Thread Number: 35001
/ Tag: Brand New Vacuum Cleaners
Kirby Complete Model Change or Just Another Color Change? |
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Post# 377380   8/28/2017 at 17:52 (2,404 days old) by pr-21 (Middletown, OH)   |   | |
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Now that the Avalir has been out for a while, and it was Kirby's Anniversary Model, will the next be a color change only or a completely new model????
What are your thoughts and what color would you like to see? I would like to see a completely new model change and think an Emerald Green color (not the D80 color) would be very attractive. I would also like to see an electric hose connection with somekind of motorized mini nozzle for couches, cars, and hard to reach areas, along with a redesign of attachments. Sincerely, Bud Mattingly PR-21 |
Post# 377398 , Reply# 1   8/28/2017 at 22:18 (2,404 days old) by S2_82 (Ohio)   |   | |
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Great topic for discussion, however is a new model even set to be released anytime soon? I agree, an emerald color scheme would be great |
Post# 377408 , Reply# 2   8/29/2017 at 00:54 (2,404 days old) by henrydreyfuss (Ohio)   |   | |
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Here's what I'd love to see in the next-gen model. In my mind, I still envision a direct-air model, with a soft bag, and no on-board tools (no more than a wand and short stretch hose anyway, but even that's unlikely).
-Much lighter weight. Still aluminum (or another metal) housings, but trimmed way down. No transmission, and lightweight-enough that it won't be necessary. Something closer to a Sanitronic or a traditional Royal in terms of weight. This would be so easy for the Scott Fetzer Company to achieve. -A lifetime belt. -A convenient brushroll shutoff option for quick cleaning of hard floors (via a button or switch; no more belt lifter). I would also expect the performance on hard floors to be excellent. -A way to quickly plug-in the hose, that will no longer require removal of the front nozzle. Removing the nozzle is easy enough, but has been proven to be a hurdle for most everyday Kirby users. -Lower profile, and easier maneuverability. In terms of color, I love the idea of another green model. Kirby has unfortunately gone with pretty plain color options since the G6. I'd love to see a new Kirby play up a bold color. |
Post# 377410 , Reply# 3   8/29/2017 at 01:01 (2,404 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)   |   | |
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I am thinking it could be awhile before Kirby comes out with a new model.So--the wait will go on.Think they are going to try to get as much mileage out of the Avalir as they can. |
Post# 377411 , Reply# 4   8/29/2017 at 01:14 (2,404 days old) by henrydreyfuss (Ohio)   |   | |
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Post# 377413 , Reply# 5   8/29/2017 at 01:40 (2,404 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)   |   | |
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Yes,know about that vs the G3.Maybe they are going to stick with the G system?Time will tell.Think we are going to have to be patient.The G system has worked pretty well for Kirby-maybe if that's the case-why change it? |
Post# 377424 , Reply# 6   8/29/2017 at 08:03 (2,404 days old) by henrydreyfuss (Ohio)   |   | |
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Personally, I'm ready for something new and improved from Kirby. Vacuums have changed quite a lot since the G3 introduction, and I want the reliable Kirby to remain a compelling option for consumers. There's a huge market now of swivel bagless vacuums that can quickly zip around and clean a room from top-to-bottom, at a far more attractive price.
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Post# 377430 , Reply# 7   8/29/2017 at 09:05 (2,404 days old) by kirbyvertibles (Independence, KS)   |   | |
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Post# 377436 , Reply# 8   8/29/2017 at 10:12 (2,403 days old) by dysonman1 (the county)   |   | |
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Since the Kirby is sold in the home, they don't really have to make it competitive with other 'modern' vacs. All the Kirby has to do is pull enough dirt behind whatever the consumer has, to interest them enough to buy the Kirby. Remember, the consumer is most likely NOT in the market for a new vacuum when the Kirby man comes.
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Post# 377437 , Reply# 9   8/29/2017 at 10:51 (2,403 days old) by sptyks (Skowhegan, Maine)   |   | |
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As I've said before and now I'll say it again:
Kirby will not release a totally new cleaning system design until they can invent one with equal to or better performance than the Avalir. They will not release a new design that has substandard performance. Therefore, I believe it may be quite some time before this happens.
The only upright vacuum that can currently match or beat the Avalir's cleaning performance is one of the 10 amp Royal metal uprights.
