This is one of the oddest things I’ve seen, and that’s saying something, since I look in the mirror at least once a day. A South Korean bicycle lawn mower from the 1980s?! This 1980s SK Cycle-Mower is listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Wallkill, New York, and they’re asking $625. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Gary for the tip! They do show up elsewhere; here’s a much nicer one on eBay for $500, located in Lebanon, Connecticut.
This is another oddball contraption that I’d have a hard time not buying if it were local rather than a $500+ shipping charge away. “Hello, UShip? Yeah, how much to ship a South Korean bicycle lawn mower? No, really.” I got excited seeing this one, thinking that it was somehow from the 60s or 70s, but apparently they were made in the 1980s, even into the mid-1980s, and that isn’t really that old to look this rough. There’s a lot of rust on this one.
Not to mention a missing rear wheel. I started adding all of the restoration costs in my tiny head, along with shipping fees from New York, and I’m going to have to pass on this one, but that just means that one of you superfans of South Korean bicycle lawn mowers can get it! Sunkyong (that ain’t from Kansas) made these, and the company eventually evolved into the juggernaut SK Group; you may have seen their containers on the backs of semi trucks rolling around. One of the oldest retail and catalog companies in the U.S., Hammacher-Schlemmer, which started in 1848, sold these in the mid-1980s, believe it or not.
The dream of having an almost silent, non-polluting lawnmower was yet again spoiled by humans who actually have real-world lawns: as in, not as flat and dry as a pool table. Anything with a slope or wet grass is a major challenge for the SK Cycle-Mower. That leaves me out for sure, but it would be more of a curiosity than an actual thing to use on a weekly basis. For bike shows or even lawnmower shows (is there such a thing?) it would probably be welcome, and people could even try it out if they signed a waiver in case their pant leg got pulled into the rusty gears…
With a 16″ cutting width, it probably isn’t too fast, but you’d be getting exercise at the same time, right? There are two gears, low and high, with neutral between, and it weighs 63 pounds. Cyclist Magazine did a review of one back in 1986, seen here, with some specs here. The retail price was $399.50, which equates to $1,217 today (!). Their motto? Go Slow, Get Trim Fast. If you want to see how slooooooooooooow that low gear is, check out one in action in this YouTube video. Have any of you heard of an SK Cycle-Mower?
Well, Barn Finds comes through again, with something I had no idea even existed. Leave it to our talented, witty, entertaining writer Scotty to bring it to us. For my yard, maybe useful for the flat strip of grass between the sidewalk and street?
Thanks SG.
Koreans know about cutting grass, and making a mean fried chicken 🍗 🐔 😋
And don’t forget about Korean BBQ Stan, its phenomenal!!!
Great… Now I’m hungry. But that’s ok, you can work off your extra drumstick by mowing the lawn after dinner!!! 😆 🤣 😂
Bob you beat me to the punch!!! I had no idea these existed. This is one of those neat idea on paper, but in real world maybe not. I’m thinking if I mowed an acre with this thing I’ll lose about 10 pounds by next week. Then again, it would probably take me that long to do it with this. Great research Scotty and thank you for all the links to go along with it. Its actually a great idea, maybe a bigger deck would have helped? Either way, great find, and once again I learned something new on Barnfinds today!!
And I’ll bet some kid found a way to motorize one of these! Another fascinating find, Gary and another great pick by the author followed by some good history of an obscure lawn machine.
Well, I’ll say it,,,,a major tip of the hat to Gary, I’ve been trying for years to stump this guy,(SG) good show, old chap.Naturally, most of us from the “subdivision”, with football size lawns, couldn’t imagine such a concept, but I think it’s great! Not unlike those Asian pedal powered vehicles with 10 seats with pedals. If this isn’t a giant middle finger to the E-mowers, I don’t know what is. Okay, for us Gringo couch potatoes, probably a no sell, you still have to pedal it, but for many places with a very small yard, I think it’s a great idea. For me? Good heavens no, I was raised on Briggs and Stratton, why just the smell of cut grass mixing with exhaust fumes makes me happy. This is something I’d expect to see on American Restoration. Thanks for featuring this.
I’d put cards in the spokes, or get a “Varoom” motor.
WTF!!! Now THIS will be what I want when the girls and I buy a house! One thing’s for sure, it’ll keep me plenty busy and trim too. Who needs a gym membership when you have this?!!! Just when you think you’ve seen everything the hands
of man can build, Scotty comes
along and shows you something
that fell through the cracks!