The new SX-R is awesome. Perhaps it's not the best freestyle/freeride ski but for racing, it's phenomenal! My buddies and I encountered one at the river a few weeks ago and it smoked all of ours... not to mention that all of our skis push almost 60mph. It might be heavy, but certainly fassst!
This is amazing! Props to Kawasaki for re-introducing the sx-r. Sure it's bigger and heavier but the fact is, it had to be 4-stroke and with low projected sales they had to make it work with what they already had. That said, this is also the fastest out of box ski the US has ever seen. If tricking is what your into the old sx-r wasn't a good option anyway so, who cares if this one is that much heavier. There is a huge aftermarket for freestyle, this is your best bet for flips anyway. This thing will be great in the ocean and rough water conditions. Oh yeah - and states where you cant have a 2-stroke! Its also a fair price. Fingers crossed Yamaha's next machine will be a little closer to the Benelli B3S.
Gen 1 Kawasaki X2 for life! The real dirtbike on water. Not to big not to small. fun ride, can carve buoys, fling it around, motorcross oriented design. Gen 2 X2 was a flop because it was to big and to heavy just like the sxr1500. It's a boat. Bring back the skis that you and a friend can pick up and toss in back of the truck. Gen 3 Kawasaki X2 should be gen 1 in size carbon hull with a v bottom with the sxr800 motor and weigh no more than 260-280lbs from factory. Any new rider trying to ride a stand up going over 50mph and falls off is about to endure some harsh pain so making these from factory to do 60mph is non sense. Stock ski from factory with no modifications, 45mph is perfect off show room floor and leave the aftermarket world open for making go faster parts to put on it once your experience expands. So build the motor (crank/arms/etc) to withstand way more power than stock form for the aftermarket parts. Very simple and market the heck out of stand ups. Bring back the crowd because it's a insanely fun sport for fit people but only a handful of people only know what a standup jetski is. My friends ride mine and their minds are blown because all they know is the big sitdown skis because there is no marketing for them.
So i think Kawasaki should make a 3 cylinder smaller ski for beginners maybe 1000cc 3/2 cylinder ski (LITE) not (HEAVY) class as i wouldn't let any beginner ride my stand-up if it could do 60mph for any beginner! they need to introduce people to the sport not hurt em. But that said this ski (HEAVY) should be great for racing
So Kawasaki says 'Come and Ride It'...well you better make that happen near me. I'm in Charlotte, and irregardless I feel like dealers won't have them available for test rides...
I think if you are racing ,this new sxr might be for you. If you are that guy who puts big triples into your sxr, this might be for you. I think if you freestyle, this thing is for sure not for you. I personally own a Supertet and a STX-15f. I rode my brothers SXR and thought it was too big, so I already know I don't want the new SXR. I feel that the bigness will take away everything I love about my Superjet and stand ups. So when you watch this video, you see pros ripping it. And I bet it is way easier to learn to ride than a Superjet. But when u wanna start carving turns I think it is going to tire you out faster. Like when you go from leaning it over one way to the other, it will take more effort. But if you are going for a destination ride, and it is rough, well then I think the SXR is better. But at that point I will just take my STX. I wish they could of had the money in there budget to develop a new marine 2 cyl 4 stroke. Maybe twin 600 cc with 80 to 100 hp.
We down here in Brazil are soooo disapointed with the new SX-R. Performance wise, we know Kawasaki hardly miss it,as we know it is agil inside the water eventhough is huge and heavy outside, but myself and friends who rides every weekend in our SX-R down here, were expecting something like HydroSpace did 10 years ago: come with a 4 stroke small engine, not more than stock90~100 Hp that would fit in the SX-R more than tested hull (same old one)..light ski, ski that the rider stays in the water all time, that is the fun of the sport, can easy move the ski from one side to other, price affordable, new tech little engine ...and so! From now on , if someone wants to have a real stand up ski, better stick with the new aftermarket hulls that are better and still the same size and weight. Bottom line: Kawasaki established a new class of ski, but defenetly not the same stand up class ski!
What happened? They get rid of it bc of the 2stroke BS then yamaha only skipped a year or 2 & brings back the same superjet. Now kawi brings the sxr back with a bigger engine... I quit riding a few years ago. I might have to get back into it if the price is right. If its over $6k forget it.
This is not the same stand up, it's basically an ultra Jetske without the seat. Seriously a four-cylinder 1.5 L engine? LOL, The original standups we're almost 2 feet shorter than this thing and came with a light for 440or 550cc engine. The best example of this was the SXR 800 which the EPA killed... The same EPA that forced Ford to produce those eco-boost i.e. turbo charged gas engines which are garbage. If they wanted to stick to that same cheat theme then Kawasaki could've came out with a lightweight two cylinder 4 stroke turbo or supercharged engine and a shorter hull... at least something like that the enthusiast of the original standups could get behind. Just my opinion anyway, still looks like a fun machine but nothing close to the original standups.
SAM T Theyre just isnt a big enough market for Stand Up's anymore, and Kawasaki knew this. They kinda did what they had to do, just to keep the SXR alive.. Everyone has their own preference and obviously this jet ski isnt for you or even me, but i KNOW even after having a Yamaha SJ for years, that i would still lovee to have this new SXR and i would enjoy it...
yeah i will stick with the hydrospace or k1! even a oem sxr hull will be fine. (pre 2011) the thing is a foot longer and 550 pounds lol my blaster with a 1100 weighs less hahaha
One more thing: It is clearly sure that kawasaki does not put money into jetski sport, the new stand up ski all the others from kawasaki have all the same 1500 cc engine, only 1 engine for all watercraft!... while in motorcross, ATV ´s, every year, we see new tech parts and models. I think Mr Kanamori did a very good job trying to keep up with the sport, and having no budget to do a new real SX-R with 4 stroke! I am green blood for ever ..but have to be honest, we are sooo disapointed ....
I'm more of a Superjet guy, but I'm glad that they are trying to bring them back. Unfortunately, the reality is that 2 strokes are dieing because of liberals who have no idea of how fun they are. Making a pig like this isn't what most of us want, but hopefully stand ups survive because of it.
Yeah politics don't belong here. However 2 strokes are very simple to understand and something I can diagnose, repair & upgrade in my garage. 4 strokes are indeed more efficient and powerful but also WAY more complex, basically a miniature car engine. I'd not want to mess with that considering that boats and jet skis are not notoriously reliable
What a disgrace to call a stand up. 550 pounds, over a foot longer than the 800 SX-R, with an old ass engine nothing will compare to the the older skis.
Would you rather have this, or nothing? They had to make a hull to fit off the shelf parts and off the self engine that was easy to ride, so it would appeal to a larger market...
