Two weeks ago, Cycle Springs Powersports and their experienced sales team took to the famous Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, for the annual Tampa Bay Boat Show. With literally millions of dollars of boating inventory all in one location, as well as hundreds of area lenders on hand offering special show financing rates, the thousands of boating enthusiasts were entreated to one of the largest boating events in recent years.
Held over March 11 – 13, many boat manufacturers and dealers used the opportunity to debut the newest additions to their respective brands, including Sea-Doo, Yamaha, Mastercraft, Sea Pro Boats and many more. As the premier dealer on Florida’s west coat, Cycle Springs pulled out all of the stops for the Tampa Bay Boat Show two weeks ago, displaying not only one of the largest displays of ALL personal watercraft manufacturers – Kawasaki, Sea-Doo and Yamaha, as well as units from Gibbs Quadski – not to mention a selection of jet and outboard boats.
Taking front-and-center at Tropicana Field, home to the MLB’s Tampa Bay Rays since 1998, the domed stadium had earned its place in history as the only stadium in history to host full seasons of all four sports. After the last ticket was punched and the final hand stamped, the crew packed up what inventory they didn’t sell and went right back to work the very next day moving more PWC than any others in the area. But for fun, they gave us an inside look at the show field before the mayhem started HERE:
“We are rocking and rolling out an all-new Parts Department down at Myatt drive!” AMS President Chris Watts shared. “Stop by and take a look at our all new line up of latest and greatest riding gear!” As the final Spring showers disapate and clearer skies appear overhead, many motorcycle riders and watercraft enthusiasts are going over their closet of riding gear and storage containers full of ropes, bags and equipment and realizing that it might be time to step up to some newer stuff.
That’s where America’s Motor Sports comes into action. Not only are they fully equipped to land you the very best deal on a brand new (or previously-owned Sea-Doo or Can-Am Spyder or Side-by-Side), but AMS can fully outfit you, your riding partner, or heck, the whole family with the latest in life vests, helmets, riding gear and the like! Go check them out online or the newly equipped Parts Department in person!
Coming in at 40-percent smaller (gone is one cylinder and the reduction gear, integrated the oil tank, attached the ECU and air filter to the motor, and used fewer parts), 20-percent lighter (160-pounds), and 13-percent more powerful (125 horsepower) than the outgoing MR-1 engine, the TR-1 is now the standard powerplant for the entire VX lineup as it provides sharper acceleration, higher top speeds, and greater fuel economy.
At 1,049ccs, the TR-1 retains the near identical displacement as the outgoing MR-1 (1,052ccs), and is larger than both its snow and sand counterparts, which come in at 998ccs. Although all three versions of the engine are watercooled DOHC 3-cylinders, mistaking them as being identical triplets would be erroneous.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZAZSeq7ea8
The off-road YXZ features a broader powerband through its huge 10,500 rpm range, a vibration reducer that cuts engine vibration by 25% at 8500 rpm, a dry sump oiling system (with a baffled aluminum container) permits for a shorter oil pan.
And now, as of March 9th, 2016, the snowmobiles have something to preen over: A factory-turbocharged 4-stroke engine making “close to 200 HP”, making it the most powerful snowmobile engine available on a showroom floor. Built for the 2017 Yamaha Sidewinder, the new Genesis turbocharged and intercooled, 998cc 4-stroke three-cylinder features triple throttle bodies (a first in production turbo engines), lightweight, hardened steel connecting rods mated to forged aluminum pistons that are cooled and lubricated by an under-skirt oil spraying system, as the lightweight aluminum cylinders are ceramic-coated for durability.
This is easily one of the most impressive engine systems we’ve encountered in the powersports market, and wonder if and when we might expect to see Yamaha’s brilliance and ingenuity seen here applied to the personal watercraft market…
Chances are, if you have purchased one of Sea-Doo’s latest and greatest performance machines, you’re probably already looking for aftermarket parts. One of your go-to sources for the go fast goodies is RIVA Racing. They have been hard at it developing parts for these 300 horsepower Sea-Doos over the last few months, and already have a good selection of parts to choose from.
