What is your favourite kirby

[centralsweeper63]

I am looking at setting a saving goal of a refurbished kirby and thought to get your input. In New Zealand we got kirby from 1988 onward, that is heritage 2 legend to avalir platinum. I have my eye on the heritage 2 legend, g3, g4, g5, g6, g8 and sentria for various different reasons. I like to idea of a g8 (diamond edition) with a sentria handle for engonomics. Each generation newer adds about $100 more to the price of the machine. This is not too bad considering the price for the avalir platinum with all the extras is $4995!

 

[panasonicvac]

My all time favorite is the Heritage II/Legend. The best one in my opinion would be their G4 which is also my second favorite Kirby but definitely the favorite from the tech drive series.

 

[cheesewonton]

My all time favorite is the Heritage II/Legend. The best one in my opinion would be their G4 which is also my second favorite Kirby but definitely the favorite from the tech drive series.

Curious what the difference is in the Tech Drive? I know you have to pay attention to the color of the belt pulley but what is different inside that affects durability?

 

[cheesewonton]

My all time favorite is the Heritage II/Legend. The best one in my opinion would be their G4 which is also my second favorite Kirby but definitely the favorite from the tech drive series.

To me they are all simultaneously useful, useless, aggravating and rewarding when you put it away. I have an Avalir 2 and a G4. The former is noticeably better in terms of how it cleans but no noticeable difference in ease or difficulty of use.

 

[thevacomaticiec]

i had a heritage 2 for a short time that i restored and fix for a client 70 bucks works amazing he loves it

 

[cheesewonton]

I find Kirbys to be the most difficult and physically demanding vacuums to use. They wear me out. Can't get them under furniture. I can't even get the Avalir under our dining table with all the chairs removed. Turning it to maneuver around furniture is hard. If I was an Arab prince with miles long carpeted corridors in my palace and huge carpeted rooms maybe a Kirby would make sense. But my home has mixed floors, area rugs, runners on hard flooring, cat tunnels and scratching posts scattered around furniture so using a Kirby makes me sweat bullets.

 

[panasonicvac]

I've found that the foot pedal switch on the G4 tech drive to be more reliable than the G5 and newer models. I also like the brushrolls they used that makes sweeping up better. They can easily be fitted a metal fan for more power. And they used phillip screws unlike torx. Personally this is just me but I prefer the twist style bags on the G4 than the F style bags on the G10D, I also prefer using paper bags on the G4, and I prefer the fill tubes that were used on the G4. The only thing that I didn't cared about the G4 is the mini emptor. Here's a video of a thorough difference between the G4 and the Avalir over the years.

 

[huskyvacs]

Curious what the difference is in the Tech Drive? I know you have to pay attention to the color of the belt pulley but what is different inside that affects durability?

An arrangement of thin plastic gears soaked in grease. Over time they will wear out and break, or the grease will eat them up (chemical reaction). I've never had an issue with my own personal Kirby's transmission, and I pushed furniture around with the thing (thats a big no-no but I was a teenager then, and it did it). I have two Kirbys with blown transmissions and another 4 more that have their foot pedals missing for the transmission - common problem. The transmission also adds another few pounds of weight to the vacuum as well, some people prefer the non powerdrive versions.

 

[huskyvacs]

I like the Ultimate G Diamond Edition as I have a lot of area rugs and throw rugs. The low speed setting is very nice.

 

[huskyvacs]

I find Kirbys to be the most difficult and physically demanding vacuums to use. They wear me out. Can't get them under furniture. I can't even get the Avalir under our dining table with all the chairs removed. Turning it to maneuver around furniture is hard. If I was an Arab prince with miles long carpeted corridors in my palace and huge carpeted rooms maybe a Kirby would make sense. But my home has mixed floors, area rugs, runners on hard flooring, cat tunnels and scratching posts scattered around furniture so using a Kirby makes me sweat bullets.

With this level of clutter and flooring I'd recommend a good canister vacuum with a power nozzle, floor brushes, and easy tool changeouts. I think that would better suit your needs. If you can't afford a Sebo or Miele, Kenmore has some nice options, and if that is still too expensive, Eureka has a couple of high end canisters that are shockingly good for their price.

 

[kenc184]

Non tech drive - Classic 1-CR or Omega
techdrive - Ultimate G diamond edition.

 

[Ant_Tenna]

The early Generation models are my favorite (G3/4/5). Their design and look (color schemes) were so emblematic of the early-mid 1990s and as someone born in that era they bring me great nostalgia. I remember those being around as a very young vacuum enthusiast. One of my uncles actually had a G5.

I also have a soft spot for the Heritage II/Legend and Legend II as thats why my parents and grandparents respectively had when I was young.

