Bosch Rotak 34R Review

Bosch Rotak 34R

4.2

Value for money

4.5/5

Cutting quality

5.0/5

Efficiency

3.5/5

Durability

3.5/5

Ease of use

4.5/5

Bosch Rotak 34R Specifications

Bosch Rotak 34R.

ManufacturerBosch
ModelRotak 34R
Dimensions (H x L x W)61.6 x 40.2 x 37.8cm
TypeWalk behind, rotary mower
Weight11.1KG
PowerCorded electric
Wattage1300W
Cable length10m
Cutting width34cm
Blade materialMetal
Cutting height20 - 70mm
Grass box40L
Mulching capability
Rear roller
Warranty3 years
PriceCheck on Amazon

Bosch Rotak 34R Review

The Bosch Rotak 34R is a small, lightweight, corded electric rotary mower, designed for small gardens.

It features a 34cm cutting diameter, and a 40L grass collection box – there is no mulching function with this lawn mower. It’s powered by a 1300 watt motor, which plugs into the mains electricity supply via a 10m power cable.

The 34R also includes a rear roller for mowing stripes, and grass combs to help you mow the very edges of your lawn.

This mower is the updated version of the Bosch Rotak 34, the larger cousin of the Bosch Rotak 32R, and the smaller cousin of the Bosch Rotak 36R. The original Rotak 34 did not have a roller on the back, which is why there is no “R” in the name.

Due to its size, and the lack of an included battery, this is quite a cheap lawn mower.

Assembly

The included instructions are quite clear, and you don’t need any advanced knowledge to put this lawn mower together.

On arrival, the Bosch Rotak 34R comes disassembled, with the wheels, handle, and grass box detached from the main body.

Assembly is relatively easy. The included instructions are quite clear, and you don’t need any advanced knowledge to put this lawn mower together. However, it can take a while. It’s a good idea to get someone else to help you with assembly, otherwise it might take up to 30 minutes before you’re able to begin mowing.

Ease of use

On the whole, this mower is quite easy to use.

As an entry-level mower, the Rotak 34R is designed with ease of use in mind. Bosch has been quite successful in making this mower easy to use, no matter how much mowing experience you have.

  • Adjusting the cutting height between the 5 included settings is easy, and can be done without turning the mower over, which is great. There’s a simple lever you can move to raise or lower the blade between 20 to 70mm, depending on how high you want to cut.
  • Since the mower is quite light, it’s easy to manoeuvre. Even if you have limited strength, it’s still possible to push this mower easily – the wheels are very good quality. Do note though that the 34R is not self-propelled – you will have to do the pushing yourself. This isn’t normally a problem, given how light this mower is, however it can be difficult to use the 34R on steep slopes.
  • The small size of this mower also makes it more agile. It’s easy to turn in tight spaces, allowing you to do more precise mowing.
  • The Rotak 34R comes with a stackable grass box, for compact storage. It’s easy to remove the grass collection box and stack it on the mower, allowing you to store it in a small space.
  • There’s an electric start – no need to pull a cord to get it going. Once it’s on, all you need to do is squeeze the safety trigger on the handle to activate the mower.

On the whole, this lawn mower is quite easy to use. We wouldn’t recommend it for extremely uneven gardens though – in this case you might be better with a hover mower. Also, the power cord is only 10m long, so the mower won’t reach the far edge of your garden if you’ve got a large lawn.

Power

The Rotak 34R offers plenty of power for small to medium lawns.

Bosch has included a 1300W motor with this mower. Given the size of the mower, this is a pretty good amount of power. You are unlikely to find a 34cm mower with anything more powerful than a 1400W motor.

The Rotak 34R offers plenty of power for small to medium lawns. It works well on thick, tall grass, and leaves a clean cut. It can even cope with slightly wet grass, although we’d recommend waiting for your lawn to dry before using this mower to ensure the best finish.

Mowing effectiveness

You can’t fault the actual mowing performance of the 34R.

You can’t fault the actual mowing performance of the 34R, especially given what it costs. It leaves a clean finish, and does not rip your grass like many cheaper mowers would. It works on thick and wet grass, as we just mentioned, and even has a rear roller to help you mow a striped pattern.

The grass box offers plenty of capacity, without being too big and cumbersome to carrying around, and is easy to empty. However, there’s no level indicator or viewing window, so you’ll need to check manually to see when it’s full of clippings that need to be tipped out.

Bosch has included grass combs on this mower – they’re the orange parts you’ll notice on the sides of the mower, near the blades. These grass combs help you neatly trim the edges of your lawn without having to use a strimmer. They’re a nice thing to have, especially if you’re fed up of struggling to cut the edges of your grass.

