Yamaha, who shook the watercraft industry in 1987 with the introduction of their tandem-style WaveRunner, has held a firm grip in worldwide sales and product quality. It is safe to say that the twenty-year-old product has been one of the pioneers of watercraft performance, innovation, and overall reliability. It is this reputation that the company is banking on. Already, Yamaha comes to the table with the industry's second widest assortment of varying vehicles, from the venerable Super Jet standup which has been the workhorse of the racing and freestyle circuit for nearly a decade, the sole remaining two-stroke musclecraft, the GP1300R, to their dual WaveRunner lines, the FX and VX. But, as the stakes are continually raised, be it in horsepower production to riding comfort and behavior, Yamaha (and everyone else, for that matter) is beginning to feel the temperature in the pot rise. With their invaluable reputation on the line, it was time to raise the bar.
Initially, we were signed to the upmost of secrecy. We were not to discuss what Yamaha's Watercraft Division had up their sleeves no matter the cost. Questions were stealthily dodged, emails went without respond for weeks, and portfolios stuffed with contractual legal jargon needed to be signed and initialed. Bemused that unless Yamaha was introducing the industry's first plutonium-powered WaveRunner, there was really no need for such channels of sworn silence, we relented and played along. "This better be worth it," we muttered under our breath as we walked into Yamaha's Kennesaw, Georgia building. Yamaha proved itself to us by relying upon their revered brand loyalty among its clientele, with the company's business strategy remaining mainly grassroots; retain its place as first in product reliability, lead the industry in technological incorporation, and remain the sport's number one introductory craft. While retaining a diversified catalog of watercraft, Yamaha has OK'ed the single widest revamp that we've seen in recent years.
The hugely popular VX line – VX, VX Sport, VX Deluxe, and VX Cruiser – stays, apart from new bold graphics and paint schemes, the same. While the VX and VX Sport have quickly become the darlings of rental outfits across the globe, the VX Deluxe and Cruiser are some of the most affordable, multi-optioned watercraft on the market. The entire VX line is a collection of some of the most compact, fuel-efficient, and lightweight 3-seaters today. Our prior experiences with the VX line have proven the boats to be nimble, quiet, and agile but uncompromising on rough water and subject to bow steer when under higher speeds. In addition, we raised issue with Yamaha's Cruiser seat design, as for anybody over six-feet-tall, the thick bolstering positions the rider far too forward, with even taller riders whacking their knees with the handlebars in sharp turns. Regardless of these minor quibbles, the new VX line is a great choice for the entry-level buyer.
Great news for the more traditional Yamaha enthusiasts comes in the form of a final, commemorative GP1300R repaint. Finally weaning the GP's out of the product line, Yamaha left the famous musclecraft all but untouched saved for a new metallic "Midnight" blue hue and catchy graphics. Seeing that the GP1300R has served so valiantly in the racing circuit for years, we had hoped for a slightly more aggressive goodbye in way of performance, but seeing that the two-stroke is being lambasted almost daily by environmentalists and legislators, it was simply cost prohibitive to pour any more money into the boat than truly necessary. But, the most surprising news - even over that of Yamaha's new line in our opinion – is that of the revamped Super Jet. The stand-up set the bar for single rider watercraft ten years ago and is due for some fresh blood. Retaining the previous deck, the Super Jet's hull is completely redesigned with integrated forward sponsons and sharper chines. In addition, the intake and pump have been pushed rearward allowing for a better distribution of weight. Though still not as wide (or long) as the SX-R, the Super Jet promises to hold its own when faced off with the venerated competitor.
As untimely as a new hull design for the Super Jet may appear, the theme was actually a hot point for the 50-year-old boat manufacturer. Wanting to greaten the distance from the FX to the FX High Output, Yamaha devised a new state-of-the-art bonding process in which the fiberglass hulls and decks are formed using nanotechnology. While traditional fiberglass bonding required a clay-like bonding agent, Yamaha's NanoXcel nanotechnology allows for a greater surface molecular bond resulting in less mass being added to the compound as a stronger bond is created. Not only are the benefits of this nanotechnology found in weight savings and hull integrity, but the bond leaves the surface significantly smoother, allowing for less surface tension on the water and a smoother finish. The process also results in less waste production, making it significantly environmentally friendly. Weight savings total a 25% percentage over the previous year's model FX HO (read: nearly 75 pounds).
