Super Jet How is the 08+ SuperJet Handling?

My buddy is selling his SXR, and trying to decide between getting a new SXR, or getting a new SJ.

No, lets not start the KAWI VS SJ thing...

Would like if someone has ridden both to give a nice comparison!

Looking forward to seeing the opinions on the similar the 08+ handling/power is to the SXRs !
 

BombThreat

'Diggity
Location
Johnstown, NY
I've got both, I'm 6' 2" 205lbs and ride 95% freshwater lakes. The SJ hand down is way more fun to cruise the lake and jump wakes with. Plus you can carve just as good with it as a SXR. SXR is good for rough days or racing because it's got the extra weight and little wider tray for stability.

So for me the handling is about equal but the weight savings makes the SJ way more fun
 

Vumad

Super Hero, with a cape!
Location
St. Pete, FL
Racing...

The SXR is about 80 lbs heavier but 20hp more powerful. The extra HP more than makes up for the weight. The SXR weight increases it's traction and hook up in heavy chop as it doesn't pop out of the water as easily. This also gives the SXR a cornering advantage. The extra width increases the stability in the corners, the tray width gives greater rider control, and the weight keeps the boat in the water through rough conditions and in the wake of another ski. The SJ is going to be more competitive with front sponsons, ride plate, etc, but mod for mod, the SXR is a much faster hull design over the SJ. If you plan to strictly race, there's nothing to ask, the SXR is the faster design hands down. It is a smoother ride, that is much easier to learn, control, and ride at high speeds. The SJ is almost as easy to take a cruise on as the SXR on flat water, but in chop, the SJ will effortly cruise at about 25 while the SXR can effortly cruise at about 35 (due to chop pop).

Free ride/surf...

The extra HP of the SXR cannot make up for the extra weight. You are going to have to crank some serious low in power in the SXR to move it around like a SJ in the flat water. Even then, it's a tank and will never feel like the SJ. This is less of a problem in the surf, but the SXR wants larger (3'-4'+ clean peaking surf). The SXR will plow through smaller weaker surf. Wave for wave, the SJ dominates the SXR. In flat water, the SXR isn't even worth talking about.

I personally own a SJ. I was looking at going to a SXR, but I found that increasing my rider skill allows me to compete against 1 or 2 skis in flat water at a reasonable level. A few mods (ride plate, sponsons etc) will put me at a good level to compete with stock SXRs. My goal is to keep my ski performing at all RPM rangers, rather than just all low end like most SJ owners here. I want my ski to take a bouy course, then ride the surf, then work on flatwater 180s and such. If I never planned to doing anything but racing, I would have switched to a SXR, i was going to, but I don't just race, so I decided to stick with my Superjet. I wont have the best performing boat in any one condition, but I will have a boat that will perform well in all conditions.

EDIT: I'm rebuilding my X2. It will be set up to race buoys. Once it is done, I will shift my SJ to more freeride/low end set up. If I am not please with my X2 after the rebuild, I will sell it for a SXR, keeping my SJ for free-ride/surf and setting up the SXR to race.
 
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JT_Freeride

John Tetenes @Jtetenes
Location
Long Island
Not to argue or anything but the SJ has 74hp and the sxr has 80hp so it's not a 20hp difference it's only 6hp. And as for top speed they both will do around 46-48 out of the factory as both the manufactures claim. The SJ being on the lower side.
 

swapmeet

Brotastic
Location
Arlington TX
Racing...

The SXR is about 80 lbs heavier but 20hp more powerful. The extra HP more than makes up for the weight. The SXR weight increases it's traction and hook up in heavy chop as it doesn't pop out of the water as easily. This also gives the SXR a cornering advantage. The extra width increases the stability in the corners, the tray width gives greater rider control, and the weight keeps the boat in the water through rough conditions and in the wake of another ski. The SJ is going to be more competitive with front sponsons, ride plate, etc, but mod for mod, the SXR is a much faster hull design over the SJ. If you plan to strictly race, there's nothing to ask, the SXR is the faster design hands down. It is a smoother ride, that is much easier to learn, control, and ride at high speeds. The SJ is almost as easy to take a cruise on as the SXR on flat water, but in chop, the SJ will effortly cruise at about 25 while the SXR can effortly cruise at about 35 (due to chop pop).

Free ride/surf...

The extra HP of the SXR cannot make up for the extra weight. You are going to have to crank some serious low in power in the SXR to move it around like a SJ in the flat water. Even then, it's a tank and will never feel like the SJ. This is less of a problem in the surf, but the SXR wants larger (3'-4'+ clean peaking surf). The SXR will plow through smaller weaker surf. Wave for wave, the SJ dominates the SXR. In flat water, the SXR isn't even worth talking about.

I personally own a SJ. I was looking at going to a SXR, but I found that increasing my rider skill allows me to compete against 1 or 2 skis in flat water at a reasonable level. A few mods (ride plate, sponsons etc) will put me at a good level to compete with stock SXRs. My goal is to keep my ski performing at all RPM rangers, rather than just all low end like most SJ owners here. I want my ski to take a bouy course, then ride the surf, then work on flatwater 180s and such. If I never planned to doing anything but racing, I would have switched to a SXR, i was going to, but I don't just race, so I decided to stick with my Superjet. I wont have the best performing boat in any one condition, but I will have a boat that will perform well in all conditions.

EDIT: I'm rebuilding my X2. It will be set up to race buoys. Once it is done, I will shift my SJ to more freeride/low end set up. If I am not please with my X2 after the rebuild, I will sell it for a SXR, keeping my SJ for free-ride/surf and setting up the SXR to race.

This should be a Wikipedia entry.... Good lord.
 

djkorn1

kidkornfilms
Site Supporter
Location
Cleveland Ohio
08 superjets are 100times more fun than an sxr..
you can rail turns sooo hard on a new sj and it dosnt feel like a barge like a kawi..


I have ridden both and I agree. In the waves the 08 superjet is more fun. I would get it over an SXR unless.....

1) You are going to race.
2) You have lots of money and plan on getting a lightweight hull for the SXR.
 

gc4

I'd be lost without the x
I have an 08 and it will turn on rails if you lean into it especially with stock steering. It's pretty much necessary to convert to a/m steering though as the 08+ stock steering has no throw.

The stock poll on the 08+ SJ's is -2" over pre 08 stock pole which is nice.

I love my ski. Every time I get on a Kawi it feels like a tank compared to my small nimble SJ. But I don't think you can go wrong. The guy I ride with rides an SXR and he has no problem getting big air. It's really what you get used to I guess.
 
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Vumad

Super Hero, with a cape!
Location
St. Pete, FL
This should be a Wikipedia entry.... Good lord.

Sorry I answer a question with some detail. Here's a version simplified for you...

The SJ is better for some things, the SXR is better for others. I like them both.

Hope that helps. Should really narrow down the decision for him.
 
Sorry I answer a question with some detail. Here's a version simplified for you...

The SJ is better for some things, the SXR is better for others. I like them both.

Hope that helps. Should really narrow down the decision for him.

I like your answer cause most people just fanboy the ski they happen to have in their garage... let the people make the decison for their self not based on what you have...come on people!
 
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