Super Jet shockingly unstable- HELP!

[Hoopsie]

I am a 37 year old that just bought a new 2014 Superjet. I rode a 1989 Kawa 650 for many years and was pretty decent. After going through chemo all last summer, I was SO excited to get back on a standup and ride this summer again... and I bought a new Yamaha last Thursday. I was told that the SJ would be the most stable jetski I have been on- especially after having a 650, and was told that the 650 would pale in comparisson in every way.
I launched the boat Friday, stood up on it, and immediately felt that it was incredibly unstable. I don't know if it is a chine walk as I have seen on threads, or what is going on. I have been on many standups and this is the LEAST stable one I have ever been on. I am not even comfortable to stand up and just jump small waves. My friend, who had and raced Kawasakis also, thought it was maybe rider error, etc. He got on it, and fell three times. He came back and said he thought it was the most unstable jetski HE had ever been on too.
There has to be something wrong- I can't imagine a professional saying how much more stable this is and how much better it will be to ride, when we can't even stand up on the thing. Please let me know your thoughts. I thought this was supposed to be a great ski- even stock ones ride well. Help.

 

[BruceSki]

The 2008 and up skis ride much different than the 1990-2007 superjets. They changed the bottom hull design and steering throw.

I don't like a newer hull for Freeride. Too twitchy like you explained.

 

[Hoopsie]

Is there something I can do to make it more stable?

 

[OCD Solutions]

Practice, practice, practice.

 

[makejetskiinggreatagain]

Is there something I can do to make it more stable?

I found that on mine I cant ride on a straight plane without it doing that and glass water makes it worse. Oh ya and a full tank makes it worse for me. People have said they think its the back of the ski so they cut the bond line. Maybe they are right when they say it solves their issue, but for me the problem seems to stem from the front of my ski not the back. Others have mentioned a loose ride plate from the factory so check that real quick to eliminate that problem.

Either way, Ride while always carving on glass water. On chop they ride like a dream in a straight line or in a turn. As many mentioned in other threads, the new ones are best when ridden aggressively all the time. You will get used to it and learn to love how well they hook up in a turn compared to other SJ's...or at least I did.

 

[Vortex]

Youll get used to it. They are so much better in chop than the old ones, they built it to race...Ride plate, intake grate, sponsons, bars, steering, lowered pole bracket and spring, hull extensions, and turf will help.

Oh and practice.

 

[RRicketts]

I went from a 650 to a 14 sj. Very different boats. The Kwai can sled for mikes on a 90 this is not the case with the sj. Get the old steering or a retro fit kit to increase the steering throw. Makes the ski more fun to ride around. I'm 40 and there are no back flips in my future. I prefer the sj but it took a few tanks of fuel to get comfortable.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[VinnieMaxx]

I am 44 and ride the heck out of my 2008 sj and love it. You have to toss your your weight into it to get the thing to bite then steering input. Once you get this carve city.

 

[VinnieMaxx]

Do mod the steering right away. This will make it a new ski.

 

[augustaf]

I am a 37 year old that just bought a new 2014 Superjet. I rode a 1989 Kawa 650 for many years and was pretty decent. After going through chemo all last summer, I was SO excited to get back on a standup and ride this summer again... and I bought a new Yamaha last Thursday. I was told that the SJ would be the most stable jetski I have been on- especially after having a 650, and was told that the 650 would pale in comparisson in every way.
I launched the boat Friday, stood up on it, and immediately felt that it was incredibly unstable. I don't know if it is a chine walk as I have seen on threads, or what is going on. I have been on many standups and this is the LEAST stable one I have ever been on. I am not even comfortable to stand up and just jump small waves. My friend, who had and raced Kawasakis also, thought it was maybe rider error, etc. He got on it, and fell three times. He came back and said he thought it was the most unstable jetski HE had ever been on too.
There has to be something wrong- I can't imagine a professional saying how much more stable this is and how much better it will be to ride, when we can't even stand up on the thing. Please let me know your thoughts. I thought this was supposed to be a great ski- even stock ones ride well. Help.

