Stephen here. I'm glad you enjoyed it! I love making PWC videos and I haven't stopped, though there are not here on TFL anymore. If you're looking for more PWC videos from me, come check out Truck King. Thanks for watching!
I bought my first ski last year. I spent many many hours comparing the differences between the Yamaha and the Sea-Doo spark trixx. And it was videos like these that ultimately helped me make my decision, I got a 2-up spark trixx and I couldn’t be happier with it. With the spark the negative reviews I have seen from owners are because I don’t think they knew what they were getting when they made their purchase, if you are looking for the traditional wave runner experience from the reviews the Yamaha is probably the way to go, if you are looking for a “dirt bike for the water” trixx all the way 1) it is extremely fuel efficient, from my research more so than the Yamaha even though it has a much smaller tank, I usually use only half a tank when doing my beach riding all day 2) I am not looking for top speed I am looking for maneuverability, acceleration and jumpability, it matches much more powerful skis in acceleration (up to a point) is super tossable and I can go out on my spark when the lake is glass and get the ski almost completely out of the water due to the variable trim it’s amazing 3) I am a beach rider, meaning me and those that ride the ski have a beach and we go out for 15 minutes to 60 minutes at a time not all day so on board storage doesn’t matter to me 4) I like the closed loop cooling and the minimal maintenance it requires. 5) I am a single rider, both my wife and I hate to be passengers so the ability to take more that one MAYBE two people out at a time doesn’t interest me. 6) the level of confidence the trixx gives you is incredible, first time out after about 10 minutes of getting used to it I was doing the water wheelies, I’ve never been on a ski that I felt that comfortable with that fast. The ski is by far the most fun I’ve ever had on one, yes it will beat you up a little when choppy but I don’t think it’s as bad as others claim, when I want to relax and just cruise it’s does great (IMO), if what I described above is what you are looking for you can’t go wrong with the trixx
Darrell Miller In my google search your car can tow up to 1500 lbs which should be plenty for towing a single ski. Now maintaining speed limit going up hill that I can’t speak too but dry weight of the ski is ~420-440 (for the 2-3 up trixx respectively) a trailer weighs ~200-400 pounds so from this you should be just fine. Obviously before towing anything you should always consult the vehicle/hitch documentation before attempting to tow.
Ever tried riding with 2 ppl on a 2up seadoo? It sucks because it’s basically just a 1.5up. If you actually want to ride with another person your have to get a 3up
I have two 2019 Trixx, a 2up and a 3up. They are a blast and have been durable so far with over 70 hours on each. We ride them very hard, using 2 boats to create a wake that gets us 10- 15 foot out of the water. The plastic hull is a controversial topic but these skis have hit the water hard many times without issue. We finally cracked a hull BUT the rider hit a rock at 45 MPH. That would crack fiberglass as well. Everyone loves these toys, when we park the boats in a cove to relax, the skis never stop. As soon as a couple riders bring them back in, others are ready to take them right back out. These are freestyle toys, not a touring ski. Long rides in rough water trying to keep up with boats is a tough ride and you'll be pegging max RPM the whole way. Better off with a boat. The Sea Doo also has a closed loop cooling system keeping all water out of the hull and engine space with a bulge pump as well making it hassle free going back and forth between ocean and fresh water.
hey Chris, is the 3 seater as much fun as the 2 seater for a single rider? im gonna mostly ride solo but once and a while i figure the wife will want to join, seems like the 2up is really small for 2 people so im thinking of getting the 3 seater. but i dont want to lose the fun factor. thank you
@@fmxinsane 2 up is a bit small for 2 average adults and much less stable. Solo on a 3up feels very close to the 2 up, a little tougher to keep the nose up because of the extra trim on the back but I never felt held back on the 3up jumping wakes or freestyle sessions in a cove. Also that extra trim on the back can be removed.
Been a boater all my life, but my boat was in the shop last summer during our family vacation/reunion, so I rented a couple of skis. I chose to rent 2 Spark Trixx models because they were available last minute and affordable (the guy gave me a 15% military discount). Since no one in my family had every ridden a PWC, I wanted something that was easy to learn but still fun for me and my boys. We're dirt bikers and prefer something nimble and flickable rather than all-out top speed. The Trixx models were just plain awesome for everyone........including those in my extended family that are obese and not athletic whatsoever. My family plays on toys all the time, so getting out there and doing wheelies and spins was simple and fast to learn. There was enough power to do anything we were brave enough to try. When my cousins' family got on them, the Trixx were still plenty smooth and stable enough for an extremely shy and fat 11yo girl with no muscle coordination whatsoever. Like her daughter, my cousin is also large and very unsure of herself when having to be physically active, but they each were able to have fun on the Trixx at their own personal levels of activity. Bottom line is this: the Trixx can be a blast for just about anyone in the water! The IBR feature is fantastic in that you get real braking on the water, a neutral position, and reverse. Having ridden PWCs in the 90's, this is a deal-breaker these days. Add in the adjustable trim feature and you have a solid PWC for plenty of fun. I'm 6'3/250 lbs and haven't been on a ski in over 25yrs, but the Trixx was more than fun for this dad-bod. If I didn't already have 2 boats in my garage, I'd likely get a pair of these for the lake.
I’ve done a “boat” load of research before I made my purchase last year and I ended up getting Kawasaki STX15F. My main deciding factor was stability and reliability and it hasn’t let me down. A solid built machine. Not to mention the Black/Green is the sexiest in my opinion. In regards to neutral....I’m always forward with throttle wide open. Happy boating everyone! Stay safe!
You can get neutral just by pulling the reverse lever 1/2 way up. It’s not perfect and it won’t lock there so I wouldn’t leave it like that tied to a dock running but for maneuvering it works fine
We own 2 Sparks: 90HP, 3-seater with reverse, in our 7th season, no issues. Most of the time use in Sport mode. We are on a smaller lake in central Ontario and use for booting around the lake. Given they are made of HDPE plastic, do not worry about guests using them and banging in to the docks, well not too hard. Easy to trailer and store. Key for selecting PWC is what your needs are, where you will be riding, how much air you want to get and how fast you want to go. And for guys, beware of sitting while pounding waves, if you know what I mean😜
This is by far the most informative video for a budget (relatively speaking) watercraft I have seen to date! Reliability in a PWC is a tough one because of the salt water. I can tell you I have a 2008 Kawasaki STX 15 F, while it’s just giving me an issue now, after all these years it has been flawless up to this point. I have friends and acquaintances that have gone out and and spent $15-$25,000 on the big supercharged/ turbo charged Sea-Doos and and Yamaha‘s and they’ve blown engines, turbos and superchargers meanwhile all I do is change my oil once a year and the spark plugs every other year! Those friends have spent more $$$$ after 3 to 5 years on their skis just in repairs for what I paid for my ski and trailer new! That’s just nuts! A problem with these reviews when someone reviews them, they are all brand new, they don’t consider the long-term costs! I think that’s some thing that needs to be factored into these reviews Is the history of reliability on any given unit! This is by far one of the most informative videos out there when looking for a budget (relatively speaking) personal watercraft. To me that means everything because I don’t trade them in every two or three years. I also do my own oil changes and winterization. Having a naturally aspirated ski makes life so much easier for maintenance. Tell me guys and girls, does this make sense to you?
Thanks for the knowledge I'm a 57 year old man who is still A kid at heart and I have no experience with jet skis but I will get this ski doo spark as my beginner I live in Colorado
Good for you! I’m 57 too. I used love riding both the jet ski and wave runner . When they first came out I thought how boring all you can do is just sit. After my jet ski in 1988 I bought a 3 seater Yamaha wave runner in the early 90s. After that a jet ski seems like to much work. Lol
We ended up buying a 19 3 up 90hp Spark and a 2020 GTR 230. The 230 is double the weight. Honestly, we would have both been happy with just two sparks. The spark for their cost is quite amazing. The spark is almost as quick on acceleration due to the lightweight design. If I could do it all over again, I would have bought 2 Spark trixx 3 up fully loaded and saved LOTS of $$$. Great video as always!!