Yamaha provided a '07 FX HO to be ridden against that of the new '08 FX HO with the NanoXcel hull, and we believe their claims of weight savings to be wholly accurate. The '08 was significantly more responsive to our tight cornering when banking into corners, dancing lightly over smooth water. By shifting our weight from one leg to another in turns, the lighter FX HO leaned like a sport motorcycle. Of course, the FX HO has with it a more optioned sibling, the FX Cruiser HO which too, features the lighter weight hull and newly redesigned deck. Surprisingly, the hull, unlike the deck, though made with the new NanoXcel technology, remains the same as the previous year. We discovered while chasing a flat-bottomed boat outfitted with a big block Ford 390, the lighter hull keeps the watercraft from gaining a firm footing and skates across the wakes almost defiant of our maneuvering and steering. Despite our concerns, Yamaha had one more surprise tucked up its sleeve.
Notwithstanding an unwritten accordance with the United States Coast Guard stating that all craft will be mandated to a maximum speed of 65mph, manufacturers have slowly encroached upon passing that speed for some time now. Sea-Doo promised speeds above 65mph with their supercharged RXT only to be ousted by online reviewers when the actual output fell short of advertised horsepower numbers. Kawasaki too, stepped up to the batter's box with a gluttonous 250 horsepower and greedily gobbled up speeds of 67mph while simultaneously being plagued with a strain of mechanical gremlins. We had all heard rumors of Yamaha's new flag ship claiming versions boasting a supercharged monster punching out 300 ponies or a 2,000cc plant producing the same output. The truth is, as impressive as Yamaha's new source of watercraft propulsion is; it's something of a hybrid of what the rumor mill proclaimed. Making matters worse, Yamaha refused to officially announce what the 1812cc, supercharged engine's final horsepower was.
Dubbed the SHO (Super High Output) Marine Engine, the engine is something of a miracle. The single largest displacement engine ever produced for watercraft, the plant was purposefully designed solely for the new FX SHO and FX Cruiser SHO models. The 1.8L is a juxtaposition as it is not only the company's highest horsepower producing engine, but the company's lowest emission engine. The supercharged engine is also extremely lightweight, approximately 45lbs lighter than Yamaha's previous engine and shares nothing with the brand's other motorsport vehicles and is able to run on 87octane. Outside of the engine compartment, though, the SHO duo is nearly identical to that of its HO counterparts (apart from paint and decals). But, the SHO's also wield three additional key features and all SHO's are "drive-by-wire" or electronically throttle controlled.
With this new feature, Yamaha was able devise a new "Cruise Assist" program which allows the driver to continue a particular speed while maintaining a comfortable position on the throttle. Like a vehicle's cruise control, this is controlled via rpm memory and up and down throttle adjustment keys. This is best applied while towing wake boarders or water skiers. Often a skier will call for a small increase in speed which is difficult for the driver to negotiate. Now with the Cruise Assist feature, the driver can simply advance the throttle with a tap of the up button. Also, passengers afraid of being tossed at high speeds can rest assured as the controlled speed never varies. Accompanying the Cruise Assist is Yamaha's one-of-a-kind "No Wake Mode," which drops the speed down to 5mph for long no wake zones in lakes and harbors. And finally, along with the computer controlled niceties, Yamaha has redesigned their reverse pump shield christening it as "Reverse with Traction Control Technology," which is little more than an aerated shield that blows thrust to the sides instead of down, providing improved reverse response and handling.
Both the FX SHO and the FX Cruiser SHO proved themselves as high horsepower contenders on the lake neighboring the Yamaha facility. Earlier tests claimed a top speed around 67mph, but as most enthusiasts and riders know, onboard speedometers are notoriously fallible. Characteristic of Yamaha's outstanding fit and finish, the new FX, FX HO, and FX SHOs are supremely quiet, free of vibration and unwanted harmonics. The SHO's are surprisingly responsive and don't suffer from excessive supercharger whine leading us to believe claims that the 1812cc plant runs on as little as 2lbs of boost, relying heavily upon the big bore engine for most of it's oomph. And unlike that of its power-adder assisted competition, the SHO spools down smoothly compared to others which would happily toss its rider over the handlebars when the throttle is released.
