I bought a 300x in 2011. Recently sold it to a friend. The quality of these skis is amazing. Only one issue in 9 years of ownership the trim quit working. The control box seal failed and allowed water into the box. Put a new one on and fixed the problem. Just bought a 2020 310x. By the way the 300x never lost a race 17n0 in those 9 years. I believe Kawasaki’s are the most dependable Ski’s on the water and I know they are the fastest.
310r by far the best ski in the market. Have owned the 310r and the gp 1800. So much more confident on the 310r. The power and the feeling when sitting feels so much more comfortable.
I sold my Yamaha FX Waverunner to buy the 310R. So, I went to the dealer to get one. At the dealer, I saw the RXTX-300 and was impressed with the lighter weight and brake system compared to the 310R. I had a hard time deciding since l like the Kawasaki green. I went home and slept on it (couldn't sleep) and went back to the dealer and got the RXTX. I'm really happy with the RXTX and the bluetooth speaker makes riding so FUN!! If Kawasaki gets an update then I will get the 310R as well. Please, Kawasaki, update the 310 soon!
Great review! And i got one after with only 16hours on the clock, been on long journeys down the Oslofjord in Norway, what an experience and what a machine! A real headturner as well, If the rumours are correct I will order the 2022 model though
When I called the local Sea Doo dealer I spoke to a cool salesman, who was honest. I told him reliability means a lot because I will be bringing family on whatever ski i buy, he told me in a subtle way to look at Yamaha. If that doesn't tell you something, nothing does.
There's nothing "unsafe" about a Sea-Doo. The central concern is pertaining to the carbon seal, which people have seen fail primarily due to misuse and/or poor management. Jumping waves, idling through shallow water, beaching on sand, etc. all can prematurely wear or damage the seal.
@@watercraftjournal I was mainly referring to reliability which according to my own research I determined Yamaha's are more reliable. That carbon seal is an example of bad engineering, aside from hitting something PWCs shouldn't just sink due to some of the vague terms you used.
I just picked up a 2012 Kawasaki 300x Ultra. It was great on a busy a lake. It handled the surf boat wakes easily and comfortably even with the kids on. It seems almost as good in chop as my Yamaha 212x boat.
I agree 350H.P. or more importantly is raising bar & update the present Kawasaki platform to keep the #1 status alive & Well. It's your move Kawasaki Big Wig's, Don't Disappoint, Deliver( END of STORY)🤙🤟😎☝️
Peyton Ackerman very unlikely. Sadly Kawasaki doesn’t have forward-thinking people in place (we’ve met them); and brakes are the biggest priority if they want to be competitive in today’s market.
The Watercraft Journal If you were in the market for a high performance 3 seater what would you get? Looking at a rxtx because of all the features and the st3 platform.
@@peyton23322332 dont get the newest sea-doos they have major manufacturing defects. Sinking - not aligning the motor at factory causing carbon ring failure. Sinking - again do to poor manufacture of the hull and is cracking around pump inlet. Hull splintering - get a drop of gas on the hull during fill up say bye bye to your finish. Sea-doo is the leader in innovation but at what cost the new hull material is very light but at a very bad cost with strength. the high hp models from 16-17 were the best. They fixed the catastrophic sc clutch/bearing failure. The hull was strong and they must of had a new foreman some time between 2013-2018 at the plant that enforced engine alignment procedure to be completed for some reason they dont do it anymore. Thats why you see every idiot on these post saying sink-doo. But right now the best pwc is yamaha for reliability and modding potential.
STX-15F owner here looking to keep up with my brother-in-law's 2016 RXP-X 300 this summer. I found a one-owner 2017 Ultra 310X with ~40 hours in excellent condition with dealer service records and factory cover for $12,500 locally. Given the crazy prices for used skis and lack of availability for new skis, do you think that's a good price? I considered a 2021 GP1800R SVHO, but they're impossible to find in blue anywhere near MSRP. I mostly ride in the bay and ocean, so the Ultra hull might suit my riding better anyway, and I can save a few grand in the process.
Love your videos Kevin but wish you would take some of the videos on board and riding the jetski or pwc like in some of your old videos , also not liking the way some of your videos seem to be repeating the person riding over and over again , it is as if there was a few videos taking of the jetski in action and then they are repeated over and over again
Thinking of picking up a 2021 310lx next Wednesday, was wondering if it's worth waiting until the release this up coming year. Concerned with the resale price of my new ski if they finally decide to drop a braking system or anything new at all for that matter. Lol. Thanks!
Dunno if you bought already but I'd personally would wait until 2022 could be a nice few upgrades and it's always nice to have the newer model for resale etc, atm PWC are holding value well as there's no manufacturer discounts on new skis and this whole covid tax crap,, but once everything normalises again it will depreciate Hard like all watercraft usually do.... there not a good investment financially there purely for recreation and fun
@@watercraftjournal Check out this video. 1:17 mark they show what was new in 2011. I know the ride plates are different from 2011 on too. ua-cam.com/video/3PIq9k9DL_o/v-deo.html
Interesting. A quick search revealed that the ride plate has remained unchanged since 2007 (PT# 59446) as well as the intake grate (PT# 59366). These are from Kawasaki's own repair manuals.
