Makita XSR01Z 36V (18V X2) LXT® Brushless Rear Handle 7-1/4" Circular Saw Review

Summary

A cordless rear-handle circular saw for users already on Makita’s 18V LXT platform, with helical gearing, 5,100 RPM and enough torque to out-rip a corded worm drive in one test. It runs on two batteries, so budget for a second pack if you own only one; the bare tool was historically about $199 (Acme Tools, 2017).

Strengths

Out-ripped a corded Skilsaw worm drive in a full-depth 8 ft rip in 4x4 pressure-treated pine (18.64 s vs 27.96 s).
Lightest of the cordless rear-handle group tested, at 12.6 lb with batteries.
Deepest 90° cut capacity among 7-1/4 in rear-handle saws tested (2-9/16 in).
Accurate depth scale and precise bevel pointer with positive stops at 22.5°, 45° and 53°.
Fast blade changes and an electric brake that stops the blade almost instantly.
Runs on any two Makita 18V LXT packs, so existing battery owners need no new platform.

Weaknesses

No LED work light and no cut-line blower; sawdust can obscure the cut line on long, deep cuts.
No vacuum or dust-port attachment available.
Bevel scale numbers are not highlighted, making them hard to read.
Occasional stalls under maximum load in wet pressure-treated lumber.
Rafter hook sits in front of the batteries and must be flipped to swap packs.

Verified specifications

Model	XSR01Z bare tool; XSR01PT kit with two 5.0Ah batteries, dual-port charger and bag.
Blade	7-1/4 in (185 mm), 5/8 in arbor.
Cut capacity	2-9/16 in (65 mm) at 90°, 1-3/4 in (45 mm) at 45°, 1-1/2 in (38 mm) at 53°.
Speed	5,100 RPM no-load.
Bevel	0-53° with positive stops at 22.5°, 45° and 53°.
Power	36V from two 18V LXT batteries; compatible cartridges include BL1815N, BL1820B, BL1830, BL1830B, BL1840B, BL1850B, BL1860B.
Weight	12.4 lb (5.6 kg) with batteries; 12.67 lb measured with blade and two 5.0Ah packs.
Length	17-1/2 in (446 mm).
Construction	die-cast magnesium base and blade guard; die-cast aluminum blade cover and motor housing.
Features	brushless motor, helical gear drive, electric brake, Automatic Speed Change, Star Protection, Extreme Protection Technology (XPT), 3-stage LED battery gauges, retractable rafter hook, tether notch.
Cross-cuts per charge (Makita internal test, two 5.0Ah batteries): up to 558 in 2x4 SPF, up to 291 in 2x10 SPF.
Included (bare tool)	saw, 7-1/4 in Ultra-Coated blade, wrench. Batteries and charger sold separately.
Warranty	product page states 3-year limited; manual states 1 year from purchase.

Full research notes and sources

Gearing and how it cuts

The XSR01Z is not a true worm drive. Its helical gears run at 45° instead of 90°, so the blade spins about 1,000 RPM faster than a typical worm drive while still delivering high torque, and soft start avoids the sideways torque on startup common to worm drives.

In a full-depth 8 ft rip in 4x4 pressure-treated pine it took 18.64 s against 27.96 s for a corded Skilsaw SPT77WM-22 worm drive. Home Fixated cut through 100 embedded 16D nails in a 2x8, ripped simulated roofing and finished end-to-end rips in wet pressure-treated 4x4s, stalling a couple of times on the final pass at full depth.

Against DeWalt’s FlexVolt worm-drive-style saw, the Makita is slower (18.64 s vs 11.36 s) and has less 45° capacity (1-3/4 in vs 1-7/8 in), but it is lighter (12 lb 10.8 oz vs 13 lb 11.8 oz), has more 90° capacity (2-9/16 in vs 2-7/16 in), costs less historically ($199 vs $249 bare) and accepts any two 18V LXT packs instead of FlexVolt batteries only.

Battery life and runtime

Makita rates the saw at up to 558 cross-cuts in 2x4 SPF and up to 291 in 2x10 SPF with two 5.0Ah batteries, but those figures come from internal testing, not an independent lab. Continuous job-site use makes a second battery set prudent.

The overload, overheat and over-discharge protections can shut the saw down under sustained heavy use, and it needs a cool-down before restarting. In Home Fixated’s wet-lumber test the motor stalled a couple of times on full-depth passes but finished with less pressure.

What it lacks

The XSR01Z has no LED work light and no cut-line blower, so sawdust can obscure the line on long or deep cuts, and there is no vacuum or dust-port attachment. The bevel scale numbers are not highlighted, and one reviewer added markings with a Sharpie. The extra-wide rafter hook has two stops (90° and 180°) but sits in front of the batteries, so it must be flipped to swap packs.

Repairs, warranty and upkeep

Maintenance is owner-level: keep the upper and lower blade guards clean (compressed air recommended), check lower-guard operation before each use, and keep the blade sharp and clean. Do not use gasoline, benzine, thinner or alcohol on the tool. Repairs, maintenance and adjustments beyond those specified should go to a Makita Authorized or Factory Service Center using Makita replacement parts.

Ongoing costs are blades (7-1/4 in, 5/8 in arbor) and batteries over the tool’s life. The dual-port charger DC18RD was listed at $129 (Home Fixated, 2018). Ongoing blade prices are not in the research.

Warranty is unresolved: the product page states a 3-year limited warranty while the instruction manual states 1 year from the date of original purchase, excluding normal wear, abuse, misuse, improper maintenance, alterations and indirect or consequential damages. Use the term printed on the purchase documentation; the manual’s 1-year term is the conservative reading.

Is it worth it?

At the cited historical prices, the XSR01Z is a strong value for users already on the Makita 18V platform who need rear-handle, worm-drive-style power: class-leading cut capacity and weight for a cordless rear-handle saw, and it beat a corded worm drive in Pro Tool Reviews’ rip test. Bare tool was historically $199 (Acme Tools) and the kit $349 (Pro Tool Reviews) to $360 (Home Fixated, Ohio Power Tool), with the DeWalt FlexVolt alternative at $249 bare and $399 kit. No 2026 US retail prices were verified, so treat these as 2017-2018 figures and check before buying.

Which model this is

This page covers the Makita XSR01Z bare tool, model XSR01, a 36V (18V X2) rear-handle circular saw with a 7-1/4 in blade. The kit variant is XSR01PT with two 5.0Ah batteries, a dual-port charger and a bag. Do not confuse it with the smaller XSH01 sidewinder or other Makita circular saws. The saw runs on two 18V LXT batteries and will not run on one; a battery adapter must not be used with it.