RIVA’s most recently released product for the Sea-Doo 300 hp models is their waterbox. If 300 ponies isn’t quite enough to satisfy you, this part should up the horsepower by reducing exhaust restriction and back pressure, especially on modified watercraft. The waterbox will also make the ski sound louder and even more aggressive. The innovative short design of the waterbox allows for plenty of room to perform maintenance on the supercharger without removing the exhaust system.
RIVA waterboxes are developed on a flow bench, and feature specially engineered exhaust tubes and end caps to maximize exhaust flow, high-strength aluminum construction, precise welds capable of surviving extreme heat and backfires, and powder coating to protect from corrosion.
You can purchase the RIVA waterbox for Sea-Doo 300 horsepower skis for a price of $419.95 at a RIVA parts dealer or on their website. We do suggest using this product with other upgrades to take full advantage of the reduced exhaust restriction. You can find more info on the RIVA Racing waterbox HERE.
Although a little late to the party, never say that Slippery Wetsuits doesn’t know how to make an entrance! With Spring officially on and the winter weather clearing up (well, that is for most parts of the northern hemisphere), it’s time to get your skis ready and gear up for the season. With that, Slippery Wetsuits has just released this teaser video of their new 2016 catalog of riding gear and apparel.
Over the past half decade Slippery might have appeared to have dialed back their presence in the mainstream watercraft industry, but their commitment to manufacturing some of the best-fitting, most comfortable wetsuits, vests and gloves (not to mention board shorts, booties and bathing suits) that we at The Watercraft Journal have come to review and enjoy, remains as strong as ever. Slippery (via Thor) continues to be a mainstay in the consumer market and retains one of the highest customer satisfaction rankings in the PWC and boating industries.
For 2016, there’s not really a whole lot that has been changed apart from color options, patterns and prints for the different wetsuits, boardshorts, rash guards and gloves, as well as patterns for the Liquid Race Boot and other items. Likewise, Slippery continues to offer a limited selection of standup riding equipment like handlebars and billet throttle levers, not to mention a full line of accessories like anchor bags, ski covers, tow ropes, lanyards, bumpers and the like.
BRP’s fantastic new Intelligent Shift and Throttle (iST) option on Rotax jet propulsion system engines brings electronic control to formerly mechanical functions in jet propulsion. With production started this past November, the ‘iTS system’ is a real game-changer according to Michael Carter- director of North American business development for jet propulsion systems.
“Our new ‘iST system’ is more than just electronic actuation of the reverse gates. The ‘iST system’ allows the operator to adjust the neutral position on-the-fly. Reducing the shifting effort was great, but not until we married that to our lateral thrust control and provided natural adjustment from the helm did we truly revolutionize the jet propulsion industry”, states Michael.
Like the iBR system featured in Sea-Doo watercraft which allows consumers to come to a stop on the water; the ‘iST system’ also delivers smooth, predictable deceleration when shifting to reverse while underway. Whether cruising, docking or what have you; the ‘iST system’ gives boaters the complete confidence of being in full control so they can fully enjoy their time on the water.
As the end of another highly successful Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) season comes to an end, 71 days of gruelling patrols were made way easier thanks to a fleet of Can-Am side-by-side Commander 800s, Sea-Doo GTI 130s and Evinrude E-TEC 25HPs. With the average yearly patrol season lasting 10 hours a day over the 71 days, their Can-Am vehicles have clocked up 319,000 kilometers this year alone of hard sandy work.
Sea-Doo watercraft and Evinrude outboards will have passed 51,120 hours of on water patrolling for the 2015/2016 season! This was all made possible thanks to a decision SLSA made back in 2009 to acquire BRP services with Can-Am, Sea-Doo and Evinrude E-TEC to help protect Australian beach goers.
BRP is a global leader in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and marketing of power sports vehicles and propulsion systems. Its portfolio includes Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Sea-Doo watercraft, Can-Am all-terrain and side-by-side vehicles, Can-Am Spyder roadsters, Evinrude and Rotax marine propulsion systems as well as Rotax engines for karts, motorcycles and recreational aircraft.