I ended up buying 2 of the 90hp 2 seat SeaDoo's and I'm glad I did. I get crap from Yamaha owners (none that have ever been on a Spark) about them not being stable and blah, blah, blah. Then I go out and do things that they can't. The advantage of the Spark is that they are light, very light. You can toss them around like nothing else on the water. There's a reason they are called personal water craft. I don't need or want 3 people on it or for that matter, 2 people. At that point they are a boat. SeaDoo created a whole market themselves and caught the others sleeping. The composite hull that Yamaha wants to bad mouth - it's one of the major advantages. Virtually zero maintenance. I don't have to worry about scratches and chips like you do with a glass hull. It takes a beating and never needs anything. Toy like - yup and that's what I like about it.
Good job! I have been a water-skier, wakeboarder, and toober for many years and have started to rent and look in to PWCs. Your video is extremely helpful. Thank you!
Happy you liked it. If you want more PWC content like this, come follow my new channel, Truck King. We just published our first (of hopefully many) PWC reviews!
We absolutlely love our sparks! ( 90hp 2up & 3up) if you're buying in this segment, you would be ok with not getting the highest feeling quality because you're buying for the sheer enjoyment these provide. For the price of some of these other Y or K models, you can get a base nodel SeaDoo GTI, it just all depends on what you're looking for. For us personally, the Sparks have provided such cheap and reliable fun. We've even put grandparents on them and although they do feel light and not as stable as a full size ski, nobody felt as if they couldn't handle or control it.
I've got two Sea-Doo Spark Trixx 3up PWCs. I went with them as they were the most affordable on the market; had I wanted something more expensive I would have went with a Sea-Doo Wake or FishPro. The biggest gripe from people online seems to be about the "cheap" feel or that the body is plastic when it comes to the Sea-Doo Spark models. I guess most do not have experience with the difference of Magpul Magazines vs. their metal counterparts. Plastic can be better.
mike h I never did, but I let friends and family ride them who weren’t as careful and maybe had an incident here or there such as a little impact with the dock.
For those who don't have 5k + to drop on a toy, I would strongly recommend older 2 stroke Yamaha waverunners. Many can be had for far below 1k and can be just as fun albeit without a few bells and whistles. Hit FB market, Craigslist, or letgo. Waverunner vxr pro with 701 motor. Good stability and handling for 1 rider. Some have sick graphics. Waverunner III(3) with 701cc. Great stability for two up riding(more like 2.5 not 3). Heavier than others but great for passenger. Also has reverse bucket. Waveblaster 760cc. Great handling and acceleration. Carves turns and digs from slow speed. Less stable at no wake speeds especially with a second rider(WB2). Get a WB1 if you want to ride alone and do wave jumps and sport riding. There are many other old 2stroke available as well. I have personal experience with these and find them frequently on FB, CL etc. for low bucks. Slight mechanical inclination helps with these older ones. But if they have cylinder compression and pump ain't rattleing or seized, they are normally pretty close to being ready to run. Hope this helps someone.
@@marcwhicher5242 my buddy has a 760 waveblaster 2, the dual carb. Great pull from low speed and really great acceleration in general. I like the motor. Want to put one on my 701 vxr but eh the 701 is fine.
looking into buying my first jet ski. At first I thought spark trixx was going to be my least favorite, but amount of reviews I have read/watch and how everyone is talking about trixx, trixx is the jet ski I want to buy
One other thing is that the spark is made out of plastic which is way easier to tear a hole into rather than the Kawasaki or Yamaha which are made of fiberglass. Just a thing to take into consideration when buying the Spark or Yamaha. Great video
Great video content… I went off of your information in this video content… And bought the Kawasaki STX160… And LOVE IT!!! I test drove an EXR after I bought the Kawasaki… Let me tell you… I’m sure glad I went with the Kawasaki… A better ride and it handles the chop a whole lot better!!! No Regrets!!! #TeamKawasaki
I'll give you two more reasons for the Yamaha. 1) If you go to jet ski rental places, most use Yamahas because they are known to be more reliable. And 2) I have found in my area that Yamahas are better supported with parts and service than the others.
Great video: My dad owns a trixx and it is incredibly fun, didnt do the water wheelie justice tho you can get way higher up. And it has touring mode for fuel efficiency and sport mode for fast accelerating.
I've got a few base model 2up sparks and they sit in the water for 6 months out of the year. I run them in the columbia river so we experience some serious wake. I personally find 40mph to be very harsh due to the wake caused by commercial traffic... so anything faster just wont feel safe. Also, if you're interested in buying one but you're worried about not having reverse, just keep in mind that you'll get used to not having it right when you get out on the water. I can dock and maneuver next to other boats and jet skis like its nothing... while getting slammed with wake. I would argue that if you want to get out on the water and you've never owned a jet ski before, go for the base model spark. I have put over 100 hours on one of them (and 50-80hrs on the others) over the past three years and I still dont feel the need to upgrade. But thats because I personally feel like the characteristics of a spark are not like a regular jet ski at all. They almost feel like a hybrid between a sit down and stand up type jet ski(and thats what ive become used to).
I was in doubt between a Spark Trixx and an EXR so I'm gald I watch this video right AFTER I bought my Rec Lite PWC 😫 Thankfully I went with the EXR 😅 I love it!
I bought a 2018 Yahmaha EX Deluxe after much research and talking to the guys who fix these for a living they all suggested the EX over a Spark. I have been very happy with my choice and have had it for 2 years now.
This was a good video, but I think you should have mentioned that if customers are willing to spend the money for a Waverunner or Jet Ski, then another option would be the Sea Doo GTI and compare what Sea Doo offers with a similar price point to the other 2 ski's.
Personally I’ve ridden both the sparks and the ex and I will say for better handling and a more comfortable ride it’s worth the extra money. Maintenance on sparks means if anything major you have to unscrew 40 plus screws. Not to mention the ex will be much more durable. Over time I’m not necessarily a fanboy of either but I do tend to like Yamahas a little more
Funny thing about those seadoo spark 60 vs 90 configurations. They're the exact same engine. They just have a different tune on them. When you have the 90hp config that give you sport mode which will utilize the full 90hp. There are a lot of people out there that will buy a 60hp and just add a tune to it which unlocks the 90hp and sport mode. There are also common tunes to go to 110hp or even 130hp.
I recently found myself in the market and chose the stx 160. Had a hard time finding a ski to purchase due to the pandemic, I have 2 seadoo gti 130’s and was looking for something cheaper but comparable. My base was 10,100 because I wanted cruise control for pulling tubes. I totally agree, reverse sucks compared to sea doo’s ibr system and no neutral sucks even more. I forget about everything I don’t like about the stx when I hit the throttle tho. That thing scoots but honestly I think it’s the only thing I like about it. The sea doo’s seem to handle much better too. I did not even look at Yamahas because I pull tubes a lot and the rooster tail just doesn’t work for me
Good stuff Stephen. You have taken the online spec sheet reading/comparing and turned it into a comprehensive hands on opinionated video that can give people a better perspective on what these 3 manufactured models have to offer in the real world. Since I have not been on one in decades, I was aiming for Kawasaki until you mentioned the price and the fact it has no neutral. Many people like to sit at idle and take in a moment of surroundings and or chat with others out on the water and not always be in motion. So big deal breakers to me. Still not happy with any of the prices. But IF I were to get one, based off what you talked about.. I suppose I would go with Yamaha as well. Because your recent experience with it is all I have to go on.
