flowmasterman
Active Member
Anything I should be looking for if I am looking at this model ski to buy??
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96 Xp's, good and bad reviews anyone?
- Thread starter flowmasterman
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El Toro 33809
Well-Known Member
I don't have one, but from what I have read people here love this model. The desirable hull and the 787 engine I believe. Check out the X-4 thread for lots of info.
KyleB
New Member
Engine compression, grey fuel lines, mods that were done that may make the SeaDoo unreliable, over all cleanliness whcih could represent the owners care...that's all I can think of for now. Agree with Lou and others...awesome boat and fun as heck to ride.
flowmasterman
Active Member
What about the 96 engine not having a counter balance oil fill access plug like the 97 and up? And what kinf of extra maintenance am I looking at Lou, other than the RAVE.
I've got the same engine in two ski's with no drain/fill plug for the counterbalance shaft, never had a problem. And yes the RAVE valves, it's not just keeping them clean, but it's also something else to go wrong. If the 787 didn't have the raves it would probably only develop another 5HP.
Lou
Lou
flowmasterman
Active Member
what all is involved on maintaining the RAVE's, it requires full synthetic oil in these motors too correct? I use it in the 717 GTI's I have now also.
ocod
Well-Known Member
Yup and cleaning like Lou mentioned. Also, use of API-TC oil.
Spimothy Leary
Well-Known Member
i have one and love it.
best ski ride i've ever had, a poor man's standup, great power, easy to mod for even more thump, hits waves and wakes like it was made to jump and it rides really nice on flat water as well.
i think a lot will say the same so just for kicks, here's the downsides:
tiny gas tank 9 gallons 40-50 miles tops and no easy way to stash more than 2 gallons.
single rider ski except for the fearless
resale still tops out around 1400-2K depending on condition and minor mods.
tends to porpoise for the inexperienced rider with no hull mods.
did i mention the tiny gas tank ?
a bumpy ride, especially in 1-2 foot seas, doesn't cut thru the waves at all.
very limited storage space
requires maintenance, pump oil, flushing, raves, yada yada
not a practical ski for a novice rider (guest friend, average fatazz, chick, cousin, etc)
needs syn oil
if you blow the engine its worth 4-600 bucks on a trailer, all day long.
lastly, it all depends on the PO, did they maintain or ignore the ski.....
best ski ride i've ever had, a poor man's standup, great power, easy to mod for even more thump, hits waves and wakes like it was made to jump and it rides really nice on flat water as well.
i think a lot will say the same so just for kicks, here's the downsides:
tiny gas tank 9 gallons 40-50 miles tops and no easy way to stash more than 2 gallons.
single rider ski except for the fearless
resale still tops out around 1400-2K depending on condition and minor mods.
tends to porpoise for the inexperienced rider with no hull mods.
did i mention the tiny gas tank ?
a bumpy ride, especially in 1-2 foot seas, doesn't cut thru the waves at all.
very limited storage space
requires maintenance, pump oil, flushing, raves, yada yada
not a practical ski for a novice rider (guest friend, average fatazz, chick, cousin, etc)
needs syn oil
if you blow the engine its worth 4-600 bucks on a trailer, all day long.
lastly, it all depends on the PO, did they maintain or ignore the ski.....
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skewba98z28
Active Member
If your looking for a wild ride that will keep you on your toes, your looking at the right ski. I love my X4! Fuel mileage sucks, they ride rough, but its a hot rod not a cruiser. Oh and I don't think its been said, but water test the ski before you buy one. If the owner won't let you then find another one.
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Dr Honda
Well-Known Member
I agree with everything above.
It's a water "Dirt-Bike"... so use it as such. I don't recommend buying one if you want to take long rides with a passenger, in rough water. You will HATE it! But, if you want a ski that you can get wet on... and have acceleration fast enough to put a grin on your face... than find an "X4" with an 800 engine.
It's a water "Dirt-Bike"... so use it as such. I don't recommend buying one if you want to take long rides with a passenger, in rough water. You will HATE it! But, if you want a ski that you can get wet on... and have acceleration fast enough to put a grin on your face... than find an "X4" with an 800 engine.
JoeStrange
New Member
Recent maintenence to my recently purchased pair of 96 Xp.
Rebuild RAVE valves
Rebuild water pressure regulators
Rebuild jet pumps (just wear rings, new impellers, seals and oil)
New oil injection lines
Wiped down all electrical plugs and wires and greased all plugs then zip tied them up nice and neat. (Also inspected wires for damage while doing so)
New oil tank check valves (They were so plugged they couldn't even be considered a valve anymore)
Cleaned and zip tied that wire mess under the hood
Added inline fuel filters before the carbs
New oil filters
Drained all gas and oil (Also blew the oil out of the motor with light air pressure to ensure a mixture of new and old wouldn't happen inside the motor. Replaced with fresh gas and AMS interceptor oil.
Cleaned the inside of the hull throughly, vacuumed, poured water in from the front of the ski letting it run to the back washing all the crap out I couldn't see (Bugs, leaves, dirt, etc....) then vacuumed again.
Wiped motor down so I can see new leaks and potential problems, Then wiped down again with WD40.
Installed new spark plugs
Cleaned and wheeled the outside of the skis and inspected hulls for heavily damaged areas.
Repaired both fraid speedometer cables next to the jet pump.