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Post# 377440 , Reply# 10   8/29/2017 at 11:33 (2,403 days old) by Vinvac (Dubuque IA)   |   | |
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Post# 377449 , Reply# 11   8/29/2017 at 15:03 (2,403 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)   |   | |
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I have to agree that a radical redesign isn't exactly in Kirby's DNA. Although it's a more heavy duty machine like a Hummer, its development history has been more like a Model T Ford or the original VW Beetle. While I like the notion of being able to easily turn the brush roll off and on with a switch, a feature I actually enjoy a lot on my Electrolux Discovery II, I don't see it as being particularly practical on a Kirby, given that the brush rolls on those machines are driven directly off of the motor shaft via a belt. I honestly don't see Kirby adopting a dual-motor design like Electrolux used on its uprights, a design which was derived from their canister vacuums. Kirby has no background in canisters beyond reconfiguring their uprights into quasi-canisters.
The bottom line here is Kirby offers a machine that's fairly unique in today's market and they're successful within their particular niche so I'm sure they aren't too interested in abandoning that to follow the crowd and make something more like the plasticrap vacs everyone else is offering. |
Post# 377451 , Reply# 12   8/29/2017 at 15:30 (2,403 days old) by Adambomb (Undisclosed )   |   | |
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A 2013 Aerus Lux Guardian upright. It's everything I need/want in an upright vacuum. It has more than adequate tool suction and grooms my rugs beautifully. I love the Sidekick, floor brush, filtration and the fact that it doesn't weigh a ton! |
Post# 377572 , Reply# 13   8/29/2017 at 22:29 (2,403 days old) by kirbylux77 (London, Ontario, Canada)   |   | |
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I agree with Stan & Edgar on Kirby not abandoning the G Series platform anytime soon. They have a design that works, & as Edgar pointed out above, they have carved out a niche & have a reputation for quality & performance they aren't about to abandon anytime soon.
Having said that, they do need to make some changes. Will they use the concept Avalir design? No. That was way too radical of a departure in design for Kirby to consider. Will they adopt a Royal style design? No, I highly doubt that. They wouldn't have invested millions of dollars into designing the Tech Drive just to go ahead & abandon it now. In addition, many consumers would enjoy having the tech drive, especially seniors. All they need to do is reduce the overall weight of the vacuum thru changing the type of metal used, & it also wouldn't hurt to try making a lighter weight motor. The changes Henrydreyfuss suggests above could be easily done using the existing G Series platform. To achieve the brush roll shutoff feature with no belt lifter, all Kirby would have to do is modify the fan casing & powerhead design to allow for a receptacle & plug to power a powerhead motor, & mount a small powerhead motor & geared belt at the back of the powerhead, preferably on the bag side, to turn the brushroll. Where the belt lifter resides now could be changed to allow a removable cap to insert a hose, same way you would convert a Royal Metal to use tools, minus removing the belt of course. Instead of a electric hose, to be cost effective, they would provide a external hose cord to power a hand powerbrush or separate wand & powerhead for under furniture cleaning. It might still be necessary to remove the powerhead, though, if using the hose electrically is desired. As for the emerald green color? Maybe not. But, another Tradition Blue or G4 purplish blue would be nice to see again. Rob |
Post# 377577 , Reply# 14   8/30/2017 at 06:17 (2,403 days old) by Tseg (World Traveller)   |   | |
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Holding out for the all-titanium Kirby... and slate color. |
Post# 377609 , Reply# 15   8/30/2017 at 18:43 (2,402 days old) by floor-a-matic (somewhere)   |   | |
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i disagree about the newer kirbys being great i think its a fair vac (performance wise) i had a avalir & returned it after the 3-day 'trial' ended bcuz the classic 1cr outcleans the avalir |
Post# 377814 , Reply# 18   9/4/2017 at 09:49 (2,397 days old) by crazykirbydude (Lexington, KY)   |   | |
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Post# 377885 , Reply# 19   9/5/2017 at 02:37 (2,397 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)   |   | |
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Carbon fiber-nanotubes would be more expensive than the Titanium!A carbon fiber vacuum would be REALLY expensive.The Titanium would be more abrasion resistant.But don't think EITHER materials are going to find their way into vacuum cleaners anytime soon. |
Post# 377958 , Reply# 20   9/6/2017 at 03:48 (2,396 days old) by henrydreyfuss (Ohio)   |   | |
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The Kirby is now different-enough in its own way to carve out it's own new niche. I suppose if Hoover was still selling Concept Ones as their only machine, they would prove similarly niche, but also stand their own ground in terms of performance and reliability. Kirby is also still fully-grounded in door-to-door sales, which maintain their own sales tactics and merits, outside of most company strategies, which has tremendously helped Kirby's continued success.