Nice video. I have researched and tested jet ski's thoroughly for a few years. I'm not dissing Rotax engines, as I know they can be reliable, but Kawasaki and Yamaha have provided consistent reliability with their models. I'm glad Kawasaki continued using the 1498 cc engine. I'm thinking about pulling the trigger on a pair of stx160X's.
I don’t know too too much on the two, all I know is that the EX is more for just riding and having fun and the Spark is more built for hitting it hard like... jumping waves and such.
I bought a 900 3up spark in 2014 when they first came out. Aside from maybe $1000 worth of repairs over a 6 year period, (Including Regular maintenance) The ski has been great to me. Salt water only aswell. Take care of your things and they will take care of you.
You get what you pay for. The ratios you show are all very close. Half a horse won't make any difference. However, the Kaw with 160 plus is by far the cheapest hp per dollar. It is also about triple the hp of the spark. Spark is designed to be the price pointer. It is not and will not complete with the other two. I just bought a new 2019 Kaw for 7K. Bullet proof motor, the longest on market of these machines. Do not need neutral as if I am just sitting why run the ski and add hours? Less parts to break. People don't sell used Kaws much as they run forever. You will not see a 20 year old see doo out on any lake that I know of. It takes heavier machines to produce more power. This is true of cars, boat, planes and even the space shuttle. With that you get much more power and speed, and cheap cost per HP. I can pull 2 tubes with 200 pound dudes. I know a spark could not pull one at a good speed or whip it. Get what you pay for. That is why the Spark is 1/3 the HP and plastic. PS. owned about 40 motorcycles so I am not brand loyal. I just go for the best bang for the buck. Oh, Kaw invented the Jet Ski.
With this I had to buy the spark 90HP bot trixx. I enjoy my jetski and my friend bought a kawi and said he preferred mine. Not sure what his is but his is 2010 mines 14
Great video! Love the exr, and kawa; however its worth noting that while its not fair to compare the dry weight of the exr vs the curb weight of the Kawa. Because the dry weight from Kawa its 726lbs (not 844lbs).
I have a 3up 90 hp Spark and a Yamaha Ex Sport. The Spark has been tuned and I swapped out the impeller. Now it’s just as fast as the stock Ex. Well.. the Ex has a slightly higher top speed and more comfort.
What the On the Spark I spent $250 on the tune and about $300 on the impeller. Now On the EX I spent $200 on a Riva ride plate and $40 on a EXR intake grate. The EX is so much better in rough condition now. Can’t even compare. Plus the EX motor has much more punch all around. Also something interesting is that I’m so use to closed loop cooling but noticed now with my Yamaha that it doesn’t actually affect engine performance as much. Meaning When the temperature or humidity level is high the spark loses power but the EX continues to have just as much power because it’s been cooled by the cooler water.
The more I see these new skis, the more glad I am that I have my 89 Kawi 650sx and my 93 Superjet. These new floating couches should just be classified as mini boats.
I bought a 2002 2-stroke Seadoo in 2015. Got it for less than $3,000 with less than 60 miles on it. We've put an extra 40 hours on it, but every summer it has a bazillion problems. We have to take it out of the lake at least twice. Just had my buddy fix it again, dropped it in, and it took on water. I'll have to take it out again this weekend. I've spent a lot of money repairing it...looking at buying a newish jetski so I'm not spending a bitch ton of time and money taking it out of the lake and repairing it.
Like a tinker toy. Think of a very powerful motorcycle like the Kawasaki H2, it's a toy. So is a scooter. But the H2 will blow your socks off with a twist of the wrist. Pin the throttle on these jet skis and see which one you'd let go first. Go ahead and try it the kawi, it'll do 62+mph with the big guy on it. You'd have to spend 50% more for another brand to keep up.
The biggest problem with this comparison is the power to weight ratio. Kawasaki rates there weight full of oil and fuel and since it has a huge 20.9 gallon fuel tank it makes it weight look way more. The Yamaha and spark are dry weight no fluids. Also some ppl don’t realize the reason for a 3 seater is for towing skiers. You need a spotter plus room for the skier to make it legal. Try towing a tube with a spark lol
Growing up we had a early 90s sea doo. It was a 2 seater, as long as everyone was under 150 lbs or so. Not stable or fast, but a blast to ride around. I bet that spark feels super stable in comparison.
I have a 2019 Yamaha EX deluxe and a 2020 Yamaha EXR. both are a blast but definitely can tell the difference in power. You are absolutely correct in the quality difference between the the spark and the EX. when I upgrade, I’ll be sticking with Yamaha.
Jeff, is there an option of a sport mode button like the 90hp has, or it is 90hp all the time after the tune. It would be great to have it switchable to capitalize on fuel economy when not blasting, or when letting the kids drive.
Dude, I have a limited VX, two of them actually. Yes, they don't hit 65mph like others, but cruising around? Yes. My 6/8 yo kids love it and every once in a while we tow a big mable tow-able and it's great. We've been averaging less than the WOT of 8gph and go consistently 4-6 hours cruising @35=-45mph at 3/4 throttle or less. I have 9 to 12 hours on them and need service now. It's not necessarily expensive, but you need to take it for service. Also buy med rx fuel stabilizer. 1 bottle of like 3.5 oz split between two skis every time you fill up, or portion out to partial tanks as part of your top off, etc.
Wasn’t the light weight plastic hull on the spark it’s selling point... I don’t think I would mind if my jet ski feels like a toy. Definitely don’t want it to feel like work
@@mrrdog4833 yes technically it does suck water and blows to, but the 90hp base has the highest power to weight. They are recreation not sport or race so enjoy
Just found a Yamaha Ex sport here in SD for $4500 it has a lot of mileage but these motor are rock solid can even go 1000 hours with proper maintenance..
Have 19 and 20 trixx 3 ups. Literally have to fight the teenagers to get my turn. Less stressful around the dock with the trixx vs the fiberglass models.
I own an exr and I love it. As you said it does not feel super planted. Great for ripping donuts but if you try and turn in at high speed it does skip on top of the water which can be a little sketchy. And it doesn’t do well in choppy water. I ride with a buddy that has a vx limited and on flat water we’re side by side, but a busy day on the lake I can’t keep up without getting my ass destroyed and my arms ripped apart.
I appreciate the review but you didn't go into the mechanical closed loop cooling vs open, or hull design material. and the point of a jetski is to have fun so you had it right saying get the trixx. anything else then just get a boat. I am 220lbs and have thrashed my father in laws 2up ho spark for the last 4 years, wheelies, jumps nose stops with reverse...never had an issue other than the handle bars squeeking a bit more than they used to.
I'm pretty sure the base Spark has just .7 (YES, .7, not 7!) gallons of storage because all you get is the glove box. The front storage bin is an accessory at $160 US.
Leaning that way too. Stability is actually important and Kawasaki is reliable. Had my stx-15f for 16 years with no engine trouble. Just fuel and oil pump got old.
just a suggestion, when calculating power to weight ratio, the correct more accurate way would be to add an average weight of one driver, as jetskis dont drive themselves, you know :)))
You should do gas mileage or pwc equivalent. The spark will run all day on one tank of gas can the others do that? Pulling the skiis to get more gas takes time away from play time. Nice Vid!
Let's be honest here...the STX 160 is a completely different class of PWC than the other two. Yeah the tech might be a bit dated but it's much heavier and more powerful and will get you over 60 mph. I've heard the Spark is the most fun in terms of light, nimble handling though I'm curious how the EX compares in this area. You'll definitely be getting better build quality with the Yamaha...Sea Doo cut a lot of corners on the Spark to keep the price down (for example you have to take the whole top of the hull of to change the oil, and it's held together with self-tapping screws).
My buddy's dad owns the Yamaha dealership in Chico California and he told me the EXR was the best for the money. Thank you sharing this video. Good info.
