Minnesota

[prettyricky218]

Hello Everyone,

I have a couple quick questions as I'm about to jump nuts first into this sport. I grew up racing motocross, got into street bikes doing both stunts and racing. The older one gets the longer the recovery time. I'm thinking of finally hanging up my motorcycle career and taking to the water. I've always loved the water (I'm like a frog) and can't wait to get my first decent stand up. I've had some clapped out stand ups in the past, but nothing like what I'm about to do/get.
my 2 questions are:

1st and foremost - Does anyone know of any decent jetski mechanics in the area of Minnesota? I live in the twin cities and though I don't need a mechanic yet I feel that having a good private mechanic in your back pocket is super important. I don't believe in paying a fortune to bring my custom ski to a dealership who'll literally rape me and not even let me speak to the real mechanic.

2nd - I saw there is a riding group section on the site, but didn't see anything for MN. It's the land of 10,000 lakes. Surely (don't call me shirley) there are many others who tear it up around here in the summer (A sad 3 months, 12 weekends) Since most of my motorcycle crew isn't about to get into jetskis with me, I'll need a new crew to kick it with, ride with and stuff.

Any info is appreciated.

 

[VinnieMaxx]

http://www.tcjetpilots.com/sortie

I am up in the Detroit Lakes area and do not get to the Twin Cities area to ride as there are so many lakes up North. I do want to hit the river yet this summer. You don't need to be a mechanic to keep your ski going and if you have a racing background you will be good to go. I am an old dude and just got my first 2008 SJ last year and love it. I ride 3 to 4 nights a week in the summer.

 

[yamanube]

Where do you ride?

 

[VinnieMaxx]

Just develop a good after ride clean and service routine and in no time you will know your ski inside and out. You will want to be adding this and modifying that but fight the urge and just get tray time until you have good riding skills.

 

[VinnieMaxx]

Cormorant Lakes, 95% on Big Cormorant Lake.

 

[silverbullet]

What ski are you planning on buying? I live just north of the metro, been riding a long time now.. I build and work on most anything from stock to customs, I get overlooked sometimes because I don't have a big shop or whatever, but what I do get is lots of compliments on what I build and fix.. there is a Facebook forum that has about 400 riders in our area on it.. twin city jet pilots.. it would help you get in touch with fellow local riders..

 

[prettyricky218]

I literally JUST sold my GSXR 1000 Sad day, but happy in that I'm now in a serious jetski hunt. I'm looking at a WDK ROK, and a BOB Gen 2 both carbon. Unsure which would be better. I (like everyone else) want to flat water back flip - braaap. But I do also want to be able to ride around. My mom lives by Crosslake and it'd be sweet to ride the chain of lakes and stuff, but I definitely have more interest in freestyle than cruising.


Thanks a lot silverbullet. I'll join the FB page and we'll keep in touch. I just may need a mechanic in the future if anything big comes up - I don't pretend to know it all so if you know your stuff and I need a hand I'll bring some business your way.
Just need to find the right ski for the right price.

Funny story I called my bank today to try and take out a loan. I can't use a custom jetski like a BOB or a Superfreak or ROK as collateral on the loan because most are titled as something like a 1990 SN SJ - No 1990 SN SJ is worth 7,000. so I'd have to do a personal loan with an APR of like %15

 

[chadman154]

every ski rides different, test ride a bunch of hulls before you pull the pin. I have gone thru numerous a/m hulls and everyone is something new......

 

[silverbullet]

If I were you, and just getting into the sport again, unless you have some mad skills or something, I'd be looking for something to just hone some basic skills on for right now.. those bikes you listed are nice and all that, but how's that old saying go, "if I had a nickel? " I can't count how many times a motocross guy has told me he can ride my stand-up and then I watch it pound him hard. Lol! You can always pick up another ski some other day.. can't go wrong with a sj, fx1, or even a kawi.. it would be a lot more rec riding friendly.. have fun!

 

[KMN]

I live in the Lakeville area and am just getting back into this sport again. I bought my first jet ski in 94 (750 SX) and just got it back from my folks. I also picked up a Superjet. MN jet pilots seem like a great group and I'll try to join up with those guys when I can. I wrench on my own skis, but mostly because I want to learn how and become a better mechanic.

