A need to keep pace with the growing appetites of self-propelled foragers has led to several interesting concepts. Some called on ageing foragers to host triple mowers, whereas others opted for more conventional tractor power. Vicon even dipped its toe in the water with a Big M contender, the Red Bull, yet this intriguing-looking machine never made it into full production — and here’s the reason why
Krone’s Big M was the first dedicated self-propelled mower to break cover in May 1996, and then Vicon created a stir four seasons later when it took the wraps off its Red Bull prototype. Unveiled at the Dutch Landbouw RAI machinery show in 2000, the Bull teamed up a JCB cab and running gear with three Vicon disc mowers and frame.
Impressed by what it saw, contractor and MF dealer Van de Riet bought the Cummins powered 340hp prototype to replace its adapted John Deere 5380 self-propelled forager, which hung a triple set of Niemeyer mowers onto a Zuidberg front linkage. There was still plenty of mileage left in the Deere forager, but after six years cutting upwards of 1,500ha a season, the mowers had seen their best days.
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