I was thinking about buying two Seadoo Sparks, but now I changed my mind. The Yamaha is a fiberglass hull, not Seadoo Plastic. The Yamaha is made in the US and engine comes from Japan. .. I own a lot of BRP products and happy with them. But the Spark comes from Mexico..
You didn't go into fuel consumption and range. I'm an outlaw and sometimes I have to make long jumpes. During winter 5 to 10 foot are common on a good day, and when you stuck out in the bush which one is the more comfortable to sleep on. And do any of them give off a bigger radar signature than the other. And who would have the best impeller mods. I hear a lot about that.
I like Kawasaki in an early stage. The standing ride type. The reason is because it's light-weight and compact. A delivery from a home to the beach is easy.
I went with a pair of 2020 VX Limited Yamahas, got them for 10300 each. They are aweseme. Although I did flip one over the other day lol...good thing I watched a lot of videos on how to flip it back over :). Next time, I want to move up one model, to the 4 cylinder to go a little faster (non super charged, I don't want to put premium in there, 87 is what I want). I tried the spark, kawasaki and the ex models. Yamaha was the funnest for me, and it's easy to work on. Also the 8 gal per hour on wide open throttle lasts 2 hours. We usually go out for 3-6 hours and the gas lasts a long time. I noticed at 75% throttle, I'm doing 40mph. If I gun it, it goes 10 50 but then the gas goes BYE BYE SUCKA lol.
You get used to reverse on the Kawasaki on the seadoo there's still problems with ibr System I'd rather have manual reverse no matter what you say I have seadoo when the ibr is out on the ski you can't drive it because of the ibr I don't think you like Kawasakis you can keep the Yamaha
Never owned one and rode one two different times twenty something years ago it was fun. Now that I'm older and want something a little different to do I've Been kicking around the idea of buying a pwc for a couple of years now. I'm still torn between a Yamaha and Kawasaki? my main concern is performance protentional from the smaller models I like the power of the bigger ones but don't want to deal with the size of them. Decisions decisions
Yamaha is definitely the top dog in general. I have an 07 HO and a 09 supercharged HO that’s heavily modded, and my buddy has a newer FZR with a stage 3 engine and its also is heavily heavily modded out goes 92mph
I personally own 2 Yamaha fx fvho's and love them however for this comparison I think there's one huge detail missing when it comes to PWC riders and that's rough water... Wave jumping is a must for me or just ocean riding in general storms come up fast as well and if I had to depend on any of these 3 for a all around ski I would choose the Kawasaki due to its power and hull as they have ridden side by side with my larger Yamahas and weathered pretty decent waves and rough water conditions
ethan moore I’ve got the Kawasaki 160x and that thing has some great acceleration. The fastest I could get it was 69 mph, it also has a fast key and slo key (which is a learners key).
U better know what your doing at 60 or 70 mph I know that's right had a 97 kawsaki zxi 1100 loved it all day miss the two stroke machines they where quick and lasted
My main concern is towability. I have a 2008 Lexus ES350. I'm leaning towards the Yamaha, but I'm not sure how my car will handle towing it. I know I can easily tow the Sea Doo Spark, just based off of how small it looks.
Took my ex out for the first time couple days ago. Wasn’t expecting so much power. I only had the courage to go full throttle for about 2 seconds. The water was pretty choppy though.
Excellent video. I learned a lot.
Stephen here. I'm glad you enjoyed it! I love making PWC videos and I haven't stopped, though there are not here on TFL anymore. If you're looking for more PWC videos from me, come check out Truck King.
Thanks for watching!
Totally!👍👍👍
I need to stop looking at cool shit i cant afford
same haha
the worst part is if you can, then you have no friends or no one else who can afford one
@@owenbrunet1279 rent it out for 300 a day .....make that money
@@cmimagine oh I don't have one 😂 I just wanted to buy one but no point buying one if the friends you have are in college. But that's a good idea
Nah you gotta keep watching videos on things you can’t afford to motivate you!
I bought my first ski last year. I spent many many hours comparing the differences between the Yamaha and the Sea-Doo spark trixx. And it was videos like these that ultimately helped me make my decision, I got a 2-up spark trixx and I couldn’t be happier with it. With the spark the negative reviews I have seen from owners are because I don’t think they knew what they were getting when they made their purchase, if you are looking for the traditional wave runner experience from the reviews the Yamaha is probably the way to go, if you are looking for a “dirt bike for the water” trixx all the way 1) it is extremely fuel efficient, from my research more so than the Yamaha even though it has a much smaller tank, I usually use only half a tank when doing my beach riding all day 2) I am not looking for top speed I am looking for maneuverability, acceleration and jumpability, it matches much more powerful skis in acceleration (up to a point) is super tossable and I can go out on my spark when the lake is glass and get the ski almost completely out of the water due to the variable trim it’s amazing 3) I am a beach rider, meaning me and those that ride the ski have a beach and we go out for 15 minutes to 60 minutes at a time not all day so on board storage doesn’t matter to me 4) I like the closed loop cooling and the minimal maintenance it requires. 5) I am a single rider, both my wife and I hate to be passengers so the ability to take more that one MAYBE two people out at a time doesn’t interest me. 6) the level of confidence the trixx gives you is incredible, first time out after about 10 minutes of getting used to it I was doing the water wheelies, I’ve never been on a ski that I felt that comfortable with that fast. The ski is by far the most fun I’ve ever had on one, yes it will beat you up a little when choppy but I don’t think it’s as bad as others claim, when I want to relax and just cruise it’s does great (IMO), if what I described above is what you are looking for you can’t go wrong with the trixx
Great post. Good info here....thanks!
Great comment!
I just own a small car, hyundai elantra and was wondering if it could tow a spark trixx? TIA
Darrell Miller
In my google search your car can tow up to 1500 lbs which should be plenty for towing a single ski. Now maintaining speed limit going up hill that I can’t speak too but dry weight of the ski is ~420-440 (for the 2-3 up trixx respectively) a trailer weighs ~200-400 pounds so from this you should be just fine. Obviously before towing anything you should always consult the vehicle/hitch documentation before attempting to tow.
@@skidude051 Thanks alot for that info, and yes will probably consult with my dealer to confirm, and what hitch to buy 4 my car.
It’s called “personal watercraft” for a reason.. if u want more than two ppl riding that close to each other, you should look into a boat!
Ever tried riding with 2 ppl on a 2up seadoo? It sucks because it’s basically just a 1.5up. If you actually want to ride with another person your have to get a 3up
I mean... your not wrong
Lol awe sea doo fan boy pressed😂
kenxjj no he’s just making a point. Boats are much more fun for more people. A boat is more inclusive than a jet ski.
Sometimes you need room for more little kids to keep the family happy.
I have two 2019 Trixx, a 2up and a 3up. They are a blast and have been durable so far with over 70 hours on each. We ride them very hard, using 2 boats to create a wake that gets us 10- 15 foot out of the water. The plastic hull is a controversial topic but these skis have hit the water hard many times without issue. We finally cracked a hull BUT the rider hit a rock at 45 MPH. That would crack fiberglass as well. Everyone loves these toys, when we park the boats in a cove to relax, the skis never stop. As soon as a couple riders bring them back in, others are ready to take them right back out. These are freestyle toys, not a touring ski. Long rides in rough water trying to keep up with boats is a tough ride and you'll be pegging max RPM the whole way. Better off with a boat. The Sea Doo also has a closed loop cooling system keeping all water out of the hull and engine space with a bulge pump as well making it hassle free going back and forth between ocean and fresh water.
hey Chris, is the 3 seater as much fun as the 2 seater for a single rider? im gonna mostly ride solo but once and a while i figure the wife will want to join, seems like the 2up is really small for 2 people so im thinking of getting the 3 seater. but i dont want to lose the fun factor. thank you
@@fmxinsane 2 up is a bit small for 2 average adults and much less stable. Solo on a 3up feels very close to the 2 up, a little tougher to keep the nose up because of the extra trim on the back but I never felt held back on the 3up jumping wakes or freestyle sessions in a cove. Also that extra trim on the back can be removed.
