New to wave runners, have $2k to spend, what to buy?

[JaguarS4R]

Ive owned over 10 ski-doo's and have been snowmobiling for over 12yrs and I know everything I need to know about snowmobiles but know NOTHING about wave runners, since im a ski-doo bombardier fan, im going to stick with sea-doo's. I want to spend about $2k max on a sea-doo, since being in chicago and knowing chicago weather, i probably wont even be able to use it that much but I still want one, so here are my questions:

1. What years to buy and which to avoid in general even if I wanted to spend more?

2. What is the best bang for the buck?

3. I always had the fastest ski-doo models, so which are the fastest sea-doo models?

4. What to look for when buying one?

TIA

 

[Rotor13B]

Your questions are sort of all over the place. You ask for best bang for the buck then ask what to avoid even if you wanted to spend more. Unless your using your $2000 as a down payment you're going to have to step in the way back machine like most of us have and find something mid to late 90's to get something remotely fast.

As far as waverunners go, Yamaha makes waverunners.

 

[Dr Honda]

96 or newer xp with an 800 engine.

They will go for $1500 to $2500 depending on the condition. And since you don't know much about them... take it for a test ride. A ski can run fin on the trailer... but could have a pile of problems once it hits the water.

 

[seadoospray]

I agree with Dr Honda completely. I own a 97 Seadoo SPX with the 800 engine and it does everything I want it to do. Good power, small and lightweight, good handling, etc. and I paid $2K for it in 2005. To my understanding, the SPX and XP of those years had the same hull and engine so either one will give you gobs of fun!

 

[JaguarS4R]

What is the models from lowest to highest? Whats the highest CC model and the fastest?

I looked into it a little more and it seems that I want the 97+ XP with the newer better looking body style and faster with more HP,

Whats the difference tho between XP and SPX? Any years I should stay away from? Is the first 97 a bad year? Is the third gen overall a much nicer one?

 

[seadoospray]

I'm a big fan of my 97 SPX overall. Aside from my own negligence causing a seized engine, I haven't had any issues with it. I've ridden Tigershark 770's, Polaris 750SL's, Yamaha 1100 triple, etc and I wasn't a huge fan of them compared to my Seadoo. I haven't ridden any of the newer Seadoo's but from what a few people have been telling me over the 5 years I've owned mine is it's a keeper. The hull design and powerful engine make for a highly desired combination. The newer XP's with a shock in the seat look appetizing and have a larger engine but they're heavier and from what I've heard they aren't quite as manuverable. If you want to fly around while hanging on for dear life, getting wet whether you want to or not, and doing 360's at 50mph, than the 97 hull design XP is for you!

 

[TIC]

Just get another 13 grand and buy the new 260 HP model with active suspension and braking.. You won't want to upgrade for a long time.!!!

 

[K-9Soldier]

hey, your best bet is to stick with a 96XP or a 97-99SPX... they came with the great and reliable 110HP 787 engines... they are all X-4 hulls and weigh about 450lbs. and are very fast!!! They are 2-seaters and are tipsy cause of their size. Great for jumping wakes and great for racing!!! I would stay away from the 97XP's because they weigh alot more due to the new bigger body styles compared to the 96XP's and 97-99SPX's and they still have the same 787 engine. If you are looking for the bigger body styles which are much more stable in the water, you'd be best off with the 98 or 99XP's because they came with the bigger 130HP 951 engines and are still 2 seaters. When it comes down to it you have to do your research on what you might like, everyone is going to have their own preferences, this is just what I would look at... good luck on your search!!!

 

[JaguarS4R]

hey, your best bet is to stick with a 96XP or a 97-99SPX... they came with the great and reliable 110HP 787 engines... they are all X-4 hulls and weigh about 450lbs. and are very fast!!! They are 2-seaters and are tipsy cause of their size. Great for jumping wakes and great for racing!!! I would stay away from the 97XP's because they weigh alot more due to the new bigger body styles compared to the 96XP's and 97-99SPX's and they still have the same 787 engine. If you are looking for the bigger body styles which are much more stable in the water, you'd be best off with the 98 or 99XP's because they came with the bigger 130HP 951 engines and are still 2 seaters. When it comes down to it you have to do your research on what you might like, everyone is going to have their own preferences, this is just what I would look at... good luck on your search!!!