 

[Vacuum Facts]

This is not too bad considering the price for the avalir platinum with all the extras is $4995!

I wonder if anyone has ever paid the RRP for one of these dinosaur scam machines, and if not, why not. I never understood why they weren't just for sale in a shop or online like every other machine. Seemed very dodgy. The only one I ever tried was the G5 and I didn't think much of it. It's cleaning performance was very poor on any flooring that doesn't offer low air resistance because it lacks a high pressure motor. I recognise they have their fans though, like a stamp collector that collects old useless stamps.

 

[cheesewonton]

With this level of clutter and flooring I'd recommend a good canister vacuum with a power nozzle, floor brushes, and easy tool changeouts. I think that would better suit your needs. If you can't afford a Sebo or Miele, Kenmore has some nice options, and if that is still too expensive, Eureka has a couple of high end canisters that are shockingly good for their price.

Lol, I have about 200 different power nozzle canister vacuums to choose from including one of just about every post WWII Kenmore canister vacuum ever made. Panasonics galore. A few Oreck canisters like different flavors of the DutchTech and the big red XL3500. A few select Hoover models ( Dimensions and Powermax versions ). Lindhaus, Sebo and Miele too along with a bunch of Swedish Electrolux models I bought in Japan and a bunch of 100 volt Japanese market vacuums never sold in the US from Sanyo, Panasonic, Mitsubishi, Hitachi, Toshiba, even an Amway brand power nozzle canister. Some Japan market Airstream and Sunstorm branded Tristars too including the "Fujiclean Sunstorm EX-30" sold by Fuji Medical Instruments. I have two, one original and the other converted to a 120 volt motor that is maybe my favorite Tristar. Also have Tristar copies from Haley's Comet, Miracle Mate, Airstorm / Patriot and the weird Harold Vortech XR3000. I'm cleaning the house this week and next with a 1982 vintage Kenmore Sears Best 4.1. I'v updated the motor, rebuilt the power nozzle with modern parts from the Titan T7 (brush roll, motor and belt are drop in replacements for the old noisy geared belt set up), run a HEPA dust bag from Numatic, put one of those back pack vac pleated HEPA filters over the motor and good to go. I'll put that up against any German vacuum for cleaning and durability.

But of the several uprights I have from Hoover, Panasonic, Sebo, Singer ( the weird Quantum upright ), Kenmore, Sharp and Kirby the Kirby is by far the most work to use. Just a huge PITA most of the time. But a Sebo G series or the Hoover Hushtone I just bought work great and never makes me break a sweat. Both are everything the Kirby isn't.

 

[panasonicvac]

Unlike most uprights, I really like that Kirbys never tip over when you're using the hose.

 

[kenc184]

But of the several uprights I have from Hoover, Panasonic, Sebo, Singer ( the weird Quantum upright ), Kenmore, Sharp and Kirby the Kirby is by far the most work to use. Just a huge PITA most of the time.


I'm trying to understand why a Kirby - especially one with tech drive - is such a PITA? I used my hepa converted DS50 yesterday and that is heavy to push relative to my Royals, but the tech drive machines could be pushed around by a 5 year old. The1-CR or later Kirbys are WIDE, which is nice for reducing the number of tracks, but makes it difficult to fit under a table perhaps but??

 

[cheesewonton]

But of the several uprights I have from Hoover, Panasonic, Sebo, Singer ( the weird Quantum upright ), Kenmore, Sharp and Kirby the Kirby is by far the most work to use. Just a huge PITA most of the time.


I'm trying to understand why a Kirby - especially one with tech drive - is such a PITA? I used my hepa converted DS50 yesterday and that is heavy to push relative to my Royals, but the tech drive machines could be pushed around by a 5 year old. The1-CR or later Kirbys are WIDE, which is nice for reducing the number of tracks, but makes it difficult to fit under a table perhaps but??

The Kirby is really difficult to turn, the handle won't lower enough to slide under our dining table, it's jerky, loud and on two of our area rugs the height adjuster is just wrong. The nozzle is either a tad too high and leaves most of the pet hair, but one click lower and it bogs and squeals even a new belt. The brush roll ends are set to 1 so the brush is as far up in the nozzle as it goes. And using it with the hose is the least convenient vacuum we have. And did I say it's loud?

 

[keldrin]

I like the Ultimate Diamond myself. During the G series, they increased suction power with each new model. As I understand it, Kirbys after the Ultimate Diamond haven't improved much in suction capability. Plus, only Kirby that has a high low suction switch. Low is better for area rugs.
That said, I bought a Legend 2 about 8 hours ago, so, will be getting a good look at it and be able to compare it to the Ultimate diamond.