@@watercraftjournal The impeller changed because they increased the pump size from 155mm to 160mm. If you look at the last 4 digits of the part number they are different. 3759 vs 3760. The 2007-2010 ride plate doesn't have a spot for speedo wheel so you have to go with Candoo if you get an early model ride plate on newer machine. Check out the RIVA/TPM ride plate description it takes about how they built a ride plate to fit both machines. rivaracing.com/i-17283721-tbm-kawasaki-ultra-lx-250-260-300-310-ride-plate.html
We've messed with it for 7 years straight and have never gotten it to work smoothly or effectively. Not once. Even at Kawasaki press events hosted by corporate, none of Kawi's staff has demonstrated this feature to operate properly. The only reason to mention it is to give another reason to trash it.
Thirsty? can you do a rough water comparison with this and the waverunner (fx cruiser) or ltd? I just sold my 13 300lx, Loved it but maybe time for a waverunner? although i do ride in choppy water so
Unfortunately, none of 3 manufacturers allow us to do "heads up" comparisons. Since we like being able to use their machines freely, we're not going to risk that. BUT, we did publish an article helping break down rough water/offshore hull design HERE: watercraftjournal.com/understanding-what-makes-a-good-rough-water-hull-design/
How do I get the songs on the factory sound system to run continuously? It seems like each song we play is it’s own folder and stops after each song so that I have to push a stupid button each time to play the next song. There’s GOT to be a better way
Frankly, we HATE the Kawasaki sound system. When the Immobilizer key is engaged the speakers will automatically play what ever is queued up, including audio books and podcasts. It really depends on your iTunes account (if you're using Apple).
The Watercraft Journal so I was in touch with apple and made a new folder that I dragged each song and made one new folder with all the songs on my usb playlist. So we’re trying it out tomorrow, do you think it will now play songs consecutively since they are in ONE folder??
Unlikely. The sound system is NOT hardwired anymore. It's all via Bluetooth. (But of course, you won't be able to hear anything you play clearly over 50mph anyways.)
First, no new units are designed/redesigned every 9 years (Sea-Doo and Yamaha). Kawasaki is now on its 19th year on the STX hull, and its 13th year on the Ultra hull.
@@watercraftjournal so the Rotax engine hasn't changed in 9 years . Their shit and people buy them cause the name is stuck in their head because of the marketing money dumped into the brand
I will sacrifice looks, bells and whistles any day for a reliable product. Lets look at the facts. Kawasaki hasn't changed hardly any of their shit in almost a decade. The machine looks old and outdated, but it hardly ever sees the mechanics shop. BRP/Seedoo has changed thier shit and keep doing so, yet the majority of them see the mechanics shop once a year. I've heard enough problems specifically with Seedoos. Closed loop cooling leaks, head gasket failure, throttle linkage failure, reverse failure, leaking water seals, electronics malfunctions. The list was endless.
Still the rough water king (my 2011 is still going strong, don't see a reason to buy a 310, if anything the 300s are more reliable) - could care less about a brake, just a gimmick unless you're a novice. The new skis have way too many gimmicks, what we need is more power
The last ten years of boating insurance claims would prove every single claim in your comment wrong. 1. 310's have better cooling, better oiling and produce more power; 2. brakes have been PROVEN to save lives and increased damages in collisions and injuries; 3. more high powered PWC have resulted in more violent crashes and death, although thankfully, most performance machines also come with brakes.
Power difference is negligible and 310s have had piston failures - my ski hits 72-73 just the same and gets there as quick I've followed the issues on GH since 2011, I know these skis. Again, brakes are a gimmick. Riding safely is all about awareness and avoidance. The best way to prevent an accident at speed is quick steering. Prevention stats are merely claims and usually untrained riders
LOL. 250s, 260s and 300s all scattered pistons because they were powdered hypereutectic crap! Plus, the 1.5L had such bad internal engine temperature mitigation that they'd swell the cylinders and stick the pistons. That's why a second cooling circuit was necessary in 2011. But it still didn't fix them boiling bearings and smoking rings, so bigger cooling journals were needed and under piston oiling jets! Dude, I was with the KMC engineering crew for 3 days pouring over that engine in January 2014. The 310 is demonstrably superior to the 300, both in materials and engineering. That's why the 300 lasted 3 years and the 310 is 7 years unchanged.
I think you're conclusion jumping there - the 310 has been produced longer because Kawasaki simply hasn't significantly upgraded it. Anyway, the 310 may be mechanically superior in several ways but there are likely just as many 300s and 310s with 200+ hrs and there have been piston failures with 310s for years greenhulk.net/forums/showthread.php?t=260033#post_2846183
Not having a braking system wouldn't persuade me from not buying this beast. I don't think anyone should buy a supercharged ski without learning the basics of a NA one. Be like buying a Hayabusa as your first bike.
@@watercraftjournal That could be me you're referring to :-) . We recently bought a 2007 Kwaka Ultra 250x as our first jet ski. Awesome fun - tops out at 112, and goes from zero to wow in nothing flat. I've been a bike rider for years so that may help. The ski is incredibly stable. I was on a SeaDoo for my licence test and it felt skittish by comparison. Given the HP increase and new tech, it's odd that the new ones don't seem to have a higher top end.
My first ski was a 310lx after riding a tour ski once. Probably should have gone for an easier learning curve. That said I’m not an idiot. Plenty of time on the yellow key and green key only when safe. I have no idea why brakes are needed, coming off the throttle and that hull acts like you are pushing a brick wall through the water.
This seadoodoo owner is in lala land ....only thing he's as more is electronic headache to deal with ...let's be honest why you think dangerous waters guy's switch from seapoopoo to kawasaki ...answer that you seadodoo lover
They all have the same top speed its limited to just under 70mph. I dont know why people always say top speed in the reviews its like saying it has a motor. The rxtx 300 is the fastest accelerating with its nice launch control. How ever the Kawasaki is by far the slowest high horse power pwc out there when you disable the limiter the Yamaha and sea-doo are pretty much tied.
