Jonsered 2153 VS Husqvarna 550XP

[Tzed250]

I hope they do!! One can't help but think how much does Stihl really care about certain pro equipment, when they sell who know how many 211's, 290's for every one 460. Stihl will fallow the cash, like many others have before them.

The first priority of any business is to turn a profit, all other priorities are rescinded. I know it seems as though Stihl has dropped the ball as far as pro saws go, but they got to where they are by making some very sound business decisions. For one, the MS441's original competition was the 575XP, remember that saw? The MS461 has already been thrown under the bus, yet it has this inside:


461 by zweitakt250, on Flickr

You can see that Stihl is trying to get a pro falling saw to market that will pass EPA at the same price point as the model it replaces. The electronic garb costs money, so if they can get by without it they will. I would bet the 661 is the same way. You know I like Stihl, have for decades. That being said I have known for quite a while that my next pro saw was going to be from Sweden. I like my 550 very much, but it doesn't make me like my 044 less. I am glad that the competition is so tight. The customer wins. The days of a saw design lasting more than 20 years like the 044 and 064/066 have are gone. New iterations will be seen much more often. FI is just around the corner for pro saws. Exciting times...

 

[mtrees]

Randy,
Interested in your thoughts on 550 vs 261 since you have ported both now.

I would like to know as well. I'm wrestling with porting or leaving my 550 stock.:msp_confused:

 

[mweba]

I would like to know as well. I'm wrestling with porting or leaving my 550 stock.:msp_confused:

If a thread such as this does't sway your decision, would a bulldozer tip you off the clif?

 

[Mastermind]

The first priority of any business is to turn a profit, all other priorities are rescinded. I know it seems as though Stihl has dropped the ball as far as pro saws go, but they got to where they are by making some very sound business decisions. For one, the MS441's original competition was the 575XP, remember that saw? The MS461 has already been thrown under the bus, yet it has this inside:


461 by zweitakt250, on Flickr

You can see that Stihl is trying to get a pro falling saw to market that will pass EPA at the same price point as the model it replaces. The electronic garb costs money, so if they can get by without it they will. I would bet the 661 is the same way. You know I like Stihl, have for decades. That being said I have known for quite a while that my next pro saw was going to be from Sweden. I like my 550 very much, but it doesn't make me like my 044 less. I am glad that the competition is so tight. The customer wins. The days of a saw design lasting more than 20 years like the 044 and 064/066 have are gone. New iterations will be seen much more often. FI is just around the corner for pro saws. Exciting times...

Good post John.

The consumer is the winner when any company has a strong competitor, that's for sure. At least until one of those companies begins taking shortcuts to net profits. In Stihl's case I see those shortcuts in the fact that they relied on the reputation of yesterday's products for far too long rather than stepping up and spending money on the development of new products for their professional users.

I'm not gonna write Stihl off just yet.......but I'm not nearly as impressed with them as I once was. Their decline in my eyes began when I stuck a 395XP in the same size wood as a MS660 and saw how far behind the 660 was by the end of the cut.

The quad ported Husky had been around for a good while before Stihl even saw a need to answer it....and when they did the resulting product bore many Husky like features.

Another area Stihl fell way behind in was in filtration.....Husky's simple method of separating particles from the incoming airstream wasn't met by Stihl for years.....and again when it was it just another copy of Husky's design.

I agree that profit is what makes or breaks a company......but giving a damn about research and development wouldn't hurt either.

I would like to know as well. I'm wrestling with porting or leaving my 550 stock.:msp_confused:

I'll be porting a MS261 one day next week. I'll do a comparison for you guys then.

 

[TK]

It's a game of leap frog. This time husky ate some wheaties and took a very big leap. We all know I prefer husky. Doesn't mean I hate Stihl. I believe they make a very good product. I just have a hard time reading German. The swedes and their blondes just have an advantage I can't quite place.....

Nice 550 randy, that thing is very impressive.

 

[wigglesworth]

Any of u guys run them McCullochs back in the 70's? I wonder how the "real" pro users felt when Mac's went plastic for the sake of "Technology"? We see where it got em anyhow...

Don't forget guys, we're the 1%. It's all about the end consumer. Looks like stihl is playing smart to me. Why mess with a good thing? I mean, they brought the 440 back, and why, cause the end users wanted em.

Stihl ain't no dummies....

 

[Mastermind]

Any of u guys run them McCullochs back in the 70's? I wonder how the "real" pro users felt when Mac's went plastic for the sake of "Technology"? We see where it got em anyhow...

