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As long as they change the headlight thing as well as the shape of the belt lifter and reduce the noise and weight thats all i really care about. I say this because the past 4 models, yes thats right 4, have had the same belt lifter shape and the same 3 LED headcap. Its time to change it up, come up with something new.


I mean shoot if rainbow can come up with a new model design and platform after 8 years, shoot kirby can do the same thing.... Anything is possible. And if kirby is releasing a new "design" please release it soon, because i cant stand to see another sentria/ avalir another year.
 
Why not just go back to the Heritage style? It was light enough and no one seemed to complain about pushing and pulling it. The tech drive always seemed unnecessary to me. Without the extra weight of that transmission it wouldn't be needed.

Just give it some modern styling, remove the hose port, and give it a lifetime belt. Include a small canister (Miele C2 size) vacuum for bare floors and above floor cleaning.
 
I met with some fire and brimstone from the Kirby "die-hards" the last time I posted regarding this subject about how the Generation platform is tried and true, and Kirby WON'T come up with a new machine until they can come up with a better design. I myself feel 30 years is too long and the Avalir 2 is essentially a Generation 3 in drag. Yes, the Tech Drive makes the machine easier to push, but only when its plugged in. What about carrying it up and down stairs? I would welcome a lighter machine that's still all-aluminum.
 
If kirby wants to keep the G-series platform thats fine, just makes some (if not a lot) of changes. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only person that thinks its noisy as hell when using it on hard surface floors, so kirby can work on making it quieter. I'm also sure that they can come up with a new belt lifter design as well as headlight cap too, even if it means adding more LED lights to it. And if anyone in the kirby company reads these forums, here are the ideas. Part of me thinks they do have something planned but their not releasing it till they can perfect it, that way it can outclean the current avalir/ G-series machine. I just wonder what their going to call this new machine/platform and for crying outloud can they please bring back the video owners manual. Them short how to videos and cutting it for me, and probably for a lot of other people either. Idk what they where thinking when they released the avalir 2 and didn't release a dvd owners manual for it. So thats another thing I'd like to see with a new kirby, even if it is a Gseries machine. Because lets be honest, nobody reads the freaking book when they have the dvd to watch.
 
The way I see it is like this
1st generation ran from 1935-1970
2nd generation 1970-1990
3rd generation 1990-present
What I’m basically getting at is this; whenever a new decade or era starts is when Kirby has release a new platform. Granted they could’ve done something back in 2010 but probably didn’t want to due to the 100th anniversary being so close. Now that we’re heading into 2020 (hard to believe) we should be getting something new soon. Another hint is also this, and I’ve said it in previous chat forums. Whenever Kirby releases a model with a 2 in it, it seems as if it means 2 years till something new. Take for example the model that came out in 1989 which was the legend 2, well a year or so later the G3 came out. Then fast forward to 2012 when the sentria 2 came out, and then 2 years later the avalir did. And now we have the avalir 2 (realistically sentria 4) and it’s been out for day a year and a half. So I’m assuming based off of that, that we can expect something to happen from Kirby within the next year or so, hopefully sooner.
 
Yeah it does seem like after very 2 model something new does happen so hopefully it will be interesting and not black lol
 
@kirbyg6

Ain’t that the truth.
I’m really hoping for a blue Kirby with white accent pieces. Kind of like that limited edition Kitchenaid, which is in misty blue or maybe something in the light blue category. Maybe even baby blue
 
With all of the great neighborhood web sites and social media to warn people about Kirby & other door to door salespersons being in the neighborhood, I'm surprised they can still get in houses. On my local nextdoor site, the comments were about being sure to have a no solicitors sign and to not let them in the door because "Kirby sucks in a bad way". Who is still letting them in the door? I can't imagine anyone who has a lot of hard floors even considering a Kirby.

Kirby may be a great vacuum for deep carpet, but it's bulky and lacks on board tools. The sales pitch seems to be to bully the consumer into buying the product whether they want it or not. I wonder how many returns they would have per month if they had a more reasonable 30-day return policy versus the 72-hours?
 
I really hope I'm wrong here, but in New York Kirby isn't doing well. The number of distributors is diminishing and I think they're gonna get the full mileage out of that Generation platform until they close their doors. We may see another variation or two of the Generation series before they shudder completely but I don't think we'll ever see a completely new model again...
 