It needs brakes first. Then it can shed a few pounds. With brakes you'd see a lot of Kawi lovers leave their Yamahas and Sea-Doos and return to Team Green. Guaranteed.
@@haitianbikerboy1 trust me these "brakes" suck its only another failure point look at Yamaha and sea-doo they have so many problems with them. Personally i find the hand brake easier to control. I can finesse it to control the idle speed so much easier. The dumb brakes only go idle-stop-reverse no in between. The newest models you can change the idle speed but you have to keep mashing the buttons.
@@MrGtbehr07 couldn’t agree more. Letting off the throttle on green key and that Kawi slows down like a supercar. Passengers slam into your back. Only time a brake would be handy is for beaching or loading at the ramp. Don’t care.
It’s open loop. But take a look at the seadoos with the closed loop system. Hit a rock underneath and it cracks the ride plate which doubles as the radiator and you’ll lose all your coolant. Then a nice big repair bill. Innovation isn’t always the best thing.
People are looking for any reasons to say something negative about kawi....because there seapoopoo's keep letting them down ..we have rooms jump in the bandwagon.
Have a look at how many of those pistons failed because people kept putting crappy grade fuels in. It needs premium fuel, ideally 98. Kawi have been replacing the pistons in good faith. They have solved the issue but you still have to use premium fuel.
I am slightly bias for Team Green but its still a great competitor against the newer models and if there was only a few quick upgrades like a brake,weight reduction etc it would be out it front easily
We believe there are hundreds - if not thousands - of PWC enthusiasts who would jump ship to Kawasaki if they simply provided the products that they want. Unfortunately, Kawasaki's lineup is so limited and technology so outdated that buyers go elsewhere when they'd rather stay "green."
@@watercraftjournal I agree that Kawasaki seems to be just phoning it in on so many of their product lines,just look at their ATV line up and how dismal it has become
Mind you, that is CURB WEIGHT, not DRY WEIGHT, which means the tank is full of fuel and the engine has all the oil in it. So calculate 8lbs. per gallon, and that's 160lbs. you can shave off to compare to Sea-Doo and Yamaha. (It's still heavier.)
I've run into these in the past on the lake, great looking and awesome storage just wish they'd add the brake and maybe upgrade to a lighter hull. It's rare to see one on Michigan waters as Sea Doo dominates the market up here. Thanks for the review!
Not really, Nick. It's the draft of the hull that slows it down. Yamahas and Sea-Doos skid across the top of the water; Kawasaki sits deep in the water, cutting and pushing through it.
Weight between Sea Doo, Yamaha and Kawasaki is misleading. Kawasaki is heavier but you can not go by listed weights. Kawasaki is curb weight not dry weight like the other two. Subtract 120 lbs for fuel, throw in engine oil and fire extinguisher and a heavy battery and the Ultra weight is in the ballpark of the other two but yes, still slightly heavier.
Oh, we've heard that rumor too. Heck, we incorrectly shared some inside information believing that was going to happen last year. KMC is far too large, and equally, far too smart to spend nearly a million dollars in tooling for the new STX if they knew they were closing up its PWC division in 1.5 years.
To Oscar Leo. Please follow-up on that rumor & get cold hard facts on 2022 50th anniversary & the part about the company going out? Pose the question to the Kawasaki owner of the Company! They #1for a reason, from listening & keeping present as well as future customers HAPPY with their products 😎👍FEEL THE POWER!
The fact is that demand is the highest it's been in 13 years. Sales are skyrocketing and production was cut short, so buyers are racing to pick up new units.
Trust me Kawasaki is listening, the brake will be updated probably by 2021 even. They won't drop the ball again. Plus they may even narrow the knee part of the seat for more long distance rider comfort too boot!!!😎
No matter even if Kawasaki doesn't step-up be it for Legal Liability & or Safety reasons. Some Local Kawasaki dealerships have made limited amount of Specially prepared Jet ski's. Example A: Over in Australia 🇦🇺 on U-Tube the what can be done with off the shelf factory Kawasaki parts , Showing how they made the POWER HOUSE JETSKI we are talking about a reality!!! Check it out for yourself. Enjoy Life it's way too short, Yes, today more than ever we need more (FUN in our lives.) A mist this Corona 19 pandemic 👍🌞🧜♂️🧜♀️
You DO realize you're talking about the Kspeed STX 310LX that we had the world exclusive on, right? It won't happen. We're very well affiliated with high ranking persons within Kawasaki, and we can assure you, it won't be happening any time soon.
No one is gonna pay 16k for a ten year old jet ski which in my opinion is second ugliest ski just behind the other Kawasaki st15 and now that everyone is producing 300hp you can have your cake and eat it two with a seadoo rxt300 good looks, crazy speed, and a ton of innovation and if u want all the good stuff from the seadoo but you want reliability get an fx. Kawasaki doesn’t change colors nor look not nothing so their no gonna sell well they need a real change not just some handlebars
He forgot ot mention how much they love to sink and drink lots of water always on limp mode for no reasons...if a seapoopoo hit a twig it goes into limp mode pathetic ...
@@haitianbikerboy1 You can thank them mexicans for the the sea-doos sinking they skipped the engine alignment procedure when they assembled them in mexico. It causes the drive shaft carbon wear ring to be misaligned then catastrophically failing.
