What Do You Think of A Kubota KX121-3?

I'm wanting to buy a mini excavator for just personal use right now but may try to find some paid work for it later down the road. I need to put in some drainage, clean out some ditches, dig out several stumps and would like to buy a mower attachment for cutting limbs and brush back around my fields. I have very little experience with excavators but I was wanting something that I can transport OK with a 3/4 ton pick up and my equipment trailer. As far as specs go I've been really interested in the Kubota KX121 model as it's about the heaviest machine I can see spec wise that I could carry. Looks like a 9K pound machine with 42HP and 25GPM hydraulic flow rate. I'd like some reviews on this model if you've owned or operated one much and if you know of other machines that are near these specs that are good reliable low maintenance machines I'd appreciate any recommendations.

The mower attachment I'm interested in is a US Mowers EX30 Samurai flail type, maybe the EX40 if the machine I get will run it OK. If anyone has used this or an equivalent mower attachment I'd like some feedback and recommendations on this as well. Thanks

I have run these and like them very nice, well balanced good hydraulics, only bad thing I remember is tinny travel pedals.

just got off of mine been on it all weekend adding to septic drain field in front yard. bought it at auction last year with broken rod in engine approx 2100hrs (think it was run low on oil).came from a utility co had a pretty hard former life only complaint's is the little travel pedals ,little leg room , the main bucket pin has to be greased twice a day in hard digging . it is powerful for its size have a thumb coupler 3 buckets and just got a ripper all from us attachments in king NC. just be careful with the machines from the utility companies they are well used and if you are not experienced and equipped to repair one it will get real expensive real quick . but their is a lot of them around so parts are readily available. don't know about the mowers but would like to look into them.

I put 360ish hours on my KX121-3 before I traded it in on a KX057-4. I had the 6 way blade, which I liked very much. I'm 6'2" and had leg room (off the pedals), but the foot pedals are small and awkward to control. The thumb's build geometry on the 121 is better than the 057 for grabbing, but the 057's thumb is wider. The 057 has a bit more reach and power.

I'm a dealer for Rockhound, and ran the 40EX Hammerhead on it (sold that one this month, haven't replaced it yet). Weight wise it (40EX or the 30EXHD) will be a bit heavy for the 121 on a cross slope over the side, but it should be fine with the tracks flat. The 057 can handle them at full reach over the side on a 15* cross slope.

I don't recall off hand, but the 121-3's aux is around 16gpm, not 25gpm.

I have had mine for 6-7 years now and I have been very happy with it. I have just over 400 hours on it, farm use, mainly digging hillside trails. It's been reliable. I do not have a problem with the controls or the size but then it's the only mini that I have used. Mine does not have the enclosed cab. The angle blade is great but I do wish I had the newer 6 way blade.

I have a mate here in OZ who is on "full time" contract work with a builder (5-6 days a week) he has just traded in his 2007 Kubota KX 121 that had done in excess of
8000hrs, yes I said 8000hrs, he is the only operator that works the machine and the story just gets better, still had the original tracks on it.
It had the main pump rebuilt in December,2013 but with everything else was pretty much original,it needed 3 track rollers,sprockets and had a minor oil leak down near the slew motor
when traded.
I guess that's why he purchased another new Kubota.

Pretty impressive to say the least.

I absolutely love mine. Thumb, Quik-coupler, straight blade and three buckets. My customers are impressed with what it will do and how quiet it is. Can't help with the mower question. I'm not sure you can legally haul it with an F250, but there is a whole thread on here somewhere about that.

Legalities are a bag of worms in a box of bream hooks, sitting under jumper cables.


I moved my 121 and currently move my 057 with my 250 on a gooseneck. Never had an issue with the truck or the Bears.

I don't see why not, my friend hauls his 335 Bobcat behind a New Ram 2500

I haul mine with a F350, SRW, 5.4 gas, auto and reese hitch. Trailer is a 14000 lb SureTrack with good brakes. The rig handles fine, but at just under 20000 lbs I'm waay over the gvw/gcwr for the truck. I'ts not a conversation I want to have with Motor Carrier Enforcement or my insurance co.

We've logged tens of thousands of miles hauling similar weight equipment (or heavier/heavier combinations) over the eastern US without issue from the DOT/police and my fiancé works for State Farm who insures the truck and we've done work at the agent's home.

Tomorrow I head for Jackson (150 miles away) with the track loader, grapple, and mower. Not sure which truck I'll take (F250 has the aux fuel tank), but the gross weight will be around 31klbs with the F250, 32-33k with the F550.

Just look at all of the problems,from electrical,hydrualic,etc that everyone on this forum who own an excavator post about,includig the big stuff, How many times do you see KUBOTA get a mention in comparision of all the other makes ? Not very often. There has to be a reason for that. I LOVE mine.