Who's into stand up jet skis?

[Kfxrider90]

I'm thinking about getting one, as I'm purchasing a house on a lake with a dock off the back yard. I'll be honest.... I know nothing about them . I was thinking about getting something from the 90's to fit my budget. What models are reliable and decent from that era? Any info on the sport is appreciated.

 

[i_am_the_koi]

Paging Horsepower to the awesome skills courtesy phone.

 

[auntiebling]

Make sure 2 strokes are still legal on your lake.

 

[Bronto]

How fast are Jet Skis ?

Sure look like allot of fun.

 

[Blankpage]

Modern sitdown jet skies are very fast.
Never tried the stand up version.
Hard on the eyes in salt water.

 

[GPzPop]

Paging Horsepower to the awesome skills courtesy phone.

also paging Holeshot, too

 

[storm]

bit of a learning curve with the stand up ones imo....less fun, can't ride 2 people

 

[asthmodeus]

when you fall off the back the jet takes your shorts off and batters your nuts simultaneously. it's quite demeaning/painful.

 

[Butch]

The sit down ones really are no longer skis; they are PWC, personal watercraft.
We had Kawasaki JS 550 at Discovery Bay for many years. The 650 is better.

You can drag elbow on a standup; not the same on a PWC.

Horsepower used to race them.

 

[explorin]

How much do you want to spend? 2000 will get you something that is nice and reliable, plus fast. There's a kawasaki sxi pro that has a 750cc in my area (reno) for 2200...that would be a awesome ski.

There's also a js550 for 650 bucks, but I'd expect to put another 600 in it through out summer. Ride plate, impellar, this and that stuff

Basically, if you go old, get one that has the reed motor..if you go new, you really can't go wrong.

Stand ups do have a learning curve so it's best to go with some one who can ride just to help..if not, stay on your knees and just ride around for a while then stand up. I'm jealous your on a lake..which lake btw?

 

[explorin]

How fast are Jet Skis ?

Sure look like allot of fun.

Stand up? Depends on the impellar, but something with 750cc would do 50. But there more like dirtbikes. There more about getting to top speed quickly than all out speed.

Sit down, well they do make them with 1400cc turbo charged motors so..what's wierd is they top out at I think 73 which is a governed speed. I haven't read someone removing that and maxing one out yet.

 

[2nsane]

Paging Berto to the white courtesy phone.

 

[Kfxrider90]

How much do you want to spend? 2000 will get you something that is nice and reliable, plus fast. There's a kawasaki sxi pro that has a 750cc in my area (reno) for 2200...that would be a awesome ski.

There's also a js550 for 650 bucks, but I'd expect to put another 600 in it through out summer. Ride plate, impellar, this and that stuff

Basically, if you go old, get one that has the reed motor..if you go new, you really can't go wrong.

Stand ups do have a learning curve so it's best to go with some one who can ride just to help..if not, stay on your knees and just ride around for a while then stand up. I'm jealous your on a lake..which lake btw?

I am looking for something around 1000 bucks +-
The house im buying is on clear lake.

 

[Bronto]

Wow their faster then most speed boats.
Yes noticed how riders like to do turns and wave jumps more then flat out speed.

 

[horsepower]

Yes, Holeshot and I have a little experience with jet skis and can tell you a lot about them.
I'd rather just go out on the lake and let you play.
Am watching Isle of Man so I Pm'ed you.
Let's go ride.

 

[Butch]

ok, soap box...
there are a lots of idiots driving boats. They are big and fast and don't have brakes but they don't usually kill. Usually.

Jet skis are the dirtbikes/ sportbikes out there. They turn and accelerate and do that shit we love.

PWC are the... dudes riding quads? only they are scary fast.

I was hoping (back in the day, when I was a Discovery Bay dude) that this would bring more awareness to... operator education.

I don't think that has happened.

Is this a familiar story or what?

 

[horsepower]

I have to say that I never saw that problem.
That is because I trained all winter and left the lakes to go out on the circuit by the time the squids appeared. Then one day, someone invited me out just to play; damn near got killed by a drunk on a sit down. Yup, same stuff.
Same cure...ride in the middle of the week and before/ after peak season.


I'm psyched to have a thread wherein I should be "the definitive expert" here, yet fearful that no one will listen to any good advice anyways .......Also, sound familiar?

 

[RightCoastBias]

I have to say that I never saw that problem.
That is because I trained all winter and left the lakes to go out on the circuit by the time the squids appeared. Then one day, someone invited me out just to play; damn near got killed by a drunk on a sit down. Yup, same stuff.
Same cure...ride in the middle of the week and before/ after peak season.


I'm psyched to have a thread wherein I should be "the definitive expert" here, yet fearful that no one will listen to any good advice anyways .......Also, sound familiar?

Sounds like G's complaint about BARF ignoring women.

Just don't tell anyone you are "one" and maybe they'll listen to you.

 

[Holeshot]

I am looking for something around 1000 bucks +-
The house im buying is on clear lake.

Yes, Holeshot and I have a little experience with jet skis and can tell you a lot about them.
I'd rather just go out on the lake and let you play.
Am watching Isle of Man so I Pm'ed you.
Let's go ride.

I have to say that I never saw that problem.
That is because I trained all winter and left the lakes to go out on the circuit by the time the squids appeared. Then one day, someone invited me out just to play; damn near got killed by a drunk on a sit down. Yup, same stuff.
Same cure...ride in the middle of the week and before/ after peak season.


I'm psyched to have a thread wherein I should be "the definitive expert" here, yet fearful that no one will listen to any good advice anyways .......Also, sound familiar?

Danni knows her shit! Where on Clearlake? We've got a place up there where all of our skis/ pwc's are. Danni and I both raced those things when racing jet skis was cool..so like 20 years ago! I've still got a newer Riva built superjet and my old Kawi 750sxi expert mod boats. So heres the question: what's your budget? Almost always, I'm gonna suggest a Yamaha superjet, but budget will help.

Oh, and nothing beats a good stand up...they rule! When you get well have to get Danni and go for a mote...

 

[1footdown]

I had a 440 that I modded. milled the head, full exhaust, water box, welded crank and flywheel, ported the cylinder, ride plate, deep intake grate, oversized nozzle, stainless impeller, quick-turn, finger throttle, handlebars, grips, sano pad mat, handlepole spring, - mods for days. loved ripping around on it. But my jetski crew all had 550s, 650s, and a 750 so I couldn't keep up with them. So what. I could sub that ski all day and night and all they ever did was go full throttle. OK, maybe they did some turns and stuff.

I eventually made it into a 550 reed engine, which was much faster.
Later I bought an X2. That x2 was fun. Underpowered with a 650cc but still a unique and fun experience. People put a 750 or a Yamaha motor in it for kicks.