I own a 2015 Ultra 310R and aside from an engine recall (which was covered the mfg.), it's performed superbly. My machine can keep up or pass the GP1800s out there despite being 200 lbs heavier. I will agree with you on innovation...yes, I know it's a race machine but I wish it would have more bells and whistles. The Kaw also has exponentially larger storage capacity and 2 extra gallons which is awesome when riding the ocean/big lakes. I am looking to upgrade and wanted to like/switch to the new GP1800r's but they just can't carry as much and the huller is flimsier; though Yamaha makes an excellent motor. Most of my SeaDoo peeps have reliability issues so they're a NoGo for me.
This thing is a porker. Too much weight. The RXT is much more fun to ride in rough stuff and the best performing stock 300+ hp. Reliability has not been an issue for any of my sea doos.
Math is fun: the Kawasaki has a wet weight of 1051 lbs. (that's oil and fuel). The RXT-X 300 has a dry weight of 829 lbs. (that's without oil and fuel). When you calculate for 3 qts.oil and fuel and 18.5 gal. of fuel, that's 2 lbs. per quart (6 lbs.) and 8 lbs. per gallon of fuel (148 lbs.) together that's 150 lbs. so add that to the Sea-Doo's dry weight, and that's 979. Still considerably less than the Kawi, but it's important to factor in the correct weights.
@@watercraftjournal I did not realize the spec difference. The RXT still feels lighter to me and I like the ST3 hull and seating position better. Just my preference.
@@watercraftjournal I actually have a 2018 RXT230. Sometimes a wish I had bought the 300 but the 230 is enough power most of the time. See you on the lake!
@@watercraftjournal Oil is 2 pounds per quart or 8 pounds per gallon. Gas is 6 pounds per gallon (6.3) Its no biggie, but makes a small difference in your comp.
I bought a 300x in 2011. Recently sold it to a friend. The quality of these skis is amazing. Only one issue in 9 years of ownership the trim quit working. The control box seal failed and allowed water into the box. Put a new one on and fixed the problem. Just bought a 2020 310x. By the way the 300x never lost a race 17n0 in those 9 years. I believe Kawasaki’s are the most dependable Ski’s on the water and I know they are the fastest.
We're glad you had a great experience with yours.
310r by far the best ski in the market. Have owned the 310r and the gp 1800. So much more confident on the 310r. The power and the feeling when sitting feels so much more comfortable.
Glad you enjoy it so much!
I sold my Yamaha FX Waverunner to buy the 310R. So, I went to the dealer to get one. At the dealer, I saw the RXTX-300 and was impressed with the lighter weight and brake system compared to the 310R. I had a hard time deciding since l like the Kawasaki green. I went home and slept on it (couldn't sleep) and went back to the dealer and got the RXTX. I'm really happy with the RXTX and the bluetooth speaker makes riding so FUN!! If Kawasaki gets an update then I will get the 310R as well. Please, Kawasaki, update the 310 soon!
This time you are lucky that you have chosen only the wrong jet ski and not the wrong woman
you made the right decision. Seadoo really has a great product now.
Seapoopoo and reliability shouldn't even be in the same zipcode...for you to put them in the same sentence wow
Why didn't you just get the green rxtx like I did?
you know when them update the310?
Great review! And i got one after with only 16hours on the clock, been on long journeys down the Oslofjord in Norway, what an experience and what a machine! A real headturner as well, If the rumours are correct I will order the 2022 model though
Great to hear!
I have the same exact ski. It is an 2016 310x supercharger special addition. For ab first time rider it is the perfect ski for me
When I called the local Sea Doo dealer I spoke to a cool salesman, who was honest. I told him reliability means a lot because I will be bringing family on whatever ski i buy, he told me in a subtle way to look at Yamaha. If that doesn't tell you something, nothing does.
WOW! If that's true, that's um, a quick way to lose their Sea-Doo contract.
@@watercraftjournal Maybe so, but I think he was putting safety/dependability above brand loyalty and I appreciated it!
There's nothing "unsafe" about a Sea-Doo. The central concern is pertaining to the carbon seal, which people have seen fail primarily due to misuse and/or poor management. Jumping waves, idling through shallow water, beaching on sand, etc. all can prematurely wear or damage the seal.
@@watercraftjournal I was mainly referring to reliability which according to my own research I determined Yamaha's are more reliable. That carbon seal is an example of bad engineering, aside from hitting something PWCs shouldn't just sink due to some of the vague terms you used.
@@watercraftjournal so you can’t jump waves in a Sea-Doo Ok got it
for me the Kawasaki is the best ski when you are out on the ocean and it gets rough those extra pounds come in handy fiberglass not plastic
When it's super rough, the Ultra earns its stripes for sure!
I just picked up a 2012 Kawasaki 300x Ultra. It was great on a busy a lake. It handled the surf boat wakes easily and comfortably even with the kids on. It seems almost as good in chop as my Yamaha 212x boat.
I agree 350H.P. or more importantly is raising bar & update the present Kawasaki platform to keep the #1 status alive & Well. It's your move Kawasaki Big Wig's, Don't Disappoint, Deliver( END of STORY)🤙🤟😎☝️
It'll never, ever happen.
Kawasaki best looks!
Yamaha reliability! Seadoo fast & comfort! The 2008-09 Seadoo RXTX 255 has it all!!!
We'd love to see Sea-Doo style ergonomics, iBR and engine management for sure!
javsolo O69 you forgot SeaDoo has
the best ability to sink! Lol
Cool Ski. Doesn't look better than my 2019 yamaha fx svho tho :p
Lol I dont think this guy saw dangerous waters...
Dude you have a 2009 seadoodoo why are you even in this convo...
My 310r killed it the other day in the windy rough waters.