 

[prettyricky218]

I don't claim to or even think I have any kind of mad skills on a ski. I was however always very talented on bikes. I can ride a stand up just fine. I've had some older ones. It's the freestyle I want to get into, but nothing so short that I can't cruise around the lake at all. I'd love to test a bunch of different hulls before I pull the pin. The problem is, since I don't have a ski I'm never at the lake, I don't know anyone with sick skis I can take for a rip to decide.
Perhaps getting a nice FX-1 and getting something better later would be good, however I'd love something I can "grow into" something that I know is capable so I can only blame myself when I suck.
I signed up on tcjetpilots Look forward to some of the group gatherings once we get skis. The wife is looking for a blaster.

Yeah, I like to wrench where I can, and watch if I don't know how. The big shops never let you do that stuff and I'm a newb when it comes to ski so I'm excited to learn. Always been nervous about walking away from bikes that I know inside and out and love so much to learn something new like stand ups. I'm excited.

 

[yamanube]

Go to the TCJP Sortie, plenty of AM hulls there you can test out if you are cool about it.

 

[prettyricky218]

I may do just that. And of course I'd be cool about it, I'm not a D-Bag ( I hope) haha
Problem is I have tenative plans to be in Canada that weekend and the whole following week. We'll se.
Thanks so much for the responses and info. I look forward to doing some riding with the TCJP crew. Getting a trailer hitch put on my car on 8/5 and am looking for a single trailer I can convert to hold a stand up and a Blaster. Then I just need to get a ski and ride. I think the wife found a wave blaster she wants to pick up this week.
If any of you know of any sweet local skis or trailers let me know. I'm in the market.

 

[yamanube]

I may do just that. And of course I'd be cool about it, I'm not a D-Bag ( I hope) haha
Problem is I have tenative plans to be in Canada that weekend and the whole following week. We'll se.
Thanks so much for the responses and info. I look forward to doing some riding with the TCJP crew. Getting a trailer hitch put on my car on 8/5 and am looking for a single trailer I can convert to hold a stand up and a Blaster. Then I just need to get a ski and ride. I think the wife found a wave blaster she wants to pick up this week.
If any of you know of any sweet local skis or trailers let me know. I'm in the market.

Lots of riders also spend time on the St. Croix in Hudson on the weekends, might be able to bum a ride out there if you can't make the sortie (although I would suggest trying to attend) There are quite a few self proclaimed standup jetski experts on the Facebook page, but I'm sure they will seek you out, be careful who you give your money to.

 

[silverbullet]

A boat trailer can be easily converted over to a ski hauler too.. just an option.. and since your already buying a blaster, another yami based ski would be a wise choice since you'd be able to interchange parts or at least keep some of the same stuff on hand.. was that you who joined the tcjp last night and commented on the 420+ members post?

 

[yamanube]

A boat trailer can be easily converted over to a ski hauler too.. just an option.. and since your already buying a blaster, another yami based ski would be a wise choice since you'd be able to interchange parts or at least keep some of the same stuff on hand.. was that you who joined the tcjp last night and commented on the 420+ members post?

I think that was KMN, I usually end up buying single place couch (sitdown) trailers, they can be had for around $300 and when converted to dual bunks hold two standups very well.

 

[silverbullet]

I think I've exchanged messages with you before, yamanube? And yeah couch trailers work good too!

Mike

 

[prettyricky218]

A boat trailer can be easily converted over to a ski hauler too.. just an option.. and since your already buying a blaster, another yami based ski would be a wise choice since you'd be able to interchange parts or at least keep some of the same stuff on hand.. was that you who joined the tcjp last night and commented on the 420+ members post?

I saw some post about something 420 but I did not comment or anything.
And that's a great idea about the boat trailer! May be easier to convert to a 2 ski trailer, while still being smaller than an actual 2 ski trailer. And thanks for the advice - for my stand up I will likely go with a yamaha based engine ski.

Riding the St. Croix sounds fun. Where do most people meet up and launch at?

 

[prettyricky218]

I think that was KMN, I usually end up buying single place couch (sitdown) trailers, they can be had for around $300 and when converted to dual bunks hold two standups very well.

think a single couch trailer could handle a stand up and a wave blaster? I thought the blasters are significantly more narrow than a standard couch so I'm hoping I can fit both a blaster and stand up.

 

[silverbullet]

They launch at the north Hudson access.. I converted a boat trailer to hold 4 stand-ups, 2 - 14' bunks.. works well..