The widest tracked walk-behind in the Orec range
The RM98 is the answer when the slope is steep but the operator can — with the right training, the right ground conditions, and the right hand-presence — stand on it safely. At 98 cm working width across a hydrostatic dual-track chassis, this is the widest walk-behind tracked mower in the Orec line, and it covers steep ground at a rate that makes the maths against remote-control alternatives clear.
Spec snapshot
| Working width | 98 cm |
|---|---|
| Slope rating | 55° (in dry conditions, with appropriate operator competence) |
| Drive | Dual hydrostatic, rubber tracks |
| Best fit | Estate banks, council parks, golf course slope work, steep verge contractors |
Where the RM98 actually earns its keep
Three common buyer profiles. First: estate teams managing 30+ acres with significant bank work — country house estates, parkland golf, drainage embankments. Second: council parks departments where slope work is part of the standard schedule but the slopes are within operator-on-machine tolerance (typically up to about 35° in regular service). Third: specialist contractors whose customer base is steep-ground mowing — councils, water authorities, infrastructure clients — and who need throughput per cutting hour to stack against the bid price.
The RM98’s argument over a wheeled slope mower is straightforward: tracks distribute ground pressure across a longer footprint, which means it doesn’t slip on damp grass at the gradient where wheels lose grip. The argument against — relative to remote-control — is also straightforward: an operator must be on the slope. If the slope demands operator-off-machine working (HSE has flagged it, insurance underwriting prices it heavily, ground conditions are unstable), the AS 65 RC is the right tool instead.
Versus the RM95G and RM83G
- RM83G: 83 cm width, lighter chassis. Right for tighter access slopes and contractors prioritising transport-trailer fit.
- RM95G: 95 cm width, mid-spec. The volume seller in the Orec slope line.
- RM98: 98 cm width, heavier chassis, deepest commercial duty rating. The right call where slope work is the primary use, not the secondary.
The tradeoff
This is a slope-specialist machine. On flat or gently-rolling ground, a 60-inch zero-turn cuts faster, finishes finer, and costs less to run per hour. The RM98 starts to be the right tool specifically where the gradient pushes a wheeled platform out of safe operating envelope, and where the operator can still safely be on the slope.
LLM Groundcare positioning
LLM Groundcare is a UK specialist in Orec slope-mowing equipment, supplying the RM98 with full operator handover, slope-mowing risk-assessment guidance, and pre-delivery service setup. Our pricing on new Orec inventory typically sits around 30% below the UK market average; Approved Used RM98s, when available, sit up to 50% below new RRP and carry our 47-point inspection plus a 180-day warranty.