Don't forget guys, we're the 1%. It's all about the end consumer. Looks like stihl is playing smart to me. Why mess with a good thing? I mean, they brought the 440 back, and why, cause the end users wanted em.

Stihl ain't no dummies....

You's just an AutoTune Hater!!!!!

 

[fastLeo151]

Any of u guys run them McCullochs back in the 70's? I wonder how the "real" pro users felt when Mac's went plastic for the sake of "Technology"? We see where it got em anyhow...

Don't forget guys, we're the 1%. It's all about the end consumer. Looks like stihl is playing smart to me. Why mess with a good thing? I mean, they brought the 440 back, and why, cause the end users wanted em.

Stihl ain't no dummies....

They can only chase a dollar around with the same saw product for so long...... I am simply disappointed that stihl is letting me a brand loyal consumer (besides my 346) want to buy another brand. Which isn't a bad thing really, its just a little different.

 

[TK]

Ownership of a company probably has more to do with their forward progress than technological advancement. I don't know the history of McCulloch but it seems like those companies in the past were bought and sold in search of a quick buck.

Now Stihl may never have been or never will be the best, but they're consistent in their goals and are happy with mediocrity and second place.

 

[Mastermind]

Back on topic.....

Ported 2153.....

[video=youtube;9QXjI-ufxjU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QXjI-ufxjU&feature=youtu.be[/video]

 

[Mastermind]

Ported 550XP

[video=youtube;5rgHs-XNVNc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rgHs-XNVNc&feature=youtu.be[/video]

 

[wigglesworth]

BS!! I think this new model can!!!

Aight Andre, say what u want about muh saws, but leave the pacer out of it.

Also, that's a "Pacer X" with the 301 V8 BTW.

 

[FATGUY]

Stihl saws were the first pro grade saws I ran. Prior to that, big box store crap. Ever since I developed this hobby, I've leaned towards Stihl for the "modern" saws. I like their build quality, performance, looks and the way they feel. I sent emails to Stihl this week. Andre and Brad read them. Andre's words to me were "Do you like Stihl that much that you're getting this upset?" Yes I do. However, the more I got into this hobby, the more I began to see that everything that shines isn't necessarily Stihl. In the last year few years Stihl has simply fallen behind in design. The 261 and the 441cm were the exceptions, until recently. While I'd still rather have a 441cm than a 576AT, I'd way rather have a 550xp than a 261. I really really really like the new M-tronic/Autotune technology. Stock saws behaving like ported ones, what's not to love? Where I really get butt-hurt is not being able to buy, from my Stihl dealer, a pro grade 40cc saw. I've wanted a 241cm since I heard of it. I tried to get one and am faced with either buying one from over seas or waiting for Husky/J-Red to bring that platform here. I have no comment on the 461 aside from the fact I wish it had m-tronic and spring av. It may be an amazing saw, but isn't this the saw the 460 should have been yrs ago? It seems like Stihl is saying "Our stuff is the best, you've always bought it, you always will. Never mind the man behind the curtain, I am the all powerful..." It's not good for anyone to have one company head and shoulders above the rest. If Stihl doesn't want to allocate funds to R&D now, while they're on top, will they when Husky takes a bigger and bigger piece of the pie?

 

[AR200]

If all things are the same it looks like the Husky got the Jonsered by a second. Sounds a little different to me but it may have just been the distance away from the camera. Good work I bet their owners will be happy with them.

 

[Hedgerow]

It's a game of leap frog. This time husky ate some wheaties and took a very big leap. We all know I prefer husky. Doesn't mean I hate Stihl. I believe they make a very good product. I just have a hard time reading German. The swedes and their blondes just have an advantage I can't quite place.....

Nice 550 randy, that thing is very impressive.

I dig the auto tunes... But right now I gotta get my old technology out and finish that Pecan tree... I'll catch up on the reading later...

 

[AR200]

The Husqvarna is listed as having a .26 HP advantage stock. Does the Jonsered have Auto Tune?

 

[TK]

The Husqvarna is listed as having a .26 HP advantage stock. Does the Jonsered have Auto Tune?

No autotune in the jonsered. This is like a 550xp vs a 346xp.

 

[AR200]

That's what i thought.

Thanks

 

[Chris J.]

...If Stihl doesn't want to allocate funds to R&D now, while they're on top, will they when Husky takes a bigger and bigger piece of the pie?

OK, I need some help to insert the above quote into my signature.

 

[Tzed250]

Ported 550XP

Killer, absolutely killer....