- Location
- Stockton, ca
I'm building a js 440 and a js 550. Want to use them as freestyle learner skis. I'm building them somewhat low budget and want to know what parts make a huge difference in freestyle riding.. Thanks, Dustin.
Building 2 skis
- Thread starter DustinJ
- Start date
- Location
- SAN JOSE, CA.
sell them both and buy a squarenose....! This is the only reasonable answer....
- Location
- Huntington Beach, Ca
I agree.... you will have a much better ski if you just start out with a superjet
Layne
Addicted.
- Location
- Springfield, MO
Don't throw much money into the skis. If you're just getting into the sport rock them out how they are for now, then move up.
But if you really want to get into freestyle though you'll have to ditch the old Kawis.
But if you really want to get into freestyle though you'll have to ditch the old Kawis.
- Location
- detroit MI
look at the fixed bar thread and start looking into bigger engines to swap in. only way to even consider one for freestyle
- Location
- Stockton, ca
Ok I'm gonna build the 550 and keep the 440 as is. I wanna learn on the 550 and get usedto riding then eventually upgrade. Anyone know of any threads on 550 upgrades?
- Location
- SAN JOSE, CA.
Dont even waste your time with the 550 !.... Learn to turn and slide and carve on that then move to a SJ asap! It will not be worth the couple hundred bucks you are gonna sink into a ski that will never be what you want it to be.... Not to be mean but its the truth.... If you have two ski's you can sell them for around a grand for the both and that will be a decent start into your SJ addiction....! I will stress the use of "ADDICTION"....
- Location
- lincoln nebraska
true story, im perty much just getting into the sport and bought a 440, fun but couldnt do much on it with the lack of power, so i found a 90 sj sn for 800, soooo much more fun, more controlable and ridable, then i found a 550 with a trailer for 375 bucks so i bought it for the trailer and made it a double, so now people dont ask to ride the sj, wanna try it ride the 550 or 440 if i dont trust them with the 550. haha seriously try to save up for the sj, it will pay off in the end. and "ADDICTION" is right. good luck with watever you decide to do though!
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Don 79 TA
Still Fat....
- Location
- Madision/Huntsville AL
some serious advice
be careful spending $$ and modifying old skis
you can wind up nickel and dimming yourself to death
plus the newer skis have much more to offer
the older ones are great for extremely light people, like younger kids (IMO)
if you are hell bent on doing this, then i'd start with a prop and get ahold of Dave at Impros
again, its all gonna start adding up, and one change will impact another
also freestyle can be a general term as well
you can do some maneuvers on it, just not gonna roll it, flip it, etc without some muscle to it
there is a reason why you see the freestyle/race scene on later model skis
be careful spending $$ and modifying old skis
you can wind up nickel and dimming yourself to death
plus the newer skis have much more to offer
the older ones are great for extremely light people, like younger kids (IMO)
if you are hell bent on doing this, then i'd start with a prop and get ahold of Dave at Impros
again, its all gonna start adding up, and one change will impact another
also freestyle can be a general term as well
you can do some maneuvers on it, just not gonna roll it, flip it, etc without some muscle to it
there is a reason why you see the freestyle/race scene on later model skis
ArtMaybee
I'm Baaaack!
- Location
- Mobile, AL
As these other guys have said, don't spend a lot of money on the old js skis. You will be a better rider overall if you spend a bit of time riding an old 550 though. Of course just because your money would be better spent getting an old squarnose for around $1,000 or so doesn't mean it's a total waste putting some performance parts on your 550. My old 550 had a high compression head, pipe, prop, water box, sbn44 carb, intake grate, ride plate, pole spring, handlebars, and probably a lot of other things I'm forgetting. That ski was a blast to ride and I still don't feel that a single dime spent on it was a waste. I got as much enjoyment out of it as I did any of my other skis.
The point where it became less enjoyable was after I'd gotten other skis. Once you've started riding something with more power, then the 550's lack of power will start to be obvious to you. Until that point, with a few mods, it will feel like a rocket with handlebars. If you can find a few nice performance parts for the ski cheap on ebay, I'd say go for it. But keep a more modern ski in mind for the future.
But more important than anything else, go out and ride. Enjoy what you have. Any time spent in the tray will go toward making you a better rider and increase your confidence level. The guys telling you to sell your ski aren't trying to insult you or your ski. They are just trying help you avoid spending money where they feel it would be wasted. I don't think any of it's a waste. If you have a cheap 550 and spend a few hundred dollars making it a bit faster. You are still having as much fun as anyone can have for less than a thousand dollars.
You will find that nothing rides quite like an old js hull. They are skinny and light.. Most people who have been riding newer skis a long time find the js hulls to be too squirrly or hard to handle. But spend some time on one and your confidence on a superjet or whatever will be off the charts.
The point where it became less enjoyable was after I'd gotten other skis. Once you've started riding something with more power, then the 550's lack of power will start to be obvious to you. Until that point, with a few mods, it will feel like a rocket with handlebars. If you can find a few nice performance parts for the ski cheap on ebay, I'd say go for it. But keep a more modern ski in mind for the future.
But more important than anything else, go out and ride. Enjoy what you have. Any time spent in the tray will go toward making you a better rider and increase your confidence level. The guys telling you to sell your ski aren't trying to insult you or your ski. They are just trying help you avoid spending money where they feel it would be wasted. I don't think any of it's a waste. If you have a cheap 550 and spend a few hundred dollars making it a bit faster. You are still having as much fun as anyone can have for less than a thousand dollars.
You will find that nothing rides quite like an old js hull. They are skinny and light.. Most people who have been riding newer skis a long time find the js hulls to be too squirrly or hard to handle. But spend some time on one and your confidence on a superjet or whatever will be off the charts.
- Location
- Grand Rapids, MI
Most of these guys are right. Don't spend money to modify them.
However, don't just sell them and buy a SuperJet either. You can't find a better ski to learn on than a 550. You will learn balance better than you can on any other ski. You will be able to ride anything if you can ride a 550 well.
Once you are really good then upgrade.
However, don't just sell them and buy a SuperJet either. You can't find a better ski to learn on than a 550. You will learn balance better than you can on any other ski. You will be able to ride anything if you can ride a 550 well.
Once you are really good then upgrade.
dbredleader
615
- Location
- Tennessee
You should be able to find used performance parts, reasonably priced, but high performance 550's usually have short lives. Subs, firehose & hoodtricks all are 550 domain, with out lots of money invested. Ride it until it bores you then sell while still intact.
swapmeet
Brotastic
- Location
- Arlington TX
I'm not sure I can say anything better than whats already been said, except I 100% agree w/ the sentiment.
I had a JS440 and it kept me intrested and taught me how to ride a squirrly ski. I sold it for $400 (about what I had in it) and STOLE a Yamaha FX1. I'll never go back... best purchase ever. I was constantly wrenching on the Kawi while my friends were ripping it up on their Yamahas.
I agree, if you have the cash keep the 550 even after your good and bored with it. Its a great ski to let friends ride and help more people get into the sport.
GL, let us know how it all works out.
I had a JS440 and it kept me intrested and taught me how to ride a squirrly ski. I sold it for $400 (about what I had in it) and STOLE a Yamaha FX1. I'll never go back... best purchase ever. I was constantly wrenching on the Kawi while my friends were ripping it up on their Yamahas.
I agree, if you have the cash keep the 550 even after your good and bored with it. Its a great ski to let friends ride and help more people get into the sport.
GL, let us know how it all works out.