info on 4 stroke. 155 vx 215

[jvanpeebles]

I just sold my 04 gtx and am looking at a couple of other units to replace it. My understanding is the 215 and higher can only run on premium gas. Is this true? Also don't know much about the wake edition. So basically am looking at a 2008 GTX 155,215 and the 2008 wake edition. Don't know the differences and dealership just wanted to sell me a new one. Any thoughts?
Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Angler]

I have a 2008 GTX Limited, 69 miles an hour all day long on smooth water. I don't know if you have a safe place to ride that fast, but the 215 is very nice ride.

 

[Coastiejoe]

The manual calls for premium fuel for the super charged engine. I run premium in both my skis. One is super charged and the other is not. Small price to pay to help ensure a quality running machine. We have Costco by us and it is normally 20 cents a gallon cheaper. 50 bucks a year to be a member. If you never bought anything from inside the store and ONLY bought gas, you easily pay for the cost of the membership.

My GTX-155hp is like riding a Caddy. Super smooth and very good on fuel. My RXT-X (255)hp is like a BMW. Super fast and a bit more stiff in how it rides. I love my RXT and will never own a ski that does not have that kind of power. Simply a monster of a machine.

 

[jvanpeebles]

Thanks for the replies. I am up in canada so supreme gas costs about 140-145 a litre. Multiply that by 4 for your per gallon cost. Makes for an expensive hobby. How efficient is the 215 vs the 155. Any significant difference in how much gas is used. My 2004 gtx was a bit of a pig on gas. easily cost me 60 bucks an hour to run. Was hoping newer 4 strokes were better. Also was unsure about the ballast tanks in the wake editions?

 

[Coastiejoe]

Bottom line on fuel economy is,,,,

If you out your foot (Throttle) into it, it will use fuel. My RXT-X 255 can go through a tank a gas in a day of playing with no issues if I do wave jumping and high speed runs. My GTX can last for days on the same amount of fuel.

That said, if I take a nice ride on my RXT then I will have plenty of gas left at the end of the day. The reality is,,, the RXT is so much fun to ride that if I spend 3 or more hours on the water I WILL need gas for the next trip. I just can't help to play when I am on that ski.

I'm 48 yrs old but I am like a 12 year old as far as the excitement of riding when I am out on the lake...

 

[Michael211_2000]

Ditto what Joe says... the supercharged 215hp and up watercraft can be a real blast to ride but riding them that way will obviously consume fuel at a faster rate so...

Thing is, with the 155hp non-supercharged models you're limited by the available horsepower, yes they're still alot of fun but then you see somebody on a supercharged model just tearing up the water and you wish you could do that also but you can't. You can ride a 215hp model serenely, like it's only a 155hp model.... but that's a choice. You cannot get the crazy insanely fun ride of a 215hp supercharged model on a 155 hp model however no matter how hard you try! The supercharger's are a bit of a pain (requiring periodic rebuilds) but man once you've ridden one with a supercharger you'll never look at the non-supercharged ones the same way again!

Speed/power costs, how fast can you afford to go? >

- Michael

 

[Coastiejoe]

Seriously,,,

When you are cruising about 45 or so and some punk kid comes up next to you leaning forward like he is hanging on for dear life,,,
There is no better feeling than squeezing the trigger and blowing past him so fast that he literally turns away to PRETEND he was going to turn anyways.

There is nothing like riding a Super Charged machine...

Like all other toys, you pay to play,,,

 

[Michael211_2000]

But, with the supercharged ones it's a choice... you can cruise around all day long and barely use any fuel at all. It's when we're having fun with them, pulling multiple G's hard high speed turns and going submarining and such, that they start to suck on the fuel cell pretty hard. The extra power is definitely a RUSH!

If you really are fuel conscience then use the Learning key most of the time, it'll limit the engine's power and performance but you can still cruise around @35mph all day long... then when you want to really have FUN plug in the regular key and make some waves! WooHoo!

- Michael

 

[Coastiejoe]

Excellent point about using the learning key.

You will save TONS of fuel. Mine are set at 37 mph. The difference is, out of the hole they accelerate slower and will only reach the max programed speed. I ALWAYS put the learning key on my GTX when I take a new rider or a young rider out. They have a ball and don't even know they are being restricted. I then take it out of ECON mode and put it into SPORT mode for them and they have even more fun as you get out of the hole response but still limit it to 37 mph.

I normally swap the keys our for them after that and they are amazed of the difference. I will always take them out 2 or 3 miles into the lake and then let them ride my RXT. I have literally seen 4-people roll themselves off the back of the ski as they don't expect how fast it takes off...

 

[Carguy89]

A few choice modifications help the supercharged skis get better gas mileage as well. My RXTX has gone 80 miles on 13 gallons, 2/3 of which was ocean riding, and that was packed for a 3 day trip after riding for several hours straight.

If you're not going 55+ or making WOT passes all day, the supercharged skis are great on gas.

 

[jvanpeebles]

All great feedback thanks. I think my previous unit must have been worse than normal or something. I keep hearing how you can ride all day on these units but I could only do that on my older 2 stroke. I do ride it hard but would think I should not be dropping 50-100 bucks an hour on gas.
Do the ballast tanks on the wake edition hurt/help gas consumption. Appresiate all the answers. cheers

 

[speedbuggy67]

A few choice modifications help the supercharged skis get better gas mileage as well. My RXTX has gone 80 miles on 13 gallons, 2/3 of which was ocean riding, and that was packed for a 3 day trip after riding for several hours straight.

If you're not going 55+ or making WOT passes all day, the supercharged skis are great on gas.

well said...

Scott

 

[door54]

Bottom line on fuel economy is,,,,

If you out your foot (Throttle) into it, it will use fuel. My RXT-X 255 can go through a tank a gas in a day of playing with no issues if I do wave jumping and high speed runs. My GTX can last for days on the same amount of fuel.

That said, if I take a nice ride on my RXT then I will have plenty of gas left at the end of the day. The reality is,,, the RXT is so much fun to ride that if I spend 3 or more hours on the water I WILL need gas for the next trip. I just can't help to play when I am on that ski.

I'm 48 yrs old but I am like a 12 year old as far as the excitement of riding when I am out on the lake...

Yep aint that the truth...the 12 year old part of that equation is the constant . Nothin like it when that adrenal 'valve' opens up !