Standup vs Runabaout

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Garett0439

Location
Ventura California
Hello all, I am new to PWC and have a few questions I cant seem to find by googling and watching racing videos. There are many reasons to get a standup, and many reasons to own a sitdown. Right now I have an older supercharged sitdown but I am leaning toward getting a new four stroke standup. Here in California there are major downsides to getting a two stroke, so the options are either the SXR or 2021 Superjet. I don't know anyone who races nor have I ever heard of any races around here in Ventura, California but getting the best performing ski is important to me- and there is no better test than racing. So- what is faster overall? Are standups faster in very tight buoy courses, and runabout faster in the more spreadout highspeed courses? Or are runabout faster overall?
 
OCD Solutions

OCD Solutions

Original, Clean and Dependable Solutions
Location
Rentz, GA
Standups are to runabouts such as dirt bikes are to ATV's. They share similarities but are ultimately ridden very different and speed alone would be a poor measure.
How and where you ride will play a big factor as well. Unless you just want to go fast, then just get a runabout.

The runabout is probably always going to be faster but the Standup will always be way more fun, challenging and rewarding.
I grew bored of my runabout after one full season where I am still thrilled to ride my standup after 21 plus years of riding.

What are your riding options like around there? Big lake, little lake, rivers, ocean?

Do you plan to race?
Do you want to go fast for 1 mile, 10 miles or 100?
Do you want to carry anything with you?
Do you ride alone or with a group?
 
G

Garett0439

Location
Ventura California
OCD Solutions said:
Standups are to runabouts such as dirt bikes are to ATV's. They share similarities but are ultimately ridden very different and speed alone would be a poor measure.
How and where you ride will play a big factor as well. Unless you just want to go fast, then just get a runabout.

The runabout is probably always going to be faster but the Standup will always be way more fun, challenging and rewarding.
I grew bored of my runabout after one full season where I am still thrilled to ride my standup after 21 plus years of riding.

What are your riding options like around there? Big lake, little lake, rivers, ocean?

Do you plan to race?
Do you want to go fast for 1 mile, 10 miles or 100?
Do you want to carry anything with you?
Do you ride alone or with a group?
Click to expand...
Good points. I competitively race moto offroad, and if a standup to a runabout is a moto to an ATV I would choose a moto in a heartbeat. A moto can beat an ATV in every terrain, and there are endless singletrack opportunities for the moto. However, in mild offroad terrain such as baja 1000 the 800+ horsepower trophy trucks sometimes beat the bikes. Seeing these 300+ horsepower runabaouts has me considering them as a good alternative for a standup, just like owning a 1 million dollar trophy truck would be a pretty cool alternative to owning a dirtbike. Except of course I could never afford a 1 million dollar truck, but I think I could dish out the extra cash for a runabout- I am just not sure it is worth it, or if added horsepower = more fun. Here in SoCal I am close to the ocean, so being able to play around in the surf is a major pro. Also being able to use a dolly to launch anywhere, instead of trailering around a 900lb runabout. I dont have friends with boats or pwc so chances are I am going to be out in the waves messing around by myself.

So are you saying overall on the same race course runabouts are faster? Do runabouts corner about as well as standups on the buoy courses, or do the runabouts corner poorly and makeup for it on the straights to achieve a better over time? Or do they race on different courses entirely?
 
OCD Solutions

OCD Solutions

Original, Clean and Dependable Solutions
Location
Rentz, GA
Same course but never together. Totally different classes.

Also, only fools and dead men ride alone and this community will not pull any punches when it comes to that point. This is a dangerous sport.

The ultimate solution is to have one of each. At one point I had a 3 place trailer with a Seadoo, SXR and Superjet in it.

I even set up a course on my lake but like every other aspect of a runabout that got old real fast.
 
shockwave538

shockwave538

Location
Lake Anna, VA
You sound a lot like I was when I got into PWCs. Got a pair of Kawi 900s from a neighbor and thought they were pretty fun. Within 2 months I was looking into standups. The sit downs were good, but only give so many options for what you can do on them. After I got my Superjet, that’s all I ever rode by myself. The sit downs were good for taking the kids out, pulling tubes, cruising around for 3-4 hours with some neighbors, or loading with gear and kids to find a beach somewhere and chill. Even then, it was more fun standinging on my sit down if that tells you anything.

I 100% agree, standup:runabout = dirt bike:ATV. Both can be run on race courses just fine, but standups are much more challenging. On a couch (sit down) you will be paying more for parts for something you won’t enjoy as much. On a standup, you can run buoys, garb some boat wakes, tear it up in the surf, do plenty of tricks, and still enjoy a nice cruise. Couches are good for gear, passengers, and range. I have yet to ride in the surf, but I hear it’s quite the experience on a standup. You will have no desire for a couch ever after surf riding.

That is one scenario though where you don’t want to ride alone, as it carries a higher risk or injury or needing a tow. Probably best to have a buddy if cruising a ways down a river or somewhere else secluded. I ride solo plenty on the lake here, whether it’s a busy weekend or a quiet Wednesday in October, but it’s even better with buddies. Standups seem to have a magnetic property and you’ll be riding with new buddies before long.