One thing you can't argue is that Kirby and Rainbow haven't compromised their principles. Neither has sold out to a conglomerate like TTI.

Unlike so many other at one time popular brands. No one other than the purchaser decides what the machine is worth to them.

Unlike the biggest retailer in the United State. (We all know who that is) That tells the manufacturers what price point they will pay per unit to be sold in one of their stores.

The days of purchasing a quality piece of equipment are gone for those who don't feel the need for a Kirby or Rainbow and at one time Electrolux. There was a time when Hoovers were not only affordable to the masses they were also well made and reliable. The Kenmore line was also very well made and reliable as well as cost efficient to the masses.

Today's generation simply can not function without having a product improved or redesigned every 12 months to throw away money on. Today's generation wasn't taught about value and longevity. They did not suffer thru one or both world wars. A depression where the masses lost everything and struggled daily just to see another day. They have no concept of what true hardship is. They only know the benefits of the post war years when things were better because of two income family's. Today's generation has never had to do with out.

Kirby and Rainbow have survived for decades with out having to completely redesign their products. As many of you gripe about. They are still here producing their product true to form as they have for decades. As you may have noticed the models that are coveted from the past and are still spoken highly of are no longer available. Now said companies have sold out to one large conglomerate that cheapened up products to be disposable with in 2 - 3 years and most of all you can't purchase the one part that is needed to make the machine usable. P.S.True beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Bottom line is no one is forcing you to buy it.

I for one will stick with what has been tried and true to me for over 48 years. Anyone that wants my share of today's over priced unreliable and or disposable equipment is welcome to my share.
 
@Oreck XL

Part of the Kirby's down sizing dealers is the change in floor coverings. Many home owners have gone to hard surface floors. Thus no real need for a vacuum that can suck the dust mites out from under the sissel mats on the floors in china at the same time they are vacuuming the carpet in their own living room. There is very little carpeting to vacuum.

Another reason is the on going contracted sales force that rapes and pillages anyone they come in contact with. Therefor giving Kirby a bad name. The Kirby company will and has shut down ruthless sales teams. we have lost A few dealers here for that reason alone.

Most don't realize They can name their own price with in reason. They are not at the local Walmart where the price is the price. Unless of course a competitor has a better price the same product they will price match.

In 1987 I bought a new Kirby for $650.00 the vacuum itself, above floor cleaning tools, shampooer and zip brush. The "suggested list price was $1,100.00 for the machine and above floor tools. My ace in the hole was I already knew what I was getting (been using Kirby's since 1969) and that you can in fact bargain with the sales man for a better price.

Incredibly It is still here today and performs as well as the day I bought it. Imagine that.
 
It is a tried and true design, I will give you that. But could any other consumer product soldier on virtually unchanged for the past THIRTY years? Probably not. Take for instance, the automotive industry. Would you buy a car that looks essentially the same as the 1990 model if there are other choices out there? Probably not. I was as much a fan of the Generation 3 when it came out in 1990 as anyone else in the forum, as I was the G4, G5, G6, and so on. But, by 2014 (dovetailed with the centennial of Kirby) I expected something truly revolutionary again. That didn't happen. I saw prototype drawings on this very site of a totally new Kirby. When I saw that the Avalir was just another warmed-over Generation series machine it was a bit of a disappointment. And let's face it. The G-series IS a dated design, and the Tech Drive DOES make the machine heavier to lift up and down stairs. I think people would really like to see 12-inch "granny head" again and yours truly would love to see an on/off switch in the handle (as the prototype drawings indicated). If the Kirby salesman were to come to my house, I'd pull out my Generation 3 and ask point blank "okay, so what really IS the difference?" The answer, purely cosmetic.
 
Quite true. I've often said that Kirby's biggest competitor is itself. Why would anyone step up to a brand new Kirby's four-figure pricetag when you can go down to you local thrift store and pick a nice one up, a few years old, with all its accessories for less than the price of a new plasticrap vac at Wallyworld? My barely used gray and orange Sentria was a hell of a lot better value at $110 than a brand new Avalir that would have cost me 10-15 times as much. I'd much rather take advantage of a somewhat saturated second hand market.
 

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