Got lucky with the fuel lines as the PO had just did them and the carbs on both skis and they were both winterized properly.
Thats where I'm at so far and as you can see the PO did not take very good care of them, But I snagged both on a double trailer for 3k and they were both running with no noticeable knocking, ticking or signs of internal engine damage. I bought them knowing only one thing about them and that was, I want them!
Rebuild RAVE valves
Rebuild water pressure regulators
Rebuild jet pumps (just wear rings, new impellers, seals and oil)
New oil injection lines
Wiped down all electrical plugs and wires and greased all plugs then zip tied them up nice and neat. (Also inspected wires for damage while doing so)
New oil tank check valves (They were so plugged they couldn't even be considered a valve anymore)
Cleaned and zip tied that wire mess under the hood
Added inline fuel filters before the carbs
New oil filters
Drained all gas and oil (Also blew the oil out of the motor with light air pressure to ensure a mixture of new and old wouldn't happen inside the motor. Replaced with fresh gas and AMS interceptor oil.
Cleaned the inside of the hull throughly, vacuumed, poured water in from the front of the ski letting it run to the back washing all the crap out I couldn't see (Bugs, leaves, dirt, etc....) then vacuumed again.
Wiped motor down so I can see new leaks and potential problems, Then wiped down again with WD40.
Installed new spark plugs
Cleaned and wheeled the outside of the skis and inspected hulls for heavily damaged areas.
Repaired both fraid speedometer cables next to the jet pump.
Got lucky with the fuel lines as the PO had just did them and the carbs on both skis and they were both winterized properly.
Thats where I'm at so far and as you can see the PO did not take very good care of them, But I snagged both on a double trailer for 3k and they were both running with no noticeable knocking, ticking or signs of internal engine damage. I bought them knowing only one thing about them and that was, I want them!
riding high
New Member
I wouldn't buy without reading the compression. I am new at this game but I have learned that the 787 engine is prone to having the RAVE valve getting into the piston. I think most of the other issues have been well covered.
flowmasterman
Active Member
Hmm ok sounds like they will be fun then, right now me and my brother just go riding alone anyway on the big old GTI's so sounds like these are what we are looking for, and already asked about water testing them and compression tests. He is actually wanting to trade the GTI's for the XP's because he wants a cruiser water craft.
flowmasterman
Active Member
Ok so is there anything I should NOT do while riding one of these little "hot rod" machines? Any tips or suggestions from the people who own one and ride them? On my GTI now I feel comfortable just going across the water and then just turning it and spinning out and never felt like it would flip over with me or anything, is the XP going to be real easy to flip if i am wanting to play around on it and stuff? i have watching videos where people have the nose straight up and just spinning around in circles, and other videos getting some major air jumping waves.
Spimothy Leary
Well-Known Member
its not that tippy, its worse at idle than any other time, just find your center of balance, and if you slip off, you just climb back on
jamesbern
New Member
Funny story. Bought my '96 XP, took it out for the first time with my friend who as been into skis for a while. Figured he would know if anything was wrong. Everything seemed to check out. We decided we could have more fun if we went to a small island half a mile down, but we would both need to ride it as his ski wasn't ready yet. Let me paint a picture.
My 6'5", 230lb friend up front, with me, 6', 180lbs, hanging on to his life jacket and the rear grab bar while he was hitting small waves from a boat. I'm yelling at him to slow down cause i'm going to go flying off. Him laughing while he keeps going. People staring at the two dudes on a yellow and pink jet ski. I'm sure it was pretty damn funny to see. Thing moved pretty well with both of us on it too.
Fun ski's. I wish I could get mine back out there soon.
Spimothy Leary
Well-Known Member
lol, yes at the nutt to butt ride, especially on a pink ski, it paints a hilarious picture ! We've done it before and its quite a white knuckle ride for the guy in the back, and not much better for the driver. last time we had an xp break down there were 3 of us all on x4 hulls and we were a good 12 miles from the ramp in 2-3 foot seas... While the two 'mechanically inclined' guys were poking around under the seat looking for the problem, i was in front hooking a tow rope up from my ski to the disabled ski... Once they finally decided it was time to tow back to the ramp, I said "I have the ski !, you two hop on the other one and i'll meet you at the ramp !" Right then they figured out that I had snookered them into riding double for 15 miles
thepantydropper
New Member
I love my 97 XP.I am 280 lbs and 6'2''.The only complaint I have is that the ski is so unstable.It will roll VERY easily.Its impossible for me to re-board in deep water. I've been riding a while and I can pull my self up with no problem but when I bring my knee up to the ski the front will rise straight up and roll back over.Very embarrassing for someone who's not a rookie.In shallow water I can hop on real fast or at a dock.It's always an uneasy feeling when I ride to know if I fall off I can't get back on.I want a bigger ski so this isn't a problem but till the money for that presents itself I am stuck.I even had someone in the water with me once holding the front end down and he couldn't hold it.I'm a big guy but I'm not huge! I'm well under the max weight for the ski.I don't get it...Thoughts anyone??
Charleston
New Member
I had the '96 XP and it was stupid fun. You could seriously hurt yourself. I know mine had been modded to include a flame arrestor and a primer kit. It had a serious hole shot back then. Weight to power was insane. Still, not sure how this would fare now with the supercharged models.
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