With the ability to glide across waters at speeds of up to 70mph, jet skis are one of the most popular water sport activities on offer. We all know Jet Skis as the powerful, snowmobile-like water apparatus, however, ‘jet ski’ actually refers to a brand name, coined and manufactured by Kawasaki, a Japanese company.
Topping the charts for the best Jet Ski brand, Yamaha is almost always the leading choice for both beginners and bona fide jet skiers for being a reliable and high-performing choice.
With sea-doo and Kawasaki close runners up, Yamaha Jet Ski’s highly acclaimed agility, acceleration, and performance make them a fan favorite, as well as the revolutionary and innovative models on offer.
What is the history of Yamaha?
Founded by Torakusu Yamaha as a piano and reed organ manufacturer in 1887, Yamaha has proved itself as a true innovator, growing into a huge conglomerate in various industries, while still maintaining its revolutionary quality, reliability, and reputation.
Yamaha first broke into the Jet Ski industry in 1986 with its revolutionary WaveRunner 500 (Marine Jet 500T), which was said to send shockwaves through the industry, and paved the way for the Jet Ski models we see today.
A year later in 1987, Yamaha introduced the WaveJammer 500 (Marine Jet 500S), which was the first sit-down type Jet Ski.
In 1990 the WaveRunner III 650 (Marine Jet 650TL) became the first Jet Ski to offer reverse drive, as well as being the world’s first 3-passenger Jet Ski.
In 1999 Yamaha debuted the SUV1200 – the world’s first 4-passenger jet ski. It became legendary in the industry for various reasons, but Yamaha didn’t stop there, going on to introduce the XL1200 in the same year, which had the highest horsepower engine in the world at 155 hp.
2002 saw the world’s first 4-stroke engine PWC, in the form of the FX140, leading to a smooth drive, good stability even in the roughest waters, and great fuel economy.
A year later in 2003, Yamaha became the number one for environmentally-friendly jet skis, while still offering high performance with the GP1300R model.
Fast forward to 2015, Yamaha introduced RiDE, the world’s first dual throttle control on handlebars, giving drivers maximum control. The throttle system ensures a completely smooth experience, applying the appropriate level of acceleration or deceleration to maximize control.
What is the best Yamaha Jet Ski?
The jury is still out, however, there are some firm favorites. With prices starting from $8,899, Yamaha’s WaveRunner range is widely regarded as the most reliable and popular.
Made up of the FX, VX, EX, WaveBlaster, and SuperJet, to name a few, the WaveRunner range is extremely versatile with models for almost every type of jet skier, identifiable by water that shoots into the air from the rear of the vehicle, which is exclusive to Yamaha. For the last 3 decades, Yamaha has perfected the WaveRunner line up, so there really is no competition.
The five FX model variations offer the all-round capability and sheer quality due to their high-tech systems and features, with some models even ideal for fishing. The FX models have excellent power-to-weight ratio due to featuring high compression from strong but extremely light, plastic-free NanoXcel material, despite including a surprising 166 liters in waterproof storage.
For speed-lovers, the GP1800R HO and GP1800R SVHO models will be your kryptonite. The former is described by Yamaha as a “potent mix of sports and cruising capability especially designed to take advantage of our many technical advances, and styled to look the part”, a true leader in all-around performance.
Similar to other GP models, the GP1800R SVHO is ideal for serious racers due to its super-powerful nature, coupled with a multitude of innovative features.
If you’re looking for high performance on a budget, the VX series may be what you’re looking for. Reliable, fuel-efficient, and requiring less maintenance than other models, this model is sought-after due to its all-round versatility.
The EX series is another option that will go easy on your bank balance. Boasting fast speeds and acceleration, as well as agile handling with the use of RiDE™ technology, the EX is truly revolutionary.
How popular are jet skis?
First introduced by Kawasaki in 1972, jet skis have soared in popularity with thrill-seeking speed-enthusiasts, with around 1.5 million jet skis owned in the US alone. The popularity of jet skiing peaked in 2007 with 8.06 million US annual participants, down to just above 5 million users today.