It's election time again. No, we're not talking about Iowa caucuses or primary elections, we're talking about spring time fast approaching and deciding which new toy to welcome into the family. Sure, the '08 models are cool and fancy, but we know as much as you do, that picking up one of those new-fangled boats means paying top dollar and/or long waiting lists. Rather, with the current cost of gas and the economy as it is, buying a new watercraft is a luxury. But should you go without? We say no! Instead, now is the time to snatch up a brand-new previous year model for a discount price! Just like car dealerships, watercraft dealers are desperate to clear their floors of previously unsold models to make room for the latest PWC. If staying within a budget is your goal, then an overlooked '07 model may be the choice for you.
Personal Watercraft Illustrated met up with the Cunliffe family for some fun at Lake Pyramid, California. The family of four is nearly exactly what major manufacturers are aiming their sights at: both parents, Clint and Kirsten, are college educated and make over $100,000 a year. Their two sons, Nathan, 18 and Kyle 16, are active fun-loving teens interested in snow skiing, snow boarding, action movies, side-by-sides, and go-carting. Already they own a pair of Yamaha GP1200 runabouts and a modded-out 750 Kawasaki. Not wanting to show up empty-handed, we brought with us two top-of-the-line runabouts, Kawasaki's Ultra LX and Honda's turbo-powered F-12X GPScape.
While we fully know that the naturally-aspirated LX is nearly $2,200 less than the heavily-optioned F-12X, Honda has been met with less-than-stellar watercraft sales in recent years, making dealerships eager to offload the PWC even for exorbitantly discount rates. While we've never personally seen a GPScape discounted down to $9,500, we know that Honda has been more than favorable in reducing prices for the enthusiastic buyer. But with both craft being ideal polarized examples of three-seater, family-directed, 160-plus-horsepower watercraft, one being easily the most optioned boat on the market and the other being borderline stripped, we felt the pairing of the two a fine apples vs. oranges comparison.
The two boys drawn to the large "Turbo" labeling on the Honda quickly jockeyed for a place behind the handlebars. Kirsten, wanting to enjoy the glassy-smooth lake, climbed aboard the Kawasaki and began chasing the shoreline. After an hour of snaking around the steeply shored lake, the boys' reactions to the Honda were mixed. The GPS was clumsy and the dashboard controls' multiplicity of uses made the feature confusing and both bemoaned the unnatural turbo-lag that would follow shortly after clenching the throttle.
Curious to test the blue and white LX, they traded with their parents and put the LX to the test. Praise came for the Kawasaki's easily adjustable handlebars and reverse lever from both age groups. Their mother noted that the Kawasaki's ride was noticeably smoother than the Honda, citing the LX's ability to cut tightly in sharp turns without loosing its grip and spinning out. Smooth and manageable, the Kawasaki's nearly unreadable gauges and lack of any bells and whistles was its only downfall. The white-faced tachometer's needle passes over microscopic numerals and the tangerine-backed digital speedometer and gas gauge are nearly unintelligible when even a flicker of glare strikes its surface.
The Honda, though, was not without its due praise. Solid and well-built, the F-12X never uttered an unwanted peep, its hatches and panels tightly secured; a salute to quality manufacturing. The forward cabin, despite having its nose buried under wakes and hairpin turns, remained mostly dry, and more importantly, after more than six hours of relentless hazing and arduous racing, the Honda still retained a quarter-tank of fuel in its tank. Such fuel efficiency in the face of the throttling of two teenagers, their hot dogging parents, and a Personal Watercraft Illustrated Editor is quite the feat.
So what was the final verdict? Talking it over, most agreed that the Honda's GPS could benefit from some serious simplification and the Kawasaki could use some added features such as a depth finder, digital compass, or – at the very least – easier to read gauges. The Kawasaki's hull was a unanimous hit, but the rattles and shakes that accompanied the Ultra LX were a deterrent. If the Kawasaki could have the Honda's solid feel, easier to read gauges, and the turbo power without the lolling throttle response, it would be a perfect marriage of the two. The boys liked the ease in which the Honda was able to snap the tail loose, but the parents agreed that handling was more desirable characteristic than spinouts.
Recognize this picture from our November/December '07 cover? You should. The Kawasaki Ultra LX was a favorite at Lake Pyramid, CA. Its deep-V hull made cornering easy and the large 1498cc plant providing quick, snappy throttle response.
Bringing their own toys to the lake, the Cunliffe's trick Kawasaki 750 stand-up provided a taste of vintage riding. When your arms got tired, a spin on a runabout was just the right thing.
Since the Honda was a little more "squirrelly" than the Kawasaki, a game of bucking off the passenger became a favorite among us. Needless to say, Editor Kevin wasn't very good at staying on.
Would you believe it? A bunch of watercraft riders took the time to gather up a bag's worth of floating debris during their day at the lake. It's a good habit and a sort of macabre game to play while visiting any lake or river.
There was no denying the Honda's penchant for hard acceleration. With 165 horses on tap, the little turbo F-12X is quite the magic-in-the-bottle combination. We only wish it was a little more stable in the turns and for the GPS to be a tad more user-friendly.
Text by Kevin Shaw
Photography by Kevin Shaw and Kirsten Cunliffe
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