QPWC’s first round of the Queensland Titles was held on Sunday the 18th October 2015 at Redcliffe. The day offered perfect tranquil Queensland coast conditions that we have all become accustomed to, with the occasional echo of “Heads Up” being shouted from above as the local skydivers dropped on to the beach offering spectators a treat with both air and sea performances as we all shared the local parkland area.
Everyone was excited to welcome back Tim O’Neil and Brett Douglas who only returned from competing at the 2015 World Finals earlier in the week, unfortunately Mitch Wayt missed this race as he was still enjoying his time over there.
The lemans start endurance kicked of the day, with riders dealing with the usual issues being engine failures and running out of fuel with only two laps to go, but it was Mark Dallow who took the hole shot and led the entire race to earn the top podium position for the day. Mark was followed by Brett Douglas and Dane Alberti, which made it seem like it was Kawasaki’s day with all three-podium places riding 300’s from Brisbane Kawasaki.
The highly anticipated vintage class made its debut, and these guys definitely let the good times roll with a new twist on the podium finish. Instead of scoring the actual races, their names were pulled out of a hat at the end of the day – proving that in its infancy, this class is all about the fun of bunny hopping these old ski’s around the track and just having a good old laugh. With the enthusiasm and interest from both riders and spectators I think it safe to say these classic skis will be here to stay.
Australia’s current number 2 for open ski Michael Stevens made the massive drive from NSW to show his support and took out first place. After some action on the water between Zac Humphries, Joel Batt, and Zane Taylor, Zac managed to take second place with Joel in third.
Bailey Cunningham was an impressive racer to watch on the day and I would bet, will be a force to be reckoned with in the very near future, competing in four classes – Endurance, Vintage, Beginner/Amateur Runabout and Spark/Sport.
QPWC also announced two new major sponsors for the season, TWT Concrete Pumping and Liquid Industries. TWT Concrete Pumping located in Brisbane generously purchased new radios, which were desperately needed and Liquid Industries located on the Gold Coast have provided a rescue ski for future racing events. Without the contribution from our sponsors racing wouldn’t be possible, the club and all it’s members are most grateful and expressed their appreciation.
The second round of the Queensland Titles will be held at Bells Beach, Redcliffe on 15th November.
This past weekend has been one that many racers and fans have been waiting for to get here: the AquaX race series’ final round. Originally slated for St. Petersburg, FL. in front of the pier, the AquaX team had to try and find a new venue due to the pier being demolished. Their location choice came down to Lake Dora in the City of Tavares.
After last month’s Grand Prix of the Seas in beautiful Cocoa Beach, everyone wanted to see who the top winners of the year were going to be. Saturday’s event had to share time with sister event, the P1 SuperStock boat races as they too had their final race of the year to crown their champions, and the City of Tavares’ planned seaplane event where airplanes were taking off and landing on the water.
After the mandatory rider’s briefing, the racers had some down time to make sure their skis were tuned in and ready to go. While this was happening, the seaplanes had a pumpkin drop from the air in celebration of the upcoming Halloween holiday. Sea-Doo had their brand new 2016 RXP-X 300 and RXT-X on hand for demo rides and the racers, fans and yours truly took our turn test riding the new machinery. All came back raving about the great product that Sea-Doo had come up with.
Finally, the racers fired up their skis and took to the water for the first moto of the weekend. All classes ran together for this final round. For this final round there was a noticeable absence from the Aswar brothers, Aero and Aqsa. This left things wide open for their teammate Mike Klippenstein to try to cement his lead in the 300 Class over Eric “The Eagle” Francis and Blaine Spooner. Both Francis and Spooner had different ideas on this though.
The 300 Class started their run to the first buoy with Spooner and Francis fighting for the hole shot. Francis took the lead and not relinquish it. Klippenstein seemed to be running slower than normal and it showed in the final standings, finishing seventh in the first moto behind other racers, Spooner and Francis.