@@Poc3d awesome! thanks for reply. might try to order a 3up then :)
Been a boater all my life, but my boat was in the shop last summer during our family vacation/reunion, so I rented a couple of skis. I chose to rent 2 Spark Trixx models because they were available last minute and affordable (the guy gave me a 15% military discount). Since no one in my family had every ridden a PWC, I wanted something that was easy to learn but still fun for me and my boys. We're dirt bikers and prefer something nimble and flickable rather than all-out top speed. The Trixx models were just plain awesome for everyone........including those in my extended family that are obese and not athletic whatsoever. My family plays on toys all the time, so getting out there and doing wheelies and spins was simple and fast to learn. There was enough power to do anything we were brave enough to try. When my cousins' family got on them, the Trixx were still plenty smooth and stable enough for an extremely shy and fat 11yo girl with no muscle coordination whatsoever. Like her daughter, my cousin is also large and very unsure of herself when having to be physically active, but they each were able to have fun on the Trixx at their own personal levels of activity. Bottom line is this: the Trixx can be a blast for just about anyone in the water! The IBR feature is fantastic in that you get real braking on the water, a neutral position, and reverse. Having ridden PWCs in the 90's, this is a deal-breaker these days. Add in the adjustable trim feature and you have a solid PWC for plenty of fun. I'm 6'3/250 lbs and haven't been on a ski in over 25yrs, but the Trixx was more than fun for this dad-bod. If I didn't already have 2 boats in my garage, I'd likely get a pair of these for the lake.
Since watching this video a month ago, I have bought two Yamaha EX Sports and can say without a doubt it’s the most fun I’ve ever had on the water.
Did it come with the carrier or separate charge..?
I’ve done a “boat” load of research before I made my purchase last year and I ended up getting Kawasaki STX15F. My main deciding factor was stability and reliability and it hasn’t let me down. A solid built machine. Not to mention the Black/Green is the sexiest in my opinion. In regards to neutral....I’m always forward with throttle wide open. Happy boating everyone! Stay safe!
Yup Kawasaki all day. Almost done fixing my project '07 STX-12F
Danny Duarte i have a kawaskai ultra 310r and in my opinion kawasaki and Yamaha is so much better than all the seadoo crap
You can get neutral just by pulling the reverse lever 1/2 way up. It’s not perfect and it won’t lock there so I wouldn’t leave it like that tied to a dock running but for maneuvering it works fine
We own 2 Sparks: 90HP, 3-seater with reverse, in our 7th season, no issues. Most of the time use in Sport mode. We are on a smaller lake in central Ontario and use for booting around the lake. Given they are made of HDPE plastic, do not worry about guests using them and banging in to the docks, well not too hard. Easy to trailer and store. Key for selecting PWC is what your needs are, where you will be riding, how much air you want to get and how fast you want to go. And for guys, beware of sitting while pounding waves, if you know what I mean😜
The spark trixx are by far the best seadoo I've ever rode. So much fun. Unreal, worth every penny
Have had a base Spark for 3 summers. Starts every time. Zero issues.
We love ours as well. Fun as hell to whip around.
These days that isn’t a super high bar... now if it hasn’t burned up a wear ring yet, that’s pretty good for a seadoo.
@@aisu8481 I wrecked a wear ring with an oyster shell lol
@@tylerw1418 yehh our GTI has had 2 go bad
@@aisu8481 from regular use?
This is by far the most informative video for a budget (relatively speaking) watercraft I have seen to date!
Reliability in a PWC is a tough one because of the salt water. I can tell you I have a 2008 Kawasaki STX 15 F, while it’s just giving me an issue now, after all these years it has been flawless up to this point.
I have friends and acquaintances that have gone out and and spent $15-$25,000 on the big supercharged/ turbo charged Sea-Doos and and Yamaha‘s and they’ve blown engines, turbos and superchargers meanwhile all I do is change my oil once a year and the spark plugs every other year! Those friends have spent more $$$$ after 3 to 5 years on their skis just in repairs for what I paid for my ski and trailer new! That’s just nuts!
A problem with these reviews when someone reviews them, they are all brand new,
they don’t consider the long-term costs!
I think that’s some thing that needs to be factored into these reviews Is the history of reliability on any given unit!
This is by far one of the most informative videos out there when looking for a budget (relatively speaking) personal watercraft.
To me that means everything because I don’t trade them in every two or three years.
I also do my own oil changes and winterization. Having a naturally aspirated ski makes life so much easier for maintenance.
Tell me guys and girls, does this make sense to you?
Thanks for the knowledge I'm a 57 year old man who is still A kid at heart and I have no experience with jet skis but I will get this ski doo spark as my beginner I live in Colorado
Good for you! I’m 57 too. I used love riding both the jet ski and wave runner . When they first came out I thought how boring all you can do is just sit. After my jet ski in 1988 I bought a 3 seater Yamaha wave runner in the early 90s. After that a jet ski seems like to much work. Lol
We ended up buying a 19 3 up 90hp Spark and a 2020 GTR 230. The 230 is double the weight. Honestly, we would have both been happy with just two sparks. The spark for their cost is quite amazing. The spark is almost as quick on acceleration due to the lightweight design. If I could do it all over again, I would have bought 2 Spark trixx 3 up fully loaded and saved LOTS of $$$. Great video as always!!
Just so you know if you have the kawi put the reverse lever in the middle and it literally just stays still, the middle is neutral
Can confidently say after kawasaki ownership. It has been amazing. Best jetski i have owned
@@2cautious what are you smoking I want exactly what you’re smoking
I ended up buying 2 of the 90hp 2 seat SeaDoo's and I'm glad I did. I get crap from Yamaha owners (none that have ever been on a Spark) about them not being stable and blah, blah, blah. Then I go out and do things that they can't. The advantage of the Spark is that they are light, very light. You can toss them around like nothing else on the water. There's a reason they are called personal water craft. I don't need or want 3 people on it or for that matter, 2 people. At that point they are a boat. SeaDoo created a whole market themselves and caught the others sleeping. The composite hull that Yamaha wants to bad mouth - it's one of the major advantages. Virtually zero maintenance. I don't have to worry about scratches and chips like you do with a glass hull. It takes a beating and never needs anything. Toy like - yup and that's what I like about it.
Good job! I have been a water-skier, wakeboarder, and toober for many years and have started to rent and look in to PWCs. Your video is extremely helpful. Thank you!
Happy you liked it. If you want more PWC content like this, come follow my new channel, Truck King. We just published our first (of hopefully many) PWC reviews!
I have a kaw 300 lx ....i love it it's fast and stable......i like to sit on in the lake without worrying about tipping over.
That's the one I want, it has speakers right?
We absolutlely love our sparks! ( 90hp 2up & 3up) if you're buying in this segment, you would be ok with not getting the highest feeling quality because you're buying for the sheer enjoyment these provide. For the price of some of these other Y or K models, you can get a base nodel SeaDoo GTI, it just all depends on what you're looking for. For us personally, the Sparks have provided such cheap and reliable fun. We've even put grandparents on them and although they do feel light and not as stable as a full size ski, nobody felt as if they couldn't handle or control it.
I've got two Sea-Doo Spark Trixx 3up PWCs. I went with them as they were the most affordable on the market; had I wanted something more expensive I would have went with a Sea-Doo Wake or FishPro. The biggest gripe from people online seems to be about the "cheap" feel or that the body is plastic when it comes to the Sea-Doo Spark models. I guess most do not have experience with the difference of Magpul Magazines vs. their metal counterparts. Plastic can be better.
You also don’t feel as bad to beat them up a little so you can run them harder.
mike h I never did, but I let friends and family ride them who weren’t as careful and maybe had an incident here or there such as a little impact with the dock.