I definitely want a 97+ XP bc of the body style and yes the 98+ is the better choice bc of the bigger motor, however, I can get my hands on a 97 XP with a trailer thats got great maintenance with rebuild carbs....etc with about 200hrs on it, what is the ball park of what its worth

 

[seadoospray]

In 2005 I paid $2K for my 97 SPX, bone stock with a trailer and low hours, well maintained...I'd say that's a fair ballpark figure.

 

[JaguarS4R]

why do some have the water that spray out in the back? (FLAME SUIT) I found a good 96, also whats wrong with a 95? Just the smaller engine?

 

[seadoospray]

Yeah I believe the 95 has the smaller 720 engine, but don't quote me on that. Are you talking about the tall rooster tails that some jet ski's spray into the air? If so, those are Yamaha's that do that. That's their trademark.

 

[Rotor13B]

why do some have the water that spray out in the back? (FLAME SUIT) I found a good 96, also whats wrong with a 95? Just the smaller engine?

afaik all (2 stroke) pwcs have some sort of pisser stream out of the back. It's so you know that the water is circulating through the engine. Speaking of which, I wish the seadoo pisser pointed up, It's kind of hard to see without really leaning back on the seat to check it out.

 

[JaguarS4R]

whats considered too many hours? If im looking for XPs and SPXs from 96-98, whats reasonable hours? and whats too much?

 

[SurfBeat]

Get a 97-98 Kawasaki 1100STX. Had I known in 93 what I now know about PWC's, I would have purchased a Kawi: Less cost for use (oil) and more dependable.

DISCLAIMER: I never had a problem with my Doo's until I let a friend use them and he said someone swiped the drain plug from one before he launched, thus enabling water to enter the hull and engine. The 2nd one puttered out whenever I WOT, so now I am repairing them.

I don't know how any hours my Doos have on them, but I use them several times a month from April to September.

This is just an opinion from a white man in CA that spends the summer on the Colorado River from Lake Martinez to Powell, but always comes back to Parker, AZ. Spend them dollars in AZ.

 

[JaguarS4R]

Get a Kawasaiki stx. Had I known in 93 what I now know about Doo's, I would have purchased a Kawi. Less cost maintenance and more dependable. Just one opinion from a white man in CA that spends the summer on the Colorado River from Lake Martinez to Powell, but always comes back to Parker, AZ. Spend them dollars in AZ.

1. Is it faster than the sea-doo XP?
2. Is that kawasaki's fastest?
3. Whats years were they made and which one to avoid?

 

[SurfBeat]

I'm grown up, so, I don't look for which PWC is the fastest, just the most dependable.

I suggest you take the time to research the Kawasaki line of PWC's.

 

[K-9Soldier]

If your gonna look at Kawi's your best bet would be to look at 96-97 ZXI 1100's or 97-98 STX 1100's, not the 900's cause they are slow, they are in your price range maybe a little more, there reliable for the most part but a little more difficult to work on, there slower out of the whole than the most of the 95-98 XP's but have about the same amount of top end... there a little bigger than the 95-96xp's and 97-99spx's and more stable and about the same size as 97 & 98xp's... They also smoke quite a bit!!! Hours on a ski doesnt really mean much on ski's this old, it depends more on how it was taken care of over the years... my 2 cousins and I all have 96XP's, they each use to have the 96ZXI 1100's and sold them for there XP's, its personal preference!!! All the ski's I have talked about are great ski's but I wouldnt touch the 97XP cause it still has the 787 and weighs about 100lbs. more cause its a bigger ski... My recommendation is to test ride the ski's before you buy one and if the seller doesnt want you to test ride it, dont buy it!!!

 

[JaguarS4R]

is this true?

"Ya, Ive been told to watch out for 97's & 98's. Apparently they changed the position of the engine and the air intake is up at the front. Apparently you get water in the intakes and cook the engine. "