In the 250 Class, it was the usual top three of Brian Baldwin, Eric Lagopoulos and Paloma Noceda that everyone kept their eyes on. They finished first, second and third respectively for the first moto. In the 200 Class, Travis Zielasko was determined that the championship and racing was a mere formality to complete the season on a high note. For his teammate and fellow 200 Class rider, Rob Greenwald, this weekend’s races were going to be bittersweet as it was his last in his long and illustrious career. They finished like they had for almost the whole year in the number one and two spots with the third spot taken by Chad Saxon for the first moto of the weekend.
As with other venues this year, racers from the Ski Class and Sport Class joined the runabouts. In the Ski Class, Johnny Smith took the first race of the weekend over his rival Broc Harris and David Cabrera. Smith then hopped off his Ski and jumped on his ‘Blaster in the Sport Class and pulled a win over riders Glen Jung and Lusito Yumang.
Day Two had everyone excited to see what was going to happen. The 300 Class had Klippenstein taking the win followed by Spooner and Saxon. In the 250 Class, it was Baldwin followed by Paloma Noceda and Sea-Doo rider Eric Lagopoulos rounding out the top three. The 200 Class was won by you guessed it, Travis Zielasko, Rob Greenwald and Chad Saxon. David Cabrera took the win in Ski Class followed by Broc Harris and Johnny Smith. The Sport Class was up next and Glen Jung checkered with the win followed by Smith and Yumang.
During the down time Fly Boarder Kristen Smoyer put on a show for the fans as she is one of the best fly boarders in the United States. This was going to be a pre-show for the flyboard World Finals that are taking place later this year in Dubai and she did not disappoint.
Finally, it was time for the third and final moto of the year: The race started as normal then things took a turn for the worse: Chris Leo spun out, which tossed him. Then Saxon, close behind ran over his ski, totaling it (Thankfully, Saxon and his ski were OK). Unfortunately, by the time Leo popped back up in the water, he was run over by Jeff Thorton. It all happened so quickly there was nothing anyone could have done differently. Leo sustained a broken jaw, and was airlifted from the scene.
The racing was suspended due to the severity of the accident, which changed the schedule a little bit and pushed up the Ski and sport Class racing for their final race of the year. In the Ski Class, Broc Harris took the win followed by Johnny Smith and David Cabrera. In the Sport Class Glen Jung took the win followed by Smith and Benjie Binford.
The runabouts were sent back out on the water and the final race of the year went off without incident. Eric Francis grabbed the final checkered of the year in the 300 Class followed by Mike Klippenstein and Frank Silva. In the 250 Class, it was a tight race between Noceda and Lagopoulos, who narrowly sealed the deal before an untimely getoff opened the door for Lagopoulos to pull ahead. Brian Baldwin, Eric Lagopoulos, and Anya Colley rounding out the top three. The 200 Class ended with the same three that had been winning so many times this season Travis Zielasko, Rob Greenwald and Chad Saxon.
For the season’s championships, the 300 Class went to Yamaha rider Mike Klippenstein who took home the gold by a 56-point margin. For the 250 Class, Sea-Doo’s Eric Lagopoulos came in ahead of Yamaha riders Paloma Noceda and Brian Baldwin respectfully. In AquaX 200 action, Travis Zeilasko and his Yamaha remained undefeated this season, earning the championship. Broc Harris came home with the Ski Class championship with Glen Jung taking home the hardware for the Sport Class.
The 2015 AquaX season finally came to an end with racers saying their goodbyes. It was a fun season with some new venues, and a lot more racers. It was a season full of fun, heartbreak and excitement. It just proves that AquaX will be around for quite some time and proves that it is one of the best professionally run events of the water world. See you next year!
For all of the results from this past weekend’s AquaX Series in Tavares, click the hyperlinks for the 300 class, 250 class and 200 classes. The Ski class and Sport Spec class are also available by clicking the respective hyperlinks.
FIN (or Find It now) Powersports Security is a cigarette-sized device that attaches to 12-volt power on your ski. It then connects up with satellites and you are ready to go. If someone moves or even bumps your ski, you will get a text and an email that tells you this. The FIN system prompts you to log in to their website and “ping the ski“ where it tells you whether it is moving or stationary where you left it, showing you on a map exactly where it is. If it was stolen you notify the 24 hour FIN center and they will contact the police and direct them exactly where it is.