When put toe to toe with the RXT or 250X (which we anticipate in months to come), we wholeheartedly agree that the SHO has the chops to put up a good fight. While the Kawasaki Ultra 250X seems to be the 800lbs gorilla taking up all of the room lately, the SHO and SHO Cruiser offer the power-hungry enthusiast near-comparable power with significantly more reform and finesse. Free of high speed rattles and hiccups, deafening supercharger whine, and deplorable gas mileage, the preproduction FX SHO and Cruiser SHO we rode proved to us that here is a more refined craft, one for the higher performance niche.
The High Output has a new big brother, the Super High Output. With electronic throttle control, the SHO features a cruise control-like Cruise Assist and No Wake mode for docking or launching as well as a drastically improved Traction Control reverse.
From above, the modified deck design displays its large (though shallow) single cup holder and sealable valuable compartment made for keys, cell phones, and/or a wallet.
The Super High Output Marine Engine is the coup de grace of the new FX contingent. Made from scratch and sharing nothing with the rest of the Yamaha Motorsports groups, the 1,812cc supercharged plant runs on 87octane and is exceptionally environmentally friendly. Yamaha refused to provide us horsepower numbers but we estimate somewhere in the neighborhood of 220hp.
The FX SHO features fewer bells and whistles as the heavily optioned FX Cruiser SHO, and is, in our opinion, the performance enthusiast's choice. Curiously, Yamaha provides a longer steering neck for the Cruiser SHO model over that of the standard SHO, while we believe that more riders of the SHO will want the taller bars for riding standing up and racing.
With its new NanoXcel hull, the hull and deck of the '08 FX HO shave nearly 75 pounds off of the previous year's FX HO, thusly improving the power-to-weight ratio. With the new SHO engine, however, the craft's lightweight and ample potency bring the PWC's top speed up to that of the Ultra 250X with less supercharger boost and fuel consumption.
The '08 WaveRunner FX HO has leapt up the evolutionary chart with a lighter NanoXcel hull and redesigned deck, adjustable steering and trim control, and 26 gallons of watertight storage.
The '08 WaveRunner FX Cruiser SHO, on the other hand, is a species all on its own. With the same lightweight hull and redesigned deck, the Cruiser SHO features the all impressive SHO Marine Engine with electronic throttle control, the Cruise Assist and No Wake mode, the reverse traction control, pop-up cleats for easy docking, and Cruiser molded seat.
Text by Kevin Shaw
Photography courtesy of Yamaha Motor Corporation
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The High Output has a new big brother, the Super High Output. With electronic throttle control, the SHO features a cruise control-like Cruise Assist and No Wake mode for docking or launching as well as a drastically improved Traction Control reverse.
From above, the modified deck design displays its large (though shallow) single cup holder and sealable valuable compartment made for keys, cell phones, and/or a wallet.
The Super High Output Marine Engine is the coup de grace of the new FX contingent. Made from scratch and sharing nothing with the rest of the Yamaha Motorsports groups, the 1,812cc supercharged plant runs on 87octane and is exceptionally environmentally friendly. Yamaha refused to provide us horsepower numbers but we estimate somewhere in the neighborhood of 220hp.
The FX SHO features fewer bells and whistles as the heavily optioned FX Cruiser SHO, and is, in our opinion, the performance enthusiast's choice. Curiously, Yamaha provides a longer steering neck for the Cruiser SHO model over that of the standard SHO, while we believe that more riders of the SHO will want the taller bars for riding standing up and racing.
With its new NanoXcel hull, the hull and deck of the '08 FX HO shave nearly 75 pounds off of the previous year's FX HO, thusly improving the power-to-weight ratio. With the new SHO engine, however, the craft's lightweight and ample potency bring the PWC's top speed up to that of the Ultra 250X with less supercharger boost and fuel consumption.
The '08 WaveRunner FX HO has leapt up the evolutionary chart with a lighter NanoXcel hull and redesigned deck, adjustable steering and trim control, and 26 gallons of watertight storage.
The '08 WaveRunner FX Cruiser SHO, on the other hand, is a species all on its own. With the same lightweight hull and redesigned deck, the Cruiser SHO features the all impressive SHO Marine Engine with electronic throttle control, the Cruise Assist and No Wake mode, the reverse traction control, pop-up cleats for easy docking, and Cruiser molded seat.
