If this gets people off their couches and bridges the gap to standups then great. Price is what will kill sales more than anything. People might take a chance on it in the 8 range. Not so much in the 12s. I hope to find one for cheap in the next couple of years!
@ Not calling this the X-2 and $12k MSRP on a ski using recycled parts is crazy. Kawi currently has the cheapest 60mph ski with the STX160. They could easily bring back the STX-R name plate and sell the current STX with no brakes or electronic reverse gate as the “stripped down racing model”. That with the STX-R nameplate and under $10k would be a hit and so would this model badged as the “X-2”. Pricing and not capitalizing on nostalgia seems to be Kawi’s downfall.
They also debuted the redesigned 2026 STX160 with a notable addition of the STX160R.... Which will be just some racing inspired design cues like the old 310R but still very cool and looks like just a 2 seater.
The Gen 1 X2 was sold from 1986 to 1995. It came with a 2 stroke 650 cc engine. The Gen 2 X2 show in parts of the video came out in 2006 but was never sold directly in the USA. Some were imported. It was basically a SXR hull with a 800 cc engine and the fixed steer top deck. The X2 was the first two person ski although almost nobody rides it with two people. It takes a good deal of skill to pull off and especially deep water reboard with two people. Removing the seat on this Gen 3 version should make it easier to learn to ride for anyone new to standups skis especially the trickier part of deep water reboarding.
Completely agree! It seems the video maker has no idea what an X2 was and how long it was built. Let’s not forget about about the following it still has.
Move the handle bars more forward and a throw small narrow seat on that thing. You would have a much faster more powerful competitor against the sparks and blasters, but I still really like this setup
Kevin I don’t see why they didn’t finish it. A seat like the X2’s would have come in hand on this hull because it’s more buoyant than the old X2. These things have been in aftermarket for a while. I think it’s a waste. I guess they had too many hulls laying around that wasn’t selling to try this. I mean cut the sidewalls of tray out. Mold a small portion down center and put a seat on it. It don’t even make sense to race this.
Why no sense to race it. The X2 started the sport class and spawned other similar skis. People will race it. I do wish it had some sort of seat. Even borrowing a removable style from the Sea Doo 3D. For the price it needs trim though. I would love to try it before buying.
@ it makes no sense to me personally. You got no seat. Back of it is same as standup. The X2 would be more like racing an Mx bike. Riding in attack position then getting down on seat hanging off for corners. For people like me would be perfect circuit due to my disabilities. To answer the question it’s just an Sxr stand up with fixed steering. I think in marketing this it’s not gonna do good because if people have an Sxr they’re not gonna upgrade to it and for recreational use it’s not gonna have good ergonomics. I mean classification what do you do ? Race it with stand ups ? Race it with run abouts ? The missing seat and flat foot wells really matters to me.
Gotcha. I can't say SX-X yet. I'm still calling it an X2. I assumed racing would be like the old X2 and it would race in its own class. Not against standups. Who knows on that though. My big question is deep water reboarding. I know it is more stable than older standups but the old X2 had a sear strap to pull yourself up. Standups you use the bars. I don't see any additional grip to pull up on and the bars are too high. Otherwise I am excited to try it one day. Looks like it would be fun. Should have trim though Kawi!
@ they’d probably have to add a very small step down behind the seat. Not enough to make much of a difference on weight. Possibly put a small foot step like I believe the sparks have. Not a whole bar step just a one footer step.
I agree, Kawasaki need something smaller on offer. If your on a lower budget the sparks the logical choice. In my opinion they should have my something like the Krash industries Reaper.
It’s amazing Kawasaki can’t figour out what people want, we want a modern version of an old school standup, not a damn boat with handlebars, my 650s will live on forever
I have a 91 and 95 X2 and about 7 other 90s Kawasaki skis. I agree that the two stroke skis are more fun. The problem is the EPA put a stop to two stroke skis around 2004. Yamaha got around it for quite a few years with the Superjet by selling it as a race only machine. I believe you needed to be an IJSBA member to purchase one new atva dealer. So we're stuck with bigger heavier engines which require bigger heavier less nimble hulls. It would be nice if Kawasaki would develop a smaller and lighter engine like Yamaha has with their 3 cylinder TR1 engine.