For those who don't have 5k + to drop on a toy, I would strongly recommend older 2 stroke Yamaha waverunners. Many can be had for far below 1k and can be just as fun albeit without a few bells and whistles. Hit FB market, Craigslist, or letgo.
Waverunner vxr pro with 701 motor. Good stability and handling for 1 rider. Some have sick graphics.
Waverunner III(3) with 701cc. Great stability for two up riding(more like 2.5 not 3). Heavier than others but great for passenger. Also has reverse bucket.
Waveblaster 760cc. Great handling and acceleration. Carves turns and digs from slow speed. Less stable at no wake speeds especially with a second rider(WB2). Get a WB1 if you want to ride alone and do wave jumps and sport riding.
There are many other old 2stroke available as well. I have personal experience with these and find them frequently on FB, CL etc. for low bucks. Slight mechanical inclination helps with these older ones. But if they have cylinder compression and pump ain't rattleing or seized, they are normally pretty close to being ready to run. Hope this helps someone.
Pizza dog and this WaveRunner plane is the Yamaha XL 800 760A good motor
Is the Yamaha WaveRunner XL 800 or 760 A good motor appreciate you
@@marcwhicher5242 my buddy has a 760 waveblaster 2, the dual carb. Great pull from low speed and really great acceleration in general. I like the motor. Want to put one on my 701 vxr but eh the 701 is fine.
2 stroke for life
In canada, the EXR is only $500 behind the STX in MSRP. The kawasaki just accomplishes a lot more
Is it really that cheap there?
@@shanepritchett5995 not anymore, used jet skis are going for more than new MSRP by far. I saw a yamaha EX in my area, 2019 for $22,000 today
@@shanepritchett5995 STX 160 are on kijiji for about $25,000 now while the EXRs are virtually non existent, people must like them more!
looking into buying my first jet ski. At first I thought spark trixx was going to be my least favorite, but amount of reviews I have read/watch and how everyone is talking about trixx, trixx is the jet ski I want to buy
One other thing is that the spark is made out of plastic which is way easier to tear a hole into rather than the Kawasaki or Yamaha which are made of fiberglass. Just a thing to take into consideration when buying the Spark or Yamaha. Great video
plastic will take a beating. fiberglass will crack
Great video content… I went off of your information in this video content… And bought the Kawasaki STX160… And LOVE IT!!! I test drove an EXR after I bought the Kawasaki… Let me tell you… I’m sure glad I went with the Kawasaki… A better ride and it handles the chop a whole lot better!!! No Regrets!!! #TeamKawasaki
Insane that all these models are $2k more now in 2023. Crazy
I'll give you two more reasons for the Yamaha. 1) If you go to jet ski rental places, most use Yamahas because they are known to be more reliable. And 2) I have found in my area that Yamahas are better supported with parts and service than the others.
Great video: My dad owns a trixx and it is incredibly fun, didnt do the water wheelie justice tho you can get way higher up. And it has touring mode for fuel efficiency and sport mode for fast accelerating.
I've got a few base model 2up sparks and they sit in the water for 6 months out of the year. I run them in the columbia river so we experience some serious wake. I personally find 40mph to be very harsh due to the wake caused by commercial traffic... so anything faster just wont feel safe. Also, if you're interested in buying one but you're worried about not having reverse, just keep in mind that you'll get used to not having it right when you get out on the water. I can dock and maneuver next to other boats and jet skis like its nothing... while getting slammed with wake. I would argue that if you want to get out on the water and you've never owned a jet ski before, go for the base model spark. I have put over 100 hours on one of them (and 50-80hrs on the others) over the past three years and I still dont feel the need to upgrade. But thats because I personally feel like the characteristics of a spark are not like a regular jet ski at all. They almost feel like a hybrid between a sit down and stand up type jet ski(and thats what ive become used to).
I was in doubt between a Spark Trixx and an EXR so I'm gald I watch this video right AFTER I bought my Rec Lite PWC 😫 Thankfully I went with the EXR 😅 I love it!
I bought a 2018 Yahmaha EX Deluxe after much research and talking to the guys who fix these for a living they all suggested the EX over a Spark. I have been very happy with my choice and have had it for 2 years now.
Hows it holding up? Literally ran into this video because I’m comparing the 3up Spark to the Yamahaha EX
The STx160 is a freaking beast , just a Kspeed kit and will be over 62MPH gps
This was a good video, but I think you should have mentioned that if customers are willing to spend the money for a Waverunner or Jet Ski, then another option would be the Sea Doo GTI and compare what Sea Doo offers with a similar price point to the other 2 ski's.
Personally I’ve ridden both the sparks and the ex and I will say for better handling and a more comfortable ride it’s worth the extra money. Maintenance on sparks means if anything major you have to unscrew 40 plus screws. Not to mention the ex will be much more durable. Over time I’m not necessarily a fanboy of either but I do tend to like Yamahas a little more
Funny thing about those seadoo spark 60 vs 90 configurations. They're the exact same engine. They just have a different tune on them. When you have the 90hp config that give you sport mode which will utilize the full 90hp. There are a lot of people out there that will buy a 60hp and just add a tune to it which unlocks the 90hp and sport mode. There are also common tunes to go to 110hp or even 130hp.
Mike Larsen how much is the cost to tune a 60 to a 90 or 110?
Thinking bout getting one.
Are those 110hp tunes pretty bad for the longevity of the motor? I might get a spark if I can tune it to beat a Yamaha
@@murican1889 not an EXR.
@@murican1889 you can tune that yamaha to 140hp so nah u wont
what does tunning mean
I recently found myself in the market and chose the stx 160. Had a hard time finding a ski to purchase due to the pandemic, I have 2 seadoo gti 130’s and was looking for something cheaper but comparable. My base was 10,100 because I wanted cruise control for pulling tubes. I totally agree, reverse sucks compared to sea doo’s ibr system and no neutral sucks even more. I forget about everything I don’t like about the stx when I hit the throttle tho. That thing scoots but honestly I think it’s the only thing I like about it. The sea doo’s seem to handle much better too. I did not even look at Yamahas because I pull tubes a lot and the rooster tail just doesn’t work for me
Good stuff Stephen. You have taken the online spec sheet reading/comparing and turned it into a comprehensive hands on opinionated video that can give people a better perspective on what these 3 manufactured models have to offer in the real world. Since I have not been on one in decades, I was aiming for Kawasaki until you mentioned the price and the fact it has no neutral. Many people like to sit at idle and take in a moment of surroundings and or chat with others out on the water and not always be in motion. So big deal breakers to me. Still not happy with any of the prices. But IF I were to get one, based off what you talked about.. I suppose I would go with Yamaha as well. Because your recent experience with it is all I have to go on.
Just curious... Why not just cut off the Kawasaki while sitting still to enjoy the surroundings 😳
Nice video. I have researched and tested jet ski's thoroughly for a few years. I'm not dissing Rotax engines, as I know they can be reliable, but Kawasaki and Yamaha have provided consistent reliability with their models. I'm glad Kawasaki continued using the 1498 cc engine. I'm thinking about pulling the trigger on a pair of stx160X's.
Finally! I was looking for this video I had an 2005 Yamaha Waverunner. This was a life saver now I have the Waverunner EX
Were you set on the EX, or did you come to that decision another way? I’m torn between a Spark and EX. Thoughts?
I don’t know too too much on the two, all I know is that the EX is more for just riding and having fun and the Spark is more built for hitting it hard like... jumping waves and such.
I bought a 900 3up spark in 2014 when they first came out. Aside from maybe $1000 worth of repairs over a 6 year period, (Including Regular maintenance) The ski has been great to me. Salt water only aswell. Take care of your things and they will take care of you.
