Makita GT501M 40V max XGT 5-Pc. Combo Kit with GRJ01 Recipro Saw review

GT501M is a five-tool XGT bundle that includes Makita's GRJ01 reciprocating saw, two 4.0Ah batteries, a charger and a bag. The saw itself is the same GRJ01 family used in GT500M; the clearest documented bundle distinction is its circular saw. GT501M lists the GSH01Z 7-1/4-inch AWS-capable circular saw, while GT500M lists rear-handle GSR01Z. This review assesses the official product list and GRJ01 manual rather than hands-on use. No independent cutting, runtime, comfort, vibration, price or availability test is claimed.

GT501M is a multi-tool purchase, not a saw upgrade

Makita itemizes GPH01Z hammer driver-drill, GDT01Z impact driver, GRJ01 reciprocal saw, GSH01Z circular saw and ML001G LED flashlight. Its package page lists two 40V max XGT 4.0Ah BL4040 batteries, a charger and tool bag; Makita's 2024 release names the charger family DC40RA. The press release confirms that both GT500M and GT501M include the GRJ01Z reciprocating-saw model. The choice between these two kits therefore turns on the circular saw and the exact kit number, not evidence of a different GRJ01 stroke or operating mode. Makita reports 48 lb shipping weight for GT501M as a whole, which must not be presented as the saw's weight.

GRJ01 saw facts and their limits

The included GRJ01 is a full-size two-hand saw that operates on Makita's XGT battery platform. Makita and the linked manual describe a brushless motor, 1-1/4-inch stroke, low speed up to 2,300 SPM and high up to 3,000 SPM. The tool has a lever blade release and an adjustable shoe with six lengthwise positions. The exact GRJ01 specification says orbital settings: No. The six shoe positions are not a documented pivot-angle range, and neither included batteries nor the additional circular saw change the reciprocating saw's mechanism.

For practical setup, the manual instructs users to remove the battery for blade work, seat the blade in the clamp and verify it is retained before operation. Keeping the shoe braced to a stable workpiece and allowing blade clearance are important; hidden services require checking before cutting. These written precautions are not a substitute for material-specific blade selection or safe work practices. The combo listing does not name a reciprocating-saw blade, so do not assume one based on the picture or another GRJ01 kit. Makita's published speed and capacity values remain manufacturer data, not measured jobsite outcomes.

Where GT501M may fit

For a buyer building an XGT set from scratch, two BL4040 packs and a charger provide a different purchase decision from a tool-only recip. The whole kit is most defensible when the drill, impact driver, GSH01 circular saw and light are all wanted. It is unnecessarily broad for a buyer who needs only a saw or who already owns the other tools. The public finder has no XGT platform option; a result for full-size cordless saw plus battery and charger reflects only those documented public filters, not a verification that a buyer's existing battery will fit.

Also account for the physical and administrative side of a five-tool kit: space for the bag, duplicate batteries or a charger, and keeping several model-specific manuals and accessories organized. Makita's 48 lb number is a shipping figure for the full GT501M package, not a one-hand carry estimate for the GRJ01. The source materials do not establish total unpacked weight or how a retailer will split or substitute bundle components.

Distinguish the package before buying

Check the GT501M suffix and ask the seller to confirm the exact GSH01Z circular saw, two BL4040 batteries, charger and bag. If you expected the rear-handle GSR01 configuration, that is the GT500M listing, not this package. Verify the maker's GRJ01 manual for XGT compatibility and safe blade servicing, and choose a suitable recip blade separately unless the seller confirms it in writing. Confirm box condition, missing components and warranty terms with the retailer; the official product page identifies a configuration, not current inventory or the state of a particular resale offer.