Great content as always! Man I’m hoping Kawasaki will one day put the 310 in the stx platform that would be such an exciting ski.
Peyton Ackerman very unlikely. Sadly Kawasaki doesn’t have forward-thinking people in place (we’ve met them); and brakes are the biggest priority if they want to be competitive in today’s market.
The Watercraft Journal If you were in the market for a high performance 3 seater what would you get? Looking at a rxtx because of all the features and the st3 platform.
@@peyton23322332 dont get the newest sea-doos they have major manufacturing defects.
Sinking - not aligning the motor at factory causing carbon ring failure.
Sinking - again do to poor manufacture of the hull and is cracking around pump inlet.
Hull splintering - get a drop of gas on the hull during fill up say bye bye to your finish.
Sea-doo is the leader in innovation but at what cost the new hull material is very light but at a very bad cost with strength. the high hp models from 16-17 were the best. They fixed the catastrophic sc clutch/bearing failure. The hull was strong and they must of had a new foreman some time between 2013-2018 at the plant that enforced engine alignment procedure to be completed for some reason they dont do it anymore. Thats why you see every idiot on these post saying sink-doo. But right now the best pwc is yamaha for reliability and modding potential.
STX-15F owner here looking to keep up with my brother-in-law's 2016 RXP-X 300 this summer. I found a one-owner 2017 Ultra 310X with ~40 hours in excellent condition with dealer service records and factory cover for $12,500 locally. Given the crazy prices for used skis and lack of availability for new skis, do you think that's a good price?
I considered a 2021 GP1800R SVHO, but they're impossible to find in blue anywhere near MSRP. I mostly ride in the bay and ocean, so the Ultra hull might suit my riding better anyway, and I can save a few grand in the process.
Yup. Demand is seriously out-pacing supply. The Ultra might be a good option.
Love your videos Kevin but wish you would take some of the videos on board and riding the jetski or pwc like in some of your old videos , also not liking the way some of your videos seem to be repeating the person riding over and over again , it is as if there was a few videos taking of the jetski in action and then they are repeated over and over again
Hang tight. You'll see a lot more 1st person riding coming in the coming weeks. These past 3 were provided to us from our Australian division.
Thinking of picking up a 2021 310lx next Wednesday, was wondering if it's worth waiting until the release this up coming year. Concerned with the resale price of my new ski if they finally decide to drop a braking system or anything new at all for that matter. Lol. Thanks!
Don't count on the future. Get what you want now.
Dunno if you bought already but I'd personally would wait until 2022 could be a nice few upgrades and it's always nice to have the newer model for resale etc, atm PWC are holding value well as there's no manufacturer discounts on new skis and this whole covid tax crap,, but once everything normalises again it will depreciate
Hard like all watercraft usually do.... there not a good investment financially there purely for recreation and fun
Shame Kawasaki haven’t gotten on the iBR / RIDE tech yet... maybe 2021 if they are gonna continue.
No, it's not going to be for a while longer.
I think the changed the ride plate and intake grate in 2011.
We haven't heard that. We'll look into that.
@@watercraftjournal Check out this video. 1:17 mark they show what was new in 2011. I know the ride plates are different from 2011 on too. ua-cam.com/video/3PIq9k9DL_o/v-deo.html
Interesting. A quick search revealed that the ride plate has remained unchanged since 2007 (PT# 59446) as well as the intake grate (PT# 59366). These are from Kawasaki's own repair manuals.
But, the impeller was changed for 2011 to handle the extra power.
@@watercraftjournal The impeller changed because they increased the pump size from 155mm to 160mm. If you look at the last 4 digits of the part number they are different. 3759 vs 3760. The 2007-2010 ride plate doesn't have a spot for speedo wheel so you have to go with Candoo if you get an early model ride plate on newer machine. Check out the RIVA/TPM ride plate description it takes about how they built a ride plate to fit both machines. rivaracing.com/i-17283721-tbm-kawasaki-ultra-lx-250-260-300-310-ride-plate.html
ECO mode IS programable / switchable...…….. just use the ECO button that you forgot to mention, that will keep it in ECO mode until disabled.
We've messed with it for 7 years straight and have never gotten it to work smoothly or effectively. Not once. Even at Kawasaki press events hosted by corporate, none of Kawi's staff has demonstrated this feature to operate properly. The only reason to mention it is to give another reason to trash it.
Thirsty?
can you do a rough water comparison with this and the waverunner (fx cruiser) or ltd?
I just sold my 13 300lx, Loved it but maybe time for a waverunner? although i do ride in choppy water so
Unfortunately, none of 3 manufacturers allow us to do "heads up" comparisons. Since we like being able to use their machines freely, we're not going to risk that. BUT, we did publish an article helping break down rough water/offshore hull design HERE: watercraftjournal.com/understanding-what-makes-a-good-rough-water-hull-design/
How do I get the songs on the factory sound system to run continuously? It seems like each song we play is it’s own folder and stops after each song so that I have to push a stupid button each time to play the next song. There’s GOT to be a better way
Frankly, we HATE the Kawasaki sound system. When the Immobilizer key is engaged the speakers will automatically play what ever is queued up, including audio books and podcasts. It really depends on your iTunes account (if you're using Apple).
The Watercraft Journal so I was in touch with apple and made a new folder that I dragged each song and made one new folder with all the songs on my usb playlist. So we’re trying it out tomorrow, do you think it will now play songs consecutively since they are in ONE folder??
The Watercraft Journal same question as above but I have a flash drive. Can anyone help?
Unlikely. The sound system is NOT hardwired anymore. It's all via Bluetooth. (But of course, you won't be able to hear anything you play clearly over 50mph anyways.)