The FIN system also lets you set a speed limit or a geofence. This way, if your kids break the established speed limit for longer than 5 seconds or go outside the boundaries you have set, it will send you a text and email with exactly how fast they were going or where they are. The yearly subscription costs $89. However, if you pay it early, you get it for $66. While most of us have insurance, and that hopefully will replace what is stolen, the FIN system does you better – you get your stuff back before they have time to take it apart.
This cool story came by way of “The Humble Observer,” an online publication out of Houston, Texas. The Houston Jet Ski Riders, (HJR), the 97 member group has been riding together since 2013. The club is active and the members enjoy getting together for charity rides as well as rides just for fun.
The club began participating in fundraising events when it got together for a benefit ride to raise money for the Jump for the Rose breast cancer awareness organization. Since that time, the association has steadily grown and become a non-profit that is focused on safety, fun, and community involvement.
“We do all kinds of coordinated rides,” Angela Theiss, founder of HJR, said. “All people with jet skis (sic), whether they are seasoned riders or brand new, can join us on our adventures.”
HJS is holding its first reverse Trick-or-Treat ride, which is an activity the group discussed for quite some time before deciding to do it. All participants must wear a costume while piloting their PWC and hand out candy to the Lake Houston community. The ride, held on Saturday October 31, begins at 10am at the north end of Lake Houston and will continue throughout the day. All skill levels are invited and encouraged to attend. Remember to wear a costume or you won’t get to join the fun!
The new run is geared toward presenting the club to the people of the Lake Houston community in hopes of attracting more members and increasing community involvement.
If you would like to register, click here or email Angela Theiss at [email protected].
Not every one who traveled to Lake Havasu City, Arizona three weeks ago came home with a podium finish. That’s not to say they didn’t work their tail off or battled their hearts out on the track. Sometimes, it’s just not in the cards. In the case of Aussie racer, Mitch Wayt, the Waverunner Performance Centre team rider charged hard at this year’s 2015 World Finals against some of the fastest Pro/Am Runabout Stock Class racers from across the globe and came out smiling.
Wayt qualified in second place. And during Moto 1 was involved in a first lap incident that knocked him back into 13th place. Undaunted, Wayt fought hard to claim 7th in the first moto. In Moto 2, Wayt was “forced wide in the first corner,” according to a brief recap by Yamaha WaveRunners Australia’s Facebook page. Fighting hard, Wayt locked in 5th place. It was during the final moto where Wayt USA’s Troy Snyder battled it out. A well-timed pass on Snyder landed Wayt third in the moto.
The combined points fetched Wayt a considerable 5th place overall in Pro/Am Runabout Stock Class, with the Australian coming in behind Brian Baldwin, Abdullah Alfadhal, Aero Aswar, who comprised the top spots on the podium. Wayt’s efforts also placed him ahead of acclaimed and seasoned racers Eric Francis, Aqsa Aswar, and Snyder. In representing both team and country, “Yamaha WaveRunner Australia would like to congratulate Mitch Wayt and the WaveRunner Performance Centre Team on the excellent racing result, securing 5th in the World in Pro/Am Stock Class.”
Image courtesy of Mark Clemons. Originals can be purchased HERE.
It’s a great day for us at The Watercraft Journal, as we can proudly and publicly announce that two of our advertisers – America’s Motorsports of Madison, Tennessee, and RIVA Motorsports Superstore of Pompano Beach, Florida – were honored with being awarded the Powersports Business 2015 Power 50 Award. Powersports Business announced its 2015 Power 50 dealerships Thursday night during the awards dinner sponsored by EFG Companies and National Powersport Auctions (NPA) at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., during the American International Motorcycle Expo (AIMExpo).
Being included in the Power 50 listing by the Powersports Business editorial staff only comes after an extensive application process focusing on a variety of business segments, including “new and pre-owned sales, events, marketing, service and F&I department operations, employee training and social media usage.” according to Powersports Business press announcement of the Power 50 award.