This mower is still limited to small lawns though, due to its size. We wouldn’t use it for anything larger than 300 square metres – otherwise you’ll be mowing all day.

Mulching

Sadly there is no mulching plug on the Bosch Rotak 34R. You have to collect your clippings in the included grass box.

This is to be expected on a mower of this size. There are no electric rotary lawn mowers at this price point that offer mulching functionality.

Ergonomics

The ergonomics of this mower could be better. However, this isn’t a massive issue for most people.

The main ergonomic issue with this mower is the handle trigger design. As you can see in the photo, the safety trigger is on the right-hand side. On most more expensive mowers, there are switches on the handle at both sides, allowing you to activate the mower with either hand. But with the Bosch, you’ll need to use your right hand exclusively.

You also only get a fairly simple handle design. On some of their more expensive lawn mowers, Bosch includes what they call “Ergoflex” handles, which come with a 90-degree part, to allow for more comfortable mowing.

The ergonomics of this mower could be better. However, this isn’t a massive issue for most people. Since this mower is designed for small to medium sized lawns, you most likely won’t be using it for extended periods. Therefore the design of the handle isn’t such a big issue.

We should also mention that Bosch has done a great job reducing vibration and noise on this mower. It’s very quiet for a corded mower, and doesn’t vibrate uncomfortably like some other electric lawn mowers do.

Durability

The grass box feels a bit flimsy, and can break over time.

The reason this lawn mower is so lightweight is because it’s mostly made of plastic. Although the blade is made of steel, and the cutting deck is reinforced, there is quite a lot of plastic, especially in the top part of the mower.

This plastic design is mostly a problem when it comes to the grass box. The grass box feels a bit flimsy, and can break over time. This normally occurs after the plastic is exposed to the elements for a few years, resulting in it becoming brittle, and then isn’t handled with care – for example when re-attaching it on the first mow of the year.

The actual mower though, including the blade and the motor, is very durable. You don’t have to worry about the cut quality reducing over time. The blade is also easy to sharpen, and replacements are readily available if you plan to keep this mower for the long term.

Plus, Bosch includes a 3 year warranty with this mower, provided you register it on their website within 28 days of buying, which is a nice touch. Most lawn mowers that cost a similar amount only come with a 2 year manufacturer warranty.

Value for money

Overall, the Bosch Rotak 34R is good value for money.

The price of this mower is quite good. It might not be the cheapest 34cm mower you can buy, but it’s definitely not expensive.

If you’re looking for something even cheaper, you would probably have to buy a hover mower, or something with an even smaller cutting width.

You don’t get a massive amount of functionality with this mower. There’s no mulching plug for example. However, it does have a lot of nice features, such as the grass comb and cutting height adjustment lever.

Overall, the Bosch Rotak 34R electric lawn mower is good value for money.

The verdict

4.2/5 – good little mower that offers a neat, clean cut

If you need a relatively cheap rotary mower for a small to medium sized lawn, the Bosch Rotak 34R is definitely worth considering.

It’s easy to use, has a relatively powerful motor, and offers a good-quality cut. It also has a few other nice-to-have features, such as the rear roller and grass comb, which are surprising to find on a mower at this price point. The range of available cutting heights, between 20 to 70mm, is also really good.

The only issue with this mower is its durability – especially of the grass box. It would be great if it was made of thicker plastic, although that may make the mower quite heavy, reducing manoeuvrability.

Bosch does include a 3-year warranty with this mower, so the durability isn’t as much of a concern as it otherwise would be.

Bosch Rotak 34R alternatives

Looking for a different 34cm mower, or a mower with a larger cutting width?

Here are three alternatives to the Bosch Rotak 34R.

DIRECT COMPETITOR

Flymo EasiStore 340R.

Flymo

EasiStore 340R

Value rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

SMALLER ALTERNATIVE

Bosch Rotak 34R.

Bosch

Rotak 32R

Value rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐

LARGER ALTERNATIVE

Bosch Rotak 36R lawn mower.

Bosch

Rotak 36R

Value rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐

DIRECT COMPETITOR
Flymo EasiStore 340R.
Flymo

EasiStore 340R

Value rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

SMALLER ALTERNATIVE
Bosch Rotak 34R.
Bosch

Rotak 32R

Value rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐

LARGER ALTERNATIVE
Bosch Rotak 36R lawn mower.
Bosch

Rotak 36R

Value rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Leave a Comment