The Watercraft Journal no, it’s usb , flash drive port.
Its one thing to say its outdated but the competitors change their shit every year and its still compared to the kawasaki
First, no new units are designed/redesigned every 9 years (Sea-Doo and Yamaha). Kawasaki is now on its 19th year on the STX hull, and its 13th year on the Ultra hull.
@@watercraftjournal so the Rotax engine hasn't changed in 9 years . Their shit and people buy them cause the name is stuck in their head because of the marketing money dumped into the brand
You're 100% wrong on that one. The Rotax engines are DRAMATICALLY different. You need to read up and get educated quick.
Kawasaki hasn't changed for a longtime for a reason. But I guess I'm dumb for not buying other brands that have issues year to year
I will sacrifice looks, bells and whistles any day for a reliable product. Lets look at the facts.
Kawasaki hasn't changed hardly any of their shit in almost a decade. The machine looks old and outdated, but it hardly ever sees the mechanics shop.
BRP/Seedoo has changed thier shit and keep doing so, yet the majority of them see the mechanics shop once a year. I've heard enough problems specifically with Seedoos. Closed loop cooling leaks, head gasket failure, throttle linkage failure, reverse failure, leaking water seals, electronics malfunctions. The list was endless.
i think this engine is passed its prime and they need to increase the displacement. yamaha just came out with a 1.9 liter
very good video.
Thank you! Please share with your friends!
Hope they stick that supercharger on the new stx next year. Has the room now for it to happen.
Kspeed created a "proof of concept" STX 310X unit using 98% factory parts.
Still the rough water king (my 2011 is still going strong, don't see a reason to buy a 310, if anything the 300s are more reliable) - could care less about a brake, just a gimmick unless you're a novice. The new skis have way too many gimmicks, what we need is more power
The last ten years of boating insurance claims would prove every single claim in your comment wrong. 1. 310's have better cooling, better oiling and produce more power; 2. brakes have been PROVEN to save lives and increased damages in collisions and injuries; 3. more high powered PWC have resulted in more violent crashes and death, although thankfully, most performance machines also come with brakes.
Power difference is negligible and 310s have had piston failures - my ski hits 72-73 just the same and gets there as quick I've followed the issues on GH since 2011, I know these skis. Again, brakes are a gimmick. Riding safely is all about awareness and avoidance. The best way to prevent an accident at speed is quick steering. Prevention stats are merely claims and usually untrained riders
LOL. 250s, 260s and 300s all scattered pistons because they were powdered hypereutectic crap! Plus, the 1.5L had such bad internal engine temperature mitigation that they'd swell the cylinders and stick the pistons. That's why a second cooling circuit was necessary in 2011. But it still didn't fix them boiling bearings and smoking rings, so bigger cooling journals were needed and under piston oiling jets! Dude, I was with the KMC engineering crew for 3 days pouring over that engine in January 2014. The 310 is demonstrably superior to the 300, both in materials and engineering. That's why the 300 lasted 3 years and the 310 is 7 years unchanged.
I think you're conclusion jumping there - the 310 has been produced longer because Kawasaki simply hasn't significantly upgraded it. Anyway, the 310 may be mechanically superior in several ways but there are likely just as many 300s and 310s with 200+ hrs and there have been piston failures with 310s for years greenhulk.net/forums/showthread.php?t=260033#post_2846183
also - the 300 has under piston oiling jets
Are there any updates heard about a new or updated 310r?? I don’t want to make a purchase only for there to be a new one out
Please see our other articles and videos on this exact topic.
Not having a braking system wouldn't persuade me from not buying this beast. I don't think anyone should buy a supercharged ski without learning the basics of a NA one. Be like buying a Hayabusa as your first bike.
Oh, then you're seriously underestimating the stupidity of the majority of people.
@@watercraftjournal That could be me you're referring to :-) . We recently bought a 2007 Kwaka Ultra 250x as our first jet ski. Awesome fun - tops out at 112, and goes from zero to wow in nothing flat. I've been a bike rider for years so that may help. The ski is incredibly stable. I was on a SeaDoo for my licence test and it felt skittish by comparison. Given the HP increase and new tech, it's odd that the new ones don't seem to have a higher top end.
My first ski was a 310lx after riding a tour ski once. Probably should have gone for an easier learning curve. That said I’m not an idiot. Plenty of time on the yellow key and green key only when safe. I have no idea why brakes are needed, coming off the throttle and that hull acts like you are pushing a brick wall through the water.
Have 2021 310r no mods and all the proper maintenance motor went bad at 90 hour
What went wrong?
@@watercraftjournal it had blow bye and Kawasaki replace the motor
Glad they made good on it. Sounds like the rings didn't seat.
Exactly they never said but that what we are Assuming
i would take that brake over an ibr system any day of the week
iBR ain't that bad.
great review, but i will stay with my sea-do limited, looks way better and has more room over all.
More room, how? The Kawi has nearly 2x's the storage, more fuel capacity, a bigger glove box, etc.
This seadoodoo owner is in lala land ....only thing he's as more is electronic headache to deal with ...let's be honest why you think dangerous waters guy's switch from seapoopoo to kawasaki ...answer that you seadodoo lover
He means like the platform on the back and bigger footwells
Bigger footwels!? How big are his feet? Mine size 13 and fit fine on a kawi.
Also, i didn't buy a Jetski to sit on the rear platform, who cares.
How much boost does the Sea-Doo 300 and Yamaha SVHO make?
17lbs. for the Yamaha SVHO and 17.5lbs. for Sea-Doo.
