Other new to the jetski scene...

[waterbox]

hey all, new to the site and the scene with a couple questions. I've been a long time motocross rider but a friend of mine just got me hooked on the standup jet ski thing. I've been riding his kawi 650 but I'm trying to get one of my own here soon. Whats a good, reliable ski to get started with? I liked the power on his 650 a lot, but I'm only 140lbs so I was thinking no less than a 550? My buddy tells me to stick with kawasaki, but I like the look of the yamaha skis as well. Anything helps, thanks

 

[EXPERIMENTAL]

for the most part (unless mods are taken into account)

KAWI = racing
YAMAHA = freestyle

take your buddy's opinion into account, but take it as only that, an opinion. make your own decision. I have owned both kawi 440 550 650 and rode kawi 750 and 800, but i have also owned yamaha 650, 701 (superjet and blaster).

and in m opinion it's yamaha all the way, but then again it's only an opinion and you need to find something you can afford and just get out and ride

 

[waterbox]

thanks for the input man. I want to find one that's unmolested because reliability is going to be a factor where i plan to ride.

 

[Tyler Zane]

it can be modified and reliable but it will not be cheap.

i like superjets because they are much more flickable and lighter than kawi's. the sxr 800 very planted and predictabl. if you like cutting up you may like the superjet better. you should ride both and make your own opinion.

if you liked the performance of that 650 dont ever ride a 701. you might think your content on the 650 now but damn what a difference.

 

[JamesG]

The SXR 800 is fun if you have surf as a balancer. The surf is what makes the sxr fun (Carving is great, I ride a SXR). Otherwise, definitely the Superjet because it's lighter and more nimble. I have never ridden any of those 650's or 550's and I don't plan on it. Too old for me.

 

[peterlocal22]

Rickter, call 615 freeride they build sick ski's

 

[eeerieski]

Budget? Intentions? Flatwater or Surf? Mechanically Inclined? Fiberglass Skills?

 

[Matt_E]

Rickter, call 615 freeride they build sick ski's

Srsly?
The guy is asking about 550's and 650's.

 

[Joker]

this is my first season riding and i have a js300 with some mods and i think it is pretty fun for what it is. i weigh 162 lbs. and it books. i got it up to 40 on a calm day. but if you want power go with what your looking for. i just think my 300 was a good learning expirence on how to ride.

 

[tipafew]

If you have the option to buy a Yamaha, do it. I can't think of a single person I know that has switched from a Yamaha back to a Kawasaki other than for racing. If modified correctly you don't have to worry as much about being modded. A Superjet with a Factory B pipe and milled head will run forever. You really won't see the reliability issues you see with bikes unless somebody was a hacker. Basic mods are pretty hard to screw up though.

 

[Twinturbostang]

Find a X2. It's the dirt bike of the water.

 

[AtomicPunk]

Most MX guys I know have gone waveblaster, and they can be had relatively cheap.

 

[waterbox]

Budget? Intentions? Flatwater or Surf? Mechanically Inclined? Fiberglass Skills?

thanks for all the input guys. A friend of mine got his 550 for $800, and my buddy with the 650 got it for $1200, so I was hoping for something in that range? Intentions are just freeriding, maybe pismo once and a while. I can definately turn an wrench, and I've got a decent amount of experience with fibergalss. I was looking at the fx-1 section on here, and I like the look of those, are they any good?

 

[brett]

buy yamaha. fx1 or sj and you cant go wrong...

 

[eeerieski]

fx-1 is good, smaller lighter and more rare, good luck finding one for cheap in cali. I got my sj and 750sx combined for less than your friends 650 but then again I was lucky, patient and I live where the lakes freeze over for 3 months of the year. For most people starting out I'd recommend finding a 650 sj, doing all the handling mods as you have time then jumping from the 650 to a 771 or similar modified engine offered by the guys on this site. look up jetmaniac in a year or 2.

 

[waterbox]

thanks for the info guys. I've owned yamaha dirt bikes and loved them so I've been interested in their skis as well. Hopefully I'll find a good deal on one one here soon before summer is over. But then again, i plan on getting a wetsuit....:mischievous:

 

[Joker]

ya i found a guy in indiana selling an 87 or 89 650sx with an A/M ride plate intake and bilge for 700 if your willing to make a drive or pay for shipping.

 

[extreemthrottle]

Most MX guys I know have gone waveblaster, and they can be had relatively cheap.

i rode mx for years, until they kept taking all our riding spots away. found skis, and loved them. found the waveblaster 1 and loved it even more. closest thing to riding a dirtbike on the water ever! i love hauling a$$ out the inlet and hitting the right wave and doubling the next one! you can pick up a blaster for a fair amount.
just whatever you do check them all out throughly before you buy! get someone who is knowledgable to go with you to check out potential problems, or past repairs, and any possible hack work..lol. once you get in, you wont get out! it is an addiction!

 

[waterbox]

Alright I've been doing lots of research, and I hear that the 550's are more unstable than the 650sx's. I've also read that the motors in the 550's were good until they switched to reed valves. So now i'm definitely leaning towards the 650sx or a superjet. One quick question, what is a B pipe? The one right after the header? thanks for the help

 

[Tyler Zane]