This year also marked America’s Motor Sports‘ third consecutive year in the Power 50. AMS’ owner, Chris Watts stated, “They say sports is a team effort, well so is business. I’m proud to say that America’s Motor Sports has won the PowerSports Business 50 award for 3 years straight!! Thank you to all the staff!”
For the staff at RIVA Motorsports Superstore, the inclusion in the Power 50 is equally rewarding. While RIVA Racing garners a lot of attention from us at The Watercraft Journal, RIVA’s Pompano Superstore is truly an adult toy box that we recommend all those in the South Florida area or those visiting to stop by and check out in person.
That is where Jetski World, Australia’s premier authorized Kawasaki JetSki dealer, comes in. Working tirelessly over the past several months and developed completely in house by their own performance team, Jetski World has developed TWO special edition Ultras for 2016: the new 340RE and 320LE. Both offer increases to overall horsepower, as well as improvements in acceleration, comfort and handling. Best of all, both of these machines will come with a special 3 year warranty guaranteed through Jetski World themselves.
Now, you might be wanting a lot more info on these machines, particularly the 340RE (the “RE” stands for “Race Edition”) that pulls all the way to a GPS-confirmed 75mph thanks to a ferocious combination of a proprietary ECU reflash tune, a redesigned intake system, an intercooler upgrade, new Solas prop and modified jet pump, and increased boost (over the factory maximum of 16.8psi).
If you’re itching for more information, don’t fret! The Watercraft Journal will have all of the details next week in an exclusive feature article unveiling everything. We’ll also have plenty more stories coming your way from Jetski World over the next several months – how they’re Australia’s ONLY licensed SBT dealer, how they develop and test their own performance products thanks to their extensive in-house machine shop and R&D team, and much, much more – as they’ve joined The Watercraft Journal for 2015/2016!
It’s actually hard to remind oneself that it was only little over a year ago that Yamaha introduced their entire 2015 lineup with the new RiDE dual throttle brake and reverse system, thus replacing Yamaha’s often beleaguered right-hand reverse lever (we were probably the more guilty of giving the manufacturer grief than most). The change not only dramatically improved the whole product line’s ergonomic aesthetic, but added a whole new level of control and safety. Now, all RiDE-equipped units start in a static neutral position before being engaged in either forward (using the right-hand throttle) or reverse (using the left-hand throttle).
Having spent so much time testing 2015 and now 2016 WaveRunners, we’ve simply come to expect the dual throttle system whenever we ride. But it wasn’t very long ago that Sea-Doo was the only manufacturer with an intelligent braking system. The magic of forgetfulness helps dilute the frustration of monkeying with the manual reverse lever, no matter how intricately engineered. By designing an electronically-deployed reverse bucket to gradually slow a speeding watercraft (upon demand), Yamaha has joined Sea-Doo in developing some of the most advanced personal watercraft on the market – and consequently establishing a new standard for boating safety.
The brake and reverse systems of the two manufacturers differ slightly, but not enough to confuse a rider hopping from one to the other. Yamaha boasts a “patented bucket design that forces water out the sides of the bucket, whereby acting as a virtual rudder” and does deliver exactly as promised. Maneuvering in reverse is so quick that it takes a little getting used to. And engaging the left-hand RiDE lever on one of Yamaha’s unofficial 260-horsepower, Super Vortex High Output-equipped WaveRunners is a strong indicator of the thrust you can expect when launching forward.
Prior to the implementation of RiDE, we had found plenty of reason to praise the then-current FX SVHO, but bemoaned the clunky reverse lever. In getting our grubby little hands on a new 2015 Yamaha FX SVHO WaveRunner, we needed very little time to recall our previous test ride. And although reviewing a 2015 model in the face of an influx of 2016 models may seem ill-timed, we argue that many units are still available at dealerships today, and for discounted prices, thus making them all the more attractive. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves…
First and foremost, the FX is deceptive. From the outside, the FX is rather staid in its rakish design. Whether its a naturally-aspirated 180-horsepower HO model or a supercharged SVHO, the hull, deck and trim remains the same (apart of course, from some rather decadent automotive-grade coloring). Only by adding the Cruiser option does the FX “bump up” in any sort of extra trimmings like pop-up cleats and the high-backed scalloped seating. Otherwise, the FX SVHO could easily slip past as a regular ol’ HO.
