a good way to get more life out of its cams. But for an inferior platicVac...What can you say: This is the end...The end my friend.

 

 

[marcusprit]

Haha to be honest for build quality reliability and performance Kirbys are hard to beat I'm not denying that.