Their products are currently being used in SLSA clubs around Australia. The Can-Am Commander side-by-side with its innovative ‘Can-Am Learning Key’ limits speed for beginners and allows surf clubs to safely train the next generation of lifesavers. For the water, their Sea-Doo PWCs with its on-water braking system enhances safety and maneuverability.
“As the largest volunteer movement of its kind in Australia, there is no more worthy organization for BRP to support than Surf Life Saving Australia. Our products offer the best performance and reliability under demanding rescue conditions and are the most sensitive to the environment in the industry”, said Vice President, General Manager for BRP Asia Pacific, Gregoire Dupont.
Cycle Springs Powersports, the family-owned franchise dealership in Clearwater, Florida, is taking customer satisfaction to a whole new, and higher level. Owned by Noel Hughes and Marty Skapik, Cycle Springs traces its history back to a small garage in 1989 on the Dunedin Causeway. Hughes and Skapik came to acquire the original Cycle Springs in 2001, and since that time have grown the dealership into one of the largest on the west coast of Florida, providing not only quality pricing, but superior service to customers across the nation.
In part to the dealer’s handling of Yamaha, Kawaski, Suzuki, Polaris, Sea-Doo, Kymco, Glastron, Quadski and Flyboard, Cycle Springs also excels at ensuring customers receive not only the best pricing, but levels of service and sense of security from a powersports dealer. This is accomplished by offering a first-of-its-kind Lifetime Engine Warranty, Money Back Guarantee and 50% Pre-paid Maintenance Plans, not just for some, but for all powersports products sold through their dealership. In addition to these offerings, Cycle Springs also offers a handful of additional features for PWC (and jet boat) buyers as well.
In an interview with Powersports Business in January 2013, Hughes recalled how a December 2011 Yamaha tech bulletin (WCA2011-003) prompted him to create his dealer-added “Salt Series package.” In the bulletin, Yamaha recommended service technicians and dealer representatives encourage owners to apply a protective fogging oil (through the intake housing/tube) to coat engine internals not just before periods of storage, but throughout the season – particularly for craft operated in saltwater.
“They basically tell you to pull the intake track off the unit,” Hughes explained, indicating how the fogging oil kept the valves from rusting. However, according to Hughes, the process is complicated enough to dissuade customers from performing this suggested maintenance. So he developed his own solution — a small port plumbed directly into the intake tract that would make fogging the engine a simple, 10-second task.
“It’s part of our sales approach,” Hughes explained to Powersports Business. “We pull out all the service bulletins — we have them laminated — and we throw them up there, say ‘Hey, every manufacturer recommends you do it, and we’re going to take care of it. Instead of making it a 15-minute process, ours is a 10-second process.”
Marked by a yellow rubberized nipple fixed to the decorative engine cover, the Salt Series fogging kit is only one part of a larger package. As explained by Cycle Spring’s Kenny Gore, a second external kit includes a perforated tube that encompasses the engine compartment, allowing users to effectively coat their engine compartment with a penetrating, water-displacing spray oil.
“It works really well for the Spark models,” Gore told The Watercraft Journal during a private tour of the facility. “Since most people will never take the top off of their Sparks, and access to the engine compartment is so hard, we made this [Salt Series kit] to allow them to clean off and protect their engines when they’re not using them.”
And second addition was the inclusion of four pop-up cleats – similar to those found on so-equipped Yamaha WaveRunners – except embossed with the Cycle Springs dealership logo on the pad. A final die-cut Salt Series emblem is also added to each so-equipped PWC and boat. “This is just another add-on that Cycle Springs customers have come to appreciate,” Gore continued. “By adding just a little extra convenience here and some easy-to-use maintenance there, we’ve been able to really set ourselves apart from the rest.”