To many, that’s the beauty of it. Void of audacious badging, a custom hood or fairings, Yamaha lets its 1,812cc centrifugally-supercharged SVHO engine and 160mm pump do all the talking. The plant is no stranger to the winner’s circle, as Yamaha claimed four of the five Pro Runabout championships at this year’s IJSBA World Finals. Slinging 8.5:1 compression forged pistons, the SVHO runs large 60-pound fuel injectors, and an increased intercooler (providing an impressive 22-percent increase in efficiency) over the previous SHO model.
Putting all of that to work is a vacuous 86mm HKS supercharger with a 6-vein impeller pressing out 60-percent more boost over the SHO as well. Although the powertrain hadn’t changed since the 2014 introduction of the SVHO, the FX’s overall performance has improved nominally thanks to Yamaha’s all-new NanoXcel 2 hull and deck material. The new lightweight material shaves off just shy of 50 pounds from the FX platform (833 lbs. dry weight), optimizing the runabout’s power-to-weight ratio for quicker acceleration and throttle response.
And the weight savings are noticeable. When pinned, the FX SVHO’s race-inspired 8-vein pump (housing a 160mm impeller) produces enough thrust to leap to a full sprint from a standstill like a catapult, launching a single rider (with only a gallon or two of fuel in its 18.5 gallon tank) from 0-to-30 in 1.5 seconds, and up to 60mph just a hair past a second over that. Our bright yellow and black metallic test unit was well broken-in, and hit 69.2 mph on a cool Arizona desert morning (with the electronic trim programmed to a flat setting).
The big three-seater’s 140.2-inch beam manages to perform admirably in both above moderate chop and in the corners, but not without the necessary rider input. In the rough stuff, be prepared to stand up, with the 5-position tilt steering all the way up. When aiming to cut a hairpin, drop those bars to their lowest setting, slide your butt half way off the seat, and plant your inside knee flat in the footwell. The FX SVHO responds masterfully to body english, so be prepared to move around.
For those looking to just enjoy Yamaha’s most powerful full-sized runabout under calmer conditions, the pistol grip-style handgrips are comfortable, and the single analog dial gauge (flanked by dual LCD screens) is easy to decipher at any speed. Forgiving charcoal gray Hydro-Turf mats stretch over the wide swim platform and footwells, with a folding swimstep that fits flush to the transom when vertical. Total storage is a blend of screw-top watertight bins in the dashboard and beneath the rear seat, a glove box, wet storage on the rear deck (ideal for ropes) and a sealed front stowage totaling 33.2 gallons.
That being said, its difficult to contain our enthusiasm for this particular machine. Whether fooling around with friends, cruising the lake with family, or charging the buoys, the FX SVHO is more than capable. Yes, there are machines with more storage, more horsepower and more bells and whistles, and in most cases, you’re going to pay for those things too. Priced at $15,099, it comes in comparable to competing units. And it can run on the cheap stuff too (internal knock sensors detect low octane fuel and retard engine timing).
Of the full-sized runabouts to be offered for 2015, the FX SVHO manages to walk the line of versatility better than many others. The WaveRunner’s blend of ergonomic design, amenities, power delivery and economy makes it a performer that all members of the family can enjoy, and that makes it a winner in our book.
There were plenty of winners at this year’s quakysense IJSBA World Finals, but one that stands out among the fray is Sea-Doo who claimed their fifth consecutive Pro Open Runabout world championship last week. Piloted by Hungary’s György Kasza, the nearly all-carbon fiber runabout once started life as a supercharged Sea-Doo RXP-X 260, but what outpaced every other watercraft on the water was anything but stock.
Kasza was clocked at an estimated 94 miles per hour in the lengthy backstretch during Saturday’s motos, and held off last year’s world champion, James Bushell from England, aboard his 158 Performance Sea-Doo RXP-X.
Only during the first two heats did Bushell directly challenge Kasza’s lead, until the Hungarian continued to pull away lap after lap. The rest of the field was lapped by the duo nearly twice during Sunday’s final moto. And just for good measure, Kazsa also claimed the world championship for the Pro Open Runabout Slalom as well.
