300/440/550 JS550sx Beginner Ski for big guy???

[mgh488]

Im purchasing a '90 550sx. It is my first stand up. Im a big guy 6'2" 265. I have stood up and rode someone elses but do not know the model. I remember it had a stock bilge on it and was a early 90s model. Am I going to have trouble riding and jumping it or will I be alright starting out on this thing? Im planning on getting used to this and then moving up to something bigger. Ill be running it in South River on the Chesapeake Bay.

 

[b1m3x8]

You should be fine, it's your first ski so you won't be doing much but learning the basics. Get comfortable on it, then move up to a SJ.

 

[mgh488]

thanks man, thats exactly the info i was looking for. Im stoked to get on it and start learning.

 

[baxt3r]

Coming from someone of near similar size, don't expect it to be fast or to really do a great job of pulling you up. I was having to grab full throttle on a 650 SN just to get up out of the water. Honestly, I'd look for something a little stronger to start with unless you really want the Kawi. If so, go for it and have fun.

 

[Kny21]

I'd holdout for a 701 SJ if you want to get anywhere. IMO a small, underpowered ski will just give you fits and make you second guess even wasting your money.

If you do go through with the purchase I'd make sure it's got some sort of pipe on it and you aren't paying too much for it. Personally I wouldn't pay more than $600 for a running kawi 440-650... combined with your size and what extra mods it will need to get even remotely dialed in for you it will just become a money pit.

 

[mgh488]

Im just wanting to get up and learn the basics and jump some wakes with it. Basically master controlling and playing around with it then move on to something bigger. So this will work?

 

[baxt3r]

It will most likely not be ideal. I would buy a 701 SuperJet. Just my 2 cents.

Maybe I'm wrong, but take most people's advice with a grain of salt. There aren't many people here who are our size. A ski that will pull them may not necessarily pull you.

 

[mgh488]

Im getting it for 500 and its in pristine condition. Im only going to be riding in the river following around our boat basically. I then plan on moving on to something bigger next year. I understand what you are all saying about enough power to do everything I could possibly do with it. So getting up and maneuvering and jumping wakes is about all i want it to do right now. so hopefully this will get the job done till i purchase a bigger ride in the off-season.

 

[suva]

I started out on a 550SX at about your height and weight and had a lot of fun on it.

 

[227]

IMO there’s no such thing as a beginner ski. A beginner ski is a waste of money and buying it would be $500 less that you could apply to a better ski. Trust me, the learning curve is fast. The other problem with buying and old obsolete ski is that should it break it will most likely cost you more to fix it than you can sell it for. However If a 90 550sx is all you can afford, well do what you have to do. Can you ride it? Yes you’ll be able to ride it but for someone your size it will feel really small and underpowered. Don’t let your experience on it poison you to the sport. We all started on 550’s back in the day, but at that time they were the best skis available so we didn’t know any better. Now its different. For not much more money you could have a much better ski that you can ride for a long time. One thing is for sure, if you do go with the 550, and you master it, everything else will come easy!

 

[Mdavies_02]

I completely agree with 227. That being said, what are you paying for the 550sx? What is your budget? I know it isn't what you asked, but I am curious.

 

[suva]

I disagree. I'd much rather figure out how to take care of and not abuse a $500 ski than a $2000 Superjet. I've seen plenty of incidents where less-than-experienced riders have done serious damage to skis only because they hadn't learned the ropes yet.

IMO there’s no such thing as a beginner ski. A beginner ski is a waste of money and buying it would be $500 less that you could apply to a better ski. Trust me, the learning curve is fast. The other problem with buying and old obsolete ski is that should it break it will most likely cost you more to fix it than you can sell it for. However If a 90 550sx is all you can afford, well do what you have to do. Can you ride it? Yes you’ll be able to ride it but for someone your size it will feel really small and underpowered. Don’t let your experience on it poison you to the sport. We all started on 550’s back in the day, but at that time they were the best skis available so we didn’t know any better. Now its different. For not much more money you could have a much better ski that you can ride for a long time. One thing is for sure, if you do go with the 550, and you master it, everything else will come easy!

 

[mgh488]

My budget at the moment is no more than 1000. I have found two offers: a '88 650sx with unknown condition for $550 and a '90 550sx in pristine condition for $500. Both being 20+ year old machines I dont want to gamble on having a ski in good condition so knowing all the seals and rubber grommets on the 550 have been replaced and inside of the hull is spotless made me want to go with the 550sx. Also I live in MD and am going to have to drive 3 + hours south to even look at and buy them from the owners so I did alot of preliminary research and asked for pictures.

Thanks suva, you understand what Im trying to say. Im just stepping into the sport and prefer not to invest 1500-2000 right out of the gates when I just got started.

 

[kevbo]

The 90 550 had a piston port engine which tended to be less responsive than the 91+. It is more a novelty than anything else because they make very little thrust, OK for little kids. 650X2s, 750s, and Superjets are the only skis suitable for larger riders.

 

[mgh488]

Im going to go with the 550sx. Its not a big investment and I dont have to wait a year trying to find the perfect condition SJ or 750. In the meantime I can get up and learn how to manuever and play around a little. Any suggestions as to which 750 to go with? From the comments about starting out, sounds like everyone wants something that they can thrash and burn with.

 

[eeerieski]

If the 550 is in that great of a condition you could maybe sell it for a profit after learning how to ride. For a larger rider, do not get anything that has the numbers 300, 400, 440, 550, 650 (except in an x2 or maybe a superjet)
I'm 6'1" 280lbs and my 701 snsj worked fine in stock condition.

 

[Tmart]

I was in the same boat about 4 months ago. I was completely new to stand ups and had always seen them but never rode one in my life. I found a bunch of older but nice SN's for cheap but ended up going with a 2000 SJ RN. I rode it for one day and sucked miserably, but that literally lasted riding to times and now I'm buying a B-pipe and ready to start flipping and rolling. Its def. worth waiting to get a little more money whether you think it is or not, because "just learning to turn good" and "jumping small wakes" only lasts a couple days. By the way, I'm 6'5 235 and anything less than a 7801 would be a waste.

 

[baxt3r]

I disagree. I'd much rather figure out how to take care of and not abuse a $500 ski than a $2000 Superjet. I've seen plenty of incidents where less-than-experienced riders have done serious damage to skis only because they hadn't learned the ropes yet.

With the wealth of information available on this site and a few others, taking care of a ski, no matter the price, is no more than a few hours of reading away. I didn't know anything about Super Jets last year, and I still don't know too much, but I feel like I am able to make the right decisions regarding maintenance and storage based on information I picked up here.

 

[mgh488]

You guys are awesome for helping me, I really appreciate it and will ask for help in the future. All superjets aside (because Im probably going to end up buying one) if I had the choice between a '88 JS650sx and a '90 550sx which should I go with?

 

[baxt3r]

The one with the bigger motor?