Hey guys, Im new. Would this be a good Jetski?

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Sparx, December 27, 2007.

  1. Sparx

    Sparx New Member

    Hey people

    I am looking at getting a jetski after having a thrash on my mums bf one. 1200cc 3 seater.. went hard!

    Looking at this 1996 Kawasaki 750cc, for only about 4grand, 2 stroke though.

    http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 273244.htm

    - How long do Jetskis normally last
    - How often do they need rebuilds
    - How much are rebuilds
    - What are imported chinese jetskis like?

    If you guys could answer these questions would be great!

    Thanks
    Sheldon
  2. Sparx

    Sparx New Member

  3. Skip both of those and get a stand-up. You'll get bored with sitdowns in no time. Everyone else on here will tell you the same thing.
  4. Sparx

    Sparx New Member

    Thanks, can you answer my questions that I have posted too?

    How much are standups though?
  5. FreeStylin_SJ

    FreeStylin_SJ Member

    Agreed sitdowns are booring, get a standup. you could pick up a nice standup for 4000 :)

    - How long do Jetskis normally last
    - How often do they need rebuilds
    - How much are rebuilds


    The first three questions you asked really depend on how well the ski has been looked after i.e. serviced, flushed , how hard they have been run..... the list goes on and on...

    - What are imported chinese jetskis like?


    Never read anything on them
  6. Sparx

    Sparx New Member

    But do standups, tow a biscuit? thats what I really want to be doing... as well?
  7. FreeStylin_SJ

    FreeStylin_SJ Member

    Stand ups can tow a biscuit (I just wouldnt recommend doing it as its dangerous and illegal :). by the way in NZ you have to have an open seat on the ski when towing, so pretty much u need a 3 seater ski if u want to tow anything legally........ Up here in auckland if you are towing anyone with a 2 seater and the coast guard catches you, you are in for a nice fine :)
  8. FreeStylin_SJ

    FreeStylin_SJ Member

  9. Sparx

    Sparx New Member

    Ahh that first one looks mean as!

    I just really want to be going biscuiting too, so I can take others out ya know.

    Hmm, but that first one looks real nice.

    I just have been told DONT buy a jetski, unless you want to spend more time fixing it then riding.

    Is this true?

    Cheers
  10. DIGGER

    DIGGER Member

    If you are really wanting to just do skiing/biscuiting, you may be better off spending the money on an old Fi-Glass Fireball or something. You can pick them up for about the same amount of money as a ski.
  11. Sparx

    Sparx New Member

    I am wanting to do biscuiting as well as jetskiiing though :p Thats why A powerful Jetski would be great, sitting down one.

    I bet if I got one of those standup ones I will love it though. I just want something that is not going to have to be fixed all the time, I guess its like cars though, if you thrash them they will wear out.

    Thanks heaps for everybodys input, and I will be choosing a jetski soon I think! Does any of those seated ones look alright. and will they go hard? and tow a biscuit?

    I don't want a boat, id rather a jetski.
  12. Rick XP

    Rick XP Member

    I have had quite a few skis and IMO i would not get a two stroke again.

    It is cheaper to run and maintain a four stroke ski by far. What most people dont remember is the cost in buying oil that has to be mixed in with the fuel in two stroke. At $100 a bottle for four litres and you are using 1.5 litres of oil each time you fill the tank thats about $35 of oil everytime you fill up. With a four stroke there is no oil to mix. So you are saving $35 every time you go out. I have seen some 4 stroke skis with over 3000 hours and have not missed a beat.

    Buy a four stroke 3 seater but dont expect to find one under 10k.

    That 750 you are looking is hopeless for towing biscuits. Its too under powered when the bicuit flys around the ski gets pulled in the same direction and lose control of steering it. Very dangerous.

    Good luck
  13. Sparx

    Sparx New Member

    Thanks.

    I really like biscuiting. But maybe I should just get a jetski to have a little thrash around on instead. Maybe could try biscuiting every now and then though.

    I wanted one this summer, but might have to look at saving up a bit more, or waiting till next summer and saving more.

    Yeah havent seen any 4 strokes for less then 8grand.
  14. nz_outrigger

    nz_outrigger New Member

    towing with jetski

    in my opinoin you can tow with any ski just depends on weight of rider and the biscuit.

    they have a very low drag a 650cc 1990 waverunner can tow them at half throttle with kids and i guy i ride with uses a 701 wave blaster for towing adults,you just have to get use to the handling as the weight is noticeable on these smaller skis.

    I use a jetboat and you don,t even know they are there
    four strokes are the future for skis just as they were for dirtbike and outboards
  15. Sparx

    Sparx New Member

  16. Rick XP

    Rick XP Member

    Hey mate. To be honest on with you they are both a peice of shit. But if i had to i would go with the kawa as it is quite easy to get parts for compared to the polaris. But my missus old folks has one of the kawas and they do a shit job of towing and is slow as a piece shit floating down the waikato river.

    Spend the money and get something decent other wise i think you would regret it.
  17. nz_outrigger

    nz_outrigger New Member

    trade me skis

    don,t like to give any opinions on skis as everyone has different ideas of what a good ski is.

    But a first ski should be a popular model just like your first car or bike because new and second hand parts are cheaper.

    The kawasaki parts are much cheaper than Polaris as they stopped making Polaris skis back in 2004 i think which is why they are cheaper to buy.
  18. Sparx

    Sparx New Member

    Yeah these are pretty good points. I wouldn't be towing biscuits all of the time. Have talked to both of the guys on the phone and think they both go real hard and could tow a biscuit easy.

    Both have had new rebuilds, I guess even if i just used it for this summer and sold it at end of summer, or even next summer would be sweet as..

    I know that you guys have had alot more experience and just like Car Audio I have learned to save up and spend the extra for good gear. (Same with cars now)

    But I just feel these little jetskis, the only downsides would be more drag towing biscuits, and wouldn't quite go as hard.

    I would love to try one out and see what it goes like, I thought 4.5g was a good price for one of these INCLUDING A TRAILOR and a new rebuild.
    Oh well guess will see what happens...

    Cheers
    Sheldon
  19. CHENZO

    CHENZO Member

    If you want to tow anything get a sit down ski! I agree with the guys about the polaris, no point buying a ski that is hard to get parts for becasue repairs are inevitable!
    Yamaha or Kawasaki are your best bets because the money you are spending will put you back a few years and the Seadoo's only really became any good when they started bring out their 4 stroke stuff which is modern and out of your budget at present.

    Yamaha GPR1200 is a great powerful ski, easy to get parts for and not too badly priced. Downside is that although its a 1200 its still only a 2 seater. Kawasaki STXR1200 is also a good ski, they dont make it anymore but there is plently of stuff around for it and the hull is identical to the 2007 STX15F so hull parts are not hard to get either.
    There are other good models out there, but judging by what you want to do I get the feeling speed and power are going to be important to you so these two skis will be great!

    Rick XP would be a good man to talk to about Seadoo if you want to go that way. I think he may steer you in a different direction! lol

    Good Luck.
  20. Rick XP

    Rick XP Member

    Hahaha chenzo. Yeah seadoos def have there good points and bad points.

    $4500 is a good price for the kawasaki. But at the end of the day it is very old and you a def paying for what you get. If you are thinking long term as in keeping it for 2 or 3 years i would def spend around 10k and get a four stroke.