@@JetSkiBuyFixPlaySellChannel if kawasaki designed a 4 stroke from the ground up for the application this would not be an issue, instead we got a transplant motor in a hull thats way to big
@@motorizedjunk6666 that's true. Doesn't seem to be a priority for them. They used to be the original innovators of the sport. Now they're doing the bare minimum.
Seriously we are going to be stuck with the 1498cc 160hp engine forever. As an STX-160 owner, I am used to being neglected while Ultra and SXR owners get upgrades and support. Kawasaki just refuses to innovate sigh
Nope....Kawi and others fail to face reality. Market forces are that people aren't willing to pay DOUBLE what the platform actually justifies. 6K Ski's will sell...12K won't in the numbers needed to profit Kawi. I sure miss the 550 and Light and simple approach to Skis.
Everyone rubbished the Seadoo 3D and could’ve been a fun cheap ski and look now what Kawai did !! Doesn’t matter what gets built as long as it’s priced accordingly. Like someone said… why not start making a Spark/Blaster. Will Kawasaki become a Nokia ?
A new fixed-steer SXR - - I did not see this coming.
Excellent step forward bringing a pure enthusiast machine back!
If this gets people off their couches and bridges the gap to standups then great. Price is what will kill sales more than anything. People might take a chance on it in the 8 range. Not so much in the 12s. I hope to find one for cheap in the next couple of years!
@ Not calling this the X-2 and $12k MSRP on a ski using recycled parts is crazy. Kawi currently has the cheapest 60mph ski with the STX160. They could easily bring back the STX-R name plate and sell the current STX with no brakes or electronic reverse gate as the “stripped down racing model”. That with the STX-R nameplate and under $10k would be a hit and so would this model badged as the “X-2”. Pricing and not capitalizing on nostalgia seems to be Kawi’s downfall.
They also debuted the redesigned 2026 STX160 with a notable addition of the STX160R.... Which will be just some racing inspired design cues like the old 310R but still very cool and looks like just a 2 seater.
Good to see you back
The Gen 1 X2 was sold from 1986 to 1995. It came with a 2 stroke 650 cc engine. The Gen 2 X2 show in parts of the video came out in 2006 but was never sold directly in the USA. Some were imported. It was basically a SXR hull with a 800 cc engine and the fixed steer top deck. The X2 was the first two person ski although almost nobody rides it with two people. It takes a good deal of skill to pull off and especially deep water reboard with two people. Removing the seat on this Gen 3 version should make it easier to learn to ride for anyone new to standups skis especially the trickier part of deep water reboarding.
Completely agree! It seems the video maker has no idea what an X2 was and how long it was built. Let’s not forget about about the following it still has.
Thank you Kevin for another great review!
Interesting, I just don’t see them selling many in United States
Move the handle bars more forward and a throw small narrow seat on that thing. You would have a much faster more powerful competitor against the sparks and blasters, but I still really like this setup
I would definitely buy one but price needs to be lower. Kawasaki needs to do what they did with the 15f in 2008. Slash the price! Move more units.
Kevin I don’t see why they didn’t finish it. A seat like the X2’s would have come in hand on this hull because it’s more buoyant than the old X2. These things have been in aftermarket for a while. I think it’s a waste. I guess they had too many hulls laying around that wasn’t selling to try this. I mean cut the sidewalls of tray out. Mold a small portion down center and put a seat on it. It don’t even make sense to race this.
I completely agree. I have a gen1 and a gen 2 x2. The hull would be perfect for it.
Why no sense to race it. The X2 started the sport class and spawned other similar skis. People will race it. I do wish it had some sort of seat. Even borrowing a removable style from the Sea Doo 3D. For the price it needs trim though. I would love to try it before buying.