Here’s the original press release: Valcourt, Québec, October 15, 2015 – BRP (TSX:DOO) added a fifth consecutive Pro Open class title to its historic IJSBA World Finals championship count this year. The event, attended by the top riders in the world, helped usher in a new era of performance dominance with 2016 Sea-Doo 300-HP watercraft models.
Much of the buzz entering this year’s IJSBA World Finals in Lake Havasu City, AZ, was the launch of the 2016 Sea-Doo RXP-X 300 and RXT-X 300 models, and how they are poised to be the next dominant models in watercraft racing. After the weeklong event, the buzz became a roar to accompany the roar of the crowd after Hungarian, Kasza György, claimed his first Pro Open World Championship aboard a Sea-Doo RXP-X.
“The entire Sea-Doo team is extremely proud to continue our racing on the RXP-X by taking home the premier Pro Open world title for the fifth straight year,” said Julie Tourville, Global Marketing Director, Sea-Doo watercraft. “We congratulate Kasza György and his team on their win, and we’re excited about the future as the new 300-HP Sea-Doo models make their way to starting lines in 2016.”
The 2016 Sea-Doo RXP-X 300 and RXT-X 300 come equipped with a new ROTAX 1630 ACE engine that is bigger, stronger and more efficient than before. That, together with the new Ergolock system, allows riders to enjoy more performance, confidence and greater control to push limits even further.
A new era in lower horsepower classes has begun as well, as Thailand’s Nopphadon Sapmunsaerr claimed the first Pro-Am Runabout 1000 Superstock title on a modified Sea-Doo SPARK. This is the first world championship for the SPARK, which was introduced in 2015, in a class that has been dominated by late model Sea-Doo SPX models for the past 10+ years.
Multi-time world champion James Bushell won the $1,000 #SeaDooNEXTLEVEL Bounty Invitational in a head-to-head, three-lap race aboard identical 2016 RXT-X 300 models against New Zealand’s Carl Lampe. Bushell, who is from the UK, also finished second in both Pro Open and Pro GP classes on his Sea-Doo RXP-X.
In connection with the IJSBA World Finals was the Sea-Doo Ultimate Owners Ride V that drew 94 participants. Sea-Doo owners were led on a 45+ mile round trip from Site 6 launch ramp in Lake Havasu City, AZ, under the historic London Bridge and up the Colorado River to Pirate Cove Resort and Marina in Topock, CA. Riders from as far as Ontario and Denmark took part.
Visit Sea-Doo on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SeaDoo to view images from the 2015 IJSBA World Finals and to learn about upcoming events.
For more information on Sea-Doo models, please visit www.sea-doo.com.
Some years back, behind closed doors, all three manufacturers made a handshake agreement to share with each other their most sensitive data on a regular, monthly basis, including new vehicle sales, model production numbers and dealership performance records. The nature as to the whys and hows of the arrangement still remain mum to us proletariat-types as the agreement’s one caveat be that this information was to remain from the media and general public’s consumption. Yet, every now and again, we at The Watercraft Journal get a brief peek at the monthly report…
This year’s sales – across all brands – have increased by double digits, which of course is great. But what was incredibly noteworthy was September’s new vehicle sales; as both Yamaha WaveRunners and Sea-Doo enjoyed parallel growth of 10-percent, Kawasaki suddenly jumped to an impressive 17-percent. Some discounted the bump to heavily discounted previous model sales by motivated dealers, but the uptick over nearly double that of the other brands is still as interesting.
Currently, Kawasaki retains just shy of 10-percent of the total new vehicle market, with Sea-Doo over 50-percent and Yamaha working to close the gap. Kawasaki also produces the least amount of units per year (a number undisclosed to us, but estimated to be less than 4,000 units per year). When over twice that estimated number was sold in Sparks this year alone, you get an understanding of the scale of discrepancy.