The Yamaha cant be making 17psi stock surely? The major performance upgrade from Riva & Worx is a 17psi supercharger wheel upgrade
Is the rxtx 300 faster with launch control?
It accelerates quicker, yes. Top speed is the same.
That's good then I love my rxtx
ua-cam.com/video/wHg1qPIt7GE/v-deo.html
I disagree with the seapoopoo rxt-slow launch quicker then the 310x
They all have the same top speed its limited to just under 70mph. I dont know why people always say top speed in the reviews its like saying it has a motor. The rxtx 300 is the fastest accelerating with its nice launch control. How ever the Kawasaki is by far the slowest high horse power pwc out there when you disable the limiter the Yamaha and sea-doo are pretty much tied.
@@MrGtbehr07 my rxtx 300 2020 does 76mph
I love Kawasaki but I do wish they would update their machines every now and again this is something they do with their atvs as well
Brute force 750 is amazing as it is !
There might be something on the horizon!
HOW MANY TIMES CAN THEY REPLAY THE SAME STUPID LAUNCH CLIPS IN THIS VIDEO???
Twice. But we did a lot of launches.
@@watercraftjournal haters will always find something neat pick at everything...I bet he didnt stop watching
Can you pull tubes with this watercraft
Of course!
can you imagine how awesome this ski would be if it went on a diet?
It needs brakes first. Then it can shed a few pounds. With brakes you'd see a lot of Kawi lovers leave their Yamahas and Sea-Doos and return to Team Green. Guaranteed.
If the sky get lighter it would be illegal.... but yeah I agree brake first then loose weight
@@haitianbikerboy1 trust me these "brakes" suck its only another failure point look at Yamaha and sea-doo they have so many problems with them. Personally i find the hand brake easier to control. I can finesse it to control the idle speed so much easier. The dumb brakes only go idle-stop-reverse no in between. The newest models you can change the idle speed but you have to keep mashing the buttons.
@@MrGtbehr07 couldn’t agree more. Letting off the throttle on green key and that Kawi slows down like a supercar. Passengers slam into your back. Only time a brake would be handy is for beaching or loading at the ramp. Don’t care.
Where can I test ride one?
That's a tough one. You best start chatting up your local Kawi dealer.
Does it have closed loop cooling system? Amazing jet ski and video
The Kawasaki? No. It's open loop.
It’s open loop. But take a look at the seadoos with the closed loop system. Hit a rock underneath and it cracks the ride plate which doubles as the radiator and you’ll lose all your coolant. Then a nice big repair bill. Innovation isn’t always the best thing.
in Russia, any pwc has a 1-year warranty, buying a Kawi is completely insane, kawi are famous for their soft pistons
Kawis notoriously faced poor pistons a few years back, but haven't in several years.
People are looking for any reasons to say something negative about kawi....because there seapoopoo's keep letting them down ..we have rooms jump in the bandwagon.
anan oscar no man. I bought two of them. And my brother bought one. 2/3 blew up.
Have a look at how many of those pistons failed because people kept putting crappy grade fuels in. It needs premium fuel, ideally 98. Kawi have been replacing the pistons in good faith. They have solved the issue but you still have to use premium fuel.
i don't trust the seadoo's any more they have lost me i have seen too many in my dealer to be repaired that's why i went with the Kawasaki ultra lx
@ronnie doorzon good video at tweed heads of a guy on his week old Seadoo that stalled crossing the bar. Wouldn’t restart and ended up on the rocks.
Ugh, that sucks. I'm sorry to hear about the breakdowns.
I am slightly bias for Team Green but its still a great competitor against the newer models and if there was only a few quick upgrades like a brake,weight reduction etc it would be out it front easily
We believe there are hundreds - if not thousands - of PWC enthusiasts who would jump ship to Kawasaki if they simply provided the products that they want. Unfortunately, Kawasaki's lineup is so limited and technology so outdated that buyers go elsewhere when they'd rather stay "green."
@@watercraftjournal I agree that Kawasaki seems to be just phoning it in on so many of their product lines,just look at their ATV line up and how dismal it has become
If it's not broke dont fix I agree but the brake got to go ...I have a 2015 310x😍😍😍😍 I love it except the brake 😡😡😡
A brake would be all that is needed!
Helpfully you’re doesn’t blow up like they’re know to do.
Whoa heavy compared to the competition!
Mind you, that is CURB WEIGHT, not DRY WEIGHT, which means the tank is full of fuel and the engine has all the oil in it. So calculate 8lbs. per gallon, and that's 160lbs. you can shave off to compare to Sea-Doo and Yamaha. (It's still heavier.)
I've run into these in the past on the lake, great looking and awesome storage just wish they'd add the brake and maybe upgrade to a lighter hull. It's rare to see one on Michigan waters as Sea Doo dominates the market up here. Thanks for the review!
Nice ski but for the money it's a bit dated and overpriced IMO
The ski would still be a true competitor if only it had brakes. That's really the only hang up.
@@watercraftjournal Agreed and its quite overweight in comparison to its modestly updated competition.
@@watercraftjournal It does have brakes and they are locked on all the time. That's why on top speed is the slowest of the other two competitors
Not really, Nick. It's the draft of the hull that slows it down. Yamahas and Sea-Doos skid across the top of the water; Kawasaki sits deep in the water, cutting and pushing through it.
Weight between Sea Doo, Yamaha and Kawasaki is misleading. Kawasaki is heavier but you can not go by listed weights. Kawasaki is curb weight not dry weight like the other two. Subtract 120 lbs for fuel, throw in engine oil and fire extinguisher and a heavy battery and the Ultra weight is in the ballpark of the other two but yes, still slightly heavier.