Even still, I'm very ready for something bold from Kirby. They have almost 3 decades now of regular complaints from everyday customers to address (weight, bulkiness, the extra steps to use tools, etc.). A much lighter-weight machine could still (easily!) achieve the same performance as their current models. They could address all common complaints of Kirbys today, and improve upon their existing product, without dropping the reliability at all. Although excellent carpet cleaners and rugged, during my vac shop days, whenever a customer was buying bags, I asked how they liked their Kirby. The response was always negative. Owning a Sentria II (which I got for $10 at a flea market), It's sad to see something that works so well was so quickly abandoned by their buyers, despite the steep price. |
Post# 378187 , Reply# 21   9/10/2017 at 11:00 (2,391 days old) by jfalberti (Visalia, CA)   |   | |
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I have been a Kirby man since I was a kid. My grandmother hated them, but she loved her Royal. Why, I'll never know. At the time, the Sanitronic and her Royal were very much alike. While I love my Kirby, I have had some health problems in the last few years which have left me pretty weak, and I can't even pick up my Kirby to carry it. Luckily, I live in a single floor house, so I don't have to carry it much. While switching attachments is a little more complicated than other vacuums, one nice thing is they all pretty much go on the same way. Learn to change one, and you pretty much know how to change them all.
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Post# 411194 , Reply# 22   7/5/2019 at 18:09 (1,728 days old) by hooverkid (PA,USA)   |   | |
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Since rainbow finally retired the e series maybe kirby will will retire the g series. I was looking at the patents again and this would solve most of the problems some people have with kirby.
Other links: patents.google.com/patent/US7487... patents.google.com/patent/US7690... patents.google.com/patent/US8099... patents.google.com/patent/US7487... patents.google.com/patent/US7854... CLICK HERE TO GO TO hooverkid's LINK |
Post# 411197 , Reply# 24   7/5/2019 at 19:08 (1,728 days old) by Kirbyg6 (York)   |   | |
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Post# 411198 , Reply# 25   7/5/2019 at 19:11 (1,728 days old) by rivstg1 (colorado springs)   |   | |
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I"d like to see a 'new' Kirby....don't think, at all, there will be one in 2019. I do like the idea of a new color like green as well. I too, feel that their approach is to not change anything unless they can improve on it. Kirby is unique in the market but some of its 'cons' compared to other available's are how tall the unit is ( can't go under some furniture), the lack of on board tools and of course, the weight.
here's to hoping for a new and improved model coming.... |
Post# 411226 , Reply# 29   7/6/2019 at 10:38 (1,727 days old) by sptyks (Skowhegan, Maine)   |   | |
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As I was told by an old friend who worked for Kirby Corporate:
The current system will remain in place until Kirby can build a completely new system that can match or improve on the performance of the current Avalir system while remaining near the current price point. So far this has not been possible, so the current design will remain in place for the foreseeable future.
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Post# 411256 , Reply# 35   7/7/2019 at 14:29 (1,726 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)   |   | |
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This sort of reminds me of Henry Ford and the Model T. He kept that car in production for almost 20 years and while it was wildly successful, it also almost broke the Ford Motor Company. By the time the Model T ended its production run in 1927, Ford was still selling what was essentially a 1908 car and the industry had passed them by. Henry Ford thought the Model T was the ultimate expression of the automobile and that any further innovation was little more than a gimmick but it took a completely redesigned Model A, which had all those 'gimmicks', to save the company.
From a technical standpoint, I think it's safe to say that Kirby has pretty well perfected the style of vacuum cleaner they make—and did so a couple of decades ago. There's really little left they can do to improve it functionally, and I think they realize that. The fact that design changes since mid-'90s have been more cosmetic than functional certainly bears this out. Kirby is a very conservative company, much as Ford was a century ago, and I do applaud them for sticking with that perfected design, even though the industry continues to move in a different—and not necessarily positive—direction. I would truly hate to see Kirby ditch their tried and true product in favor of something new and snazzy, just for the sake of making something new and snazzy, especially if it involved the use of self-destructing circuit boards to add useless whiz-bang features at the expense of a shorter lifespan. To my mind, that would be a huge mistake, possibly spelling the beginning of the end of the company. Fortunately, Kirby doesn't appear poised to go down that road. |