Hughes estimated that anywhere between 85-to-90 percent of all of the units sold through Cycle Springs leave with the kit, stating, “As soon as you show the customer the ease of using the fogging port, paint a picture of taking your $10,000 watercraft to the dock and beating it up without the cleats, they want the extras the package provides. [It’s all of] those little things are just adding to the whole experience.”
This, added with the industry-leading Lifetime Engine Warranty, a stellar Money Back Guarantee and 50% Pre-paid Maintenance Plans, as well as sales and service representatives personally escorting new and return buyers through the process of launch and docking their new craft in the water (a benefit of being so close to the gulf), truly sets the experience of buying at Cycle Springs ahead of so, so many.
CHA-CHING! Well, if there was any doubt that racing wasn’t making a comeback, all you have to do is look at the massive purse prize that AquaX is putting out, ensuring that this will be one of the biggest series in the world. With over $60,000 in cash up for grabs in this year’s AquaX Championships, the payout will be spread across both divisions (Enduro and Sprint), with “bonus cash prizes paid out to the Pros that deliver outstanding performances,” according to AquaX’s announcement.
The following AquaX titles will be awarded to the overall winners of each class:
We’ve spent some time documenting RIVA Racing’s completion of their comprehensive steering systems for performance Sea-Doos, but only now have we seen the fulmination of this gathering of top quality products into what RIVA is calling their Sea-Doo RXP-X 260/300 Pro-Series Steering System Bundle. This bundle includes all of the essentials to properly upgrade your RXP-X 260/300 the steering system.
The components comprising the RIVA Steering System Bundle are all precision machined from billet aluminum – perfectly replacing the original plastic steering system parts. Priced at $1,249.95, RIVA did leave off a couple of things just to keep the price down as much as possible, so don’t expect to see a pair of their billet iBR triggers or their new iControl handlebar. But that’s not to say that the bundle isn’t already bursting at the seams with really cool stuff. Here’s the complete list:
RIVA Sea-Doo RXP-X 260/300 Pro-Series Steering System The ultimate race proven steering system for your Sea-Doo RXP-X 260/300! Steering shaft is constructed of aircraft grade aluminum tubing for maximum strength & rigidity. Directly replaces plastic system with a stronger unit that provides variable tilt positions. Delivers a precision feel and the confidence to push your craft to the limit with improved dependability and comfort. Bulletproof bar clamp will accept any 7/8” handlebar. Includes all necessary installation hardware and instructions.
RIVA Sea-Doo Electronic Throttle Lever Assembly This billet electronic throttle housing utilizes OEM electronic actuators. Mounts to a variety of aftermarket 7/8″ handle bars. Precision machined from billet aluminum and anodized to prevent corrosion. Utilizes OEM electronic actuator which drops into our new housing for OEM electronic trigger operation. Fits all Sea-Doo models with iTC (Intelligent Throttle Control). Clamp on Handle bar design allows for adjustability of throttle position and angle.
RIVA Sea-Doo Electronic IBR Lever Assembly This billet iBR trigger housing utilizes OEM electronic actuators. Mounts to a variety of aftermarket 7/8″ handle bars. Precision machined from billet aluminum and anodized to prevent corrosion. Utilizes OEM electronic actuator which drops into our new housing for OEM electronic trigger operation. Fits all Sea-Doo models with iBR (Intelligent Brake & Reverse). Clamp on Handle bar design allows for adjustability of iBR trigger position and angle.
RIVA Sea-Doo Electronic Control Switch Housing (Right) This Billet iBR/iTC Switch housing mounts to a variety of 7/8″ aftermarket handlebars when combined with our Steering Systems. Precision machined from billet aluminum and anodized to prevent corrosion. OEM switches drop into housing with no modifications. Clamp on Handle bar design allows for adjustability of throttle position and angle.
RIVA Sea-Doo Electronic Control Switch Housing (Left) This Billet iBR/iTC Switch housing mounts to a variety of 7/8″ aftermarket handlebars when combined with our Steering Systems. Precision machined from billet aluminum and anodized to prevent corrosion. OEM switches drop into housing with no modifications. Clamp on Handle bar design allows for adjustability of throttle position and angle.