You get what you pay for. The ratios you show are all very close. Half a horse won't make any difference. However, the Kaw with 160 plus is by far the cheapest hp per dollar. It is also about triple the hp of the spark. Spark is designed to be the price pointer. It is not and will not complete with the other two. I just bought a new 2019 Kaw for 7K. Bullet proof motor, the longest on market of these machines. Do not need neutral as if I am just sitting why run the ski and add hours? Less parts to break. People don't sell used Kaws much as they run forever. You will not see a 20 year old see doo out on any lake that I know of. It takes heavier machines to produce more power. This is true of cars, boat, planes and even the space shuttle. With that you get much more power and speed, and cheap cost per HP. I can pull 2 tubes with 200 pound dudes. I know a spark could not pull one at a good speed or whip it. Get what you pay for. That is why the Spark is 1/3 the HP and plastic. PS. owned about 40 motorcycles so I am not brand loyal. I just go for the best bang for the buck. Oh, Kaw invented the Jet Ski.
With this I had to buy the spark 90HP bot trixx. I enjoy my jetski and my friend bought a kawi and said he preferred mine. Not sure what his is but his is 2010 mines 14
Really good video. Great comparisons. Funny how the best pwc reviews are coming from an off road channel. 😂👍 Keep up the good work guys.
Great video! Love the exr, and kawa; however its worth noting that while its not fair to compare the dry weight of the exr vs the curb weight of the Kawa. Because the dry weight from Kawa its 726lbs (not 844lbs).
THEREFORE, the real power to dry weight ration of the Kawasaki is 4.53:1!!!
I have a 3up 90 hp Spark and a Yamaha Ex Sport. The Spark has been tuned and I swapped out the impeller. Now it’s just as fast as the stock Ex. Well.. the Ex has a slightly higher top speed and more comfort.
Yes but how much did you spend on the upgrades and now compare the cost
What the On the Spark I spent $250 on the tune and about $300 on the impeller. Now On the EX I spent $200 on a Riva ride plate and $40 on a EXR intake grate. The EX is so much better in rough condition now. Can’t even compare. Plus the EX motor has much more punch all around. Also something interesting is that I’m so use to closed loop cooling but noticed now with my Yamaha that it doesn’t actually affect engine performance as much. Meaning When the temperature or humidity level is high the spark loses power but the EX continues to have just as much power because it’s been cooled by the cooler water.
@@seadoo4life127 Thank you for spelling it all out I really appreciate it.
The more I see these new skis, the more glad I am that I have my 89 Kawi 650sx and my 93 Superjet. These new floating couches should just be classified as mini boats.
my 90hp spark is the funnest thing I've ever owned, by far :)
Agreed 90hp high output is a freaking blast one of my most favorite toys
Oh ya picking up my 2nd trixx this week these things are soo fun and i even own a kawi sxipro stand up too and prefer the trixx!
Picked up a 90hp 3up last Friday. Been out 3 times already I can’t get enough it’s so much fun!
Super Boi Beatz do you think that has enough power to push a wave boat attachment?? I’m looking into something like that so I can bring friends lol
I bought mine waiting for it can't wait!
just buy an old 2stroke. If you want a boat, but a boat. If not, buy a wave blaster or superjet.
I bought a 2002 2-stroke Seadoo in 2015. Got it for less than $3,000 with less than 60 miles on it. We've put an extra 40 hours on it, but every summer it has a bazillion problems. We have to take it out of the lake at least twice. Just had my buddy fix it again, dropped it in, and it took on water. I'll have to take it out again this weekend.
I've spent a lot of money repairing it...looking at buying a newish jetski so I'm not spending a bitch ton of time and money taking it out of the lake and repairing it.
You clearly haven’t ridden any PWC’s lately.
Jacob Merkle that’s bcuz you bought a shit•doo
Those are only cute if you're anorexic
Hmm what are you 16?
“It comes across feeling cheap, kinda like a toy” -aren’t they supposed to be toys?
Like a tinker toy. Think of a very powerful motorcycle like the Kawasaki H2, it's a toy. So is a scooter. But the H2 will blow your socks off with a twist of the wrist. Pin the throttle on these jet skis and see which one you'd let go first. Go ahead and try it the kawi, it'll do 62+mph with the big guy on it. You'd have to spend 50% more for another brand to keep up.
Maybe like for a kid lol
@@celyl yeah I am going for the kawasaki
Sparks looks nicer. Been on them and I’m actually thinking of getting one. Been riding Yamaha but leaning on this one.
Did the spark seem cheap like he said? Also, is it so light that you get tossed around a lot?
@@oneaburns if you like jumping waves and just gliding on flat water, you'll love the spark
@@oneaburns but yes. They're ment for you to get tossed around
@@oneaburns meant*
I have a 2019 Yamaha exr and love it!!
Same motor as the video or bigger? Cheers
Bought a Yamaha Ex Sport ! Love it !
The biggest problem with this comparison is the power to weight ratio. Kawasaki rates there weight full of oil and fuel and since it has a huge 20.9 gallon fuel tank it makes it weight look way more. The Yamaha and spark are dry weight no fluids. Also some ppl don’t realize the reason for a 3 seater is for towing skiers. You need a spotter plus room for the skier to make it legal.
Try towing a tube with a spark lol
The Sea-Doo GTI would definitely be more comparable to the Yamaha and Kawasaki. The spark is it’s whole different type of fun
Yeah its not even fair comparisons...
Growing up we had a early 90s sea doo. It was a 2 seater, as long as everyone was under 150 lbs or so. Not stable or fast, but a blast to ride around. I bet that spark feels super stable in comparison.
I have a 2019 Yamaha EX deluxe and a 2020 Yamaha EXR. both are a blast but definitely can tell the difference in power. You are absolutely correct in the quality difference between the the spark and the EX. when I upgrade, I’ll be sticking with Yamaha.
You can tune the Ex deluxe and swap out the impeller. They run about the same once done
You can tune the spark 60 horse up to 110 hp.. the 90 and the 60 is the exact same motor. Just ECU tuned
Jeff, is there an option of a sport mode button like the 90hp has, or it is 90hp all the time after the tune.
It would be great to have it switchable to capitalize on fuel economy when not blasting, or when letting the kids drive.
Dude, I have a limited VX, two of them actually. Yes, they don't hit 65mph like others, but cruising around? Yes. My 6/8 yo kids love it and every once in a while we tow a big mable tow-able and it's great. We've been averaging less than the WOT of 8gph and go consistently 4-6 hours cruising @35=-45mph at 3/4 throttle or less. I have 9 to 12 hours on them and need service now. It's not necessarily expensive, but you need to take it for service. Also buy med rx fuel stabilizer. 1 bottle of like 3.5 oz split between two skis every time you fill up, or portion out to partial tanks as part of your top off, etc.
Wasn’t the light weight plastic hull on the spark it’s selling point... I don’t think I would mind if my jet ski feels like a toy. Definitely don’t want it to feel like work
the spark sucks its to slow and in general isnt as good as the others
@@mrrdog4833 yes technically it does suck water and blows to, but the 90hp base has the highest power to weight. They are recreation not sport or race so enjoy
Just found a Yamaha Ex sport here in SD for $4500 it has a lot of mileage but these motor are rock solid can even go 1000 hours with proper maintenance..
I have A ex deluxe and im very happy with it
Thank you for not calling all PWC’s jetskis. Nothing more annoying than people calling waverunners and sea•doos “jetskis“
Have 19 and 20 trixx 3 ups. Literally have to fight the teenagers to get my turn. Less stressful around the dock with the trixx vs the fiberglass models.
Do you pull skiers or tubers on them?
I was on a spark 900 today. First ever ride on a jestski pwc and i recommend it. Way more fun than i thought.
