Large size lawn care, residential or otherwise, can demand a pretty price with effective tools. See why the Ariens IKON-XL is one of them.

When investing a good deal of money into a piece of equipment, you want to know that your faith in the manufacturer has not been misplaced. Ariens, a company that has been in business since 1933, takes personal pride in the family name they place on each product. As an American company that began in Wisconsin, they claim a personal stake in the quality of each product they sell. With motivation like that, and a reputation spanning decades, Ariens delivers with their IKON-XL 60” ZTR Mower.

Zero-turn lawn mowers allow their operators to cover large areas in less time, quickly and efficiently maintaining the grass with less stress and effort. When a big job requires a big mower, cut it down to size with one of the market’s top large-deck ZTR lawn mowers.

Contents

DESIGN & BUILD | Tough as Nails and Strong as Steel

Ariens designed the IKON-XL to be powerful, more comfortable, and tougher than its little brother, the IKON, which was already an extremely well-received lawn mower. Building on that success, they designed the Ariens IKON-XL 60″ Zero Turn Mower 24HP Kawasaki to be able to handle even larger tasks with a cutting deck of 60”. The deck itself is 4.5” deep, fabricated from tough 10-gauge steel, and its height can be adjusted with a simple dial. Powered by Arien’s most powerful engine, a 24 horsepower, 726cc Kawasaki FR Twin, the IKON-XL can truck along at a maximum of 7 MPH forward, 3 MPG in reverse. With that kind of speed and power combined with the agility of a zero-turn radius, even an intimidating lawn can’t stand up.

“The deck itself is 4.5” deep, fabricated from tough 10-gauge steel, and its height can be adjusted with a simple dial.”

The IKON-XL’s build quality is indicative of years of quality research and understanding in regard to what makes turns a piece of machinery into a beast. A fully tubular steel frame built for strength and stability houses commercial quality Hydro-Gear ZT-2800 Transaxles for the smoothest ride and highest torque with Electric Warner deck engagement. Anti-scalp wheels prevent scalping and scarring of your lawn. Comfort rides in the form of a high-back padded seat and armrests, while Ariens offers shoulder support rests as an accessory to make your mowing task even more enjoyable.

Ariens IKON-XL 60 Zero Turn Mower 24HP Kawasaki front

Ariens IKON-XL 60 Zero Turn Mower 24HP Kawasaki front

SAFETY & DURABILITY | Convenience and Comfort

As with all machinery, common sense, experience, and build quality come together to make lawn maintenance a safe, enjoyable task. Thanks to the heavy-duty steel construction of the cutting deck and mower frame itself, the Ariens IKON-XL 60″ Zero Turn Mower 24HP Kawasaki is a solid, well-built lawn mower that, when used properly, will do the job right the first time. Maintenance will challenge you the same as any similar machine, with no surprises or catches along the way. No special gloves or eye protection needed. Observe any and all safety precautions, and your Ariens will treat you like the king of the lawn.

“…heavy-duty construction of 10-gauge steel…”

The Ariens warranty for the IKON-XL covers your machine for three years, and five-year coverage for the mower deck and mainframe. The full text of the warranty is available and easily accessible from their website. The heavy-duty construction of 10-gauge steel through the fabricated cutting deck should serve you well for many a season, and barring a catastrophic event, the steel frame will last just as long. Regular maintenance is a must, as always, but the IKON-XL doesn’t seem to have any hang-ups that should make this more difficult or more stressful than the average ZTR.

Ariens IKON-XL 60 Zero Turn Mower 24HP Kawasaki system

Ariens IKON-XL 60 Zero Turn Mower 24HP Kawasaki system

PERFORMANCE | Less Effort, More Benefits

Ease of Use

Thanks to a few details that didn’t escape the designers’ eyes, the IKON-XL continues the legacy begun by the IKON in being a ridiculously easy zero-turn lawn mower to operate. While it is far from an entry-level starter machine, the Ariens IKON-XL 60″ Zero Turn Mower 24HP Kawasaki provides a few simple tweaks to set them above and beyond the rest. Larger tires provide a smoother ride, and the plush high-backed seat will keep you comfortable while completing your lawn’s manicure. The most important thing to note will be its housing. The IKON-XL lives up to its name by requiring quite a bit of clearance all around.

Best Features

A detail featured by Ariens in the IKON-XL that other manufacturers sometimes forget to include is the easily adjustable cutting deck height. On the IKON-XL, this adjustment is accomplished through a simple foot-operated deck lift. From a max height of 4.5” to a minimum of 1.5”, you have access to perfectly customize your lawn with thirteen different settings, all at your boot. No more having to bend over and crank at a manual lever or mess around with settings because you forgot earlier or need to take on a new area. It’s convenience at its best, and one of the many awesome features that make life better with an IKON-XL.

Ariens IKON-XL 60 Zero Turn Mower 24HP Kawasaki in use

Ariens IKON-XL 60 Zero Turn Mower 24HP Kawasaki in use

LONGEVITY & PRICE | Work Big, Play Big

The IKON-XL’s heavy-duty steel construction has been the talk of this review since the beginning, and it’ll be no surprise if we touch on it again in regard to the lawn mower’s survival. Having established themselves years ago, Ariens is widely available for both parts and support throughout the buying and owning processes. If you want to know your investment is going into a machine that will pay back immediately, the IKON-XL should be at the top of your list of considerations. Ariens is so set on ensuring that your experience is a good one that they stake their family name on every piece they sell. That’s a promise worth believing in.

Pricewise, the 60” IKON-XL starts at $4,399.00 MSRP, but be sure to check the current Ariens IKON-XL 60″ Zero Turn Mower 24HP Kawasaki – Amazon price here.

For a ZTR mower with a 60” cutting deck for big projects, that’s not outside the realm of reasonable consumer cost. Of course, the tool has to fit the task, so if you aren’t sure you quite need the beastly claws of a 60” deck, any of the smaller Ariens could fit your needs and budget better. If you are looking at maintaining a large lawn space, and a smaller cutting deck just won’t do the job in the time you’re willing to spend, go big with the 60” and turn the chore into a brief jaunt outdoors.

Ariens IKON-XL 60 Zero Turn Mower 24HP Kawasaki back

Ariens IKON-XL 60 Zero Turn Mower 24HP Kawasaki back

Pros

  • Powerful engine
  • Reputable manufacturer
  • 60” cutting width for larger projects

Cons

THE BOTTOM LINE | The Right Fit for a Big Task

Maintaining a large lawn space can be a monumental or worse, a boring mundane slog of necessity. You should enjoy your lawn, not regret it, and look forward to maintaining it. Mowing the grass should be an enjoyable experience, even fun, and it can be that and more with Ariens’ zero-turn mowers. A 60” cutting deck is a lot of blade power to swing around, but if you need it, the IKON-XL is a heavy-duty, strong but agile piece of equipment with comfort and safety features that can hold its own against the toughest snarls of thick grass and outlast the seasons year after year. Like the idea but don’t need the deck size? The IKON-XL is also available in 42” and 52” configurations. Don’t sell yourself short if you’re looking at a big task. Make it quick and easy with a quality ZTR 60” lawn mower and get back to enjoying your lawn. But if the cost is a little outside your comfort zone, be sure to check out our best riding lawn mowers here for more affordable options.