Is a shame there is a rumor they are going out of business after 2022 the 50 anniversary no more watercraft..😢
Oh, we've heard that rumor too. Heck, we incorrectly shared some inside information believing that was going to happen last year. KMC is far too large, and equally, far too smart to spend nearly a million dollars in tooling for the new STX if they knew they were closing up its PWC division in 1.5 years.
To Oscar Leo. Please follow-up on that rumor & get cold hard facts on 2022 50th anniversary & the part about the company going out? Pose the question to the Kawasaki owner of the Company! They #1for a reason, from listening & keeping present as well as future customers HAPPY with their products 😎👍FEEL THE POWER!
WOW
Yeah?
Over 1000lbs!?! What???
With a full tank of fuel, yes.
My ultra 310r only goes 59 mph is it normal?
Sounds like the supercharger belt is gone. Better take that into a dealer or reputable shop.
How can these prices be?? Dealers are ridiculous and this "me" generation is idiotic for paying these prices.
I'm sticking To my canoe.
The fact is that demand is the highest it's been in 13 years. Sales are skyrocketing and production was cut short, so buyers are racing to pick up new units.
Trust me Kawasaki is listening, the brake will be updated probably by 2021 even. They won't drop the ball again. Plus they may even narrow the knee part of the seat for more long distance rider comfort too boot!!!😎
No, no they won't.
No matter even if Kawasaki doesn't step-up be it for Legal Liability & or Safety reasons. Some Local Kawasaki dealerships have made limited amount of Specially prepared Jet ski's. Example A: Over in Australia 🇦🇺 on U-Tube the what can be done with off the shelf factory Kawasaki parts , Showing how they made the POWER HOUSE JETSKI we are talking about a reality!!! Check it out for yourself. Enjoy Life it's way too short, Yes, today more than ever we need more (FUN in our lives.) A mist this Corona 19 pandemic 👍🌞🧜♂️🧜♀️
You DO realize you're talking about the Kspeed STX 310LX that we had the world exclusive on, right? It won't happen. We're very well affiliated with high ranking persons within Kawasaki, and we can assure you, it won't be happening any time soon.
F.. ing rock band playing in the background
Boohoo
Imagine sitting on a Jetski 🤡
Imagine not.
looks out of date>... not even a colour change over the years.
The "R" is always in some form of bright green.
No one is gonna pay 16k for a ten year old jet ski which in my opinion is second ugliest ski just behind the other Kawasaki st15 and now that everyone is producing 300hp you can have your cake and eat it two with a seadoo rxt300 good looks, crazy speed, and a ton of innovation and if u want all the good stuff from the seadoo but you want reliability get an fx. Kawasaki doesn’t change colors nor look not nothing so their no gonna sell well they need a real change not just some handlebars
Even the handle bars are from 2014.
Rather be strong heavy hull and reliable then own a sea-doo had 2. Got friends with them and they spend more tome in the shop then on the water.
He forgot ot mention how much they love to sink and drink lots of water always on limp mode for no reasons...if a seapoopoo hit a twig it goes into limp mode pathetic ...
@@haitianbikerboy1 You can thank them mexicans for the the sea-doos sinking they skipped the engine alignment procedure when they assembled them in mexico. It causes the drive shaft carbon wear ring to be misaligned then catastrophically failing.
I own a 2015 Ultra 310R and aside from an engine recall (which was covered the mfg.), it's performed superbly. My machine can keep up or pass the GP1800s out there despite being 200 lbs heavier. I will agree with you on innovation...yes, I know it's a race machine but I wish it would have more bells and whistles. The Kaw also has exponentially larger storage capacity and 2 extra gallons which is awesome when riding the ocean/big lakes. I am looking to upgrade and wanted to like/switch to the new GP1800r's but they just can't carry as much and the huller is flimsier; though Yamaha makes an excellent motor. Most of my SeaDoo peeps have reliability issues so they're a NoGo for me.
This thing is a porker. Too much weight. The RXT is much more fun to ride in rough stuff and the best performing stock 300+ hp. Reliability has not been an issue for any of my sea doos.
Math is fun: the Kawasaki has a wet weight of 1051 lbs. (that's oil and fuel). The RXT-X 300 has a dry weight of 829 lbs. (that's without oil and fuel). When you calculate for 3 qts.oil and fuel and 18.5 gal. of fuel, that's 2 lbs. per quart (6 lbs.) and 8 lbs. per gallon of fuel (148 lbs.) together that's 150 lbs. so add that to the Sea-Doo's dry weight, and that's 979. Still considerably less than the Kawi, but it's important to factor in the correct weights.
@@watercraftjournal I did not realize the spec difference. The RXT still feels lighter to me and I like the ST3 hull and seating position better. Just my preference.
Ergolock is definitely a superior seat and yes, and the RXT-X is considerably lighter (70 lbs. is nothing to scoff at).
@@watercraftjournal I actually have a 2018 RXT230. Sometimes a wish I had bought the 300 but the 230 is enough power most of the time. See you on the lake!
@@watercraftjournal Oil is 2 pounds per quart or 8 pounds per gallon. Gas is 6 pounds per gallon (6.3) Its no biggie, but makes a small difference in your comp.
First
And you waste the opportunity by saying nothing?
@@watercraftjournal hell I had the second response to! You replied...
200 lbs overweight! 🐳
Subtract the 160 pounds of fuel calculated into the "curb weight" of the unit. It's not so bad.