A lot of questions surround the Yamaha Superjet. Most people aren’t familiar with the world of stand up jet ski’s, and the Superjet is definitely an oddball inside the already niche category. It is definitely an amazing watercraft, but there are some things to know before making a purchase.
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Overview
Before getting into this review of the Yamaha Superjet, it’s important to establish the background of this watercraft.
Technically the Yamaha Superjet is labeled “for closed course competition use only”, meaning you have to cross some red tape before getting it on the water. Although it’s not entirely difficult, it is a little more frustrating than the typical buying process.
Because of its two stroke engine, the Superjet does not meet current emission standards. Yamaha chose to get around this by marking it as a competition jet ski. What this means for the buyer is a competition license is required to purchase one.
It’s not too difficult to get a competition license, the buyer just needs to join a racing organization to acquire one. Fortunately a lot of fans of the Yamaha Superjet are already racers, so buying one may not be difficult at all. On the other hand, potential buyers who aren’t racers will have to do a little research to find a nearby organization to register with.
Maybe in the coming years Yamaha will switch to 4 stroke, but only time will tell.
Engine and Fuel
Since the engine is what causes all the hassle, it’s worth taking a closer look at.
Emission standards aside, it’s easy to see why the Yamaha Superjet is classified as a racing jet ski. It has a 2 cylinder, 2 stroke engine with a displacement of 701cc. Even though it’s more centered around off the line acceleration, the Yamaha Superjet can reach a top speed of about 50 mph.
The fuel capacity is modest at just 4.8 gallons, but it has an additional reserve fuel capacity of 1.5 gallons. Luckily the engine is pretty fuel efficient, so the small tank isn’t a problem.
Hull and Deck
In order to squeeze as much performance as possible out of the Superjet, Yamaha cut out all the bells and whistles. Don’t expect the same luxuries found on a sit down, because you won’t find them here.
Yamaha fitted their flagship stand up model with an incredibly lightweight body. At 306 pounds, it is one of the lightest waverunners in the Yamaha line up. The low overall weight comes in handy not only for racing, but for freestyle riding as well.
A spring assisted handle pole in combination with a slip resistant foot pad gives it and intuitive ride. Everything from jumping wakes to corning buoys feels natural and smooth.
The only available color is pure white with black, but it can be easily customized by slapping a few decals on the sides.
Price
Currently the Yamaha Superjet costs $8,499 dollars. It’s much cheaper than Kawasaki’s SX-R, which somewhat makes up for the hassle required to get it onto the water.
Other Specifications
Below is a summary of the Yamaha Superjet specifications. A full list can be found on Yamaha’s website.
-Fuel Capacity: 4.8 gallons , reserve fuel capacity of 1.5 gallons
-Length: 7 ft. 4 in.
-Width: 2 ft. 3 in.
-Height: 2 ft. 2 in.
-Dry Weight: 306 lbs
-Color: White/Black
Is the Yamaha Superjet worth buying?
It’s easy to see why many people shy away from buying Yamaha’s only stand up model. Unless you’re already a racer, there is a little bit of a process required before it can be taken out on the water. Yamaha’s 2-stroke marine engine is without a doubt a great motor, but is it worth it? Well, for many people the answer is “yes”, but ultimately it depends on the person.
If performance is what you’re looking for, the Yamaha Superjet can provide, but be prepared to pay for it. Although the buying process isn’t extremely difficult, it does require more than the average jet ski. Doing a little homework on local racing organizations will be required.
Hopefully in the coming years Yamaha will work towards building a high performance 4 stroke engine that can replace the Superjets current engine. Until that day comes, riders will have to continue dealing with the regulations that come with 2 strokes.
Even with the few obstacles it comes with, the Yamaha Superjet is still an amazing stand up watercraft. It provides a ride like none other, and continues to prove itself time and time again on courses. For those looking to try a stand up, the Superjet is a great choice, it’s just good to know exactly what you’re getting.
Do you think the Yamaha Superjet is worth it? Let us know in the comment section.
Two things not mentioned: 1) Yamaha provides NO warranty on Super Jets; 2) It is impossible to get Super Jets registered in some states.
Thanks for the comment!
You’re definitely right about both of those points. We’ll have to go back and clarify that no warranty is provided. As for the registration issue, we don’t have a list of exact states that won’t allow it; so we chose to not bring it up. Many liberal states have emission standards that the Superjet unfortunately can’t meet. If we figure out a list of all the states that don’t allow the Superjet then we’ll be sure to update this post!
Just got surprised by my parents by buying me one. I live in Ny where they don’t even sell them, bought it in PA and got a comp. license, now my excuse is me practicing!
That’s great to hear Brett! You must have some pretty cool parents haha.
Have fun and be safe!
-JST Team
Ive owned a 1997 yamaha stand up since 1999, Its still going strong. Absolutely love it. I also bought a kawaskai sxr last year. Amazingly fast and stable machine. I still cant get passed half throttle on it. Its just that fast. Now I plan to buy the 2018 yamaha superjet because it has about 30 more hosre than my old one has. Nothing cuts the water better than a super jet. The kawasaki hull is great if u want fast and straight, but if u want to flick a jet.ski around like a god, buy the yamaha!