Best Grills, Mowers and Bikes For Summer

Consumer Reports shares its picks for the best lawn mowers, grills and bikes.

ByABC News via logo
February 11, 2009, 1:10 AM

May 16, 2008 — -- "Good Morning America" had a party in New York City's Bryant Park today to help you get ready to spend time outdoors this summer.

From the best mowers to keep your lawn in top shape to the best grills for cooking up a backyard barbecue, and even the best bike for enjoying the warm weather while exercising, we wanted to show you how to get the most for your money.

Consumer Reports senior projects editor Mandy Walker joined "GMA" to share the results of its tests of the most popular makes and models to keep your summer sizzling.

Consumer Reports experts spent months searing steaks, grilling chicken and cooking salmon on 37 grills and found that a premium price doesn't guarantee a better grill.

Midsize: Blue Ember, $450

The Blue Ember can handle up to 24 burgers and excels at cooking food evenly. It has many convenient features including generous shelf space, a side burner, a built-in smoker box and rotisserie burner -- great for cooking whole chickens or turkeys.

Large: Kenmore 16315, $570

This huge Kenmore model is a good buy and has very good performance, with five main burners, a rotisserie, side burners and plenty of shelf space. It also comes with a 10-year warranty on the burners, which tend to give out first.

Small/Portable: Weber Q 200, $190

Portable and affordable, the Weber Q is perfect to take with you to a tailgate. It cooks and grills food evenly and folds out for extra grilling space.

Note: When you're looking to get the best buy for your money, bring a magnet to test the grill yourself. If it's lower-quality stainless steel, the magnet will stick to it. Also give the grill a push and pull to make sure it's sturdy for safety.