AL-KO BC 1200 E Review

The AL-KO BC 1200 E is the powerful end of corded electric: a 1,200 W motor and a 4-tooth steel blade in the box alongside a Tap & Go double-line head, which lets it take on tougher growth most electric trimmers avoid — at a price well below comparable cordless machines.

What you get

• Motor: 1,200 W, 230 V mains. AL-KO doesn’t publish a no-load speed.
• Cutting attachments: a Tap & Go head with double nylon line for grass, and a 4-tooth steel blade for tougher, woody growth. AL-KO’s manual gives about 35 cm of cut with the line and 23 cm with the blade (one retailer lists 25 cm).
• Shaft: splits in two for storage and transport.
• Weight: listed at 4.1 kg by one retailer and 5.1 kg by another, so expect around 4-5 kg — light for a machine that takes a blade, because there’s no engine or battery on the back.

We found no current listing for it on Amazon.co.uk, so check UK garden-machinery retailers for price and availability.

Mains power: the trade-off

A cable gives unlimited runtime and steady power, but it limits reach and needs managing so it never crosses the cutting path. Use an outdoor-rated extension lead on an RCD-protected socket, and never in rain or on wet ground (see can you use a brush cutter in the rain?). The other corded machines we cover are compared in the best electric brush cutters, and corded against battery in battery vs electric.

Who it’s for

Small-to-medium plots near power where the growth gets tough and budget matters more than mobility. The cable is the trade-off; if that’s a dealbreaker, a cordless 36V machine is the alternative. With the blade fitted, wear the full kit — visor, boots, gloves and hearing protection (see our safety gear guide).

Verdict

Serious corded power for the money. If you can live with the cable, it clears far more than its price suggests.