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Old 01-28-2008, 10:53 AM   #1
Craig A
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Kipor vs Honda Generator

I have an opportunity to purchase a slightly used generator. They're both 3000 models and I can get he Kipor for around $300 or the Honda for $800. The honda is damaged from where the fiver dropped on it, but it's cosmetic. Please provide your experiences or opinions. Thanks.
 
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Old 01-28-2008, 12:21 PM   #2
HamRad
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Craig,

If you don't get the Honda please let me know. I would love to have a 3000!

I have a 2000 Honda. The only experience I have with the Kipor is from several of my friends who own them. They claim to be as quiet as a Honda but my experience is that they are a little more noisy. They also can sometimes be a bit more difficult to start. These differences can be minor to major.

Last year in Q a fellow had a Kipor. After trying for several hours to get it started he gave up. Tried to get help from local Kipor dealer and could not. Ended up taking it back to place he bought it. He bought a Honda 2000 at Q. It cranked up first time he pulled!

With those prices you probably can't go too wrong.

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Old 01-28-2008, 12:22 PM   #3
Emmel
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Craig, since I was probably the pioneer user of the Kipor, I suppose you can guess which one I would recommend.
I really think both of those prices are very good, but I'll stay with the Kipor. From what I've seen on the Honda, that is a steal for a 3000, you can't go wrong with it either. You have to decide , but if I had a chance to buy the Honda for $800, I probably would!
I think you will get good service out of either choice.
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Old 01-28-2008, 12:41 PM   #4
richfaa
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I would not use that example at Q as a typical occurance.. I was there and it did happen however My 3500 Kipor starts without problem and when the battery ran down it started 2nd pull everytime. I did note that if you do not shut the fuel switch off and let it run out when you are finished with it and leave the fuel on till next time it will most likey have a hard time starting due to being flooded. I run mine every month as routine maint and have had it for 19 months, started every time including at "Q" .I know several folks with the Kipor and none have a problem with starting. As for the noise level having been at a C.G with both running and not having a DB meter handy no one could tell the difference..They are both very quiet and both those prices are very good.
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Old 01-28-2008, 02:42 PM   #5
exav8tr
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Craig, I have a Honda 2000 and would buy another. How many towns do you go thru and see a Kipor dealer vs a Honda dealer, Think service, enough said!
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Old 01-28-2008, 03:21 PM   #6
dsprik
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Ditto what Rich said...
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Old 01-28-2008, 03:49 PM   #7
jretz
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As HamRad said, the Kipor can be a little louder (he had to listen to mine at Quartzsite next to him), and as Rich said they can be hard to start if you do not run out the fuel when you are not going to start them for awhile. I have the Kipor and I did have problems starting it this year here at Quartzsite. I had left fuel in it and it did flood on start but now it does fine. After seeing the differences between the two in actual field operations and if I had the deals offered to me that you have, I would go with the Honda. I like my Kipor and the price I paid for it but my opinion is that the offer you have for the Honda is a better bet.
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Old 01-29-2008, 03:01 AM   #8
BirdingRVer
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Ditto what Phil said...
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Old 01-29-2008, 05:15 AM   #9
richfaa
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"Craig, I have a Honda 2000 and would buy another. How many towns do you go thru and see a Kipor dealer vs a Honda dealer, Think service, enough said" This is true and most Honda "dealers" are not permitted to work on any other brand of generator. However,,80/85% of the parts Honda/Kipor and interchangeable since the Chinese ripped of the Japanese and any independent repair facility will tell you that there is no problem working on the Kipor.The exact words were "if you can work on a Honda you can work on a Kipor as they are the same"
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Old 01-29-2008, 06:30 AM   #10
exav8tr
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Rich, It would be the other 15-20% of parts that would worry me. You know Mr. Murphy.......Besides, I would never be able to troubleshoot this unit. If it breaks, it goes to a dealer.........
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Old 01-29-2008, 09:12 AM   #11
richfaa
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Kipor has been around for many years just not in the USA. They made the push into the USA a couple of years ago and are growing rapidly...

http://www.kipornorthamerica.com/ Dealers and parts are not hard to find.
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Old 02-12-2008, 02:44 AM   #12
russd
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i have owned both, a 2k kipor and a 2k honda. the kipor came first. it worked fine at first. then it would run and just shut off and wouldn't restart for days. i replaced it with the honda and it has been fine.
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Old 02-12-2008, 11:31 AM   #13
simonsrf
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Ditto what Grant said....

Rich, you must have been there at Quartzsite with your Kipor on a day when no one else was there. I remember you and Helen stopping by for a visit (last year), but don't remember you being there running your generator....vaguely remember you saying something about having to have 50 amp power, and needing to dump your black tank every day.

In our travels, we have seen several NO STARTS with Kipors. We have never seen a Honda not start on the second pull. Kipor dealers may be plentiful in the east, but they are not plentiful in the west like Honda dealers.
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Old 02-12-2008, 02:23 PM   #14
jretz
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Come on Robbie, Just because it took me 2 hours to get my Kipor started at Q this year you can't go by that. It finally did start and then it start right away each time after that. I haven't started it in 3 weeks but I'm sure it will start with-in an hour or two the next time I use it. Wish I would have gone with the Hondas.
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