@ it makes no sense to me personally. You got no seat. Back of it is same as standup. The X2 would be more like racing an Mx bike. Riding in attack position then getting down on seat hanging off for corners. For people like me would be perfect circuit due to my disabilities. To answer the question it’s just an Sxr stand up with fixed steering. I think in marketing this it’s not gonna do good because if people have an Sxr they’re not gonna upgrade to it and for recreational use it’s not gonna have good ergonomics. I mean classification what do you do ? Race it with stand ups ? Race it with run abouts ? The missing seat and flat foot wells really matters to me.
Gotcha. I can't say SX-X yet. I'm still calling it an X2. I assumed racing would be like the old X2 and it would race in its own class. Not against standups. Who knows on that though. My big question is deep water reboarding. I know it is more stable than older standups but the old X2 had a sear strap to pull yourself up. Standups you use the bars. I don't see any additional grip to pull up on and the bars are too high. Otherwise I am excited to try it one day. Looks like it would be fun. Should have trim though Kawi!
@ they’d probably have to add a very small step down behind the seat. Not enough to make much of a difference on weight. Possibly put a small foot step like I believe the sparks have. Not a whole bar step just a one footer step.
From a businesses standpoint this is so stupid. Why not make a spark competitor
I agree, Kawasaki need something smaller on offer. If your on a lower budget the sparks the logical choice. In my opinion they should have my something like the Krash industries Reaper.
I like the idea of a modern x2.. not sure if this was the design.....
Should've been an SX-2 with a single seat. IMO
I wish I was 20 years younger because.. ouch, my back lol
It’s amazing Kawasaki can’t figour out what people want, we want a modern version of an old school standup, not a damn boat with handlebars, my 650s will live on forever
I have a 91 and 95 X2 and about 7 other 90s Kawasaki skis. I agree that the two stroke skis are more fun. The problem is the EPA put a stop to two stroke skis around 2004. Yamaha got around it for quite a few years with the Superjet by selling it as a race only machine. I believe you needed to be an IJSBA member to purchase one new atva dealer. So we're stuck with bigger heavier engines which require bigger heavier less nimble hulls. It would be nice if Kawasaki would develop a smaller and lighter engine like Yamaha has with their 3 cylinder TR1 engine.
@@JetSkiBuyFixPlaySellChannel if kawasaki designed a 4 stroke from the ground up for the application this would not be an issue, instead we got a transplant motor in a hull thats way to big
@@motorizedjunk6666 that's true. Doesn't seem to be a priority for them. They used to be the original innovators of the sport. Now they're doing the bare minimum.
I like it for about $7-$8k
Seriously we are going to be stuck with the 1498cc 160hp engine forever. As an STX-160 owner, I am used to being neglected while Ultra and SXR owners get upgrades and support. Kawasaki just refuses to innovate sigh
1985. Wavecrung biger gas tank
Just seen a pic of the updated stx….its a stx 160r….surely something about to be announced any day
@ yes I was one of the first to see and share the leaked images
Nope....Kawi and others fail to face reality. Market forces are that people aren't willing to pay DOUBLE what the platform actually justifies. 6K Ski's will sell...12K won't in the numbers needed to profit Kawi. I sure miss the 550 and Light and simple approach to Skis.
Everyone rubbished the Seadoo 3D and could’ve been a fun cheap ski and look now what Kawai did !! Doesn’t matter what gets built as long as it’s priced accordingly. Like someone said… why not start making a Spark/Blaster. Will Kawasaki become a Nokia ?
Come on Kawasaki!!! Volume sales pricing please. Quit trying to retire off a few people.
Don't hate it but I feel like the price will make me hate it.
Need a biger 16. Gakon fss tank
Two-stroke or forget it!
An expensive spark? No thanks to both.
It's not worth it when it could've used a bigger engine at this point.
Bigger engine on this ski??
@@edwardbowles8613I know a guy who built one with a 260 engine and a fixed steer hood. Not bigger per say but definitely better.