Conventional wisdom would have you thinking that in order to compete with Sea-Doo’s Spark that Yamaha would need to build an equally-compact, lightweight runabout priced below $5,000. Surprisingly, such is not the case. Although the highest selling watercraft for 2015 was (thus far) the Spark, it wasn’t the base model, but the high output (90-horsepower HO) Sea-Doo Spark 3-up with iBR version.

What does that tell you? It means that families want a compact three-seater with enough features to make it enjoyable, yet at a value enough to not break the budget. This gave Yamaha the mission to not only surpass the fully-loaded Spark’s perceived value by customers, but exceed it in every other facet imaginable (power-to-weight, storage, stability, and “fun factor”).

For the family looking to not only enter into the world of personal watercraft ownership, but to wring out of it the most fun and enjoyable experiences possible, Yamaha’s all-new 2016 VX Limited WaveRunner is an ideal fit. In addition to the purchase of the vehicle itself, owners are bathed in a cascade of additional offerings, making it one of the most heavily-optioned personal watercraft under $11,000 that we have ever had the joy of testing riding.

Let’s begin with the unit itself: The Limited boasts the all-new TR-1 1,049cc (1-liter) 3-cylinder 4-stroke powerplant announced last month. Replacing the heavier 4-cylinder MR-1, the new TR-1 shares much of its design with a similar 3-cylinder used in the brand’s snowmobile division. Moreover, the new plant is 40-percent smaller, 20-percent lighter, and cranks out 13-percent more power.

Set further back in the now far more vacuous VX engine compartment, the TR-1 takes full advantage of the Limited’s NanoXcel lightweight hull and deck material and delivers significant gains in throttle response, and packs all the punch of the outgoing 4-cylinder and more. During our testing, we were pleased to find a strong torque curve (without lulls or “flat spots”) that carried upward in a linear band.

Even on a hot and humid day in Kennesaw, Georgia, we fetched a top speed of 55.5 miles per hour, even with a single 230-pound rider. Weighing nearly 40-pounds less and producing an unofficial 125-horsepower, this new 3-cylinder power plant not only improves the overall performance of the Limited, but rightly cements Yamaha’s place as an engine manufacturer first, and a boat builder a close second.

And since the Limited is based upon the same Swiss Army knife VX hull used by the entry-level VX Sport, all the way up to the National Championship-winning VXR, the Limited’s ride is both controlled and sporty, able to happily lean in and cut a tight turn as easily as it tracks through mild lake chop. Snapping donuts is loose and playful when positioned right, ensuring that everyone will have a blast.

The Limited is swaddled in Yamaha’s Torch Red Metallic that glistens in direct sunlight, with jazzy black and white highlights, most prominently on the Cruiser-style tiered seat. The Limited also comes equipped with a king’s ransom of options including the increasingly popular RiDE dual-throttle braking and reverse system (which, responds famously with the new TR-1, far better than it ever did with the MR-1), Cruise Assist and No Wake Mode.

The Limited also includes possibly our favorite feature for which we pray becomes an industry standard, a 12-volt socket in the glove box. Ideal for charging a cell phone, GPS or VHF radio, the plug was incorporated to power an electric air pump (more on that in a second). The Limited is also adorned with four pop-up cleats and chromed “Yamaha” badging, as well as watertight storage beneath the rear passenger’s seat.

But, wait! That’s not all. Yamaha wanted the Limited to not only meet family’s needs but exceed their expectations. That is why the Limited includes a whole host of other accessories: a specially-made one-passenger towable raft and tow rope (all color matched to the Limited), a true ski tow eye, a special rope bag that attaches to the helm, folding reboarding step, a dry bag, and the aforementioned 12V pump to inflate the tube while out on the water.

Oh, and there’s one more thing: not only does the Limited come with its own special edition ski cover with a zipper access door to the glove box, but a hard case solar panel and trickle charger to maintain battery life while stored alongside or behind the house. In our view, the VX Limited is truly the best “family fun starter pack” we could ever see coming from a manufacturer.

Priced at $10,899, the Limited exceeds the VX Cruiser’s asking price by $400. In a quick web search, we found the total retail price of the included accessories nearly double the added cost over the Cruiser. And combining the 18.5 gallons of fuel capacity and the TR-1’s super-efficient fuel consumption rate, the VX Limited promises hours of fun on the water long before a pit stop is ever needed. Frankly, we think the Limited more than delivers on total value and definitely comes through in the fun department, and that should be enough to make up anyone’s mind.

