Stihl MS241 (I’m in love)

RyanCafferky

RyanCafferky

Been here a while
Location
Hood River, Oregon
Has anyone else tried one of these things? I’ve had this saw for over a year now and it become one of my favorite saws. I use it for limbing on the ground, big topping cuts, bringing down wood in the tree, and cutting small firewood (14” and under). Mine came with an 18” bar which I find to be perfect. It runs the 3/8” pico chain and has a great power to weight ratio. If I am blocking down a spar I ask for this saw instead of my 362 with a 25” bar which always used to be my go to when it was time to send down the 200T.

Here is the part you are going to love after reading this review. I heard that Stihl USA is not going to be importing these anymore because they weren’t selling enough of them! I think their marketing was rather crappy. Have any of you even seen any marketing for this saw? I grabbed another one from my local dealer just to have a backup.
 
Great small saw! Professional construction, incredible power to weight ratio. However, Stihl has stopped production for the US.

We bought sixty of them over the last couple of years, but really had to search for the last 20.

The word is they are not going to replace it with anything...
 
Is it almost same dimensions and weight as the 261? Like how the 026 was very close to the 024 besides displacement?
If so, that’s likely their reason for not restocking in US. 261 is probably better seller for very little difference in cost.
Just guessing though.
I got an 024, great little saw. .325 though.

*edit* it’s pretty different huh? Single bar nut makes it look different anyway. I’m just curious if it’s a different chassis.
 
It is a very different saw than a 261. Pick both up and you will feel the difference. I just think that people are stuck in the “bigger is better” mentality and so they buy the bigger saw not thinking about the benefits of having a light saw that can pretend to be a big saw when asked to. I think the lack of marketing and dealers not having a clue about it led to it being discontinued. I’d like to hear someone with a more informed opinion chime in. @Mark Chisholm perhaps?
 
Any idea what the price difference is between it and the 261 though?

It’s kinda hard to drop big bucks on a little saw (barring top handles). ... the rear handled ms200 was a great saw too, but sold like shit, because at the time one could buy a 260 for less $.
 
RyanCafferky said:
It is a very different saw than a 261. Pick both up and you will feel the difference. I just think that people are stuck in the “bigger is better” mentality and so they buy the bigger saw not thinking about the benefits of having a light saw that can pretend to be a big saw when asked to. I think the lack of marketing and dealers not having a clue about it led to it being discontinued. I’d like to hear someone with a more informed opinion chime in. @Mark Chisholm perhaps?
Click to expand...
I've actually not tried a 241. We have some 261's and the guys seem to ask for them a lot.
 
I was at my dealer today and they had a 241cm on rack and one in the back. I asked them about Stihl discontinuing sales in the US, and they were completely unaware of it. Funny thing is that their "Stihl" website no longer shows the 241cm.
 
I would encourage any of you that like this saw to start harassing Stihl on their social media platforms. Make it embarrassing how poorly they promoted that product. Personally every time I see them marketing that 500i I going to berate them on why they didn't do ANY marketing for the 241. Even our beloved @markchisholm didn't even know about it and he has been partnered with Stihl for years! This isn't a crap homeowner saw. It is the lightest rear handle commercial duty saw and it more than pulls its weight on the job site. Why not promote it?

My latest post on their Instagram page compares the marketing of the 500i to the marketing or lack there of that the 241 received and questioned why. Perhaps if enough people make them answer why it isn't here anymore might make them realize that lightweight saws with amazing power to weight ratios are desired at the upper and lower sizes.
 
Last edited:
RyanCafferky said:
I would encourage any of you that like this saw to start harassing Stihl on their social media platforms. Make it embarrassing how poorly they promoted that product. Personally every time I see them marketing that 500i I going to berate them on why they didn't do ANY marketing for the 241. Even our beloved @markchisholm didn't even know about it and he has been partnered with Stihl for years! This isn't a crap homeowner saw. It is the lightest rear handle commercial duty saw and it more than pulls its weight on the job site. Why not promote it?

My latest post on their Instagram page compares the marketing of the 500i to the marketing or lack there of that the 241 received and questioned why. Perhaps if enough people make them answer why it isn't here anymore might make them realize that lightweight saws with amazing power to weight ratios are desired at the upper and lower sizes.
Click to expand...

It sounds like a great saw man, but it's also a dinosaur. Anything it can do, a lithium-powered saw can do better. Why would Stihl promote that? They might even have made it for the sole purpose of keeping their emissions down, since that is evaluated across the whole tool range. It might be keeping the 880 from being 500i'd...
 
colb said:
It sounds like a great saw man, but it's also a dinosaur. Anything it can do, a lithium-powered saw can do better. Why would Stihl promote that? They might even have made it for the sole purpose of keeping their emissions down, since that is evaluated across the whole tool range. It might be keeping the 880 from being 500i'd...
Click to expand...

@colb, having run the Stihl electric saw as well as the Husqvarna saws, I am certain that a lithium powered saw cannot keep up with an MS241. I regularly double cut wood well over 18” with it on trees that I always used to pull up the 362 with a 25” bar. I will be the first to buy an electric saw that can do that and look forward to when they are that good. Until that day though I will keep fueling and using gas powered saws when appropriate.

I just think pulling that particular saw from the US market was a mistake.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Kask Stihl NORTHEASTERN Arborists Wesspur TreeStuff.com Teufelberger Westminster X-Rigging Teufelberger
Back
Top Bottom