I own an exr and I love it. As you said it does not feel super planted. Great for ripping donuts but if you try and turn in at high speed it does skip on top of the water which can be a little sketchy. And it doesn’t do well in choppy water. I ride with a buddy that has a vx limited and on flat water we’re side by side, but a busy day on the lake I can’t keep up without getting my ass destroyed and my arms ripped apart.
Thanks for the video! Love my waverunner EXR, test drove against a spark 3up 90 and preferred the yamaha!
Would you say it’s snappier than the spark?
@@alexkaspo5246 Definitely
My wife just bought us two yamaha ex sports for fathers day out of nowhere. I am a lucky man. :P
I appreciate the review but you didn't go into the mechanical closed loop cooling vs open, or hull design material. and the point of a jetski is to have fun so you had it right saying get the trixx. anything else then just get a boat. I am 220lbs and have thrashed my father in laws 2up ho spark for the last 4 years, wheelies, jumps nose stops with reverse...never had an issue other than the handle bars squeeking a bit more than they used to.
Dang I'm 325, hopefully this thing can handle a complete man lol
Yay I just bought 2 new 2020 ex sport and deluxe best thing ever
I am waiting for my 2021 😔
I was a little confused for my next purchase in winter 2020. undecided with the Sea Doo or Yamaha. After watching this video I will buy EXR
I'm pretty sure the base Spark has just .7 (YES, .7, not 7!) gallons of storage because all you get is the glove box. The front storage bin is an accessory at $160 US.
This is how all videos should be done.
I like the Kawasaki, 160 hp and storage is for me. Seems like a big boy jetski vs toys.
Leaning that way too. Stability is actually important and Kawasaki is reliable. Had my stx-15f for 16 years with no engine trouble. Just fuel and oil pump got old.
just a suggestion, when calculating power to weight ratio, the correct more accurate way would be to add an average weight of one driver, as jetskis dont drive themselves, you know :)))
Better than any of those is a SuperJet, you can get them under 7k and they’re a blast to ride!
I would love to see this guy test a Superjet vs a Sxr....😆
You should do gas mileage or pwc equivalent. The spark will run all day on one tank of gas can the others do that? Pulling the skiis to get more gas takes time away from play time. Nice Vid!
I owned a 300x and i found it heavy in the water had awesome power and go fast not a problem, but if I wanted to do tricks it was very hard to do
I'd get the 2up spark and pretty sure i'd have all the fun in the world with it !
Thank you for this video. I just purchased the new yamaha ex deluxe 2021 waiting for it to arrive!!!
Let's be honest here...the STX 160 is a completely different class of PWC than the other two. Yeah the tech might be a bit dated but it's much heavier and more powerful and will get you over 60 mph. I've heard the Spark is the most fun in terms of light, nimble handling though I'm curious how the EX compares in this area. You'll definitely be getting better build quality with the Yamaha...Sea Doo cut a lot of corners on the Spark to keep the price down (for example you have to take the whole top of the hull of to change the oil, and it's held together with self-tapping screws).
It takes 2 minutes to take the whole top off ...
My buddy's dad owns the Yamaha dealership in Chico California and he told me the EXR was the best for the money. Thank you sharing this video. Good info.
Only cause he wanted you to buy one from him! 🤣
Gallons? I need to know how many beers can fit! Lol great video man thanks 🤙
Just pour your beers into the storage and bring a straw!
I was thinking about buying two Seadoo Sparks, but now I changed my mind. The Yamaha is a fiberglass hull, not Seadoo Plastic. The Yamaha is made in the US and engine comes from Japan. .. I own a lot of BRP products and happy with them. But the Spark comes from Mexico..
You didn't go into fuel consumption and range. I'm an outlaw and sometimes I have to make long jumpes. During winter 5 to 10 foot are common on a good day, and when you stuck out in the bush which one is the more comfortable to sleep on. And do any of them give off a bigger radar signature than the other. And who would have the best impeller mods. I hear a lot about that.
Absolutely what I needed.great info.pls do one on the sea-doo fish pro.thx❤️jenn
I like Kawasaki in an early stage. The standing ride type.
The reason is because it's light-weight and compact. A delivery from a home to the beach is easy.
Thank you so much for the canadian prices too!! Helps so much
I went with a pair of 2020 VX Limited Yamahas, got them for 10300 each. They are aweseme. Although I did flip one over the other day lol...good thing I watched a lot of videos on how to flip it back over :). Next time, I want to move up one model, to the 4 cylinder to go a little faster (non super charged, I don't want to put premium in there, 87 is what I want).
I tried the spark, kawasaki and the ex models. Yamaha was the funnest for me, and it's easy to work on. Also the 8 gal per hour on wide open throttle lasts 2 hours. We usually go out for 3-6 hours and the gas lasts a long time. I noticed at 75% throttle, I'm doing 40mph. If I gun it, it goes 10 50 but then the gas goes BYE BYE SUCKA lol.
You get used to reverse on the Kawasaki on the seadoo there's still problems with ibr System I'd rather have manual reverse no matter what you say I have seadoo when the ibr is out on the ski you can't drive it because of the ibr I don't think you like Kawasakis you can keep the Yamaha
Never owned one and rode one two different times twenty something years ago it was fun. Now that I'm older and want something a little different to do I've Been kicking around the idea of buying a pwc for a couple of years now. I'm still torn between a Yamaha and Kawasaki? my main concern is performance protentional from the smaller models I like the power of the bigger ones but don't want to deal with the size of them. Decisions decisions
Yamaha is definitely the top dog in general. I have an 07 HO and a 09 supercharged HO that’s heavily modded, and my buddy has a newer FZR with a stage 3 engine and its also is heavily heavily modded out goes 92mph
Thank you! I think you've just helped me make up my mind to buy the Yamaha ex👍👍👍👍👍
Great vid. The styling of the Seadoo speaks to me despite the somewhat less technical specs.
I'm not in the market for a PWC but I loved this video!!
I personally own 2 Yamaha fx fvho's and love them however for this comparison I think there's one huge detail missing when it comes to PWC riders and that's rough water... Wave jumping is a must for me or just ocean riding in general storms come up fast as well and if I had to depend on any of these 3 for a all around ski I would choose the Kawasaki due to its power and hull as they have ridden side by side with my larger Yamahas and weathered pretty decent waves and rough water conditions
I do kind of wished he gave a top speed and acceleration comparison. It would have been a better indicator of the power and weight honestly.
ethan moore I’ve got the Kawasaki 160x and that thing has some great acceleration. The fastest I could get it was 69 mph, it also has a fast key and slo key (which is a learners key).
U better know what your doing at 60 or 70 mph I know that's right had a 97 kawsaki zxi 1100 loved it all day miss the two stroke machines they where quick and lasted
Well I got a twenty three and they all have the same motor and you can just tune them or buy a bigger seat and make them a three seater
Great video, I'm looking for a pwc this summer and your information and advice has been very helpful. 😎👍🍻⚓
Only issue with the spark is the plastic haul instead of fiberglass
My main concern is towability. I have a 2008 Lexus ES350. I'm leaning towards the Yamaha, but I'm not sure how my car will handle towing it. I know I can easily tow the Sea Doo Spark, just based off of how small it looks.
The Yamaha hp numbers are way less than advertised. The SVHO converts to 260hp. It’s actually 306hp stock. The 1049cc Yamaha dyno’s to 165hp
I own a EX-Sport and I love it
1049cc engine or bigger? Thank you
Took my ex out for the first time couple days ago. Wasn’t expecting so much power. I only had the courage to go full throttle for about 2 seconds. The water was pretty choppy though.
3 people on a jetski is a crowd if you ask me
Agreed!
Beau Daniel it’s three so you can tow a tube. You have to have the third seat in case the tuber gets hurt. You have to be able to take him to shorw
I think all three would be a blast. I would get the Seadoo.
Because of the price. Especially
If you was going to get his & her’s. But that’s just me.