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Yogi Berra once quipped, “You don’t have to swing hard to hit a home run. If you got the timing, it’ll go.” With the public unveiling of Yamaha’s lineup of 2016 WaveRunners less than a week ago, and the massive corresponding public response thus far, it is unequivocal that RIVA Racing‘s timing couldn’t be better.

While being regaled at the Amelia Island Ritz Carlton, Yamaha dealers were entranced by RIVA’s wickedly-prepped, hand-built Yamaha FZR 350 – and immediately bathed their social media accounts with snapshots of the one-off custom runabout. “It literally came together about two weeks before the dealer show,” RIVA’s Dave Bamdas explained recently to The Watercraft Journal. “We wanted to build a custom machine that showcased RIVA’s Stage 2 performance kit (as well as some other components).”

The craft put on display started life as a 2015 FZS, as indicated by its white deck and black hull (whereas the 2016 FZR features a red hull). In making the FZR 350, a massive list of top grade performance parts were necessary to make the FZR’s 350-horsepower a dyno-proven reality. As Bamdas said, the FZR 350 starts with RIVA’s Stage 2 kit, but there’s quite a bit more than that found on the WaveRunner. The 1.8L SVHO began its transformation with a RIVA/Vi-Pec V88R3 Pro-Series ECU, SVHO Intake Manifold Upgrade Kit, Valve Retainer Upgrade Kit, and Engine Breather Upgrade Kit.

Feeding the retuned SVHO both added air and fuel is a Yamaha 1.8L SVHO/SHO Supercharger Shaft Upgrade Kit, a RIVA/HKS Yamaha Power Cooler SSQV Blow-Off Valve, Power Filter Kit, a High Flow billet fuel rail, and fuel pressure regulator. And keeping the added boost charge cool and regulating the engine temperatures is a RIVA’s Yamaha FZ & FX SVHO Power Cooler Kit, SVHO Pro Series Engine Cooling Upgrade Kit, and RIVA Pro Series Water Box.

RIVA then replaced the FZR’s stock plate with a RIVA FZR/FZS Performance Ride Plate, FZ SVHO Stainless Intake Grate and RIVA FZ SVHO Pump Seal Kit, not to mention a new Solas Yamaha 160mm Concord 13/20 Impeller and a pair of Pro Series sponsons. All of this of course, not only pushes the FZR’s 1.8-liter SVHO 4-cylinder to produce a dyno-tested 350 horsepower at 8,300rpm (well over the stock 250 horsepower at 7,500rpm), but enables the FZR 350 to run up to a GPS and radar-proven 82mph.

On the outside, the Yamaha received an incredibly clean-looking custom graphics kit designed by Exotic Signs. Hydro-Turf traction mats covering the deck and footwells. Like the RIVA FZ mirror block-offs that were custom anodized, the FZR 350 features a brilliant orange highlight color throughout the execution, from the stitching in the RIVA/Jettrim custom seat cover to the RIVA FZR/FZS through-hull rear exhaust kit ring, to the billet inserts of the Pro Series sponsons.

Topping the FZR and concluding the build is a RIVA FZ Pro-Series steering system, Pro-Bar 32-inch runabout bar, and billet throttle, all sharing the same anodized orange hue. Built by RIVA’s own research and development team (the same geniuses who design and test every RIVA Racing part and component), the precision execution of the build is impressive, and the claims of both horsepower and top speed have been etched in stone.

So what will happen to the FZR 350? This one-off machine will be on display at RIVA Racing’s booth at the IJSBA World Finals in Lake Havasu, Arizona. After that, Bamdas shrugged, “Well, we’ve already gotten a few offers on it. We’ll see what happens after Finals.” But that doesn’t mean that the FZR 350 is gone for good. In fact, RIVA announced that they will be building 25 FZR 350 WaveRunners over the next few months for ready-to-run purchase.

The limited production run of FZR 350s will not be identical to this model, Bamdas explained, although all 25 production units will share a similar engine package with identical horsepower and performance results, but will likely leave out a few extras to keep it below the rumored $25,000 asking price.

Of those extras, Bamdas confirmed that all the extra anodized color-matching will remain as part of the package, but that there is the possibility of the ViPec being replaced with a RIVA reflashed ECU. Additionally, as all FZR 350s will be on the new 2016 Yamaha FZR, the anodized orange highlights are expected to be changed to red to match the new crimson hull.

Bamdas told The Watercraft Journal that the final parts list and MSRP will be revealed in mid- to late-October. Of course, that doesn’t mean that a FZR 350 can’t be had today, as all of the parts used to make the custom one-off machine are available currently at RIVA Racing’s web store. Having ridden a Stage 2-equipped FZR previously, we can attest that it’s the real deal; and now as a complete package, it’s definitely a home run.

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