What a coincidence! I've been riding for 37 years. Bought a 2009 SJ (same hull as 2014) and found it to be a chine seeking pos at low speeds on calm water. I had certainly modified the steering and found that if I "hang my tail " out and over the rear of the ski, the problem could be alleviated. After years of riding KAW 750 s, which would pretty regularly get the high speed wobbles on smooth water at speeds above 45 mph, I figured that's enough, sold the 09 hull and stocked up on 07 s. Your 2014 handles a lot better, as a matter of fact very well, in rough water or in the surf. Since 08 the hulls have been wider in front, sort of like built in sponsons- nice for additional Factory Pipe exhaust mods, but a bit much flotation for newbies or old people with slowed down reaction times.

 

[SXIPro]

I hate the way the new ones ride. I went from a 1998 SXIPro to my 2004 SJ which should have been like night and day difference, but it took me about 4 minutes to adjust. I spent a full day trying out a 2013 and all day long it was like walking on marbles. Was nothing like my 04 and nothing like my Kawi. Blecch.

 

[Vumad]

It is not chine walk. They narrowed the back end lf the ski. The water travels down the bond rail, then loads up on the bond rail on the back. Cut a relief in the bond rail sl the water can travel straiht dlwn the side of the ski then go out the back unimpeeded.

Upgrading the steering so you have more throw helps too.

The 2008+ superjet is built to be raced. It handles very well if you are laing into it but it handles like poop at low speeds.

I have a 04, but 2 friends that have 08+. The uncut lne rode terriable. The cut one was smoother and the owner raved about the imrpvement.

@Johnny Africa

 

[Vortex]

Its a jet ski in the real sense of the word that was built for racing. Racing is highly technical and athletic. Its not easy to ride. That's what keeps jet skiing interesting. A bone stock 96 hull is terrible for a beginner rider too.

The old kawis were so underpowered. Not even in the same building as a 701 jet.

 

[Dartman]

after cutting the bond lip, go with a aftermarket ride plate (worx plate wr312)

 

[cade_dutt]

i don't know about the stock bars on the new superjets, but to me a lot wider the bars made my old superjet feel a lot more stable

 

[Scorn800]

You need learn where to stand in the tray and transfer your weight. The new sj's can rail turns and track straight, it just takes practice

 

[jagerauto]

My 2014 jolts on glassy water, randomly from one side to the other. Just on plane. With me on my knees. I'm not sure what does it, it was a tad unstable when I first got it. I hang off the back to get the sponsons out of the water. I put watercraft factory sponsons over the built in ones, and I gained a lot of handling but straight lines are not fun. That's for sure.

So I bet it's the sponsons which do this. But I never notice this unless I'm casually riding. It's a race ski not meant to be casually ridden, and performs better in aggressive riding.

You could try hull extensions, and an extended ride plate.

 

[Vumad]

My 2014 jolts on glassy water, randomly from one side to the other. Just on plane. With me on my knees. I'm not sure what does it, it was a tad unstable when I first got it. I hang off the back to get the sponsons out of the water. I put watercraft factory sponsons over the built in ones, and I gained a lot of handling but straight lines are not fun. That's for sure.

So I bet it's the sponsons which do this. But I never notice this unless I'm casually riding. It's a race ski not meant to be casually ridden, and performs better in aggressive riding.

You could try hull extensions, and an extended ride plate.

Try one with the bond rail cut and see if you feel it still does this. Also could be the narrowness making it lean more. I broke my cable on my 04 the other day and kept riding it. i can turn it relatively quickly without steering.

 

[Shrivel]

Another option is to try and D-cut the stock ride plate. Probably won't help much at speed, but should help with stability at lower speeds.

 

[augustaf]

Tried it, did not work for me.