“They’re on their way out,” one very animated Sea-Doo representative told The Watercraft Journal only a few weeks ago; and to the untrained eye, it would appear so. Rumors of Kawasaki boarding up its watercraft division have swirled in the online mire for half a decade. But Kawasaki’s “JetSki” brand still wields more equity in it than any other brand amid enthusiasts, and Kawasaki also houses the most vociferous fans beneath its big green pavilion.
Cursory polling shows people want to see Kawasaki back in “the mix” and would welcome a new product from the brand that first launched the standup that started the whole industry. But what you and I consider “in the mix” might not be the same as what the “Good Times Roll” company is envisioning:
Yes, we had heard all the rumors about a new 4-stroke standup. This has become the proverbial “elephant in the room” that everyone likes to talk about, like all the four-cylinder Rotax engine rumors from 5 years ago. Yes, Kawasaki has a working prototype, and there’s also no shortage of aftermarket hull makers who’ve mastered wedging the STX’s 1.5L beneath the hood of a SX-R. Whether it’ll come to fruition most likely depends if Yamaha’s rumored SuperJet 1000 garners enough demand.
But what can be counted on is what The Watercraft Journal was fed just a few weeks prior to the 2016 model launch. The very juicy bit of news came via a source near to the company to whom has very rarely led us far off course: As he said, “Kawasaki’s got a new runabout coming out next year. No, it’s not what you think it is, but something for people new to the sport.”
First, let’s address what “what you think it is” means: Undoubtedly, you’ve likely read the countless pleas we’ve made for a heavy revision of the STX into a FZ/RXP-X fighter. Even by leaving the hull alone, a stylish redesign of the deck, seat and hood, and shoehorning in the Ultra 310X powerplant into the STX – creating a 300-plus-horsepower STX-R – could be the adrenal shot the watercraft builder could need to propel it across the finish line.
Yet, as Kawasaki’s own representatives have openly advocated, “Win on Sunday, Buy on Monday” doesn’t really apply anymore to PWC sales. And as all of the manufacturers share their sales numbers, they all know that the most popular units sold today are almost exclusively naturally-aspirated, smaller runabouts priced for new buyers (Sparks and VXs). While the current STX-15F falls into this category, it only does so after applying dealer discounts, and still fails to offer many if any amenities.
In offering “something for people new to the sport,” the implication is a lightweight, entry-level “rec lite” segment vehicle. The likes of which will certainly require a new, more compact powerplant. For us PWC journalists, the rule of “look at the snowmobile line” for future tech doesn’t apply for Kawasaki, so we turned our direction towards its major efforts this year in both UTVs and motorcycles:
For 2016, Kawasaki made big waves in these two segments, particularly with the launch of the Mule Pro-FXT EPS and Ranch Editions, as well as the hot new 2016 ZX-10R superbike. The two new Mules (although not as titillating as the racier SxS’ like the new YXZ 1000R) are leaders in the utility vehicle market. Powered by a grunting DOHC liquid-cooled three-cylinder, the 812cc 4-stroke presses out 48.0 lbs. ft at 3500 rpm via 9.5:1 pistons. The less-than-a-liter motor has already proven itself as a versatile package and could be enough to push a small 3-seater to 45mph or so.
Of course, the gnarly 1-liter 998cc 4-cylinder engine new to the ZX-10R is the same found in the celebrated H2 and H2R superbikes. We’ve made plenty of cases for this engine (or a derivative of it) to be the next engine for the JetSki lineup, and bears little need being beleaguered here once again. But the engine’s proliferation amid the company’s Sport, Supersport, Supersport Touring and even Touring segments all attests to the engine’s versatility and abilities. We only ponder whether a 180-horsepower naturally-aspirated engine is what Kawasaki would see as a good fit for “people new to the sport.”
All in all, we argue that there’s still plenty of gas left in Kawasaki’s tank. It’s a smart play to return to Kawasaki’s JetSki roots with an affordable, fun and lightweight machine that encourages riders to push themselves and the machine, similar to the “it takes talent to ride” 440s and 550s. If in fact, Kawasaki is going forward down this path, we’re enthusiastic to welcome another entry-level machine. And if there’s still room in the lineup for a 300HP STX-R, you can bet we’ll be first in line to ride one.