You mentioned transport and standups definitely win here to. You can use a smaller trailer, buy or cheaply build a hitch hauler, use a truck bed, or even the back of an SUV or minivan. One buddy even put one in the backseat of a small airplane. You can get a beach cart to help launch on the beach or difficult access points.

If you want to just haul ass real fast, get a couch. Otherwise from what you’ve said, you’ll definitely be happier with a standup.
 
N.Penley

N.Penley

Location
Boone Lake, TN
I highly recommend buying 2 stand ups. Buy a nice one for yourself and a loaner for a friend so you are not stuck riding alone. They are so fun that most anyone you let ride it will be ready to buy one. We need to expose more new riders and get more interest generated. These things are a blast, relatively safe, and the cost of entry is not that high.

Just don’t get into old Kawasaki’s. They seem to multiply like rabbits.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Quinc

Quinc

Buy a Superjet
Location
California
Pick up a used superjet and ride it and see how you like it. If you dont like it sell it. I would also look into getting a 1993-1995 yamaha waveblaster, Krash Reaper, and/or Rickter MX100.




And what looks more fun to you:

Or

 
G

Garett0439

Location
Ventura California
Great advice, appreciate it all. I plan to buy a 2 stroke beater standup for now(looking at a kawi 650sx, superjets of comparable years aee like twice as much $), and see how I like it. My girlfriend can tag along on the sitdown and we can compare them. Will probably get a 4stroke Superjet when they start getting in stores here in CA.
Mikidymac, I thought there were a lot more places that did not allow two strokes. I guess its mainly Lake Tahoe, and Donner puts restrictions on 2s if lake water tests too bad. I dont know how often, if ever, they restrict 2s. But most of my vacations are to Donner/Tahoe so I will just have to cross that bridge when I come to it.
 
Quinc

Quinc

Buy a Superjet
Location
California
Garett0439 said:
Great advice, appreciate it all. I plan to buy a 2 stroke beater standup for now(looking at a kawi 650sx, superjets of comparable years aee like twice as much $), and see how I like it. My girlfriend can tag along on the sitdown and we can compare them. Will probably get a 4stroke Superjet when they start getting in stores here in CA.
Mikidymac, I thought there were a lot more places that did not allow two strokes. I guess its mainly Lake Tahoe, and Donner puts restrictions on 2s if lake water tests too bad. I dont know how often, if ever, they restrict 2s. But most of my vacations are to Donner/Tahoe so I will just have to cross that bridge when I come to it.
Click to expand...

A lot of people go to Topaz to ride in that area. Also Camp Far West. And check out Oceano Dunes beach and riding in the surf.
 
Quinc

Quinc

Buy a Superjet
Location
California
Get an SJ over a kawa. Better in every single way. I have a couple of 1991 SJs on a trailer I will make you a deal on if you want them. I will even through in some new turf.
 
wmazz

wmazz

Location
Riverside, CA
Garett0439 said:
But getting the best performing ski is important to me- and there is no better test than racing. So- what is faster overall? Are standups faster in very tight buoy courses, and runabout faster in the more spread out high speed courses? Or are runabout faster overall?
Click to expand...
Jet Ski courses have been getting longer and longer since the 90's. Like OCD Solutions
said, stand-ups and sit downs race the same course. But the courses defiantly favor the
sit downs. The World Finals might be the longest track you race all year.

In a typical stand-up race, once you get behind, it is hard to catch up. Practice and a
ski set up to run in the pump wash will help. On any track your set-up can work against
you and increase fatigue. I know more about setting up Kawasaki's and SeaDoo's for
racing, and on most built Kawasaki's, they often have the same port job that creates
a hard hitting powerband. This is the opposite of what you want for a jet ski race.

This is a quote from a different post that I was involved in.
The power comes on like a light switch with a hammer attached to it. I am blown away how strong this
motor is considering that it is a little 750. I am very very pleased.
Click to expand...
He is obviously pleased with his sit down, but I wouldn't be.

Hard hitting power bands work against your body in a race, and increase fatigue.
The bigger you are, the worse it is on you.

Another big mistake is thinking that a hard hitting power band implies more HP.


Bill M.

There is a large helpful community of racers out there, that can help you.

Don't forget, stand ups include Kawasaki X2's, Yamaha Blasters, and the
SeaDoo HX (but I haven't seen a an HX in a while).
 
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bird

bird

walking on water
Site Supporter
Location
La Crosse, WI on the BIG River
Quinc said:
Get an SJ over a kawa. Better in every single way. I have a couple of 1991 SJs on a trailer I will make you a deal on if you want them. I will even through in some new turf.
Click to expand...
The only thing better about an SJ is the 701 drivetrain. Get a stock SXR 800 and go have fun. Linear power, bullet proof hull, and you can "race" if you want to. Racing is boring btw, get into freerides. You can race your friends for free there.
 
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